Buick Rainier Complaints

391 consumer complaints on file.

#11704072December 9, 2025
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2006 Buick Rainer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel jerked independently without warning, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the brake pedal while depressing the brake pedal. The contact had taken the vehicle to two independent mechanics, where the wheel bearings and ball joints were replaced; however, the failure persisted. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11557359November 28, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SUSPENSION
Window motors and window controls failing. I replaced two window motors at in 2017, at dealer because they failed, then the rear passenger window motor failed in 2020 and was replaced at mechanic shop with factory replacement, this rear passenger window is seldom used, but rear passenger window motor failed again in 2023 and was replaced again at mechanic shop. Drivers window motor now needs to be replaced. Window controls are intermittant. The components were replaced by dealer and by third-party mechanic. There is no warning prior to failure other than rolling down a window and not being able to get it back up at all, which poses a hazard in torrential rain and damages vehicle; or not being able to roll a window down when needed. The first replacement was under warranty. The rest have been out of pocket and have caused other damage due to rain. I feel the entire window operating system should have been recalled, driver side controls and all of the operting motors. This is a dangerous and expensive continuing problem. Never had this problem with any GM vehicle before the 2007 Rainer. Rear air suspension went out in 2018 and rear end fell down causing severe handling difficulty. Had to replace rear air suspension with conventional shocks because parts were not available in a timely manner and vehicle could not be driven safely without rear suspension. Had similar issue with air suspension on 2004 Buick SUV, where the air suspension went haywire and caused handling issues. (Vehicle was returned to dealer and exchanged for one with a conventional suspension.) Was told by dealer the air suspension problem was fixed on later models after 2004, but apparently not. Would not have purchased a vehicle with air suspension had I known it still had these issues.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11533809July 22, 2023
AIR BAGS
My 16 year old son was making a left hand turn out of a school onto a road with no curve, no hole, no accident but the 4 side air bags deployed for no reason. He was OK and pulled over for safety and got a ride home. We had it towed home and contacted gmac buick and they had it towed to a dealership and had a diagnostic test ran and found no reason for them to deploy but they said the car had been altered because we had put subs and a radio in it through a lisc. Professional but that makes them not liable for anything that would happen. They said putting a radio in can cause the bags to deploy or brakes to fail and it is in their manual and they are not liable for any problem if we alter the car in any way. If this is the case anyone with an aftermarket radio should be warned that their child car anyone can be killed and it will. E no one's fault. I am out a car because insurance said they don't cover it because it wasn't an accident and GMAC says it happens not uncommonly but that they will not help in any way. They told me I was not allowed to talk abijt this to anyone. They read me a statement on the phone which said I can not talk outside of GMAC. They don't want people knowing this is happening. People need to be aware that bags can randomly deploy and if he was in the interstate he could have been killed. I am terrified to get in it and drive. Why do people not know this can happen. Why is gmac not doing anything or putting out psas saying people could die if they out sibs in professionally or otherwise.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11526598June 12, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2006 Buick Rainier. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in his driveway, the contact attempted to use the remote starter key fob to unlock the doors, but the doors failed to unlock. The contact stated that he manually unlocked the doors. The contact stated that he manually attempted to start the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to start. The anti-theft warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being lifted onto the tow truck, he was informed by the tow truck driver that the driver’s side wiring harness had melted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness had melted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer nor manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11497621December 15, 2022
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
The contact owns a 2005 Buick Rainier. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front windshield wipers and wiper fluid spray activated independently and failed to turn off. The contact also stated that occasionally the headlights would inadvertently turn off; requiring the vehicle to be restarted before the vehicle regained headlight functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced the headlight failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V519000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11475864July 26, 2022
VISIBILITY/WIPER
During periods of time with ignition switch on, the wipers will loose the ability to both regulate speed and shut off. The wiper cover AC Delco/GM part number 19120931 will fail and loose control of the wipers (fail to shut off while driving). Because you cannot shut off the wipers, the driver's vision is obscured, and the noise from the wipers on the dry glass is very distracting. This will cause drivers attention to shift from focus on driving to manipulating the wiper switch. GM has not ordered a stock or replacement wiper covers from AC Delco, so trying to locate a fix for this problem is very hard. This is a GM design problem and is very expensive to fix. As a minimum GM needs to stock this part. All of these wiper covers will fail eventually, and accidents from this problem will occur.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457557March 20, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Low beam lights go off intermittently while driving and eventually come back on. This does not affect high beams or any other lights on the vehicle. But causes a serious danger to my needing to drive at night due to my job.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11448952January 26, 2022
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
In driving cross country, filled up the fuel tank and resumed travel when the fuel gauge immediately went to empty (I didn’t even have time to drive up the highway ramp back onto the highway). The alerts started ringing and blinking and dash board told me there was no fuel. I went to a gravel area and inspected the engine compartment, under the car and the interior to be sure I was not missing anything, then restarted the SUV. Could not find any issues anywhere, including leaking fuel. I took off the fuel cap and reattached it to be sure there was no problem there. I had no choice but to get on the highway and continue my journey. The problem continued for the following 1000 ish miles. When I got home I contacted my dealer and set up an appointment to look at vehicle. They found the vehicle needing a sensor kit which was a recall back a few years ago. I had the issue repaired which took 3 days. They may have the removed items. Attached please find the invoice from the repair that shows the message numbers, etc from the inspection prior to and during repair. Since this issue was a recall, but I understand not for my vehicle but for many similar SUV’s and Pickups of the same area of manufacture; I feel the same components were used in my vehicle and should be paid for and included in this recall. Attached please find the invoice if I can figure out how to get it attached to this type of format.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11429520August 17, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When I fill my gas up my gas gauge goes to empty, the low fuel light comes on, and my check engine light comes on. I can run out of gas and another can hit me. This is very unsafe, not just for me but others. Buick needs to fix this before someone gets seriously hurt or killed. This is a law suit waiting to happen.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11384755December 23, 2020
SUSPENSION
BOTH TRAILING ARMS IN THE REAR SUSPENSION HAVE FAILED TO DUE TO RUST. THE FAILURE OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE TWO TRAILING ARMS OCCURRED WHEN TRAVELING ACROSS A BUMP IN THE ROAD AT LOW SPEED WHILE ON A LONG DISTANCE TRIP. THE 2007 BUICK RAINIER HAD A HISTORY OF BEING IN PENNSYLVANIA. THE USE OF SALT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WAS THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILING OF THE TRAILING ARMS RESULTED IN CONSIDERABLE VIBRATIONS AT LOW SPEEDS UP TO ~40 MPH. THE FAILING OF THE TRAILING ARMS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE LOST OF REPLACEMENT SPRINGS IF A SIGNIFICANT BUMP HAD BEEN HIT WHILE DRIVING. NOTE: REPLACEMENT SPRINGS ARE OFTEN NECESSARY AFTER THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAG SPRINGS, AS WAS THE CASE FOR THIS VEHICLE. FORTUNITLY, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BEFORE ANY ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11364509October 15, 2020
VISIBILITY/WIPER
BUICK RAINIER 2006: WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND FLUID COME ON BY THEMSELVES. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE ON / OFF FUNCTION DOES NOT WORK. THEY CANNOT BE SHUT OFF BY CONTROLS. THEY MERELY START AND STOP AT RANDOM. IT HAPPENS BOTH ON VEHICLE START UP WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK AND WHILE DRIVING. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE TO DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11324044May 10, 2020
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SUSPENSION
WE BOUGHT A BUICK RAINIER 2006 AND IT HAS HAD NOTHING BUT ELECTRICAL, DOOR PROBLEMS AND DOOR HANDLE PROBLEMS. IT HAS A FAULTY BACK WINDOW WIPER. SUSPENSION ISSUES AND A VOTING UNDER BODY CARRIAGE. I BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALER AND NONE OF THESE RECALL ISSUES WHERE TAKEN CARE OF, AND THESE RECALLS DATE BACK TO 2015 I BOUGHT THE RAINER IN MARCH 2018. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11292507January 1, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, STEERING
POWER STEERING LEAKS, THE GAS GAUGE AND OTHER GAUGES DON'T WORK, MOST THE ELECTRICAL DON'T WORK INSIDE THE CAR, MAKES A WEIRD NOISE WHEN IT BACKS UP AND THE ENGINE REVS WHEN IT'S STARTS AND SOMETIMES WHEN IT DRIVES AND GOES FASTER EVEN WHEN YOU ARE NOT HITTING THE GAS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11292508January 1, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
POWER STEERING LEAKS, THE GAS GAUGE AND OTHER GAUGES DON'T WORK, MOST THE ELECTRICAL DON'T WORK INSIDE THE CAR, MAKES A WEIRD NOISE WHEN IT BACKS UP AND THE ENGINE REVS WHEN IT'S STARTS AND SOMETIMES WHEN IT DRIVES AND GOES FASTER EVEN WHEN YOU ARE NOT HITTING THE GAS, THE GAS TANK BLOWS OUT GAS WHEN WE ARE PUMPING GAS LIKE IT'S FULL BUT IT'S NOT, THE WINDOW CRACKED FROM A LITTLE PEDDLE AND THE WHEELS AND HUBS GO BAD REALLY FAST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11277370October 31, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DOOR LOCKS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. LATCHES WOULD NOT OPEN, COULD NOT CLOSE DOORS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11196567April 15, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS REMAINED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MINUTES. WHEN THE LIGHTS TURNED BACK ON, THE LIGHTING WAS DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO J.D. BYRIDER (5101 NEW BERN AVE, RALEIGH, NC 27610) WHERE THEY REPLACED THE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT DRIVER MODULE ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,471.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11160750December 11, 2018
VISIBILITY/WIPER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY WIPERS COME ON STEADY AND STARTS MY WINDSHEILD WASHER FLUID TO COME OUT. I PUT THEM IN A DELAYED SETTING AND THEY STILL COME ON FULL FORCE. I CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM ANYWHERE AND HAVE SMELT LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11130451September 20, 2018
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S DOOR COULD NOT BE LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE DRIVER'S DOOR MODULE HIMSELF AND WAS ABLE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR WITH THE KEY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V406000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY). THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 8-4645434013. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11099015May 31, 2018
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND THE CONTACT REMAINED IN A COMA FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HEAD, WHICH CAUSED WALKING COMPLICATIONS AND A LOSS OF FEELING IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT SUFFERED A LOSS OF SIGHT IN THE RIGHT EYE DUE TO A CRUSHED SKULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11096442May 17, 2018
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I NOTICED IN NOVEMBER OF 2016 MY BUICK RAINNER WAS SMELLING LIKE GASOLINE AFTER I GOT OUT AND LEFT IT RUNNING WHILE I WAS DROPPING STUFF AT HOME FROM WORK. WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY VEHICLE I DIDN'T SMELL ANYTHING, BUT COULD SMELL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. I WENT ABOUT ANOTHER 10 MILES LATER TO MY DESTINATION AND PARK. 20 MINS LATER WENT BACK OUT AND CRANK MY VEHICLE AND COULD SMELL A STRONG GAS ODOR COMING THRU VENTS ON THE INSIDE OF MY SUV. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER MY HOOD AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I WALKED TOWARD THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE THE GAS SMELL WAS EVEN STRONGER. I CHECKED THE FUEL / GAS TOP TO SEE I LEFT IT OFF BUT IT WASN'T. THEN I LOOKED UNDER MY VEHICLE AND NOTICE FUEL WAS POURING OUT AROUND MY GAS TANK AND NOTICE A BIG WET SPOT ON THE GROUND UNDER THE TANK. WHEN I CUT OFF THE VEHICLE I NOTICE THE GAS COMING FROM AROUND THE TANK HAS STOP. HAD MY VEHICLE TOOKEN TO A LOCAL GM/ BUICK DEALER. THE DID A INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AND SAID WHAT EVER THE PROBLEM WAS IT WAS AT THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK. SO GAVE THEM PERMISSION TO WORK ON IT AND FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. TWO DAYS LATER THE DEALER CALL ME AND SAID THAT THE GAS LINES GOING INTO THE TOP OF THE TANK WHERE FUEL PUMP GOES INTO THE TANK GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THEM. THEY COULDN'T TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT CAUSES MY LINES TO START LEAKING AT THE TOP OF THE TANK. ( AFTER READING THIS NHTSA REPORT IN 2008 ON THE CAUSE AND GM/ BUICK EXTENDED A WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS OR 120,000 WARRANTY). I'M TOTALLY UPSET ABOUT THIS BECAUSE NHTSA SHOULD HAVE DONE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM TEN YEARS AGO INSTEAD OF CLOSING THE INVESTIGATION AS LONG AS BUICK MAKES EXTEND WARRANTY FIX. THE DEALER HAD TO ORDER THE PARTS FOR THE VEHICLE AND TOOK TWO DAYS TO ARRIVE. AFTER THE PARTS ARRIVE AND TWO DAYS MORE TO WORK ON IT. I HAD A $1200 BILLS THAT I HAD TO PAY A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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