84 of the 205 complaints about the 2004 Buick Rainier are about the electrical system — 41% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 59,142 miles.
84
Complaints
2
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LOW BEAM LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN RIGHT TURN SIGNAL IS APPLIED AND RETURNS TO CENTER POSITION. A/C COOLING FAN DOES NOT COOL COMPRESSOR ENOUGH TO RUN A/C AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSING PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN FERON RECEIVER. CAR IS AT IDLE OR LOW SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #11005370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I'VE BEEN HAVING SPORADIC FLICKERING LOW BEAM ISSUES WITH THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT, AND HAVE SPENT UNTOLD HOURS AND TIME TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT INCLUDING TAKING IT TO THE DEALER. (I WORK NIGHTS.) LAST WEEK THE LOW BEAMS FAILED ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK AT MIDNIGHT. RESEARCHED IT, AND FINALLY SAW THE RECALL FOR GMS AND SUBSEQUENTLY AN AP STORY ABOUT WIDENING THE RECALL THAT WAS DATED APRIL 29. (I WORK AT A NEWSPAPER AND SAW THE WIRE STORY). I BOUGHT AND REPLACED THE MODULE MYSELF LAST WEEK, AND THINGS ARE WORKING WELL NOW AND SEEM TO BE FIXED. HOWEVER, THE DEALER INFORMS ME THAT THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE GM RECALL FOR FAILING HEADLIGHT MODULES, SO I CAN NOT GET MY MONEY BACK FOR THE MODULE. THIS MAKE AND YEAR MODEL SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT OTHER MODELS AND YEARS THAN HAVE BEEN RECENTLY RECALLED, ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. IT TRULY IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND UP UNTIL LAST WEEK, I WAS ALWAYS WONDERING WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL. NOT A NICE FEELING WHEN YOU WORK NIGHTS.
NHTSA complaint #10983108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I TRIED TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED TODAY IN VIRGINIA BUT IT FAILED DUE TO THE DUMMY LIGHTS ON IN THE DASH BOARD ABS AND BRAKE. THE DEALER COULD NOT COMM WITH COMP BUT CHANGED THE FUSE FOR THE CIG LIGHTER THEN THE CODES READ EBCM MODULE FAULT.. IN 2014 MY RUNNING HEADLIGHTS WOULD JUST GO OUT.. NO LIGHTS UNTIL I PUT ON HIGH BEAMS I HAVE HAD THEM WORKED ON AND CHANGED BUT STILL BURN OUT
NHTSA complaint #10897381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ELECTRICAL FIRE - VERY SIMILAR TO RECALL 15700 -FLUID ENTERED INTO THE DRIVER'S DOOR MASTER POWER WINDOW SWITCH MODULE, CAUSING CORROSION THAT COULD RESULT IN A SHORT IN THE CIRCUIT BOARD, CAUSING WINDOW SWITCHES, LOCKS, ETC TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. ALSO RESULTED IN AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. VEHICLE WAS UNATTENDED IN A PARKING LOT AND WINDOW WAS OPEN JUST AN INCH. UPON RETURN TO CAR WINDOW WAS UP AND DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WITH REMOTE. OPENED VEHICLE WITH KEY AND NOTED HORRIBLE SMELL OF ELECTRICAL FIRE AND ALL DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ELECTRICAL FEATURES WERE INOPERATIVE
NHTSA complaint #10872658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HAVE NOTICED AFTER A HEAVY AND DRIVING RAIN THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ACTS UP. WE CALL IT CRAZY CAR! ALL THE DASH LIGHTS BLINK & FLASH, BELLS DING AND GAUGES FLUCTUATE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS AT REST AND ON THE MOVE. WE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, SIT FOR A MINUTE AND RESTART ONLY TO GET THE SAME THING. THAT MAY HAPPEN FOR THE ENTIRE RIDE DURATION OR WE MAY GET NO DASH LIGHTS AT ALL. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THERE IS A SHORT OR A MOISTURE THAT CREATES THIS HAPPENING BECAUSE AFTER A FEW DAYS OF GOOD SUNNY WEATHER WHERE THE WATER HAS EVAPORATED FROM THE ROADWAYS, OUR BELOVED RAINER COMES BACK TO NORMAL. WE STILL EXPERIENCE THE DIMMING OF THE HEADLIGHTS AS WE ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN WE ARE CRUISING WITH NO GAS PEDAL APPLICATION AT AROUND THE 32 MPH MARKING WHICH IS RATHER ANNOYING AS OTHER DRIVERS FEEL AS IF WE ARE FLASHING THEM. WE SEE A DOWN SURGE IN THE BATTERY GAUGE DROP FOR 14 VOLTS TO 11 VOLTS AND THEN COME BACK UP. SOMETIMES THIS CAN HAPPEN ONCE OR TWICE DURING A 10 MILE RIDE OR AS MANY AS 50! WE WONDER, WHEN, OH, WHEN WILL GM PAY ATTENTION TO THESE COMPLAINTS OR ARE WE JUST TALKING INTO THE WIND?
NHTSA complaint #10723414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER PARKING MY VEHICLE AND SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DID NOT TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY. THERE IS NO SWITCH IN THE CABIN TO TURN THEM OFF AND THEY DID NOT TURN OFF ON THEIR OWN. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO SHUT THE LIGHTS OFF AND PREVENT THE BATTERY FROM DRAINING COMPLETELY. I LOOKED AT THE FUSES AND RELAYS NEXT TO THE BATTERY AND NOTICED THAT THE SOLID STATE RELAY NUMBER 46 CONTROLLING HDM WAS BULGED OUT ON ONE SIDE AND SMELLED LIKE BURNT ELECTRONICS. I SWAPPED RELAY 45 INTO THE 46 POSITION AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS DID NOT ILLUMINATE WITH THE DIFFERENT RELAY IN PLACE. I NOTICED THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:14V755000, IN MY CASE IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AFTER THE RELAY FAILED. I HAVE NEVER REPORTED ANY VEHICLE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS BEFORE BUT WONDER IF A WIDER RECALL MAY NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.
NHTSA complaint #10721777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH MY LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING. ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS WORK FINE. BOTH LOW BEAMS WILL SUDDENLY GO OUT, BUT SOMETIMES WILL START WORKING AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES. OTHER TIMES IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE THEY WILL WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10638627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A PERSON RAN TWO STOP SIGNS AND ENTERED VEHICLE PATH. THE TWO VEHICLES HIT HEAD ON AND THIS VEHICLE MADE IMPACT AT 40 MPH AFTER IT DECELERATED FROM 43 MPH. THE TWO VEHICLE HIT HEAD ON WITH NEAR PERFECT EVEN IMPACT, BASED UPON THIRD PARTY VISUAL DESCRIPTION OF THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLES DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AT A MAX SDM RECORDED VELOCITY CHANGE RATE OF -14.07 (MPH) AND A ALGORITHM ENABLED TO MAXIMUM SDM RECORDED VELOCITY CHANGE OF 127.5 MSEC. DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HEAD KNOCKING THE PERSON OUT. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ONSTAR WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. COMPUTER SHOWS THE SEATBELT WAS WORN BY DRIVER. WHEN THE ONSTAR WAS MANUALLY ACTIVATED BY THE DRIVER WHEN HE CAME TOO, THE GPS SHOWED THE VEHICLE FURTHER NORTH UP THE ROAD CAUSING INCORRECT POLICE DIVISION BEING CALLED. VEHICLE WAS GOING UP HILL WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING DOWNHILL. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS A SUBARU. VEHICLE COMPUTER DATA WAS RETRIEVED BY A BOSCH CRASH DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL USING VERSION 8.0 SOFTWARE. I HAVE A COPY OF THIS DATA. GM REPORTS THAT THE COMPUTER WAS CORRECT NOT TO DEPLOY AIRBAGS AND NOT CALL FOR HELP USING ONSTAR. THE VEHICLE HAD A SOFTWARE MODIFICATION DUE TO A FAULT WITH THE FAN SPEED CALIBRATION SETTING OFF A WARNING LIGHT. WE HAD COMPLAINED THAT THINGS WERE NEVER CORRECT AFTER THIS MODIFICATION OF THE SOFTWARE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS COMPLAINING THAT COMPUTERS WERE DOING STRANGE THINGS AFTER THIS FIRMWARE MODIFICATION. VEHICLE VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10638828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A PERSON RAN TWO STOP SIGNS AND ENTERED VEHICLE PATH. THE TWO VEHICLES HIT HEAD ON AND THIS VEHICLE MADE IMPACT AT 40 MPH AFTER IT DECELERATED FROM 43 MPH. THE TWO VEHICLE HIT HEAD ON WITH NEAR PERFECT EVEN IMPACT, BASED UPON THIRD PARTY VISUAL DESCRIPTION OF THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLES DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AT A MAX SDM RECORDED VELOCITY CHANGE RATE OF -14.07 (MPH) AND A ALGORITHM ENABLED TO MAXIMUM SDM RECORDED VELOCITY CHANGE OF 127.5 MSEC. DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HEAD KNOCKING THE PERSON OUT. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ONSTAR WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. COMPUTER SHOWS THE SEATBELT WAS WORN BY DRIVER. WHEN THE ONSTAR WAS MANUALLY ACTIVATED BY THE DRIVER WHEN HE CAME TOO, THE GPS SHOWED THE VEHICLE FURTHER NORTH UP THE ROAD CAUSING INCORRECT POLICE DIVISION BEING CALLED. VEHICLE WAS GOING UP HILL WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING DOWNHILL. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS A SUBARU. VEHICLE COMPUTER DATA WAS RETRIEVED BY A BOSCH CRASH DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL USING VERSION 8.0 SOFTWARE. I HAVE A COPY OF THIS DATA. GM REPORTS THAT THE COMPUTER WAS CORRECT NOT TO DEPLOY AIRBAGS AND NOT CALL FOR HELP USING ONSTAR. THE VEHICLE HAD A SOFTWARE MODIFICATION DUE TO A FAULT WITH THE FAN SPEED CALIBRATION SETTING OFF A WARNING LIGHT. WE HAD COMPLAINED THAT THINGS WERE NEVER CORRECT AFTER THIS MODIFICATION OF THE SOFTWARE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS COMPLAINING THAT COMPUTERS WERE DOING STRANGE THINGS AFTER THIS FIRMWARE MODIFICATION. VEHICLE VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10638830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
POWER DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOW LOCKS ARE INOPERATIVE. HAVE LOST ALL POWER IN THE DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS AS WELL AS THE RADIO AND THE HEATER. I WAS TRAPPED IN MY CAR THIS MORNING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES WITH THE WINDOWS UP AND THE HEATER WAS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THAT AS I COULDN'T TURN OFF THE CAR OR OPEN THE DOORS, I PRIED THE DOOR LOCK OPEN AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10626431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL ? MY 2004 BUICK RAINIER HAS HAD A PROBLEM FOR A FEW YEARS NOW WITH THE INTERMITTENT DIMMING OF THE HEADLIGHTS. AS BEST AS I CAN FIGURE OUT, IT HAPPENS NOTICEABLY AT NIGHT WHEN I AM COASTING AT 30-32 MPH. THE BATTERY VOLTAGE METER WILL DROP DOWN TO AROUND 11, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO DIM AND THEN GO BACK UP. IT MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS MOISTURE IN THE AIR, IT IS NOT GENERALLY AN ISSUE DURING THE MONTHS OF JAN-MAR WHERE IT IS CRISP AND DRIER. I START MY VEHICLE AND LET IT RUN FOR ABOUT A MINUTE OR MORE BEFORE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND DURING MY NIGHT TIME TRAVEL, IT MAY HAPPEN 3 TIMES OR MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A DRAIN ON THE POWER OR HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE. I FIND THIS DISCONCERTING WHEREAS MY LIGHTS ARE NOTICEABLY DIMMING TO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. IT MAY APPEAR TO OTHER DRIVERS THAT I AM INDICATING WITH THE ?FLASHING? OF THE HEADLIGHTS THAT THEY CAN CUT OUT IN FRONT OF ME OR MAKE THE TURN FROM A SIDE STREET. I HAVE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS IN THIS REGARD BUT I DRIVE KNOWING THAT IT COULD BE AN ISSUE. IT ONLY APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN I AM COASTING AND NOT APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL.
NHTSA complaint #10604722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER STEP MOTORS MALFUNCTION AND DO NOT GO BACK DOWN UPON DECELERATION. MY SPEEDO WILL SHOW I'M DOING 40 MPH WHILE STOPPED AND SOMETIMES PEG OUT WHILE DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS CREATES AN UNSAFE SITUATION WITH SPEED MANAGEMENT IN ALL TYPES OF DRIVING CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10583370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION INTO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES IS MUCH BROADER THAN CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED.. IN 2004 I PURCHASE THE BUICK RAINIER ABOVE. ON INITIAL TEST DRIVE WITH SALESMAN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AT 35 MPH. AFTER REVIEW BY THE MECHANIC IT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A COMPUTER ISSUE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AFTER RETESTING. DURING THE NEXT 4 YEARS THIS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 MORE TIMES. EACH TIME IT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A COMPUTER UPGRADE. I HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM SINCE THEN IN 2008. THE SYMPTOMS AND THE RESULTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH ALL REPORTED FAILURES. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WITH A BUICK FULL SIZE CAR 2006 I BELIEVE WHO HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THE REPORTS THAT THIS HAS NOT OCCURRED ON BUICKS OR SUV IS NOT CORRECT. THIS IS A LARGER PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10576335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 YEARS AND THE SPEEDOMETER HAS NOT WORKED FOR 2.5 YEARS NOW. IT WILL WORK IF I RESET THE BATTERY OR TURN THE KEY OVER UNTIL THE NEEDLE GOES BACK TO 0. I AM TOLD THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS BAD AND I SEE THAT THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS ALSO. PLEASE HELP. I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS COVERED AT A GM DEALERSHIP FOR FREE. THE VEHICLE ALSO SPUTTERS AND I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND HAD THE INJECTORS LOOKED AT. IF YOU CAN PLEASE EMAIL ME OR CONTACT ME I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
NHTSA complaint #10564869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
NHTSA complaint #10544198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 BUICK RAINIER HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHERE THE BATTERY KEEPS BEING DRAINED BY A DEAD SHORT IN THE SYSTEM AND RENDERING THE CAR USELESS SPORADICALLY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROFESSIONALS I HAVE TALKED TO DON'T SEEM TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM AND I DON'T WANT TO KEEP THROWING GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD IN MY ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE IT.
NHTSA complaint #10538486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I JUST BOUGHT A BUICK RAINIER 2004. I WAS DRIVING IT AND STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEVER WENT BACK TO 0.TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY TRIED TO RESET IT . NO LUCK . THE SHOP TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF THEM WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MUST HAVE IT TAKEN OUT AND SENT TO BE FIXED. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM IT ITS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF CARS AND SUVS.IS THEIR ANY RECALL ON THIS .WILL THEIR BE ANY RECALLS ON THIS .I WENT ON LINE AND READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING . CAN YOU ADVISE ME WHAT TO DO .THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10536616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE GAUGE CLUSTER WORKS SOMETIME. THE ONLY GAUGE THAT WORKS PROPERLY IS THE SPEED. THERE SEEMS TO BE A SHORT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SEEM TO THINK THE CLUSTER IS BAD BUT AREN'T 100% SURE SENSE IT WORKS SOMETIME. THERE HAS BEEN A COUPLE OF TIMES THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND HAVE LOST ALL ELEC COMPONENTS (NO RADIO, NO POWER WINDOWS LOCKS, OR ANY OF THE GAUGES) AFTER READING IM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10532182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT RISING FROM THE SAME ISSUE, I OWN TWO 2004 BUICK RAINIER'S AND THEY BOTH HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP BULB AND CONNECTOR BEING MELTED DUE TO POOR CONNECTION. THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR SINCE THE GM PARTS CATALOG DOES NOT LIST A REPLACEMENT CONNECTOR, THEY WOULD RATHER SELL THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. THE FIRST COMPLAINT OCCURRED ON MY OTHER RAINIER NOW THIS ONE. NO HEADLAMP IS A SAFETY CONCERN, AND DUE TO THE WIRING OVERHEATING AND MELTING COULD BE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10524983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING ON A CITY STREET- SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MPH MY METER READ 75 MPH. I PUT MY GPS SYSTEM ON TO MONITOR MY MPH. AT TRAFFIC LIGHT WHILE IDLING THE METER READ 45 MPH. 2004 BUICK RAINIER HAD BEEN SITTING OUTSIDE FOR 3 DAYS WITH THE TEMPERATURE IN THE 20'S AND THIS WAS THE 1ST TIME I HAD DRIVEN IT. TRIED ACCELERATING AND STOPPING A LITTLE SUDDENLY HOPING TO JOLT THE METER BACK TO NORMAL. NO RESULTS. PARKED FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, STARTED THE CAR AND IT BEGAN TO REGISTER AT 65 MPH WHEN DRIVING 35 MPH PER GPS. IDLING READ 25 MPH. AFTER MORE STOPS AND RESTARTS THE IDLE SPEED WOULD READ JUST BELOW 20 MPH. CALLED ONSTAR FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY CONNECTED ME WITH GMC TECH. THEY WERE GOING TO TRY AND RESET THE SPEEDOMETER BUT FOUND OUT IT COULD NOT BE DONE AND WANTED ME TO GO TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I WAS 400 MILES FROM HOME AND INSTEAD CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP AT HOME. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING COMPLAINT ABOUT 2004 RAINIERS AND THAT I SHOULD HAVE NO TROUBLE TRAVELING HOME IN 2 DAYS AND THAT MY SPEED CONTROL SHOULD WORK FINE. I AM VERY DISPLEASED THAT THE GMC TECH DID NOT CONVEY THIS INFORMATION TO ME KNOWING THAT I WAS TRAVELING AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE ABOUT 30 MINUTES PARKED THE CAR FOR 1 1/2 HOURS AND WHEN I STARTED DRIVING THEN THE SPEEDOMETER WAS BACK TO NORMAL. GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS AND STORIES JUST AS MINE AND FOUND OUT THE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL BECAUSE THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. SHAME SHAME SHAME ON BUICK!!! I HAVE SINCE VISITED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WILL BE HAVING A CLUSTER REPLACED NEXT WEEK. S. SO CONSIDER THIS A COMPLAINT ABOUT 2004 BUICK RAINIER AND A COMPLAINT ABOUT GMC TECH HANDLING OF WHAT I CONSIDER A SAFETY ISSUE. I INTEND TO TRADE IN A YEAR OR TWO - BUT AT THAT TIME I WILL CERTAINLY RECONSIDER PURCHASING A GMC AND/OR BUICK.
NHTSA complaint #10499575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IT IS A KNOWN FACT BY BUICK/GM THAT THERE IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/ELECTRICAL MAKE UP OF THIS VEHICLE. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLE, FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. FROM WHAT WE HAVE DEDUCTED SO FAR, THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE STEMMING FROM A GROUND SHORT NEAR THE RADIO. WE JUST CAN'T PINPOINT IT YET. SOME DAYS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WORKS, SOME NOT. USUALLY STARTS WORKING ON A WET DAY - INDICATING THE GROUND SHORT. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT RECALLING THIS, OTHER THAN THEY REALIZE HOW MANY WOULD BE INVOLVED. I SPENT THOUSANDS ON THIS VEHICLE AND NOW GM WILL NOT BACK THEIR PRODUCT. THE PROBLEM DIDN'T START UNTIL AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS PAST, SURPRISE SURPRISE. I HAVE TO USE A GPS SYSTEM WITH A SPEEDOMETER TO AVOID SPEEDING/GETTING FINED. ALL THE DEALERSHIPS AGREE - THE HOURS OF LABOR TO RESOLVE THIS ARE BEYOND MY POCKETBOOK. STEP UP AND ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FAULT IN THIS, GM. NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10483968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
AFTER DRIVING FOR A APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AT 65-70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THE SPEEDOMETER READING DROPS OFF FROM 70 EVENTUALLY DOWN TO 0 MPH. UPON STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE AT A REST STOP THE SPEEDOMETER RETURNS TO AN ACCURATE READING FOR A SHORT WHILE. I RELIED ON MY GARMIN GPS TO GIVE ME A SPEED APPROXIMATION WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER WENT OUT COMPLETELY. RELYING ON A ACCURATE SPEEDOMETER IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. WITHOUT THE GPS GIVING ME A SPEED READING IT WOULD BE NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO JUDGE A SAFE SPEED IN THE DARKNESS ON A ROAD ILLUMINATED ONLY BY MY HEADLIGHTS. THIS DEFECT MUST BE SIMILAR TO OTHER MODELS IN THE GM FAMILY, TRAILBLAZER AND ENVOY. IF ONE PERSON WERE TO RELY ON THIS FAULTY SPEEDOMETER THEY MIGHT THINK THEY WERE DRIVING 40 WHEN IN ACTUALITY THEY COULD BE DRIVING IN EXCESS OF 70.
NHTSA complaint #10483792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, SHE SMELLED AN ODOR OF BURNING WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE EXAMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. UPDATED 10/10/12
NHTSA complaint #10470090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1) FUEL GAUGE - THE FUEL GAUGE HAS DONE A 180, THE NEEDLE IS NOW UPSIDE DOWN. AND DOESN'T WORK REALLY. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THE THERE IS A RECALL ON 2005- 2007 BUICK RAINIERS BUT NOT ON MY 2004. MAYBE WITH MY COMPLAINT, MAYBE IT WILL INCLUDE 2004 MODELS. 2) DRIVES DOOR LOCK - THE CAR KEY WILL NO LONGER OPEN THE CAR DOOR. I CAN ONLY OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE REMOTE BUTTON.
NHTSA complaint #10467527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
GOING DOWN THE ROAD SPEEDOMETER STUCK AT 120.
NHTSA complaint #10460731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONED AND THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ABS SENSOR AND INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10452686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GAUGES DON'T FUNCTION RIGHT. SPEEDO READS TOO FAST, TOO SLOW OR NOT AT ALL, FUEL GAUGE READS TWICE AS FULL. NEEDLE PEGGED TO STOP AS IS THE OIL GAUGE NEEDLE. BUYING THIS WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER MADE.
NHTSA complaint #10452094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
DASHBORAD GAUGES DO NOT KEEP AN ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF RPM'S AS WELL AS SPEED. THE BATTERY GAUGE JUST STARTED BEING INACCURATE JANUARY 2012.
NHTSA complaint #10447388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 BUICK RAINIER- INSTRUMENT PANEL - SPEEDOMETER, TEMPERATURE, FUEL AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGES ALL STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND PROVIDING FALSE READINGS (120MPH AT DEAD STOP WITH ENGINE OFF, TEMP IN RED ZONE AT START UP). THIS APPEARS TO BE ALL TO COMMON OF AN ISSUE WITH GM TRUCKS/SUVS OF THIS ERA AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED VIA RECALL. THE PROBLEM IS NOW GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.
NHTSA complaint #10445665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE AIR BAG, THE SEAT BELT, AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED THE INCORRECT READING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,868.
NHTSA complaint #10445575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.