10 of the 158 complaints about the 2005 Buick Rainier are about the braking system — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 30,000 miles.
10
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES
ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE COMMUNICATION. LOUD BANGING, AWD LIGHT CAME ON, CODE SHOWED THE ABOUT REASON. (ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE COMMUNICATION)
NHTSA complaint #11080001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING ON FREEWAY, ENGAGED IN NORMAL BREAKING AND WHEELS LOCKED UP AND BRAKES NO LONGER WORKED. I DID NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO BRAKE OR STEER THE SUV. I ULTIMATELY HIT THE CENTER DIVIDER NEARLY HEAD ON, MOSTLY MIDDLE TO PASSENGER SIDE FRONT OF CAR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HAD GM MECHANIC LOOK AT THE BRAKES AFTER THE ACCIDENT TO ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE WHAT WENT WRONG WITH BRAKES. THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT CAN CAUSE THE "COMPUTERS TO NOT COMMUNICATE CORRECTLY."' THE BAD BRAKE MODULE ALSO MEANT ABS BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10572718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ONE SUNDAY MORNING. TURNED CAR OFF AND HEARD A HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER SIDE. FRIEND AT CHURCH THOUGHT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ABS MODULE RUNNING. REMOVED THE FUSE, CUTTING OFF ABS MODULE. WAS ADVISED BY FRIEND TO REPLACE FUSE WHEN WE WENT TO LEAVE CHURCH BUT TO TAKE OUT WHEN WE GOT HOME OR THE BATTERY MIGHT GO DEAD. HE SAID GET IT TO A DEALERSHIP ASAP. I TOOK THE RAINIER TO JOHN NEWSOME SUPERSTORE IN HARTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA. I SPOKE TO SHOP FOREMAN AND HE AGREED IT WAS THE ABS MODULE. COST TO REPLACE WAS $1200 AND BEING UNEMPLOYED AND MY WIFE ONLY ONE WORKING. A MECHANIC SAID IT WAS STILL OK TO DRIVE WITHOUT ANTI LOCKING BRAKES. HE WAS ASE CERTIFIED AND TOLD ME TO STAY MY DISTANCE FROM OTHER CARS IN THE RAIN AND NOT TO DRIVE ON THE SNOW. NOTHING ABOUT SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. THAT'S JUST WHAT HAPPEN, ON OCTOBER 25/ 2011 I TOP A HILL AROUND 9PM AT NIGHT RUNNING THE SPEED LIMIT. THE HILL IS POINTED AND AS YOU TOP THE HILL YOU CAN NOT SEE WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU UNTIL YOU START DOWN THE HILL. ONCE THE RAINIER STARTED DOWN THE HILL, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD STOOD A LARGE DEER. I HAD TO MAKE A SPLIT DECISION AND THAT DECISION WAS TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT AT THE DEER AND APPLY THE BRAKES. WHEN I HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES THE REAR END OF THE RAINIER STARTED TO GO AROUND ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I NEVER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT AS THE REAR OF THE CAR STARTED GOING AROUND THE DRIVER SIDE IT FORCE THE CAR TO GO FORWARD INTO AN EMBANKMENT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR FLIP OVER AND SLIDE UPSIDE DOWN, DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN THE RAINIER CAME TO A STOP, I UNBUCKLED MY SEATBELT AND FEEL TO WHAT WAS THE ROOF. COULD NOT OPEN ANY DOORS OR GET ANY WINDOWS DOWN BUT YET THE RADIO WAS STILL PLAYING AND THE MOTOR WAS OFF. I CLIMBED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW, WHICH BROKE DURING THE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10440347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 BUICK RANIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD PERFORM FINE EVEN THOUGH THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE MODULE FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LATER INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A DEER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10437468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
(1) COMPLETE BRAKE JOB W/ROTORS AND DRUMS REPLACED, I WAS TOLD I HAD BEEN DRIVING WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON THOUGH I NEVER HAD USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE..FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. (2) HATCH BACK DOOR "PISTONS??" THAT HOLDS UP THE HATCHBACK FAILED..FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. (3) FAN CLUTCH FAILED...FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. (4) PAINT CHIPPING/PEELING; RADIO BUTTONS CHIPPING/PEELING. (5) AC/HEATER GETS STUCK ON HOT AIR BLOWING OUT WHEN SWITCHING TO AC SOMETIMES. (6) PASSENGER SIDE FEELS LIKE TIRE OR FRONT END IS WOBBLY??...DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. (7) DEC 2008, DRIVER SEAT HEATER WAS REPLACED DUE TO MAJOR OVERHEATING...FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. (8) FEB 2010 - 14 MONTHS LATER REPLACING DRIVER SEAT HEATER AGAIN DUE TO MAJOR OVERHEATING...SEAT HEATER HAS NOW BURNED 3 HOLES INTO LEATHER SEAT..NOT UNDER WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10311614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK RAINIER. WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STOPPED NORMALLY. HE IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO A MECHANIC, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT ALL 4 BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE PITTED AND CAUSED THE BRAKE PADS TO FAIL. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE ON TWO OCCASIONS AND THEY STATED THAT THE PITTING WAS DUE TO THE BRAKES OVERHEATING. THE REAR BRAKES AND PADS WERE REPLACED IN JULY OF 2007. THE FRONT BRAKES AND PADS WILL BE REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT, BUT OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE REAR ROTOR REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT FILED COMPLAINT NUMBER 71-538033018 WITH BUICK. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,150 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,237.
NHTSA complaint #10203656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK RAINIER. WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STOPPED NORMALLY. HE IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO A MECHANIC, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT ALL 4 BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE PITTED AND CAUSED THE BRAKE PADS TO FAIL. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE ON TWO OCCASIONS AND THEY STATED THAT THE PITTING WAS DUE TO THE BRAKES OVERHEATING. THE REAR BRAKES AND PADS WERE REPLACED IN JULY OF 2007. THE FRONT BRAKES AND PADS WILL BE REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT, BUT OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE REAR ROTOR REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT FILED COMPLAINT NUMBER 71-538033018 WITH BUICK. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,150 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,237.
NHTSA complaint #10203656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKES FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTORS.
NHTSA complaint #10200177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
DT: THE CONSUMER BOUGHT A NEW BUICK RAINIER IN 2005 AND SHE WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH WAS VERY SMALL. THE CONSUMER MISSED HITTING THE BRAKE PEDAL A FEW TIMES, AND THIS SCARED HER. THE CONSUMER TALKED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY KNEW OF A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD MAKE ADJUSTMENTS FOR HANDICAPPED PEOPLE. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT HANDICAPPED AND THOUGHT IT WAS UNFAIR THAT SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR AN ADJUSTMENT. *AK (11/17/05)
NHTSA complaint #10138673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC
STEP ON BRAKE GRINDING NOISE WOULD NOT STOP THIS HAPPENED OVER 2 WK TIME CAR AT DEALER NOW POP NOISE INTERMINTENT IDLE PROBLEM 3 RD TIME BACK TO DEALER HAVE CONTACTED MANUFACTIOR HAVE 2 CASE REPORTS ON 1 CLOSED A NEW ONE OPENED
NHTSA complaint #10124111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.