93 of the
525 complaints filed about the Buick Rainier
are about the fuel system —
18% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2006.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11448952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11292508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11096442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, A FUEL ODOR WAS NOTICED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR WAS STRONGER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINES WERE ROTTED AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,722.
NHTSA complaint #11074102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK RAINIER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE POWER WINDOWS WERE JAMMED AND WOULD NOT WIND UP OR DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO LEAKED FUEL ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
NHTSA complaint #10956820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR A VOLUNTARY RECALL AND DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL FUMES EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INLET CHECK VALVE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE GLUED TOGETHER AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY DUE TO PART UNAVAILABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10852032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED YOU CAN SMELL GASOLINE CAN PARK CAR IN GARAGE DUE TO OUR WATER HEATER RECEIVED NOTICE FROM G M IN NOVEMBER 2015 (G M SPECIAL COVERAGE PROGRAM,14423) CAN'T GET NOWHERE WITH G M SINCE NOVEMBER 2015
NHTSA complaint #10846425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
NHTSA complaint #10787928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL GAUGE SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10609886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FUEL SENSOR FOR MY 2006 BUICK RAINIER STARTED TO MALFUNCTION APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED BY GM DEALER, KING CHEVROLET BUICK GMC OF LONGMONT, COLORADO AND THEY INFORMED ME THE CAR NEEDED A NEW FUEL SENSOR. THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATES THE TANK IS EMPTY, WHEN ACTUALLY FULL. WE DECIDED NOT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, DUE TO THE COST. THE BUICK RAN OUT OF GAS NUMEROUS TIMES THROUGHOUT THE LAST 2 YEARS. THREE DAYS AGO THE CAR STALLED ON INTERSTATE 25 WITH PASSENGERS ON BOARD. WE TOWED IT BACK TO KING CHEVROLET BUICK GMC, LONGMONT, CO. AND NOW DIAGNOSED WITH A FAULTY FUEL PUMP WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1400 TO CORRECT THE FUEL PUMP/SENSOR PROBLEM. EACH TIME THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE GM DEALER, NOT A WORD WAS MENTIONED BY STAFF/TECHNICIANS ABOUT THE KNOWN FUEL COMPONENT FAILURE. I DISCOVERED THIS ISSUE AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, YESTERDAY. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IS NOT PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED BY GM CORP AND ITS DEALERS AND A RECALL FOR THESE VEHICLES HAS NOT OCCURRED. SEEMS GM CORP AND KING CHEVROLET BUICK GMC HAVE NO CONCERN FOR CONSUMER SAFETY.
NHTSA complaint #10598102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL GAUGE/SENSOR NOT WORKING. WHEN FIRST STARTED TO GO OUT WOULD READ A QUARTER OF A TANK AFTER FILLING UP TANK. AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS IT NO LONGER REGISTERED ANY FUEL, AFTER FILLING TANK IT WOULD REMAIN AT EMPTY AND SENSOR WOULD TRIGGER BEEPING WARNING EVERYTIME CAR WAS TURNED ON.
NHTSA complaint #10593183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
WHEN I PARK MY 2004 BUICK RAINIER IN MY GARAGE THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHICH IS GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. I WENT ON THE INTERNET TO RESEARCH AND ULTIMATELY FOUND THAT THE 2004 GM ENVOY (SISTER VEHICLE) HAD A RECALL DUE TO A SIMILAR ISSUE AND THAT GM CONFIRMED IN 2008 THAT THE 2004 BUICK RAINIER FUEL LINE CAN RUST AND CAUSE THIS CONDITION. ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND GM EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS AND 120,000 MILES THERE WAS NO NOTICE TO CONSUMERS THAT I AM AWARE OF. MY TRUCK IS 9 YEARS OLD BUT HAS 128,000 MILES. I WILL GO TO THE DEALER THIS WEEK TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP. HISTORICALLY THE DEALER HAS BEEN LESS THAN HELPFUL WITH PROBLEMS AS I DID NOT PURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM THEM. BEING UNEMPLOYED I WOULD RATHER FIX MY TRUCK AT THIS TIME AS A NEW CAR IS NOT A REASONABLE SOLUTION. ANY SUGGESTIONS YOU CAN OFFER TO HELP ME WOULD BE APPRECIATED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10549585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL GAUGE STARTED DISPLAYING ERRATIC GAS LEVEL DISPLAYS. SOON, WHEN TANK WAS FILLED, IT WOULD SHOW EMPTY. ON ONE OCCASION IT LEFT US STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAD NO WARNING, THE ENGINE DIED, AND I HAD TO SAFELY NAVIGATE FROM THE FAST LANE ON THE FAR LEFT TO THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT. LUCKILY, I AVOIDED OTHER TRAFFIC CONTACT WHILE DOING THIS. I ASKED MY MECHANIC AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS THE SENSOR IN THE TANK. HE SAID THE CHEVY TRAIL BLAZERS WERE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS. I CHECKED CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND SAW WHERE MY VEHICLE, A 2005 BUICK RAINIER, WAS ALSO IN THIS GROUPING. MY MECHANIC THOUGHT THE MANUFACTURER HAD OFFERED SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN MAKING THE REPAIRS. I AM ABOUT TO FIND OUT. THEY SHOULD! I SEE THERE HAS BEEN A PETITION FOR THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE AND CONSIDER A RECALL. I THINK THEY SHOULD. MY SCENARIO COULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD IF I HAD BEEN STRUCK BY OTHER CARS AS I TRIED TO MOVE OFF THE INTERSTATE WITH NO ENGINE POWER - JUST MY COAST AND FORWARD MOMENTUM. MY VEHICLE IS DUE FOR IT'S SAFETY INSPECTION, AND MY MECHANIC CANNOT PASS IT WITHOUT THIS REPAIR. DOESN'T THAT SAY SOMETHING IN ITSELF ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVED. HE SUGGESTED I GO TO MY BUICK DEALERSHIP, WHICH I WILL TOMORROW. IF THE DEALER AND BUICK GIVE ME TROUBLE WITH THE REPAIR, YOU CAN BET YOU FOLKS WILL HERE ABOUT THAT TOO! THE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER IS DP10001.
NHTSA complaint #10543862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE VARIOUS TYPES OF PROBLEMS WITH MY 2005 BUICK RAINIER. I HAVE OWNED IT FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS NOW AND IT CURRENTLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 93,000 MILES ON IT. I AM REPORTED THE PROBLEMS TO YOU SO THAT YOU CAN DOCUMENT THE PROBLEMS TO YOUR LIST AND I AM ALSO HOPING THAT YOU CAN LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THESE ISSUES? 1. AWD IS NOT WORKING. WHEN THERE WAS SNOW ON THE GROUND. IT CAUSED ME TO DITCH MY CAR WHEN I WAS TURNING A CORNER AT A VERY LOW SPEED. THERE WAS A CAR COMING TOWARDS ME, BUT MISSED MY CAR. THANK GOODNESS IT DID NOT INJURE SOMEONE, MYSELF OR MY CAR. THE REAR ALSO SLIDES WHEN IT IS WET/RAINING OUTSIDE. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT WHEN IT IS WET OUTSIDE...ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS SNOW ON THE GROUND. 2. MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. I JUST SEEN THAT MY DOOR COULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY A RECALL, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEN. I PAID FOR ANOTHER DOOR AND INSTALLATION. 3. WHEN I AM TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL TO BACK-UP. THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE. 4. MY SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK. I DRIVE WITH OTHER CARS WHEN I CAN, BUT I ALSO DRIVE SEVERAL COUNTRY ROADS. I HAVE RECEIVED 2 SPEEDING TICKETS DUE TO THIS. 5. MY GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK. I KEEP TRACK OF MY GAS BY MY CURRENT MILEAGE AND PER GALLONS OF GAS, BUT I HAVE STILL RAN OUT OF GAS AT LEAST 8 TIMES AND...NEARLY GOT HIT IN THE REAR SEVERAL TIMES. 6. I BELIEVE THERE IS A WINDSHIELD RECALL. IS IT STILL ACTIVE? I DO KNOW THAT ALL OF MY CAR PROBLEMS ARE VERY COMMON WITH BUICK RAINIER'S AND I AM HOPING THAT THERE IS ACTIVE RECALLS ON ALL OF THESE SERIOUS ISSUES AND THAT BUICK/GM WILL GLADLY REPAIR THEM. THESE ARE ALL SAFETY ISSUES THAT COULD RESULT IN FATAL INJURIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP, RESEARCH AND RESPONSE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10543941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THREE YEARS AGO THE FUEL SENSOR ON MY BUICK RAINER FAILED. GM HAS ISSUED A BULLETIN ON THE REPAIR THAT COVERS 50% OF THE COST. I VIEW THIS AS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM GM THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SENSOR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BUICK DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE TO REPAIR THIS ITEM IS AROUND $200. AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE I GAVE UP ON TRYING TO GET GM TO COVER 100% OF THE COST. AFTER TALKING TO YOUR OFFICE I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ENGINEERS ARE STILL LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE. DO YOU KNOW WHEN THIS WILL BE RESOLVED?
NHTSA complaint #10525158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT ABOUT 65K MILES IN FEBRUARY 2009. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL SENSOR INSIDE THE GAS TANK HAD FAILED AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE 60K MILES HAD BEEN EXCEEDED. NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THIS COSTLY REPAIR HAS FORCED ME TO CONTINUE TO USE THE TRIP METER ON THE ODOMETER AS A WAY TO ESTIMATE MY FUEL LEVEL. IT IS NOW 4 YEARS LATER AND I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE OF RECALL OR SERVICE NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR DEALER. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS OVER 125K MILES AND APPARENTLY NO LONGER QUALIFIES FOR THE OFFER FROM GM OF SPLITTING THE REPAIR COST WITH THE CUSTOMER. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM GM OR MY DEALER OF ANY OFFER OF ASSISTANCE WITH THIS ISSUE. GM OBVIOUSLY INSTALLED FAULTY EQUIPMENT AND THE FACT THAT THEY EXPECT THEIR SO CALLED VALUED CUSTOMER TO PAY AT ALL FOR CORRECTING THIS TYPE OF ISSUE IS NOT GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE. I GUESS THAT I'M NOT THAT VALUED A CUSTOMER AS I BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO THEIR ATTENTION IN 2009, REPAIR WAS DENIED UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY SERVICE NOTICE REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10505605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RAINIER. AFTER ADDING FUEL TO THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED EMPTY AND THE EMPTY FUEL TANK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 11/14/12
NHTSA complaint #10478256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
AFTER FILLING ENGINE TO FULL, UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, FUEL SENSOR DROPPED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO EMPTY AND THE LOW FUEL LIGHT CAME ON. LATER, IT CAME BACK UP BUT LEVEL DOESN'T REFLECT WHAT IT SHOULD BE. I HAVE RESORTED TO RESETTING MY TRIP ODOMETER AND FILLING UP WHEN IT NEARS 300 MILES SO I KNOW I WON'T BE STRANDED WITHOUT FUEL. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS.
NHTSA complaint #10463968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.