25 of the
525 complaints filed about the Buick Rainier
are about the suspension —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2005.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11557359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11384755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11324044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AROUND JANUARY 2016, THE REAR END WAS BASICALLY SITTING ALMOST ON THE REAR TIRES--THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT PUMP THE REAR END UP. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS, IT WAS FINE. THEN AROUND MARCH 2016, SAME THING HAPPENED. IN JUNE 2016, SAME THING HAPPENED BUT ONLY DOWN FOR ABOUT A DAY. THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS THE OTHER DAY, AUGUST 18, 2016--TODAY IS AUGUST 21, 2106 BUT THEY HAVE NOT CORRECTED. I HAVE READ OVER 100 THREADS OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED--IT SEEMS TO AFFECT THE RAINIER AND ENVOY AND TRAILBLAZERS, AMONG THE ONES I'VE READ. WHY SHOULDN'T GM HAVE TO FIX THIS ISSUE? I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A CONVERSION YOU CAN DO, BUT THAT WILL COST ABOUT $400+ TO DO THAT--RIGHT NOW WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE BAGS OR THE PUMP, BUT THE PUMP SEEMS TO WORK, JUST NOTHING HAPPENS. WE NOTICED THIS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, BUT IT STAYED THE SAME IN MOTION--VERY DANGEROUS--THE TOP OF THE BODY STARTED SCRAPING THE WHEEL TODAY WHILE DRIVING AND IT REALLY HAS SCARED ME.
NHTSA complaint #10897506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
REAR OF CAR DROPS TO JUST ABOVE TIRES WHEN CAR SITS FOR A FEW HOURS. AIR SUSPENSION PUMPS IT BACK UP AFTER CAR IS STARTED. AIR SUSPENSION IS LEAKING....UNSAFE TO DRIVE.CAR HAS 94000 MILES
NHTSA complaint #10871447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY RAINER STARTED TO LOOSE AIR IN THE REAR SUSPENSION, AIR RIDE SYSTEM. AT THIS TIME THE COMPRESSOR WORKS AND DOES FILL THE AIR RIDE SUSPENSION BUT YOU CAN'T BE IN A HURRY TO GO ANYWHERE. YOU MUST LET THE CAR SIT WHILE RUNNING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE YOU CAN LEAVE. IF YOU DON'T, YOU BOUNCE DOWN THE ROAD AND THAT COULD BE A DANGER TO YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE ON THE ROAD, I HAVE SPOKEN TO MY LOCAL DEALER ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO CHARGE ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THE ISSUE. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GM SHOULD TAKE CARE OF UNDER A SAFETY RECALL SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. MY CAR ONLY HAS 70,500 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10689744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY THE AIR SUSPENSION FAILED CAUSING THE REAR OF VEHICLE TO DROP TO AND UNSAFE LEVEL. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE COMPRESSOR REFILLED THE SUSPENSION BAGS BUT WHEN PARKED AND NOT DRIVEN FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME THE AIR BAGS LEAK DOWN CAUSING THE REAR SUSPENSION TO DROP DOWN AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT AND UNCOMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS ONLY 50,000 ACTUAL MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR TOWING.
NHTSA complaint #10682182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK RAINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY LOWERED TO THE GROUND. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE BOUNCED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
NHTSA complaint #10667140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO BOUNCE. RIDING IN THE CAR IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE I AM BOUNCING ALL OVER THE PLACE ON THE INSIDE TO THE POINT THAT I GET A HEADACHE AND MY NECK HURTS. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I AM RIDING AT 10 MPH OR 50MPH IT BOUNCES THE SAME. THE REAR OF THE CAR SITS VERY LOW AND NOW SCRAPES WHEN I GO OVER A SLIGHT BUMP.
NHTSA complaint #10641809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE WHEELS SUDDENLY LOCKED WITH THE 'STABILITY CONTROL" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY STATED THAT A SWITCH OF SOME TYPE THAT WAS UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD BECOME DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE SENSOR ON THE FRONT AXLES CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
NHTSA complaint #10637451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRAME ROT ? I BROUGHT MY 2004 BUICK RAINIER IN FOR SERVICE AND HAD THE MECHANIC CHECK THE STATUS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME NEAR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS ROTTED THROUGH. THE STEEL DESIGN OF THE FRAME IS ?CUPPED? NEAR THE REAR WHEELS AND THERE WAS NO DRAIN HOLE IN THE AREA TO ALLOW THE ROAD WATER AND DEBRIS TO ESCAPE. HE ADVISED THAT IF I WERE TO GO OVER A POTHOLE OR HIT A BUMP THAT THE REAR WHEEL WOULD CAVE INWARD AND CAUSE A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. HE WELDED ON A STEEL PLATE TO STABILIZE THE AREA AND DRILLED A HOLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR FRAME ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE AND UNDERCOATED THE AREAS TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL DAMAGES. THE COST OF THE STEEL PLATE REPAIR, UNDERCOATING AND LABOR WAS $180.
NHTSA complaint #10604720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR SUSPENSION ? IT SEEMS AS IF THE AIR SUSPENSION IS RUNNING CONTINUALLY AND COULD CAUSE A DRAIN ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AFTER I STOP THE CAR IT HUMS FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME NEAR THE DRIVERS DOORS AND WILL EVENTUALLY STOP.
NHTSA complaint #10604723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I CAME OUT TO MY VEHICLE ONE MORNING TO FIND THE REAR OF MY 2005 BUICK RAINIER RESTING ON THE TIRES, I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO MY AUTO REPAIRMAN. BY THE TIME I LEFT MY DRIVEWAY, THE REAR HAD LIFTED BACK UP. IT HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY FOR A FEW MONTHS, NEVER LASTING LONGER THAN THE TIME TO EXIT THE STREET THAT I LIVE ON. SINCE HITTING 150,000 MILES, THE REAR HAS STARTED DROPPING MORE FREQUENTLY AND EVEN WHILE DRIVING. RECENTLY, ON A TRIP FROM TAMPA TO DAYTONA, WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN, THE REAR DROPPED AND WE BOUNCED THE ENTIRE WAY. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY BEEN GETTING WORSE AND WHEN I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH REGARDING THIS ISSUE I HAVE FOUND THAT ALL BUICK RAINIER OWNERS EXPERIENCE THIS EXACT EVENT. IT IS TERRIFYING AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, AS MANY PARENTS UTILIZE THESE VEHICLES AND CHILDREN ARE PUT AT RISK WHEN THERE IS A LACKING IN CONTROL OF THE RAINIER.
NHTSA complaint #10544359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH INTO THE DRIVEWAY, SHE HEARD THE MUFFLER SCRAPE AGAINST THE CONCRETE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AIR SPRINGS HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #10535308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF PROBLEMS I BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SEVERAL TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE BUT MECHANICS STILL CANNOT FIND WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. FIRST, MY VEHICLE STUTTERS WHEN I BACK UP AND TURN SLOWLY OR TURN FORWARD SLOWLY. IT DOES NOT DO IT EVERY TIME, JUST OCCASIONALLY SO THE MECHANICS DO NOT EXPERIENCE IT. SECOND, WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT FOR A FEW SECONDS, MY CAR FEELS LIKE IT HAS BEEN HIT IN THE BACK BUT WHEN I LOOK BACK TO SEE IF I'VE BEEN BUMPED, THERE IS NO VEHICLE BEHIND ME. IT FEELS LIKE THE POWERTRAIN OR ENGINE WANTS TO JERK FORWARD. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT IT CONTINUES.
NHTSA complaint #10466574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LATER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED A BROKEN AXLE ACTUATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIR WAS ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER AND WAS DISCONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED THE CONTACT A DISCOUNT TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED AS NON-DRIVABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,749.
NHTSA complaint #10425156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE IS A SHUDDERING OR RUMBLE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS OF OUR BUICK RAINIER AWD AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN BACKING UP OR MAKING TURNS. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 2 OCCASIONS BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.
NHTSA complaint #10422274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.