28 of the
525 complaints filed about the Buick Rainier
are about the transmission —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
28
Complaints
5%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
I WAS MAKING ON U-TURN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THEN I CONTINUED TO PROCEED, MY BACK TIRES WAS STUCK. THEY STARTED SLIDING ON THE ROAD, THEY WOULD NOT TURN. DRIVING STRAIGHT FORWARD IS FINE. ONLY MAKING TURN AND PARKING ISVERY DIFFICULT. I HAD IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC, HE SAID THAT MY TRUCK IS STUCK IN 4WD. ALSO MY CV JOINT SEAL HAS A LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #10876110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR SHUTS DOWN WITH NO WARNING , HAD 1500 DOLLAR POWER TRAIN WORK . THE CAR ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE KILLED DUE TO CAR RUNNING NO ENGINE LIGHT AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AS IF YOU TURNED THE OFF. HWY 287 GOING 65
NHTSA complaint #10779869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE JERKED. IN ADDITION, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENCODER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
NHTSA complaint #10748715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAD INVOLVED CAR ACCIDENT WHICH FROM THEY CALLED THROTTLEBODY DUE TO (TPS...SHIFT BY WIRE) YOU CAN FIND IN ASK.COM ENCYCLOPEDIA *(SEE BOTTOM) THAT I EXPERIENCED WHICH I HAD. IT WAS RUNNING IN REVERSE AND HIT STEEL POST THAT PROTECT GAS METER WHILE I TRIED BRAKE BUT ENGINE AND TRANNY WAS IN FULL IDLE AND I TRIED CHANGE TO INTO DRIVE WHILE IT STILL IN FULL IDLE AND MY BRAKE CANT STOP UNTIL I HIT EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURN ENGINE OFF BY KEY SWITCH. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND I'M NOT ALONE AND MY INSURANCE (NATIONAL GENERAL WHICH USED BE GMAC) PUSHED MY CAR INTO TOTALED THAT THEY USED BY NEVADA LAW AND BODY SHOP TRYING TO SEND THIS CAR TO DEALER FOR TESTING BUT NEVER HAPPEN CUZ OF TOTALED PROCESSING. WHICH LEAVE ME PUZZLED AND FOUND OUT THAT MY CAR SOLD TO BODY SHOP AND REPAIRED AND SOLD OTHER PEOPLE. MY WORRY IS IF THEY NOT TESTING THROTTLE AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THIS CAR MAY FACE RISK WHICH I HAD. *DISADVANTAGES THE COST OF DBW SYSTEMS IS OFTEN GREATER THAN CONVENTIONAL SYSTEMS.THAT FALL UNDER THE CATEGORY OF SAFETY CRITICAL SYSTEMSWHICH ARE RECOMMENDED TO BE DEVELOPED UNDER STANDARDS LIKE ISO 26262 WHICH REQUIRE EXTENSIVE CHANGES IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS GENERALLY TAKEN FOR DEVELOPING OTHER TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS..
NHTSA complaint #10641283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO PICK UP PASSENGER'S. PUT SHIFTER INTO "PARK" BUT INDICATOR SHOWED "DRIVE". TRIED TO EXIT CAR BUT CAR WOULD MOVE, DO TO CAR WAS IN DRIVE. SHIFTER WAS NOW LOCKED IN PARK AND WOULD NOT MOVE TO ANOTHER GEAR. RETURNED HOME, TURNED OFF IGNITION. RAINIER WOULDN'T RE START BECAUSE SHIFTER WAS STUCK IN "PARK" BUT THE INDICATOR WAS IN "DRIVE". VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE ASSEMBLY. COSTING ME MORE THEN $500. CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE (SEPTEMBER 2014, PAGE 12) HAS UNDER RECALLS, HAS SOME GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. BUT MY VEHICLE US NOT INDICATED.
NHTSA complaint #10618938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO OPERATE. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRANSMISSION EMITTED A LOUD WHINING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTER WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
NHTSA complaint #10552222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYING I LOVE MY 2006 BUICK RAINIER AND DO NOT WANT THIS EXPERIENCE TO BREAK MY COMMITMENT TO GM PRODUCTS. MY PROBLEMS BEGAN WHEN MY RAINIER STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS AND BACKING UP. MY 2006 RAINIER ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 56,000 MILES, SO AS YOU CAN SEE MY SUV HAS VERY LITTLE WEAR AND HAS HAD ALL THE REGULAR SCHEDULE MAINTENANCES. I DID EXPERIENCE THE BUMPING NOISE PERIODICALLY WHICH I UNDERSTAND NOW IS A PRECURSOR TO THE TRANSFER CASE GOING OUT. I HAVE WRITTEN TO GM ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSFER CASE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY WAY THEY COULD PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH THIS PROBLEM AS IT HAS CAUSED A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSFER CASE COSTING A LITTLE OVER $2400. GM RESPONDED THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE MATTER. THE SERVICE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY GRACIOUS WITH ME AND WORKING WITH ME TO ARRANGE PAYMENTS EACH MONTH, HOWEVER, AS WITH ANY BUSINESS THEY ARE A BUSINESS AND MUST CONTINUE ON. I HAVE SEEN ON THE EDMONDS CAR BLOG THAT THERE ARE ALMOST 300 ENTRIES OF THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSFER CASE GOING OUT IN THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I AM PLEADING WITH YOU TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AS IT ISN'T ONLY ABOUT THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP IT HAS CAUSED ME BUT MAINLY THE SAFETY ISSUE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED WHEN I COULDN'T TURN OR BACK UP APPROPRIATELY WHICH I COULD NOT WHEN THE TRANSFER CASE WENT OUT. I PURCHASED MY RAINIER ORIGINALLY BECAUSE I HAD A TRAILBLAZER LTZ AND SAW HOW THE RAINIER WAS A BETTER KIND OF VERSION OR MORE LUXURY VERSION OF THE TRAILBLAZER LTZ. I AM BEGINNING TO WISH I HAD KEPT MY TRAILBLAZER OF ALMOST 200K MILES TO MY RAINIER OF ONLY 56K MILES. YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER IS GREATLY ANTICIPATED AND APPRECIATED.
NHTSA complaint #10544981 — 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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE REAR END OF VEHICLE JERKED AND THE STABLE TRACK SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE OUTPUT SHAFT ON TRANSFER CASE AND SLIP YOKE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,507.
NHTSA complaint #10511405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A RURAL ROAD DOING ABOUT 35 TO 40 MPH THE SPEED SUDDENLY FROZE AT 40 AND IT NO LONGER MOVES. I'M CURRENTLY A DRIVER FOR THE CITY AND THIS IS A COMPLETE HAZARD WHEN DRIVING AND CAN'T DETERMINE YOUR SPEED. I WAS VERY AFRAID DUE TO THE FACT I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAPPEN TO ME WHICH OCCURRED IN THE PROCESS OF ACCELERATION . WHEN I FINALLY LOOKED DOWN MY SPEED SAID 90 WHICH I KNEW FOR A FACT I WASN'T GOING THAT FAST AT ALL ONCE THE VEHICLE GOT STUCK ON 40 IT NEVER CAME BACK DOWN. SOMEONE REALLY NEEDS TO REVISE THIS SITUATION WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON WHERE'S THE RECALL ON THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10504062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE GEAR WOULD NOT LOCK. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #10503443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT I'VE RESEARCHED EXTENSIVELY ON LINE AND THROUGH PARTS REPLACEMENT . I BOUGHT THE SUV AT THE END OF 2012 AND IT STARTED DOING THIS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER PURCHASED.WHEN SLOWING TO TURN WHILE BREAKING IT HAS A REAL BAD CLUNK AND IT WON'T TURN IT CAUSED ME TO ALMOST RUN INTO THE DITCH .I HAVE REPLACED THE CHAIN IN THE TRANSFER CASE AND ALSO BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS AND SPEED SENSORS AND REPLACED THE FLUID SEVERAL TIMES . FROM WHAT I READ ONLINE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM , WHICH I THINK IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD VERY EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ONLY HIGH MILEAGE VEHICLES THAT ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE MANUFACTURER GM. I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP PUMPING MONEY INTO THIS YARD ORNAMENT.! COME ON GM STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10500905 — 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.
I HAVE A 2004 BUICK RAINIER GM MODEL. THE CAR IS IN PARK YET THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SAYS IT IS IN DRIVE SO NOW THE CAR WILL NOT START. I READ AN ARTICLE DATED NOVEMBER 15, 2011 THAT SAID THAT NHTSA WAS TO INVESTIGATE GM MODELS FOR FAULTY GEAR SHIFTERS. THIS WAS IN THE WASHINGTON POST AND WAS BY A ERICK AYAPANA. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE ADVISE ME ON WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND SOON. MY CAR WILL NOT SHIFT, TURN OVER OR ANYTHING. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO ASAP! THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER DIDN'T NEED MY KEY AND SAID THE CAR ROLLED LIKE IT WAS STILL IN GEAR. I JUST GOT THIS CAR THIS PAST MAY 2011 AND I AM VERY UPSET. I NEED TO KNOW WHO IN MY AREA I CAN SPEAK WITH THAT CAN HELP ME FIX THIS PROBLEM EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE CAR IS WORKING AND THIS APPEARS TO BE THE PROBLEM: FAULTY GEAR SHIFTER---GM. ## VIN FAILED ## 2004 BUICK RAINIER ##
NHTSA complaint #10436507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BUICK RAINIER 2007 WITH ONLY 45000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION LINE ARE CORRODED SOO BAD THEY ARE LEAKING. UNBELIEABLE!! THE CAR WAS ALWAYS GARAGE KEPT AND TAKEN CARE OF.
NHTSA complaint #10427685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THE FAN MOTOR CONTROL MODULE WHEN OUT,THEN THE MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE FUEL INDICATOR AND DISPLAY WENT BAD. NOW LESS THAN 6 MONTHS LATER THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE BAD. IT IS ONLY WORKING IN 2 & 3. NO OVERDRIVE OR FIRST. THIS LAST PROBLEM SUDDENLY STARTED ON 7/17/11. OUR MECHANIC CAME AND CHECKED IT OUT (HE DID NOT WANT US TO DRIVE IT) AND SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS ONLY WORKING IN SECOND AND THIRD AND WE SHOULD NOT DRIVE IT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED. WE ARE STILL PAYING FOR THIS CAR AND FOR THE LAST REPAIRS ON THIS CAR. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS AND SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM WITH THE GAS GAUGE. HAS THERE BEEN ANY RECALLS OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THESE PROBLEMS BY GM?
NHTSA complaint #10413651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN DRIVING ON SLICK/SNOWY CONDITIONS THE FRONT WHEELS DO NOT GOT INTO 4WHEEL DRIVE. BECAUSE OF THIS OUR SUV DID A 180 ON A CURVE WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH. TOOK SUV IN FOR SERVICE AND HAD TRANSFER CASE AND REAR DIFF FLUIDS CHANGED OUT BUT TECH HEARD GRINDING NOISE IN FRONT DIFFS AND HAD TO TAKE TO DEALER TO FIND OUT CAMSHAFT AND SLEEVE NEED REPLACED. SUV ONLY HAS 64,000 MILES AND WE'VE OWNED FOR 2-1/2 YRS.
NHTSA complaint #10372669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD AND ACCIDENT DUE TO OIL COOLER LINE CORRODING OUT. NORMAL DRIVING. REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF OIL LINES. THIS WAS ONLY BY SHEAR LUCK THAT THIS WAS NOT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR FIRE WITH INJURIES OR DEATH.
NHTSA complaint #10353254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR FELT LIKE SOMEONE BUMPED THE BACK END OF IT WHILE AT A STOPPED POSITION OR THAT IT IS SHIFTING DOWN WHILE YOU ARE AT A STOPPED POSITION..YOU CAN ALSO FEEL IT ON THE FLOOR AT TIMES AS IT HAPPENS WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT..DEALER DID A CHECK WITH THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND NOTHING WAS IN THE COMPUTER...THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME I TOOK CAR INTO DEALER...FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE COMPESSOR KICKING ON....THIS TIME THEY SAID THAT THIS CAR HAS A TRANSMISSION THAT DOWNSHIFS LIKE THAT AND MAKES IT FEEL LIKE THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT UNLESS IT GETS WORST NOT TO WORRY...BUT IF IT DOES GET WORSE TO RING IT BACK IN.
NHTSA complaint #10307572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.