2.1

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
73,827 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #12

Oct 172017

Rainier

  • 168,000 miles
While driving down the interstate last night at about 70 mph my low-beam headlights suddenly went off plunging the road ahead of me into pitch black darkness. Full beam and directional lights were still functioning, managed to safely pull of to the side of the interstate, and luckily was able to use my cell phone to determine that the solid state headlight relay had failed. Luckily there is a similar relay located in the fuse box that controls the engine fan that I was able to utilize and continue on my journey. Needless to say this was a very unnerving/scary experience and can't imagine what it would be like for a less experienced driver. I find it hard to believe that GM thought that a system that could affect both headlight simultaneously in this way was remotely even a good idea?!

- Middleburg, FL, USA

problem #11

Feb 282017

Rainier 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,800 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Buick Rainier. While driving 65 mph, the headlights failed without warning. The failure occurred two more times. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (modern Chevrolet located at 5955 university pkwy winston-salem, North Carolina 27105) where it was diagnosed that the low beam module failed. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V519000 (exterior lighting). The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The contact was informed that NHTSA determined which vehicles to include in recalls and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 53,800. Updated 09/01/17

- Rural Hall, NC, USA

problem #10

Feb 012017

Rainier

  • 19,600 miles
The lights go out completely while driving.

- Bonneau, SC, USA

problem #9

Oct 012015

Rainier

  • 82,500 miles
The drivers door master power switch shorts out - cannot roll down windows (of any kind), lights flicker and go out completely my headlights turn off completely while im driving!!!!! and has caused me to immediately pull over with no lights, no vision to turn them on manually!!! unacceptable!!

- Yerington, NV, USA

problem #8

May 052016

Rainier

  • 166,000 miles
Our low beam lights quit working without warning. Sometimes they come back on at other times they do not and you have to hit the high beams or even the fog lights. Not a good thing to happen. Car is always in motion at night when failure happens. This has happened many times over last couple of years. Not sure how many times. Not always noticeable depending on if you are in city lighting or in country. Daylight running lights, high beams and fog lights seem to work but not low beams.

- Branson, MO, USA

problem #7

May 012015

Rainier

  • miles
Our 2005 Buick Rainier started acting up this past summer when the blower stayed on when car shut off..now when we turn on the heater on the car hesitates and stalls out while driving! the volt gauge is maxed out...the passenger window doesn't work now" now the blower doesn't work unless I fool with wires in the glovebox going to some black box? I also noticed front headlight always flickers when driving..even replaced bulb! always dimmer?" now we smell wires burning from somewhere..so many problems !! over 100;000 miles on it....

- Roseville, MI, USA

problem #6

Sep 012012

Rainier

  • 100,000 miles
My speedometer does not work correctly. Some times it seems to read right, but lots of times it will say I am doing 120 when I am doing 30 mph or it will show I am doing 0 when I am actually doing 70 mph on the interstate. I cannot rely on my speedometer to be accurate. I can be driving, it appears to be working but then it starts to slowly go down until it is back at zero and all the while I am in drive and moving. Also, my oil gage has stopped working. It moves when I start my car and shut it off, but it is never correct either. It is either at zero or on the complete opposite side. Sometimes my car stalls when I am sitting at a light or driving slowly. My dash will say, oil pressure low, stop engine and die on me. I keep my oil changed regularly and keep the levels checked. It does not leak, it always measures fine when I check it. So something is wrong with the oil gage and it is continuously telling my computer the oil pressure is low causing my car to die on me while driving or in traffic. These are both very serious driving hazards. I could go to pull out left and turn, my car could die on me, and I could get hit from oncoming traffic. This has not happened, but it is a possible scenario due to my car stalling out of the blue because of the oil gage/sensor not working right. I have also noticed some of my lights in my dash area half work and on my doors. Other than this, I have had great luck with my vehicle. I bought it new and really have not had any problems but with this. I also had the fuel gage go out, but there was a recall on it, and I had it replaced. I cannot give you a specific date, because this happens almost on a daily basis, so I will give you an approximate date as to when I think it started around.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #5

Sep 052015

Rainier

  • 52,600 miles
On the evening of 9/5/2015 I was driving my 2005 Buick Rainier when the low beam headlights went out. I was able to drive to a safe location using my high beam headlights. When inspected by my local Buick dealer (ferman Buick) it was found that relay 46 (headlamp driver module) had burned up and damaged additional fuses and relays. The entire fuse box had to be replaced due to the damage. This case has been reported to GM (#8-1567980379). GM currently has multiple years of Buick Rainier under recall for this exact problem, so I'm hoping they expand the recall to cover 2005.

- Lutz, FL, USA

problem #4

Feb 032014

Rainier

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Buick Rainier. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the headlights would intermittently operate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

- Salisbury, NC, USA

problem #3

Jun 072014

Rainier

  • 60,000 miles
We own a 2005 Buick Rainier and the headlites and dash board lites cut off on there own just like the 2006 vehicles are doing and theres a recall on the 06 thru 09 Rainiers G.M. needs to expand its recall to include 05 models. I filed a complant with G.M. my complaint case number is [xxx] I would like you to look into this because its a very dangerous problem and someone could be hurt or killed. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Oviedo, FL, USA

problem #2

Nov 132008

Rainier

  • 45,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Buick Rainier. The contact stated that while driving at night, the low beam headlights failed. The contact attempted to reactivate the lights but to no avail. The contact had to hold the signal in order to have the high beams lights remain illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they advised that the relay needed to be replaced but the dealer did not have the parts available in order to complete the repair. The vehicle was repaired several months later. The manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 45,000.

- Vero Beach, FL, USA

problem #1

Jan 162007

Rainier

  • 28,426 miles
Gas gauge is erratic, goes from empty to full and full to empty leaving you with no idea how much fuel you have. When slowing down or turning, vehicle lunges or stalls. Also, low beam headlights will go off with no warning and takes time to re-light. Low beams also tend to flicker to dim.

- Lynn Haven, FL, USA