2004 Buick Rainier

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/2004· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  NUMBERS ON SPEEDOMETER DISAPPEAR IN EARLY MORNING AND JUST BEFORE DARK. *AK

• 12/28/2010· POWER TRAIN

  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. *TR

• 12/27/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 BUICK RAINIER STOPS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS NO PATTERN AS TO WHEN THIS OCCURS, IT HAS HAPPENED IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER AND ALL TEMPERATURES. SOMETIMES IT SAYS I'M GOING FASTER THAN I AM, SOMETIMES IT SAYS I'M GOING SLOWER. SOMETIMES IT STOPS WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH RAINIERS. I'M WONDERING WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED? THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 100,000 MILES ON IT NOW, BUT THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPING HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A FEW YEARS. *TR

• 12/22/2017· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILURE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. FIRST TIME A YEAR OR SO AGO, LOW BEAM RELAY REPLACED BY BEST RECOLLECTION

• 12/21/2017· STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

  TRANSFER CASE SHIFT MODULE CONTROL MODULE

• 12/18/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO STICK AT 60 MPH WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY AFTER EXITING OFF OF THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT. I THEN PROCEEDED ON MY WAY HOME IN A 30MPH ZONE AND THEN THE SPEEDOMETER WAS PEGGED OUT AT OVER 120MPH. FROM THEN ON SOMETIMES THE NEEDLE ON THE GAUGE ALMOST GOES TO ZERO UNTIL YOU START TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AND THEN IT PEG'S OUT AGAIN. CONSEQUENTLY MY WIFE AND I DO NOT KNOW HOW FAST WE ARE GOING WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS OR DRIVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE CHILDREN PLAY. I HAVE NOT PAYED TO REPLACE A 500 HUNDRED DOLLAR ITEM. *TR

• 12/16/2009· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE WELDING FROM THE FILLER NECK HAD BECOME LOOSE AND CAUSED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 144,000.

• 12/13/2009· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  2004 BUICK RAINIER SPEEDOMETER WORKS SPORADICALLY. SOMETIMES IT WORKS THEN OTHER TIMES IT REGISTERS TO HIGH OR TO LOW. FROM WHAT I'VE READ THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THE BUICK RAINIER. *TR

• 12/03/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  NO PARTICULAR EVENT JUST DRIVING AND SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING A FEW WEEKS LATER GAS GAUGE STOPPED ONCE IN AWHILE THE SPEEDOMETER STARTS BUT IS INACCURATE ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS GOING . MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR SAME PROBLEM . TRIED TO HAVE THE DEALER CO OPERATE AND FIX THE DEFECT BUT GOT NOWHERE NEED HELP AS THIS IS A EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE FIX ON A FAULTY PART THAT SHOULD HAVE A RECALL AS IT IS A UNSAFE SITUATION. *TR

• 12/02/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY I NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER READING WAS TOO HIGH AS I WAS CHANGING LANES TO EXIT DURING EVENING RUSH HOUR. AFTER EXITING AND STOPPING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, MY SPEEDOMETER WAS SHOWING 55MPH. AS I CONTINUED ON THE SERVICE DRIVE I OBSERVED 75 AND 85MPH IN A 35MPH ZONE! VERY DISTRACTING WHEN DRIVING NEXT TO A 70MPH FREEWAY. I NOT GOING THAT FAST I'M CRAWLING. WHEN I TURNED ON TO MY STREET I WAS STILL OBSERVING THE SPEED AT 65MPH AND NEARLY RAN OVER MY NEIGHBOR WHO WAS PUTTING HIS TRASH OUT AT THE CURB. ALMOST PASSED MY DRIVEWAY AND DROVE OVER A BIT OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORS GRASS. I COULD NOT BELIEVE A 4-YR OLD VEHICLE WITH 64000 MILES HAD A BAD SPEEDOMETER. SO I CHANGED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FUSE AND THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO WORK AGAIN AND SEEMED TO BE ACCURATE. ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK IT AGAIN SHOT UP TO 120+MPH AND THAT IS WHERE IT STAYED. CHANGED THE FUSE AGAIN SEEMED TO WORK FOR A DAY AND SHOT UP AGAIN TO 120+ MPH. DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE TO REPAIRED AND THEY SAY IT IS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT IS BAD AND IT WILL COST $450.00. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I CANNOT REPAIR AT THIS TIME. DEALERSHIP SERVICE SAYS THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING AT ALL. FOR MY MONEY THEY WILL ONLY WARRANTY IT FOR 1YR/12000 MILES. I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED BUY AMERICAN BUT RIGHT NOW I AM TRULY DISAPPOINTED. *TR

• 11/20/2011· POWER TRAIN

  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 ##

• 11/16/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,EXTERIOR LIGHTINGCrash

  WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, BUT STOPPED. VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE REAR. THE OTHER DRIVER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE BRAKE LIGHTS FROM BEHIND. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE HOME. WILL CALL THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK

• 11/11/2012· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  IT IS A KNOWN FACT BY BUICK/GM THAT THERE IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/ELECTRICAL MAKE UP OF THIS VEHICLE. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLE, FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. FROM WHAT WE HAVE DEDUCTED SO FAR, THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE STEMMING FROM A GROUND SHORT NEAR THE RADIO. WE JUST CAN'T PINPOINT IT YET. SOME DAYS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WORKS, SOME NOT. USUALLY STARTS WORKING ON A WET DAY - INDICATING THE GROUND SHORT. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT RECALLING THIS, OTHER THAN THEY REALIZE HOW MANY WOULD BE INVOLVED. I SPENT THOUSANDS ON THIS VEHICLE AND NOW GM WILL NOT BACK THEIR PRODUCT. THE PROBLEM DIDN'T START UNTIL AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS PAST, SURPRISE SURPRISE. I HAVE TO USE A GPS SYSTEM WITH A SPEEDOMETER TO AVOID SPEEDING/GETTING FINED. ALL THE DEALERSHIPS AGREE - THE HOURS OF LABOR TO RESOLVE THIS ARE BEYOND MY POCKETBOOK. STEP UP AND ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FAULT IN THIS, GM. NOW. *TR

• 11/09/2012· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  AFTER DRIVING FOR A APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AT 65-70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THE SPEEDOMETER READING DROPS OFF FROM 70 EVENTUALLY DOWN TO 0 MPH. UPON STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE AT A REST STOP THE SPEEDOMETER RETURNS TO AN ACCURATE READING FOR A SHORT WHILE. I RELIED ON MY GARMIN GPS TO GIVE ME A SPEED APPROXIMATION WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER WENT OUT COMPLETELY. RELYING ON A ACCURATE SPEEDOMETER IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. WITHOUT THE GPS GIVING ME A SPEED READING IT WOULD BE NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO JUDGE A SAFE SPEED IN THE DARKNESS ON A ROAD ILLUMINATED ONLY BY MY HEADLIGHTS. THIS DEFECT MUST BE SIMILAR TO OTHER MODELS IN THE GM FAMILY, TRAILBLAZER AND ENVOY. IF ONE PERSON WERE TO RELY ON THIS FAULTY SPEEDOMETER THEY MIGHT THINK THEY WERE DRIVING 40 WHEN IN ACTUALITY THEY COULD BE DRIVING IN EXCESS OF 70. *TR

• 11/09/2011· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  I HAVE A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. SPEEDOMETER IS SAYING 120MPH WHEN ONLY GOING 25. IT WOULD ADJUST ITSELF FOR A DAY BUT THEN IT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND NOW STAYING AT 120 MORE OFTEN. THIS STARTED AT THE END OF MAY. FOR A FEW YEARS NOW THE HATCH WINDOW LOCK IS A PROBLEM. CAN'T OPEN IT BECAUSE I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH GETTING IT LOCKED AGAIN WITHOUT SLAMMING IT. HAVE ALSO HAD CONDENSATION IN MY HEAD AND REAR LIGHTS SINCE I'VE GOTTEN IT. WHY THEY HAVE YET TO RECALL ABOUT THE SPEEDOMETER IS CRAZY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY WHEN CHILDREN OR THE ELDERLY ARE INVOLVED! THE COST TO FIX THE CLUSTER ALONE IS 455.80$ (CHEAPEST). THIS SHOULD NOT BE MY RESPONSIBILITY WHEN MOST, IF NOT ALL, OF THE RAINIERS ARE ALL MALFUNCTIONING IN THE SAME WAY. *TR

• 11/08/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  SPEEDOMETER FAILING AND/OR WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

• 11/03/2015· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  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.

• 11/03/2004· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  IN OCTOBER, 2003 I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 BUICK RAINIER. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT AND THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY DIMMED AND THEN CAME BACK UP. IT HAPPENED AT LEAST TWICE THAT NIGHT. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. THEY WERE FIXING SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS AT THE SAME TIME SO WE ASSUMED IT WAS FIXED. LAST WEEK, OCTOBER 28, 2004, I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OVER A DARK MOUNTAIN PASS WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OFF. THEY STAYED OFF FOR 2 TO 3 SECONDS BEFORE COMING BACK ON. LUCKILY, I DIDN'T CRASH BECAUSE THE LIGHTS OF A NEARBY SEMI KEPT ME FROM CRASHING INTO THE FREEWAY BARRIER. I FOLLOWED THE SEMI AFTER THAT BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID THEY WOULD GO OFF AGAIN. A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD, IN A NARROW ON-LANE CONSTRUCTION AREA THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMED SEVERAL TIMES BUT NEVER WENT COMPLETELY OUT. HEN I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY HE WAS ABSOLUTELY WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND UNDERSTOOD COMPLETELY HOW DANGEROUS IT WAS. BUT, THE GM REPRESENTATIVES AND CORPORATE OFFICE REFUSES TO EVEN RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN REPLICATED IN THE SHOP SO WILL NOT AUTHORIZE OUR DEALER TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT. THE DEALER HAS CALLED GM SEVERAL TIME AND I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL TIMES. GM BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T CARE IF I DIED AND/OR KILLED OTHER PEOPLE AS FAR AS THEY WERE CONCERNED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. *AK

• 11/02/2006· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION I WAS HIT IN THE FRONT RIGHT QUARTER OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS HIT BY A PERSON RUNNING A RED LIGHT. HE WAS DOING 40 TO 50 MPH IN A LIGHT TRUCK AND KNOCKED MY SUV SIDEWAYS ABOUT 15 FEET. THERE IS MORE THAN $8,000 DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE BUT THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND SOFT TISSUE INJURIES. GM TOLD ME I HAD TO GET HIT IN A CERTAIN WAY FOR THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THEY DON'T TELL YOU THAT WHEN SELLING THE CAR. CAN YOU TELL ME IF THE BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED? *NM

• 10/27/2015· TIRES

  BLOW OUT OF TIRE ON INTERSTATE 90 IN MADISON AT 70 MPH. SIDEWALL OF TIRE DISINTEGRATED. NEARLY LOST CONTROL. TIRE WAS A GENERAL ALTIMAX HP, SIZE 255/60-17 ON A 2004 BUICK RENIER.. TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY 30000 MILES. AND HAD BEEN ROTATED AND BALANCED.

• 10/27/2009· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 BUICK RAINIER IS ERRATIC. IT SAYS I AM GOING 100 WHEN DOING 70 AND SOMETIMES SAYS I AM GOING 0 WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

• 10/25/2013· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  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). *TR

• 10/16/2009· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE "ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THERE WAS ALSO A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL PRESENT OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

• 10/06/2006· POWER TRAIN

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD REPETITIVELY UNTIL THE FRONT WHEELS WERE STRAIGHTENED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ISSUE WAS A RESULT OF THE DESIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS THE COMPUTER READING THAT ONE WHEEL WAS TRAVELING FURTHER THAN THE OTHER, AND COMPENSATING FOR THIS BY ENGAGING THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE.

• 10/01/2008· POWER TRAIN

  I HAVE A 2004 BUICK RAINIER THAT HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT WITH 28,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 64,000 MILES. *TR

• 10/01/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THERE ARE NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN IT GETS DARK CONSUMER CANNOT SEE THE SPEED. THE DEALER STATES THEY CANNOT REPAIR THE DEFECT. MANUFACTURER INDICATES IT IS NORMAL.*AK

• 09/30/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I HAVE A 2004 BUICK RAINIER AND THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE OTHER GAUGES DON'T WORK I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING OR HOW MY CAR IS RUNNING ITS BEEN LIKE THAT A LITTLE AFTER I GOT IT AND IT WORKS SOME TIMES BUT SOMETIMES IT DON'T I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE A CAR LIKE MINE AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM TO. *TR

• 09/25/2012· VISIBILITYFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE BLOWER CONTINUED RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WIRES FOR THE HEATER BLOWER WERE BURNED OUT. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE CONTACT THEN SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

• 09/24/2014· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash

  A PERSON RAN TWO STOP SIGNS AND ENTERED VEHICLE PATH. THE TWO VEHICLES HIT HEAD ON AND THIS VEHICLE MADE IMPACT AT 40 MPH AFTER IT DECELERATED FROM 43 MPH. THE TWO VEHICLE HIT HEAD ON WITH NEAR PERFECT EVEN IMPACT, BASED UPON THIRD PARTY VISUAL DESCRIPTION OF THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLES DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AT A MAX SDM RECORDED VELOCITY CHANGE RATE OF -14.07 (MPH) AND A ALGORITHM ENABLED TO MAXIMUM SDM RECORDED VELOCITY CHANGE OF 127.5 MSEC. DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HEAD KNOCKING THE PERSON OUT. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ONSTAR WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. COMPUTER SHOWS THE SEATBELT WAS WORN BY DRIVER. WHEN THE ONSTAR WAS MANUALLY ACTIVATED BY THE DRIVER WHEN HE CAME TOO, THE GPS SHOWED THE VEHICLE FURTHER NORTH UP THE ROAD CAUSING INCORRECT POLICE DIVISION BEING CALLED. VEHICLE WAS GOING UP HILL WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING DOWNHILL. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS A SUBARU. VEHICLE COMPUTER DATA WAS RETRIEVED BY A BOSCH CRASH DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL USING VERSION 8.0 SOFTWARE. I HAVE A COPY OF THIS DATA. GM REPORTS THAT THE COMPUTER WAS CORRECT NOT TO DEPLOY AIRBAGS AND NOT CALL FOR HELP USING ONSTAR. THE VEHICLE HAD A SOFTWARE MODIFICATION DUE TO A FAULT WITH THE FAN SPEED CALIBRATION SETTING OFF A WARNING LIGHT. WE HAD COMPLAINED THAT THINGS WERE NEVER CORRECT AFTER THIS MODIFICATION OF THE SOFTWARE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS COMPLAINING THAT COMPUTERS WERE DOING STRANGE THINGS AFTER THIS FIRMWARE MODIFICATION. VEHICLE VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

• 09/24/2014· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash

  A PERSON RAN TWO STOP SIGNS AND ENTERED VEHICLE PATH. THE TWO VEHICLES HIT HEAD ON AND THIS VEHICLE MADE IMPACT AT 40 MPH AFTER IT DECELERATED FROM 43 MPH. THE TWO VEHICLE HIT HEAD ON WITH NEAR PERFECT EVEN IMPACT, BASED UPON THIRD PARTY VISUAL DESCRIPTION OF THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLES DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AT A MAX SDM RECORDED VELOCITY CHANGE RATE OF -14.07 (MPH) AND A ALGORITHM ENABLED TO MAXIMUM SDM RECORDED VELOCITY CHANGE OF 127.5 MSEC. DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HEAD KNOCKING THE PERSON OUT. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ONSTAR WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. COMPUTER SHOWS THE SEATBELT WAS WORN BY DRIVER. WHEN THE ONSTAR WAS MANUALLY ACTIVATED BY THE DRIVER WHEN HE CAME TOO, THE GPS SHOWED THE VEHICLE FURTHER NORTH UP THE ROAD CAUSING INCORRECT POLICE DIVISION BEING CALLED. VEHICLE WAS GOING UP HILL WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING DOWNHILL. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS A SUBARU. VEHICLE COMPUTER DATA WAS RETRIEVED BY A BOSCH CRASH DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL USING VERSION 8.0 SOFTWARE. I HAVE A COPY OF THIS DATA. GM REPORTS THAT THE COMPUTER WAS CORRECT NOT TO DEPLOY AIRBAGS AND NOT CALL FOR HELP USING ONSTAR. THE VEHICLE HAD A SOFTWARE MODIFICATION DUE TO A FAULT WITH THE FAN SPEED CALIBRATION SETTING OFF A WARNING LIGHT. WE HAD COMPLAINED THAT THINGS WERE NEVER CORRECT AFTER THIS MODIFICATION OF THE SOFTWARE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS COMPLAINING THAT COMPUTERS WERE DOING STRANGE THINGS AFTER THIS FIRMWARE MODIFICATION. VEHICLE VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

• 09/24/2014· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I HAVE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH MY LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING. ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS WORK FINE. BOTH LOW BEAMS WILL SUDDENLY GO OUT, BUT SOMETIMES WILL START WORKING AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES. OTHER TIMES IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE THEY WILL WORK. *TR

• 09/18/2013· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

• 09/14/2011· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND ABOVE, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

• 09/14/2004· SEATS

  POWER MEMORY SEAT WENT TO EXIT POSITION IN VEHICLE AND WILL NOT RETURN TO DRIVING POSITION FORCING VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN WITH SEAT ALL THE WAY BACK. MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO REACH PEDALS. RETURNED TO DEALER WHO HAD TO ORDER PART (SEAT TRACK). PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. CALLED GM AND ASKED THEM TO PROVIDE A PART FROM THE FACTORY, WHICH THEY WOULDN'T DO. TOLD ME I WOULD NEED TO WAIT UNTIL PARTS PROCESS LOCATED PART. VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

• 09/13/2011· SUSPENSION

  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.

• 09/12/2011· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT SHOWING THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. IT WILL GO FAR BEYOND FULL AND WAY BELOW EMPTY. OVER THE COURSE OF A MILE IT CAN GO FROM FULL TO EMPTY OR ALL BETWEEN. *TR

• 09/11/2009· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE SPEED ODOMETER DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. WHEN THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CORRECT SPEED OF THE VEHICLE, EXCESSIVE SPEED MAY BE EXHIBITED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THE CONTACT WAS BILLED $500.00 FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 30,000.

• 09/05/2009· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MALFUNCTIONING SPEEDOMETER- THE SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING. IT IS DANGEROUS TO ALL TRAVELERS WHETHER IN CAR OR THOSE TRAVELING ALONGSIDE US. THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHEN IT GOES OUT. THE SPEEDOMETER WILL JUST STICK AT A CERTAIN SPEED-IT WILL THEN CONTINUE FROM THAT SPEED AND AT TIMES SHOWS THAT YOU ARE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS WELL ABOVE THE LIMIT. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED WHERE IT DROPS 5 MILES EVERYTIME ITS TURNED OFF BUT IT ALSO HAS RESET ITSELF AT TIMES. I DO BELIEVE THAT WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS I'VE SEEN SUPPORTING THE SAME FACTS THAT THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL AND FIX. I TOOK THE CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT SHOPS FOR HELP - SHOP 1 COULDN'T EASILY SEE HOW TO FIX & SUGGESTED IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE, SHOP 2 (*BUICK DEALER) STATED NO IDEA ON PROBLEM BUT WOULD NEED COMPLETE PANEL REPLACEMENT MINIMUM PRICE $700. IN VIEW OF OUR ECONOMY AND DEALERS WANTING SUPPORT I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A MAJOR PROBLEM DUE TO ALL THE COMPLAINTS BEING VERY SIMILAR. HARD TO PIN DOWN TO A SPECIFIC DATE AND ONCE STARTED NOW OCCURS MONTHLY. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHTS DIMMING AND THE HARD TO READ MILEAGE DISPLAY. *TR

• 09/03/2013· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY 2004 BUICK RAINIER HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHERE THE BATTERY KEEPS BEING DRAINED BY A DEAD SHORT IN THE SYSTEM AND RENDERING THE CAR USELESS SPORADICALLY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROFESSIONALS I HAVE TALKED TO DON'T SEEM TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM AND I DON'T WANT TO KEEP THROWING GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD IN MY ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE IT. *JB

• 08/23/2014· STEERING

  WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND TURNING IT SEEMED LIKE MY TIRES LOCKED UP AND MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE UNLESS I STRAIGHTENED MY STEERING WHEEL A LITTLE. IT DOES THE SAME THING WHEN PULLING FORWARD AND PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE OR DOING A U-TURN. WHEN I TOUCH THE GAS TO MAKE IT GO THE CAR JUMPS A LITTLE AND MAKES POPPING NOISES AND MY TIRES SQUEAL A LITTLE ALSO. SINCE THIS STARTED I'VE NOTICED MY GAS MILEAGE GOING DOWN. I'VE HEARD A FEW OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

• 08/22/2013· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I JUST BOUGHT A BUICK RAINIER 2004. I WAS DRIVING IT AND STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEVER WENT BACK TO 0.TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY TRIED TO RESET IT . NO LUCK . THE SHOP TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF THEM WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MUST HAVE IT TAKEN OUT AND SENT TO BE FIXED. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM IT ITS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF CARS AND SUVS.IS THEIR ANY RECALL ON THIS .WILL THEIR BE ANY RECALLS ON THIS .I WENT ON LINE AND READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING . CAN YOU ADVISE ME WHAT TO DO .THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

• 08/20/2016· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

  I TRIED TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED TODAY IN VIRGINIA BUT IT FAILED DUE TO THE DUMMY LIGHTS ON IN THE DASH BOARD ABS AND BRAKE. THE DEALER COULD NOT COMM WITH COMP BUT CHANGED THE FUSE FOR THE CIG LIGHTER THEN THE CODES READ EBCM MODULE FAULT.. IN 2014 MY RUNNING HEADLIGHTS WOULD JUST GO OUT.. NO LIGHTS UNTIL I PUT ON HIGH BEAMS I HAVE HAD THEM WORKED ON AND CHANGED BUT STILL BURN OUT

• 08/19/2015· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

• 08/19/2014· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  POWER DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOW LOCKS ARE INOPERATIVE. HAVE LOST ALL POWER IN THE DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS AS WELL AS THE RADIO AND THE HEATER. I WAS TRAPPED IN MY CAR THIS MORNING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES WITH THE WINDOWS UP AND THE HEATER WAS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THAT AS I COULDN'T TURN OFF THE CAR OR OPEN THE DOORS, I PRIED THE DOOR LOCK OPEN AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. *TR

• 08/17/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WE HAVE A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. DURING THE COLDER TIMES, OUR SPEEDOMETER TIC, SO YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST OR SLOW YOU ARE GOING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HAVING NO WAY TO TELL YOUR SPEED, WE COULD GET A TICKET, CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED ONLINE, NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. WE HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED. IT WOULD $600 TO FIX, AND SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED TO US, BUT TO BUICK FOR A MALFUNCTION. *TR

• 08/15/2014· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED AS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR AND THE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

• 08/15/2014· VISIBILITY,SEATS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER OPENING THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW, THE WINDOW COULD NOT BE CLOSED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR IN EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT WOULD BECOME VERY HOT TOO THE TOUCH BEFORE THE SEAT WARMER COMPLETELY FAILED ALTOGETHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

• 08/15/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  SPEEDOMETER BEGAN GETTING STUCK AND NOW DOES NOT GIVE SPEED STAYS ON ZERO OR SLOWLY MOVES UP AND GETS STUCK. *TR

• 08/14/2015· POWER TRAIN

  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.

• 08/10/2012· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, SHE SMELLED AN ODOR OF BURNING WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE EXAMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. UPDATED 10/10/12 *CN