KnownCarProblems2004 Buick Rainier Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 158 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Buick Rainier, most often about the electrical (53% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Rainier model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2004 Buick Rainier problems
Electrical
83 complaints · 53%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery.
Speedometer stops working when car warms up. As I am driving with my two small children my speedometer will stop working and go below zero. Which becomes a hazard because I am unaware of how fast or slow I am going. My family as well as myself are in serious danger of getting into an accident because of this problem.…
Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) I own a 2004 Buick Rainier and the instrument cluster, specifically the speedometer, oil and gas gauges have failed. Called Buick about the issue and received service request # [] . Called a local dealer, wagner Buick/gmc in…
Lights
22 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 95,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, brake lights.
Have noticed after a heavy and driving rain that the electrical systems acts up. We call it crazy car! All the dash lights blink & flash, bells ding and gauges fluctuate while the vehicle is at rest and on the move. We shut the engine off, sit for a minute and restart only to get the same thing. That may happen for…
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…
Fuel system
18 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 95,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage.
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
2004 Buick Rainier with 97,000 miles and no history of accident, damage or service issues passed state of arizona emissions test in december 2009, including evaporation testing. Within a couple of weeks a check engine light came on and was diagnosed by code as an evaporation issue. On the way to the dealer service…
Transmission
15 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, transfer case (4-wheel drive), driveline.
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…
There seems to be a known safety issue with speedometer control module. The dealers know about this issue, transmission and speedometer repair shops knpw about this issue. This is a very dangerous problem as you are driving and the speed registers different & sometimes not at all.
Speed control
12 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 42,000 miles.
I was in the midst of a 10 hour road trip over the holidays when the speedometer originally quit working. I was traveling at a rate of 70 MPH. The speedometer started inching up and buried itself at 120 MPH. I pulled off the road in an attempt to get the speedometer to go back down but it settled on 60 MPH while in…
- the contact owns a 2004 Buick Rainier with a failure mileage of 47,000 and a current mileage of 57,000 miles. The contact stated that the speedometer displayed the incorrect speed. When she put the vehicle in park the speedometer showed that the speed was above zero. The registered speed varied. When she started the…
Air bags
10 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 74,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
While traveling at a speed of approx 50-55 on a interstate, I was reared ended by a auto, my auto was struck then shoveled into a cement wall block and then bounced into on coming traffic to the other cement wall block on the opposite site while trying to stop, I was wearing a seat belt, the vehicle's air bags didn't…
I was stopped at an intersection waiting for the traffic light to change. One vehicle was in front of me. I was impacted from the rear by a third vehicle traveling at a rate of speed I would estimate at somewhere between 20 and 40 MPH. The force of the impact threw my car into the car in front of me. In addition to…
Engine
6 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
Dt: consumer was driving along and vehicle starts sputtering and then died out in the road. After the 1st incident vehicle was taken to dealer for repairs. The driver drove the vehicle for about two months and it happened again. The vehicle was taken back to dealer who indicated they couldn't find anything wrong. The…
With vehicle temperature at normal range, in park and at normal idle when I push on the gas pedal the RPM would drop to under 500 and then go back up, almost like a hesitation of sorts. Took vehicle to Buick dealer and was told that it was the secondary air pump, basically the EGR valve. Was told this was part of the…
Suspension
6 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 82,500 miles. Parts named most often: front.
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…
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…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Buick Rainier recalls
Lights: turn signal
Risk: The driver may not be able to clearly signal their intentions to turn, change travel lanes, or potentially warn others of an impaired vehicle operating condition increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the suspect flasher modules with a new flasher module designed with sealed relays and more durable contact material inside of the relays free of charge. The recall began on august 4, 2005. Isuzu began mailing owner letters on august 4, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, isuzu at 1-800-255-6727, buick at 1-866-608-8080, and oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537.
Full defect summary
On certain trucks and sport utility vehicles, the driver wishing to signal a turn by moving the directional signal lever, (up or down) may cause the front marker/turn lights and rear turn lights to flash in a manner similar to hazard warning, rather than flashing on the desired side only.
Lights: brake lights
Risk: An inoperative brake lamp will not convey the driver's intention of stopping to drivers in following vehicles, and an inoperative rear turn signal lamp will not convey the driver's intention to turn to drivers in following vehicles. Both of these failures can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the tail lamp/stop lamp assemblies, and if necessary, replace them. The recall began on november 22, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537, buick at 1-866-608-8080, or gmc at 1-866-996-9463.
Full defect summary
On certain sport utility vehicles, vibration and heat may cause the tail lamp/stop lamp bulb to loosen in its socket. If this occurs, the bulb may flicker and eventually become inoperative.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Loss of headlights
Summary
The subject vehicles are model year (my) 2002-2009 chevrolet trailblazer, gmc envoy, 2004-2007 buick rainier, 2003-2008 isuzu ascender, 2005-2009 saab 9-7x, 2002-2004 oldsmobile bravada, 2003-2006 chevrolet ssr, 2005-2009 buick lacrosse, and 2006-2008 pontiac grand prix. This scope includes the trailblazer/envoy variants: 2002-2006 envoy xl/trailblazer ext and 2004-2005 envoy xuv. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject headlight driver module (hdm). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by general motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicle
Fuel pump module leaks gasoline
Summary
During the course of this ea investigation, odi observed that the majority of the complaints (88%) and warranty claims (94%) were reported for vehicles that are registered for use in the salt belt region of the US.this area includes 20 states in the northeast, mid atlantic and the midwest regions and the district of columbia.consumers in the salt belt region reported to odi that they could smell fuel vapors in their vehicles while driving.upon further examination of their vehicles, they discovered that fuel vapors were coming out of the top of the fuel tank. This condition is caused by corrosion of the return and sender lines of the fuel pump module.water and road salt collect on top of the
Brake lamp failure
Summary
Gm states that some brake/tail lamp bulbs can prematurely become inoperative due to malfunctioning brake/tail lamp sockets.on march 2, 2004, gm initiated a 6-year/72,000 mile special policy for 989,487 subject vehicles to inspect and replace the rear brake/tail lamp bulb socket assemblies.on april 4, 2004, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe04-032) based on consumer complaints alleging brake lights not operating when the brake pedal is depressed.on august 3, 2004 odi upgraded pe04-032 to an engineering analysis (ea04-021).by letter dated october 27, 2004 gm notified NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA # 04v527) covering subject vehicles
Questions about the 2004 Buick Rainier
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Buick Rainier?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (83 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles); lights (22 complaints, typically around 95,000 miles); fuel system (18 complaints, typically around 95,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Buick Rainier have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 5, 2005 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Buick Rainier?
- It is the most complained-about Rainier model year since 2000, with 158 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.