KnownCarProblems2005 Buick Rainier Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 103 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Buick Rainier, most often about the electrical (37% of complaints, typically around 75,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Rainier model year since 2000 and has 1 recall.
Most common 2005 Buick Rainier problems
Electrical
38 complaints · 37%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel.
Vehicle speedometer performs erratically or not at all. Sometimes shows 80 MPH while vehicle is parked and off, sometimes shows nothing when vehicle is moving. Common, long-standing and well-know problem among these vehicles. Reported to gm, who has declined to take any action.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Buick Rainier. The contact stated that the speedometer does not display the proper speed the vehicle was traveling. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The current mileage was approximately 81,000.
Fuel system
27 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 61,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage.
The contact owns a 2005 Buick Rainier. The contact stated the fuel gauge on the vehicle was providing inaccurate fuel level readings. When refueling to maximum capacity, the fuel gauge would read the fuel tank as empty or half full. The contact took the vehicle in for a routine oil change when he was informed of an…
Three years ago the fuel sensor on my Buick rainer failed. Gm has issued a bulletin on the repair that covers 50% of the cost. I view this as an acknowledgement from gm that there is an issue with the sensor. I took the vehicle to a Buick dealer and they informed me that the out of pocket expense to repair this item…
Lights
17 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 57,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
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 [] I would like you to look into…
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.…
Engine
10 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 54,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
Fuel gauge started displaying erratic gas level displays. Soon, when tank was filled, it would show empty. On one occasion it left US stranded on the interstate. I had no warning, the engine died, and I had to safely navigate from the fast lane on the far left to the shoulder on the right. Luckily, I avoided other…
I was third in line waiting to pull out of a parking lot in peoria, az in my 2005 Buick Rainier. My foot was resting on the brake pedal. All of the sudden the car revved up and surged forward (from a standing start) with enough force to crash into the car in front of me and pushing that car in to the one in front of…
Brakes
9 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 57,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, power assist, pedals and linkages.
(1) complete brake job w/rotors and drums replaced, I was told I had been driving with the emergency brake on though I never had used the emergency brake..fixed under warranty. (2) hatch back door "pistons??" that holds up the hatchback failed..fixed under warranty. (3) fan clutch failed...fixed under warranty. (4)…
Driving on freeway, engaged in normal breaking and wheels locked up and brakes no longer worked. I did not have the ability to brake or steer the SUV. I ultimately hit the center divider nearly head on, mostly middle to passenger side front of car. The air bags did not deploy. Had gm mechanic look at the brakes after…
Air bags
7 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window.
The contact owns a 2005 Buick Rainier. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the side air bags suddenly deployed erroneously. The contact was not injured during the deployment. The contact did not take the vehicle to the dealer or contact the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was…
Driving on freeway, engaged in normal breaking and wheels locked up and brakes no longer worked. I did not have the ability to brake or steer the SUV. I ultimately hit the center divider nearly head on, mostly middle to passenger side front of car. The air bags did not deploy. Had gm mechanic look at the brakes after…
Suspension
7 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 120,000 miles. Parts named most often: rear.
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…
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.…
Speed control
7 complaints · 7%I have been doing research and I have noticed that there are many people that are dealing with the same issues I am which includes gas gauge failure (false readings) and speedometer reading incorrectly. The amount of people dealing with these issues should be enough to place a recall on those clusters I would think. I…
While driving at around 50 MPH the speedometer went down to zero. After stopping and starting again it went to 120 and stayed there. Starting the car now it stays at 120 MPH and does not return to zero. This is very scary and dangerous. I have found out that this happened to several gm cars. We also found out that it…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Buick Rainier recalls
Visibility and wipers: windshield
Risk: If a crash occurs, the windshield may not be retained, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Fix: Dealers will replace the windshield free of charge. The recall began on march 10, 2005. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, or gmc at 1-866-996-9463.
Full defect summary
Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, 'windshield mounting.' the windshield urethane bead may not have adhered to the body in certain areas during the cure process.
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 level gauge system failure
Summary
The office of defects investigations (odi) analyzed complaint data provided by general motors (gm) as well as complaints submitted to odi from consumers.in total, there were 5,089 unique reports indicating an inaccurate fuel level reading while driving.general motors stated that this condition occurs when the contacts of the fuel sensor wear prematurely.most of the complaints indicated an empty fuel gauge reading after filling the tank.less than 10 percent of theodi complaints involved an engine stall incident.during this investigation, gm developed a remedy procedure and issued special coverage bulletin instructing dealers to install a new design fuel level sensor.the bulletin was sent to d
Fuel level gauge system failure
Summary
The office of defects investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 chevrolet trailblazer, gmc envoy, buick rainier, and saab 9-7x vehicles.of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. One complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past
Questions about the 2005 Buick Rainier
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Buick Rainier?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (38 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles); fuel system (27 complaints, typically around 61,000 miles); lights (17 complaints, typically around 57,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Buick Rainier have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 3, 2005 (visibility and wipers). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Buick Rainier?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Rainier model year since 2000, with 103 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.