2004 Buick Rainier Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS REMAINED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MINUTES. WHEN THE LIGHTS TURNED BACK ON, THE LIGHTING WAS DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO J.D. BYRIDER (5101 NEW BERN AVE, RALEIGH, NC 27610) WHERE THEY REPLACED THE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT DRIVER MODULE ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,471.

HEADLIGHTS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. WHILE DRIVING LAST NIGHT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THE HIGH BEAMS STILL WORKED. THIS IS ABOUT THE SIXTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I CHANGED OUT THE HEADLIGHT RELAY JUST BEFORE THIS OCCURRED AS I HAD SEEN A RECALL ON 2006 AND 2007 RAINIERS SHOWING THIS AS THE PROBLEM. AFTER A SHORT TIME THE HIGH BEAMS ALSO WENT OUT. I PARKED AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF FOR A WHILE AND WHEN I RESTARTED THE HIGH BEAMS WERE WORKING AGAIN BUT NOT THE LOW BEAMS. I WAS DOING A COMBINATION OF STREET AND HIGHWAY DRIVING AND IT APPEARS TO BE UNRELATED TO ANY ROAD CONDITIONS AS THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH HIGHWAYS AND CITY STREETS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, A FUEL ODOR WAS NOTICED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR WAS STRONGER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINES WERE ROTTED AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,722.

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

LOW BEAMS ON LIGHTING GOES OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO TIMES IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY JUST CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ALTHOUGH THEY HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE THERE WITH SAME PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH GM SUV'S. MY 1994 GMC DID THE SAME THING AND I HEARD REPORTS OF OTHER GMC'S DOING THE SAME THING. NOT GOOD ON INTERSTATES AT NIGHT.

LOW BEAM LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN RIGHT TURN SIGNAL IS APPLIED AND RETURNS TO CENTER POSITION. A/C COOLING FAN DOES NOT COOL COMPRESSOR ENOUGH TO RUN A/C AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSING PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN FERON RECEIVER. CAR IS AT IDLE OR LOW SPEED.

I'VE BEEN HAVING SPORADIC FLICKERING LOW BEAM ISSUES WITH THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT, AND HAVE SPENT UNTOLD HOURS AND TIME TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT INCLUDING TAKING IT TO THE DEALER. (I WORK NIGHTS.) LAST WEEK THE LOW BEAMS FAILED ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK AT MIDNIGHT. RESEARCHED IT, AND FINALLY SAW THE RECALL FOR GMS AND SUBSEQUENTLY AN AP STORY ABOUT WIDENING THE RECALL THAT WAS DATED APRIL 29. (I WORK AT A NEWSPAPER AND SAW THE WIRE STORY). I BOUGHT AND REPLACED THE MODULE MYSELF LAST WEEK, AND THINGS ARE WORKING WELL NOW AND SEEM TO BE FIXED. HOWEVER, THE DEALER INFORMS ME THAT THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE GM RECALL FOR FAILING HEADLIGHT MODULES, SO I CAN NOT GET MY MONEY BACK FOR THE MODULE. THIS MAKE AND YEAR MODEL SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT OTHER MODELS AND YEARS THAN HAVE BEEN RECENTLY RECALLED, ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. IT TRULY IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND UP UNTIL LAST WEEK, I WAS ALWAYS WONDERING WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL. NOT A NICE FEELING WHEN YOU WORK NIGHTS.

I NOTICED IN NOVEMBER OF 2016 MY BUICK RAINNER WAS SMELLING LIKE GASOLINE AFTER I GOT OUT AND LEFT IT RUNNING WHILE I WAS DROPPING STUFF AT HOME FROM WORK. WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY VEHICLE I DIDN'T SMELL ANYTHING, BUT COULD SMELL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. I WENT ABOUT ANOTHER 10 MILES LATER TO MY DESTINATION AND PARK. 20 MINS LATER WENT BACK OUT AND CRANK MY VEHICLE AND COULD SMELL A STRONG GAS ODOR COMING THRU VENTS ON THE INSIDE OF MY SUV. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER MY HOOD AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I WALKED TOWARD THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE THE GAS SMELL WAS EVEN STRONGER. I CHECKED THE FUEL / GAS TOP TO SEE I LEFT IT OFF BUT IT WASN'T. THEN I LOOKED UNDER MY VEHICLE AND NOTICE FUEL WAS POURING OUT AROUND MY GAS TANK AND NOTICE A BIG WET SPOT ON THE GROUND UNDER THE TANK. WHEN I CUT OFF THE VEHICLE I NOTICE THE GAS COMING FROM AROUND THE TANK HAS STOP. HAD MY VEHICLE TOOKEN TO A LOCAL GM/ BUICK DEALER. THE DID A INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AND SAID WHAT EVER THE PROBLEM WAS IT WAS AT THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK. SO GAVE THEM PERMISSION TO WORK ON IT AND FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. TWO DAYS LATER THE DEALER CALL ME AND SAID THAT THE GAS LINES GOING INTO THE TOP OF THE TANK WHERE FUEL PUMP GOES INTO THE TANK GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THEM. THEY COULDN'T TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT CAUSES MY LINES TO START LEAKING AT THE TOP OF THE TANK. ( AFTER READING THIS NHTSA REPORT IN 2008 ON THE CAUSE AND GM/ BUICK EXTENDED A WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS OR 120,000 WARRANTY). I'M TOTALLY UPSET ABOUT THIS BECAUSE NHTSA SHOULD HAVE DONE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM TEN YEARS AGO INSTEAD OF CLOSING THE INVESTIGATION AS LONG AS BUICK MAKES EXTEND WARRANTY FIX. THE DEALER HAD TO ORDER THE PARTS FOR THE VEHICLE AND TOOK TWO DAYS TO ARRIVE. AFTER THE PARTS ARRIVE AND TWO DAYS MORE TO WORK ON IT. I HAD A $1200 BILLS THAT I HAD TO PAY A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.

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.

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ELECTRICAL FIRE - VERY SIMILAR TO RECALL 15700 -FLUID ENTERED INTO THE DRIVER'S DOOR MASTER POWER WINDOW SWITCH MODULE, CAUSING CORROSION THAT COULD RESULT IN A SHORT IN THE CIRCUIT BOARD, CAUSING WINDOW SWITCHES, LOCKS, ETC TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. ALSO RESULTED IN AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. VEHICLE WAS UNATTENDED IN A PARKING LOT AND WINDOW WAS OPEN JUST AN INCH. UPON RETURN TO CAR WINDOW WAS UP AND DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WITH REMOTE. OPENED VEHICLE WITH KEY AND NOTED HORRIBLE SMELL OF ELECTRICAL FIRE AND ALL DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ELECTRICAL FEATURES WERE INOPERATIVE

AFTER HEADLIGHTS ARE ON FOR A LONG TIME THEY WILL GO OFF.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND THE CONTACT REMAINED IN A COMA FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HEAD, WHICH CAUSED WALKING COMPLICATIONS AND A LOSS OF FEELING IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT SUFFERED A LOSS OF SIGHT IN THE RIGHT EYE DUE TO A CRUSHED SKULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR A VOLUNTARY RECALL AND DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL FUMES EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INLET CHECK VALVE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE GLUED TOGETHER AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY DUE TO PART UNAVAILABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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.

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 THE ENTIRE RIDE DURATION OR WE MAY GET NO DASH LIGHTS AT ALL. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THERE IS A SHORT OR A MOISTURE THAT CREATES THIS HAPPENING BECAUSE AFTER A FEW DAYS OF GOOD SUNNY WEATHER WHERE THE WATER HAS EVAPORATED FROM THE ROADWAYS, OUR BELOVED RAINER COMES BACK TO NORMAL. WE STILL EXPERIENCE THE DIMMING OF THE HEADLIGHTS AS WE ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN WE ARE CRUISING WITH NO GAS PEDAL APPLICATION AT AROUND THE 32 MPH MARKING WHICH IS RATHER ANNOYING AS OTHER DRIVERS FEEL AS IF WE ARE FLASHING THEM. WE SEE A DOWN SURGE IN THE BATTERY GAUGE DROP FOR 14 VOLTS TO 11 VOLTS AND THEN COME BACK UP. SOMETIMES THIS CAN HAPPEN ONCE OR TWICE DURING A 10 MILE RIDE OR AS MANY AS 50! WE WONDER, WHEN, OH, WHEN WILL GM PAY ATTENTION TO THESE COMPLAINTS OR ARE WE JUST TALKING INTO THE WIND?

AFTER PARKING MY VEHICLE AND SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DID NOT TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY. THERE IS NO SWITCH IN THE CABIN TO TURN THEM OFF AND THEY DID NOT TURN OFF ON THEIR OWN. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO SHUT THE LIGHTS OFF AND PREVENT THE BATTERY FROM DRAINING COMPLETELY. I LOOKED AT THE FUSES AND RELAYS NEXT TO THE BATTERY AND NOTICED THAT THE SOLID STATE RELAY NUMBER 46 CONTROLLING HDM WAS BULGED OUT ON ONE SIDE AND SMELLED LIKE BURNT ELECTRONICS. I SWAPPED RELAY 45 INTO THE 46 POSITION AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS DID NOT ILLUMINATE WITH THE DIFFERENT RELAY IN PLACE. I NOTICED THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:14V755000, IN MY CASE IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AFTER THE RELAY FAILED. I HAVE NEVER REPORTED ANY VEHICLE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS BEFORE BUT WONDER IF A WIDER RECALL MAY NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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 ROAD WATER AND DEBRIS TO ESCAPE. HE ADVISED THAT IF I WERE TO GO OVER A POTHOLE OR HIT A BUMP THAT THE REAR WHEEL WOULD CAVE INWARD AND CAUSE A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. HE WELDED ON A STEEL PLATE TO STABILIZE THE AREA AND DRILLED A HOLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR FRAME ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE AND UNDERCOATED THE AREAS TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL DAMAGES. THE COST OF THE STEEL PLATE REPAIR, UNDERCOATING AND LABOR WAS $180. *TR

BOTH REAR AIR BAGS ARE STARTING TO LEAK CAUSING BACK OF CAR TO SIT LOW. WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED IT WILL AIR BACK UP BUT WILL GO BACK DOWN AS SOON AS THE CAR IS PARKED. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS TO CAUSE THE DEFECT. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOUND IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I AM WANTING TO KNOW IF THIS HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS A SAFETY RECALL OR A DEFECT THROUGH THE MANUFACTURE. *TR

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. *TR

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.

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

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

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

THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT RISING FROM THE SAME ISSUE, I OWN TWO 2004 BUICK RAINIER'S AND THEY BOTH HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP BULB AND CONNECTOR BEING MELTED DUE TO POOR CONNECTION. THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR SINCE THE GM PARTS CATALOG DOES NOT LIST A REPLACEMENT CONNECTOR, THEY WOULD RATHER SELL THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. THE FIRST COMPLAINT OCCURRED ON MY OTHER RAINIER NOW THIS ONE. NO HEADLAMP IS A SAFETY CONCERN, AND DUE TO THE WIRING OVERHEATING AND MELTING COULD BE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.*TR

I OWN TWO 2004 BUICK RAINIER'S AND HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE WITH BOTH, ALSO HAVE TALKED TO MANY FRIENDS THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE HEADLAMP BULB CONNECTORS ARE MELTING WHERE THEY PLUG INTO THE BULB, CAUSING INTERMITTENT OR NO FUNCTION AT ALL OF THE HEADLAMP. WHEN TRYING TO FIND A NEW CONNECTOR FOR THE BULB I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO BUY THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP HOUSING ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS QUITE EXPENSIVE. I KNOW THERE ARE MORE CASES OUT THERE WITH THIS AS AN ISSUE, AS GM USES THESE TYPE OF CONNECTORS ON THE CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER, GMC ENVOY, OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA, AND THE BUICK RAINIER. I THINK THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE MATERIALS. *TR

SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER STEP MOTORS MALFUNCTION AND DO NOT GO BACK DOWN UPON DECELERATION. MY SPEEDO WILL SHOW I'M DOING 40 MPH WHILE STOPPED AND SOMETIMES PEG OUT WHILE DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS CREATES AN UNSAFE SITUATION WITH SPEED MANAGEMENT IN ALL TYPES OF DRIVING CONDITIONS.

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. *TR

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 YEARS AND THE SPEEDOMETER HAS NOT WORKED FOR 2.5 YEARS NOW. IT WILL WORK IF I RESET THE BATTERY OR TURN THE KEY OVER UNTIL THE NEEDLE GOES BACK TO 0. I AM TOLD THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS BAD AND I SEE THAT THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS ALSO. PLEASE HELP. I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS COVERED AT A GM DEALERSHIP FOR FREE. THE VEHICLE ALSO SPUTTERS AND I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND HAD THE INJECTORS LOOKED AT. IF YOU CAN PLEASE EMAIL ME OR CONTACT ME I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT SOCKET MELTED CAUSING THE LIGHT TO SHAKE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD LAMP MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

DRIVING ON A CITY STREET- SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MPH MY METER READ 75 MPH. I PUT MY GPS SYSTEM ON TO MONITOR MY MPH. AT TRAFFIC LIGHT WHILE IDLING THE METER READ 45 MPH. 2004 BUICK RAINIER HAD BEEN SITTING OUTSIDE FOR 3 DAYS WITH THE TEMPERATURE IN THE 20'S AND THIS WAS THE 1ST TIME I HAD DRIVEN IT. TRIED ACCELERATING AND STOPPING A LITTLE SUDDENLY HOPING TO JOLT THE METER BACK TO NORMAL. NO RESULTS. PARKED FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, STARTED THE CAR AND IT BEGAN TO REGISTER AT 65 MPH WHEN DRIVING 35 MPH PER GPS. IDLING READ 25 MPH. AFTER MORE STOPS AND RESTARTS THE IDLE SPEED WOULD READ JUST BELOW 20 MPH. CALLED ONSTAR FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY CONNECTED ME WITH GMC TECH. THEY WERE GOING TO TRY AND RESET THE SPEEDOMETER BUT FOUND OUT IT COULD NOT BE DONE AND WANTED ME TO GO TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I WAS 400 MILES FROM HOME AND INSTEAD CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP AT HOME. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING COMPLAINT ABOUT 2004 RAINIERS AND THAT I SHOULD HAVE NO TROUBLE TRAVELING HOME IN 2 DAYS AND THAT MY SPEED CONTROL SHOULD WORK FINE. I AM VERY DISPLEASED THAT THE GMC TECH DID NOT CONVEY THIS INFORMATION TO ME KNOWING THAT I WAS TRAVELING AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE ABOUT 30 MINUTES PARKED THE CAR FOR 1 1/2 HOURS AND WHEN I STARTED DRIVING THEN THE SPEEDOMETER WAS BACK TO NORMAL. GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS AND STORIES JUST AS MINE AND FOUND OUT THE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL BECAUSE THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. SHAME SHAME SHAME ON BUICK!!! I HAVE SINCE VISITED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WILL BE HAVING A CLUSTER REPLACED NEXT WEEK. S. SO CONSIDER THIS A COMPLAINT ABOUT 2004 BUICK RAINIER AND A COMPLAINT ABOUT GMC TECH HANDLING OF WHAT I CONSIDER A SAFETY ISSUE. I INTEND TO TRADE IN A YEAR OR TWO - BUT AT THAT TIME I WILL CERTAINLY RECONSIDER PURCHASING A GMC AND/OR BUICK. *TR

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. *TR

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

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

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

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.

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

THE GAUGE CLUSTER WORKS SOMETIME. THE ONLY GAUGE THAT WORKS PROPERLY IS THE SPEED. THERE SEEMS TO BE A SHORT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SEEM TO THINK THE CLUSTER IS BAD BUT AREN'T 100% SURE SENSE IT WORKS SOMETIME. THERE HAS BEEN A COUPLE OF TIMES THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND HAVE LOST ALL ELEC COMPONENTS (NO RADIO, NO POWER WINDOWS LOCKS, OR ANY OF THE GAUGES) AFTER READING IM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEMS. *TR

AIR SUSPENSION ? IT SEEMS AS IF THE AIR SUSPENSION IS RUNNING CONTINUALLY AND COULD CAUSE A DRAIN ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AFTER I STOP THE CAR IT HUMS FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME NEAR THE DRIVERS DOORS AND WILL EVENTUALLY STOP. *TR

ELECTRICAL ? MY 2004 BUICK RAINIER HAS HAD A PROBLEM FOR A FEW YEARS NOW WITH THE INTERMITTENT DIMMING OF THE HEADLIGHTS. AS BEST AS I CAN FIGURE OUT, IT HAPPENS NOTICEABLY AT NIGHT WHEN I AM COASTING AT 30-32 MPH. THE BATTERY VOLTAGE METER WILL DROP DOWN TO AROUND 11, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO DIM AND THEN GO BACK UP. IT MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS MOISTURE IN THE AIR, IT IS NOT GENERALLY AN ISSUE DURING THE MONTHS OF JAN-MAR WHERE IT IS CRISP AND DRIER. I START MY VEHICLE AND LET IT RUN FOR ABOUT A MINUTE OR MORE BEFORE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND DURING MY NIGHT TIME TRAVEL, IT MAY HAPPEN 3 TIMES OR MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A DRAIN ON THE POWER OR HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE. I FIND THIS DISCONCERTING WHEREAS MY LIGHTS ARE NOTICEABLY DIMMING TO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. IT MAY APPEAR TO OTHER DRIVERS THAT I AM INDICATING WITH THE ?FLASHING? OF THE HEADLIGHTS THAT THEY CAN CUT OUT IN FRONT OF ME OR MAKE THE TURN FROM A SIDE STREET. I HAVE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS IN THIS REGARD BUT I DRIVE KNOWING THAT IT COULD BE AN ISSUE. IT ONLY APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN I AM COASTING AND NOT APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL. *TR

GOING DOWN THE ROAD SPEEDOMETER STUCK AT 120. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN A PASSENGER BECAME STUCK IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT. THE SEAT BELT SEIZED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE THE PASSENGER. THE CONTACT HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT TO RELEASE THE PASSENGER. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND A NEW SEAT BELT WAS ORDERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

AIR BAG SUSPENSION WILL NOT STAY AIR UP. CONSTANTLY HAVE TO WORK ON THE ABS. *TR

GAUGES DON'T FUNCTION RIGHT. SPEEDO READS TOO FAST, TOO SLOW OR NOT AT ALL, FUEL GAUGE READS TWICE AS FULL. NEEDLE PEGGED TO STOP AS IS THE OIL GAUGE NEEDLE. BUYING THIS WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER MADE. *TR