MY WIFE WAS STOPPED BY THE SC HIGHWAY OFFICER FOR SPEEDING. BASED ON HER SPEEDOMETER READING SHE WAS NOT SPEEDING. IN ADDITION TO SPEEDING TICKET SHE RECEIVED WARNING FOR OPERATING VEHICLE WITH BROKEN EQUIPMENT. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING AND IS NOW ACTING UNPREDICTABLE. *TR
2004 Buick Rainier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Buick Rainier do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 91.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Rainier years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
133 reports with mileage · 25 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
83 reportsSPEED AND OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR FAILURES. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ONE MORNING AND NOTICED THAT MY SPEED REGISTERED 80MILES WHEN I HAD JUST PULLED OFF. I CUT THE CAR OFF AND THEN STARTING BACK DRIVING AND IT THEN SAID I WAS GOING 120. I TOOK MY CAR IN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY FOR THIS REPAIR, AND IT WOULD COST ME $575. TO GET IT FIXED. I ASKED FOR THE …
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I WAS DRIVING ONE MORNING AND NOTICED THAT MY SPEED REGISTERED 80MILES WHEN I HAD JUST PULLED OFF. I CUT THE CAR OFF AND THEN STARTING BACK DRIVING AND IT THEN SAID I WAS GOING 120. I TOOK MY CAR IN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY FOR THIS REPAIR, AND IT WOULD COST ME $575. TO GET IT FIXED. I ASKED FOR THE MAIN NUMBER TO BUICK AND CALLED THEM, THEY SAID THAT MY CAR DID NOT FALL IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY CATEGORY AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO HAVE THIS AS A RECALL. I ALSO TOLD THEM THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I COULD BE SITTING WITH THE CAR IDLE AND THE SPEEDOMETER READS 120, EVEN WHEN I MADE THE APPT. TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT THE SERVICE GUY SAID THAT QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN WITH THAT PROBLEM. *TR
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. *TR
AS I BEGAN TO WORK ON TUESDAY OF THIS WEEK, I LOOKED DOWN AND MY SPEEDOMETER WAS REGISTERING 120 MPH. I WAS ONLY JUST BEGINNING SO I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I STOPPED AND SWITCHED THE CAR OFF AND THOUGHT IT WOULD RESET THE GAUGES BUT IT ONLY WENT TO 65MPH. AS I BEGAN DRIVING AGAIN IT STARTED REGISTERING 120MPH. THEN ON…
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AS I BEGAN TO WORK ON TUESDAY OF THIS WEEK, I LOOKED DOWN AND MY SPEEDOMETER WAS REGISTERING 120 MPH. I WAS ONLY JUST BEGINNING SO I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I STOPPED AND SWITCHED THE CAR OFF AND THOUGHT IT WOULD RESET THE GAUGES BUT IT ONLY WENT TO 65MPH. AS I BEGAN DRIVING AGAIN IT STARTED REGISTERING 120MPH. THEN ON WEDNESDAY, IT WOULD NOT LEAVE OFF THE 120MPH WHEN I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE NEXT TIME IT WENT BACK IT BEGINNING AT 65 AND AS I ACCELERATED IT WENT TO 120. I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT SPEED I AM TRAVELING WHILE DRIVING. I WENT TO MY DEALER AND HE SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED. I DID NOT HAVE IT FIXED. *TR
INTERMITTENT SPEEDOMETER READINGS. SPEEDOMETER STUCK ANYWHERE BETWEEN 0-120MPH. *TR
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 PE…
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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
FAULTY SPEEDOMETER REGISTERS UNRELIABLE SPEED. 2004 BUICK RAINIER. NOW, THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE IS ALSO FAULTY AND JUMPS AROUND. NOTIFIED GM, WHO WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT CLAIMED IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE WORTHY OF A RECALL. INTERNET WEBSITE SHOWED HUNDREDS OF OTHER GM SUV OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. *AK
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 PARK. I CONTI…
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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 PARK. I CONTINUED ON W/MY TRIP AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP UPON ARRIVAL IN ABILENE, KS. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM IN THE CLUSTER AND CHECKED BULLETINS FOR PAST PROBLEMS W/SPEEDOMETERS. OVER THE COURSE OF 3 MONTHS THE SPEEDOMETER CONTINUED TO REPEAT THIS ACTION. I HAD IT INTO A DEALERSHIP IN AUSTIN, TX ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS W/THE SAME RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL THE SPEEDOMETER FINALLY QUITE WORKING ALTOGETHER. THE DEALER TOLD ME HE HAD SEEN THIS IN A FEW OTHER MODELS BY GM. I CALLED AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO. I THEN HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE CLUSTER REPLACED IN FEBRUARY 2007. THREE WEEKS LATER THE CAR WAS BACK IN B/C THE ENTIRE SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AND THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAW THE PROBLEM UPON ARRIVAL BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROLONG. *JB
IN SEPTEMBER 2004 WHILE DRIVING THE FUSE BOX BLEW AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. ON JANUARY 14, 2005 THE DASHBOARD COMPLETELY FAILED.*AK
Official recalls
205V198000 · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal
May 5, 2005
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
04V527000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
Nov 1, 2004
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3RQ17002 · Loss Of Headlights
Opened Apr 24, 2017 · Closed Mar 29, 2021
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights
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 vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.
EA07009 · Fuel Pump Module Leaks Gasoline
Opened Jul 10, 2007 · Closed Aug 28, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
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 FUEL PUMP LEADING TO SMALL PINHOLES APPEARING ON THE FUEL LINES.FUEL MAY LEAK AND COLLECT ON TOP OF THE MODULE AND/OR SPILL ONTO THE GROUND.THE DATA EVALUATED UNDER THIS INVESTIGATION REFLECT A RELATIVELY LOW FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE THAT LARGELY ARISES IN SALT BELT STATES.GM HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE SUBJECT COMPONENT TO TEN YEARS OR 120,000 MILES.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SELECT DOCUMENT SEARCH.
EA04021 · Brake Lamp Failure
Opened Aug 3, 2004 · Closed Nov 4, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
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 THAT WERE NOT ALREADY REPAIRED UNDER GM'S SPECIAL POLICY.MY 2004 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT AFTER AUGUST 8, 2003 CONTAIN IMPROVED BRAKE LAMP ASSEMBLIES AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE IMPROVED BRAKE LAMP ASSEMBLY ON SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT ON AUGUST 8, 2003 AND EARLIER.THE ACTION TAKEN BY GM IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
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