NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
103 reports42,400 miles · Feb 28, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingCrash
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 IT--ALL THRE…
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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 IT--ALL THREE CARS WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10314978
63,000 miles · Feb 22, 2010
Electrical System
2005 BUICK RAINIER WITH 63,000 MILES. THE SPEEDOMETER WILL REGISTER 120 WHEN GOING 60 AND 60 WHEN COMPLETELY STOPPED. GM REFUSES TO SEE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE AND REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE WHEN OTHER GM VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ARE COVERED UP TO 70,000 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10312717
30,000 miles · Feb 18, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingSeatsService Brakes, Hydraulic
(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) PAINT CHIPP…
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(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) PAINT CHIPPING/PEELING; RADIO BUTTONS CHIPPING/PEELING. (5) AC/HEATER GETS STUCK ON HOT AIR BLOWING OUT WHEN SWITCHING TO AC SOMETIMES. (6) PASSENGER SIDE FEELS LIKE TIRE OR FRONT END IS WOBBLY??...DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. (7) DEC 2008, DRIVER SEAT HEATER WAS REPLACED DUE TO MAJOR OVERHEATING...FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. (8) FEB 2010 - 14 MONTHS LATER REPLACING DRIVER SEAT HEATER AGAIN DUE TO MAJOR OVERHEATING...SEAT HEATER HAS NOW BURNED 3 HOLES INTO LEATHER SEAT..NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10311614
38,000 miles · Jul 7, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury
2005 BUICK RAINIER WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VAN IN COMING TRAFFIC. MY WIFE DRIVING THE RAINIER HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND BENT IT. SHE RECEIVE A LARGE LACERATION REQUIRING ABOUT 30 STITCHES, CLAVICLE STRAIN, BROKEN COLLAR BONE AND MULTIPLE BRUISES. SHE WAS WEARING THE SEAT BELT. …
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2005 BUICK RAINIER WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VAN IN COMING TRAFFIC. MY WIFE DRIVING THE RAINIER HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND BENT IT. SHE RECEIVE A LARGE LACERATION REQUIRING ABOUT 30 STITCHES, CLAVICLE STRAIN, BROKEN COLLAR BONE AND MULTIPLE BRUISES. SHE WAS WEARING THE SEAT BELT. COLLISION WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO LIFT THE REAR OF THE CAR OFF THE GROUND AND TURN IT FACING THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE VAN SHE HIT. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10275950
53,000 miles · Mar 30, 2009
Seat Belts
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT MALFUNCTION, LOCKS UP AND CAN NOT PUT SEAT BELT ON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10263684
6,050 miles · Mar 18, 2009
Tires
ALL FOUR TIRES CONTINUOUSLY DEFLATE. WITHIN 3 - 4 DAYS THE TIRE PRESSURE CAN GET AS LOW AS 10 LBS OF PRESSURE. I MUST ADD PRESSURE ANYTIME I WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN CHECKED FOR DAMAGE THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM. APPEARS THE TIRES ARE LEAKING AROUND THE RIMS. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE OUR PURCHASE O…
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ALL FOUR TIRES CONTINUOUSLY DEFLATE. WITHIN 3 - 4 DAYS THE TIRE PRESSURE CAN GET AS LOW AS 10 LBS OF PRESSURE. I MUST ADD PRESSURE ANYTIME I WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN CHECKED FOR DAMAGE THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM. APPEARS THE TIRES ARE LEAKING AROUND THE RIMS. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE OUR PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE IN OCT OF 2005. OUR SMALL TOWN DEALERSHIP HAS NOT TAKEN THE INITIATIVE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE ONLY STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE RIMS. SINCE WE DRIVE THIS VEHICLE INFREQUENTLY AND HAVE OTHER VEHICLES FOR TRANSPORTATION WE HAVE CHOSEN TO LIVE WITH THE INCONVENIENCE UP TO THIS POINT. THE VEHICLE, TODAY HAS LESS THAN 40K MILES ON IT. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I THE CONSUMER SHOULD INCUR THE EXPENSE OF CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE HOW I SHOULD PROCEED WITH RECONCILING THIS PROBLEM. I'VE ALSO SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT UNDER ODI #10262250. AS I ALSO HAVE A SPEEDOMETER ISSUE WHICH JUST STARTED OCCURRING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10262255
39,000 miles · Mar 18, 2009
Electrical SystemEquipment
THE SPEEDOMETER HAS COMPLETELY AND INSTANTLY STOPPED WORKING. TO THE BEST MY KNOWLEDGE THE ODOMETER APPEARS TO BE WORKING BUT CANNOT VALIDATE. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 40K MILES ON IT. I NOTICED SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING SPEEDOMETER ISSUES AND DON'T FEEL I THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPENSE OF THIS C…
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THE SPEEDOMETER HAS COMPLETELY AND INSTANTLY STOPPED WORKING. TO THE BEST MY KNOWLEDGE THE ODOMETER APPEARS TO BE WORKING BUT CANNOT VALIDATE. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 40K MILES ON IT. I NOTICED SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING SPEEDOMETER ISSUES AND DON'T FEEL I THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPENSE OF THIS COSTLY REPAIR. GM HAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THE WARRANTY PERIOD IS EXPIRED, BUT THIS VEHICLE HAS VERY LOW USAGE AND LOW MILEAGE, WHERE I DON'T FEEL THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM SHOULD BE OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR RESPONSE. THANK YOU. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10262250
55,000 miles · Mar 15, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL GAUGE READING INCORRECT. DEALER REPLACED SENSOR AND HAD TO DRAIN/REMOVE GAS TANK TO REPLACE. WHILE THIS WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (55,000 MILES, I WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY APPROXIMATELY $550. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10261908
55,000 miles · Mar 9, 2009
Electrical System
MY 2005 BUICK RAINIER HAD 55,000 MILES ON IT WHEN MY SPEEDOMETER WENT ON THE BLITZ. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS STUCK AT 60 MPH AND WOULD CONTINUE TO RISE UNTIL IT WAS PEGGED PAST 120 MPH WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS. NOW MY SPEEDOMETER MAY STOP WORKING COMPLETELY WHILE TRAV…
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MY 2005 BUICK RAINIER HAD 55,000 MILES ON IT WHEN MY SPEEDOMETER WENT ON THE BLITZ. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS STUCK AT 60 MPH AND WOULD CONTINUE TO RISE UNTIL IT WAS PEGGED PAST 120 MPH WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS. NOW MY SPEEDOMETER MAY STOP WORKING COMPLETELY WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. MY MOTHER HAS A 2004 RAINIER AND SHE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MULTIPLE GAUGES INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER. AC DELCO IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM TO BE A DEFECTIVE STEPPER MOTOR IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER BUT GM HAS NOT RECALLED THE VEHICLES AND IT IS A COSTLY REPAIR THAT I BELIEVE THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS TROUBLE IN MORE DETAIL AS I'VE SEARCHED YOUR SITE AND SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME SYMPTOMS IN NOT ONLY BUICK BUT THE CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER AS WELL. THANKS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10261378
32,052 miles · Feb 2, 2009
Fuel System, Other
I HAD FILLED UP THE GAS TANK , THEN IT SHOWED EMPTY, THE GAUGE HAS BEEN JUMPING BACK AND FORTH EVER SINCE. IT GOES EMPTY EVERY TIME IT IS FILLED UP NOW. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10257185
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.
PE11014 · Fuel Level Gauge System Failure
Opened Apr 25, 2011 · Closed Sep 23, 2011
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Other; Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System
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 dealers on August 10, 2011 and the owner letter mailing began on August 15, 2011.See the investigative file for copies of GM's bulletin and owner letter.This preliminary evaluation is closed.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Fuel System, Other
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 dealers on August 10, 2011 and the owner letter mailing began on August 15, 2011.See the investigative file for copies of GM's bulletin and owner letter.This preliminary evaluation is closed.
Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System
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 dealers on August 10, 2011 and the owner letter mailing began on August 15, 2011.See the investigative file for copies of GM's bulletin and owner letter.This preliminary evaluation is closed.
DP10001 · Fuel Level Gauge System Failure
Opened Jan 7, 2010 · Closed May 23, 2011
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Other; Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System
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 year.A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Fuel System, Other
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 year.A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.
Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System
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 year.A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.
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