NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Buick Rainier. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
TRANSMISSION LEAKING, SHIFTING HARD, REVVING HIGH DURING SHIFTING, AND 'HUNTING' FOR GEARS WHILE TRAVELING. *AK
AWD DOES NOT ENGAGE. VERY DANGEROUS ON A SLICK ROAD. HAD SUV TO DEALER 3-4 TIMES. THEY NEVER FIX THE PROBLEM. FRONT WHEELS OF SUV MAKE GRINDING NOISE AFTER A FEW HOURS OF DRIVING. HEADLIGHTS GO DIM/AND EVEN TURN OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. TOOK TO DEALER, OF COURSE NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. SOMEONE'S GOING TO BE KILLED BECAUSE OF BOTH THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE BUICK RAINIER.
THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE HAS BEEN SPUTTERING, MISSING AND SURGING SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. *NM THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE BATTERY FAILED. WATER LEAKED THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR. WATER ALSO LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE BY THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER WHEN RAINING. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FENDER RATTLED. HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY SEEMED LOOSE. RACK AND PINION LEAKED. *NM
WINDSHIELD ICING EVEN WITH FULL DEFROSTER AT MODERATE AIR TEMPERATURE/AIR DUCT TOO SMALL FOR WIDTH OF WINDSHIELD,DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX. *AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S SPEEDOMETER HAS INADEQUATE LIGHTING. WHILE DRIVING IN THE DAY TIME THE LIGHTING IN THE DASH IS NOT ADEQUATE ENOUGH TO LIGHT THE SPEEDOMETER MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE THE SPEED THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPDATED 2/27/2006 - *NM
A 2004 BUICK RAINIER WITH FULL TIME 4 WHELL DRIVE AND LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHICH MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT THE LAST WEEK OF NOVEMBER HAS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM. THE CAR SLIDES OUT OF CONTROL ON CORNERS UNDER THE SLIGHTEST ACCELERATION WHEN ANY SNOW IS ON THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE, THE SECOUND TIME I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE OWNERS OF MACK PONTIAC, GMC, BUICK IN HICKSVILLE, NY, RODNEY GOMEZ, THAT ALL 2004 RAINIERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL. I REALY THINK YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS AS IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THANK YOU. *LA
2004 RAINIER EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT POPPING NOISE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. THE BRAKES MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THIS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. *MR THE DRIVER HEARD WIND NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER ALSO HEARD IDLING NOISES. *NM
AT DUSK THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FADE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY OF THE SPEEDOMETER AND GAUGES. *AK *LA
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026