9% of complaints about the 2004 Buick Rainier came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2004 vehicle — around the middle of the 236 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (83 complaints), typically at 6.3 yr or about 59,142 miles.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD REPETITIVELY UNTIL THE FRONT WHEELS WERE STRAIGHTENED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ISSUE WAS A RESULT OF THE DESIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS THE COMPUTER READING THAT ONE WHEEL WAS TRAVELING FURTHER THAN THE OTHER, AND COMPENSATING FOR THIS BY ENGAGING THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE.
THERE ARE NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN IT GETS DARK CONSUMER CANNOT SEE THE SPEED. THE DEALER STATES THEY CANNOT REPAIR THE DEFECT. MANUFACTURER INDICATES IT IS NORMAL.*AK