Model year record

2004 Buick Rainier

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 205 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V198000

Exterior lighting: turn signal

Component
Exterior lighting: turn signal
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
286,478
Reported to NHTSA
2005-05-05
Owners notified
2005-08-04

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V527000

Exterior lighting: brake lights

Component
Exterior lighting: brake lights
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
871,473
Reported to NHTSA
2004-11-01
Owners notified
2004-11-22

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Electrical system5270,132 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel2750,000 mi
Exterior lighting14112,000 mi
Vehicle speed control1242,000 mi
Air bags987,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline885,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system792,643 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights617,150 mi
Power train680,778 mi
Suspension582,300 mi
Power train: automatic transmission428,000 mi
Structure4200 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash35 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine34,895 mi
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)337,000 mi
Seat belts352,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)25,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling235,000 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system280,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages279,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic226,000 mi
Steering25,000 mi
Unknown or other278,500 mi
Air bags: frontal123,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module123,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module123,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery1
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers16,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control146,403 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights1
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap1144,000 mi
Interior lighting11,000 mi
Power train: driveline164,000 mi
Power train: driveline: differential unit1600 mi
Seats: front assembly: power adjust14,100 mi
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler116,000 mi
Service brakes1150,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip1
Steering: hydraulic power assist: power steering fluid146,403 mi
Steering: rack and pinion1
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields182,300 mi
Suspension: front124,000 mi
Tires185,000 mi
Visibility170,132 mi
Visibility/wiper1114,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system13,650 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor1105,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls116,000 mi

The 2003 model has 205 times as many complaints as this one. The 2005 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.