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Buick RainierYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 390 NHTSA owner complaints across 4 model years, no Buick Rainier year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 2005, 2006 and 2007. The Rainier has 10 safety recalls on record.

Buick Rainier
Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 2004Best years'05 '06 '07Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints390Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls102004–2007 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Buick Rainier years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Rainier median. Tap a year for its full report.

'04'05'06'07
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2007Best73/10038 complaints · 5 recalls2006Solid53/10091 complaints · 7 recalls2005Solid48/100103 complaints · 1 recall2004Caution37/100158 complaints · 2 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Buick Rainier problems

All model years combined: 390 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system14613
Fuel system, gasoline621
Exterior lighting542
Power train282
Suspension241
Vehicle speed control212
Air bags2011
Fuel system, other180
Structure152
16 other systems12014
10 recalls

Buick Rainier recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

59%Visibility: power window devices and controls15V-599 · 2006–2007 · Sep 24, 2015 · 9,932 vehicles47%Exterior lighting: headlights15V-519 · 2006–2007 · Aug 14, 2015 · 429,170 vehicles66%Visibility: power window devices and controls14V-404 · 2006–2007 · Jul 2, 2014 · 184,611 vehicles–Electrical system13V-248 · 2006–2007 · Jun 13, 2013 · 193,652 vehicles–Electrical system12V-406 · 2006–2007 · Aug 16, 2012 · 278,174 vehicles–Other: labels05V-552 · 2006 · Dec 7, 2005 · 32,068 vehicles–Hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections05V-455 · 2006 · Oct 5, 2005 · 123,592 vehicles–Exterior lighting: turn signal05V-198 · 2004 · May 5, 2005 · 286,478 vehicles–Visibility: windshield05V-035 · 2005 · Feb 3, 2005 · 17,815 vehicles–Exterior lighting: brake lights04V-527 · 2004 · Nov 1, 2004 · 871,473 vehicles
6 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Rainier

  1. Loss of HeadlightsRQ17002 · 2004–2007 · closed Mar 29, 2021
    No recall
  2. Driver's Master Power Window SwitchEA12004 · 2006–2007 · closed Jun 21, 2013
    Led to recall 12V-406
  3. Fuel level gauge system failurePE11014 · 2005–2007 · closed Sep 23, 2011
    No recall
  4. Fuel Level Gauge System FailureDP10001 · 2005–2007 · closed May 23, 2011
    No recall
  5. FUEL PUMP MODULE LEAKS GASOLINEEA07009 · 2004 · closed Aug 28, 2008
    No recall
  6. BRAKE LAMP FAILUREEA04021 · 2004 · closed Nov 4, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-527