NHTSA — Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel Problems

2004 Buick Rainier (Page 1 of 2)

CarComplaints.com Notes: The Buick Rainier is a replacement for the Oldsmobile Bravada, hopefully minus the transmission issues and AWD complaints.

3.0

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,820 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Buick Rainier electrical problems

electrical problem

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2004 Buick Rainier Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #27

Mar 042013

Rainier 6-cyl

  • 122,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have had this vehicle for 4 years and the speedometer has not worked for 2.5 years now. It will work if I reset the battery or turn the key over until the needle goes back to 0. I am told the instrument cluster is bad and I see that there are other complaints also. Please help. I need to know if this is covered at a GM dealership for free. The vehicle also sputters and I have already replaced the fuel pump and had the injectors looked at. If you can please email me or contact me I would greatly appreciate it.

- Wagner, SD, USA

problem #26

Oct 312012

Rainier

  • 112,000 miles
After driving for a approximately one hour at 65-70 mph on the interstate the speedometer reading drops off from 70 eventually down to 0 mph. Upon stopping and restarting the engine at a rest stop the speedometer returns to an accurate reading for a short while. I relied on my garmin gps to give me a speed approximation when the speedometer went out completely. Relying on a accurate speedometer is a critical safety issue especially at night. Without the gps giving me a speed reading it would be next to impossible to judge a safe speed in the darkness on a road illuminated only by my headlights. This defect must be similar to other models in the GM family, trailblazer and Envoy. If one person were to rely on this faulty speedometer they might think they were driving 40 when in actuality they could be driving in excess of 70.

- Gainesville, VA, USA

problem #25

May 312012

Rainier

  • 72,153 miles
Going down the road speedometer stuck at 120.

- Delta, OH, USA

problem #24

Feb 182009

Rainier 6-cyl

  • 32,985 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Dashborad gauges do not keep an accurate account of RPM's as well as speed. The battery gauge just started being inaccurate January 2012.

- Burlington, NC, USA

problem #23

Dec 262010

Rainier 6-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
The speedometer on my 2004 Buick Rainier stops working intermittently. There is no pattern as to when this occurs, it has happened in all types of weather and all temperatures. Sometimes it says I'm going faster than I am, sometimes it says I'm going slower. Sometimes it stops working all together. I have researched and this is a common problem with Rainiers. I'm wondering why this hasn't been recalled? the vehicle has about 100,000 miles on it now, but the speedometer stopping has been an issue for a few years.

- Holly, MI, USA

problem #22

Aug 202009

Rainier

  • miles
I have a 2004 Buick Rainier and the speedometer and the other gauges don't work I don't know how fast I am going or how my car is running its been like that a little after I got it and it works some times but sometimes it don't I have talked to other people who have a car like mine and they have the same problem to.

- Orange Grove , TX, USA

problem #21

Oct 232008

Rainier

  • 38,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2004 Buick Rainier. The contact stated the instrument panel light would fail intermittently. The contact stated the vehicle was previously repaired by an independently mechanic for electrical failure within the instrument panel. The failure recurred. The manufacturer advised that there was not a recall for the failure and would not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was 38,000 and the current mileage was 55,300.

- Sloansville, NY, USA

problem #20

May 072010

Rainier 6-cyl

  • miles
Odometer freezes.

- Gardena, CA, USA

problem #19

Oct 012009

Rainier

  • 58,000 miles
I own a 2004 Buick Rainier V-8 and the speedometer has stopped working. It will be functioning properly and then suddenly it will show 120 mph. Sometimes it will work properly but then it goes to 120 mph again. I wouldn't normally file a report for this but after research on the internet I see where there are dozens of owners reporting the same problem with the same vehicle. I am in the process of getting it fixed.

- Aptos, CA, USA

problem #18

Feb 022010

Rainier

  • 65,430 miles
Speedometer failure. At a standstill the speedometer reads anywhere from 10mph to 40mph. On a few occasions it seems to read correctly.

- Sun City West, AZ, USA

problem #17

Oct 222009

Rainier

  • 58,200 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My speedometer on my 2004 Buick Rainier is erratic. It says I am going 100 when doing 70 and sometimes says I am going 0 when on the highway.

- College Station, TX, USA

problem #16

May 212009

Rainier

  • 69,000 miles
2004 Buick Rainier speedometer is registering 25-30 mph faster than what the vehicle is actually traveling. When in park is shows the SUV traveling 25 mph.

- Westminster, MD, USA

problem #15

Jun 272007

Rainier

  • 29,000 miles
The dash cluster lighting is too dim in the daylight and non existent at dawn and dusk. There is not a manual override that allows you to select night lighting during these transitional times and on certain days so you can not see the speedometer output nor the driver advisory display. I discussed it with several dealers and they say some work this way and some don't. they have no way to tell which work properly and which ones will not. They all refused to replace it under warranty as Buick says that is the way the system is supposed to work. For up to 15 minutes in morning and night the display is totally unreadable while it is slowly transitioning night time visibility. Yes, I have the lighting set as bright as the system will allow at any given time but it is still not visible to me or anyone else that drives the car. I have found quite a few others on the net that have the same problem and the same could care less responses from Buick on this safety issue. This goes on everyday so it probably is only a matter of time until it results in a serious accident and/or a serious mechanical failure that will be missed because you can't read the instrument cluster under certain but daily conditions such as sunrise and dusk.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #14

Feb 062009

Rainier

  • 50,950 miles
I have had trouble with the headlights dimming while driving since the beginning, the dealership has several times worked on the problem, which I think has cleared up..so far. Now my speedometer has started messing up, it says I am going 50 while parked and 120 while driving. I only drive short distances and mostly into and back from town 6 mile one way. I have 50,969 miles on my 2004 vehicle, I keep its checkups and oil changes regularly: Dealership has records. I feel this vehicle has had electrical issues from day one, I see turn signal and brakelight issues in recall so I don't believe I am wrong about this. They want to charge me over $400 to change the "cluster" as the economy goes, I too cannot afford this kind of charges on an item that should not have issues. Especially when I take good care of it and really has low mileage and wear and tear (perfect condition).

- Sault Sainte Marie, MI, USA

problem #13

Mar 022007

Rainier

  • miles
We have a 2004 Buick Rainier. During the colder times, our speedometer tic, so you don't know how fast or slow you are going. This is a safety issue. Having no way to tell your speed, we could get a ticket, cause an accident. I have also noticed online, numerous people having the same problem. There needs to be a recall. We have not had it fixed. It would $600 to fix, and should not be charged to us, but to Buick for a malfunction.

- Royersford, PA, USA

problem #12

Jan 012008

Rainier

  • 37,000 miles
Instrument control for speedometer and radio just quit working. Not always sure of traveling speed because speedometer quits working. Very dangerous because of not sure of traveling speeds and afraid of getting ticket because of unkown speed.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #11

Aug 152007

Rainier

  • 35,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Buick Rainier. While driving 70 mph, the speedometer will display speeds between 20-120 mph. While driving various speeds on the freeway, the speed will decrease on its own. The contact must literally stand on the accelerator pedal to maintain a steady speed. While idling at a stop sign or light, the engine continues to rev. The contact scheduled an appointment with the dealer for June 23, 2008 to diagnose the failures. The current mileage was 41,000 and failure mileage was 35,000.

- Castro Valley, CA, USA

problem #10

Aug 012007

Rainier 6-cyl

  • 48,000 miles
Faulty speedometer, reads between 70 mph to 130 mph at all times.

- Kinross, MI, USA

problem #9

Mar 292008

Rainier 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,435 miles
My wife was stopped by the SC highway officer for speeding. Based on her speedometer reading she was not speeding. In addition to speeding ticket she received warning for operating vehicle with broken equipment. It turned out that the speedometer quit working while she was driving and is now acting unpredictable.

- Columbia, SC, USA

problem #8

Feb 012008

Rainier 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,000 miles
Speed and oil pressure indicator failures.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

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