2004 Buick Rainier: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 205 complaints
205
Total Complaints
64,000mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Top Issue
17
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

37,350 25th Percentile
64,000 Median Mileage
95,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
52
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
27
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
14
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
12
AIR BAGS
9
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
8
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
7
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
6
POWER TRAIN
6
SUSPENSION
5

Severity Assessment

17
Crashes
5
Fires
23
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"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 D..."
"AT DUSK THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FADE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY OF THE SPEEDOMETER AND GAUGES. *AK *LA"
"WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHED AND THE CONSUMER FOUND DIFFICULTLY STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT HAD COME..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28