NHTSA vehicle safety data
2004 Buick Rainier Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2004 Buick Rainier has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 158 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Buick dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2004 Buick Rainier, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2004 Buick Rainier owner complaints
Owners have filed 158 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Buick Rainier, describing incidents dated December 6, 2003 to September 18, 2018.
Most-cited components
- Electrical System 83 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 21 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 18 complaints
- Power Train 15 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 12 complaints
- Air Bags 10 complaints
Of the 158 complaints on file, 9 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 158 complaints, owners report 10 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11196567 · Filed
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS REMAINED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MINUTES. WHEN THE LIGHTS TURNED BACK ON, THE LIGHTING WAS DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO J.D. BYRIDER…
ODI #11099015 · Filed
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT'S HEAD…
ODI #11096442 · Filed
I NOTICED IN NOVEMBER OF 2016 MY BUICK RAINNER WAS SMELLING LIKE GASOLINE AFTER I GOT OUT AND LEFT IT RUNNING WHILE I WAS DROPPING STUFF AT HOME FROM WORK. WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY VEHICLE I DIDN'T SMELL ANYTHING, BUT COULD SMELL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. I WENT ABOUT ANOTHER 10 MILES LATER TO MY…
Owner-reported
2004 Buick Rainier mileage at failure
132 of the 158 complaints on file for the 2004 Buick Rainier give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.
| Component | Median | Middle half | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | Median 60,000 miles | Middle half 40,000–90,000 miles | Based on 70 complaints |
A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.
Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.
These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.
Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2004 Buick Rainier in 3 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
- Recall Query RQ17-002: Loss of Headlights
Closed March 29, 2021
- Engineering Analysis EA07-009: FUEL PUMP MODULE LEAKS GASOLINE
Closed August 28, 2008
- Engineering Analysis EA04-021: BRAKE LAMP FAILURE
Closed November 4, 2004
TURN SIGNAL FAILURE
NHTSA #05V198000 · Exterior Lighting — Turn Signal · NHTSA notice
Reported May 5, 2005 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Potentially affected: 286,478 vehicles
Manufacturer campaign 05044 · Owners notified August 4, 2005 · Vehicles built April 1, 2003 – November 30, 2003 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
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 consequence
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.
Notes
GM RECALL NO. 05044.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
GM/BRAKE LAMP FAILURE
NHTSA #04V527000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights · NHTSA notice
Reported November 1, 2004 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Potentially affected: 871,473 vehicles
Manufacturer campaign 04087 · Owners notified November 22, 2004 · Vehicles built April 1, 2003 – August 31, 2003 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
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 consequence
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.
Notes
GM RECALL NO. 04087. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Other Buick Rainier model years
Check your 2004 Buick Rainier VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Buick Rainier at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Check a Buick VIN