Reliability & cost of ownership
Buick Rainier Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Buick Rainier? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Buick Rainier problems by model year
15 recall entries across 4 model years and 391 owner complaints across 5 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining model year — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Rainier | 5 | 38 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2006 Rainier | 7 | 91 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2005 Rainier | 1 | 103 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2004 Rainier | 2 | 158 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2003 Rainier | Not confirmed | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Buick Rainier, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- electrical system146 complaints
- fuel system, gasoline62 complaints
- exterior lighting54 complaints
- power train28 complaints
- suspension24 complaints
- vehicle speed control21 complaints
- air bags20 complaints
- fuel system, other18 complaints