Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Buick Rainier
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Buick Rainier has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 158 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #05V198000 TURN SIGNAL FAILURE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V527000 GM/BRAKE LAMP FAILURE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 83 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 21 complaints
- Power Train 15 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 12 complaints
- Air Bags 10 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 9 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).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Buick Rainier shows a below-average reliability due to significant electrical system issues, as evidenced by 83 complaints. Two recalls highlight lighting problems, potentially affecting vehicle safety. Limited complaint data points to other possible issues but without overwhelming evidence.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 70,000–120,000 miles | $300–$900 | very common |
| Exterior lighting | 60,000–100,000 miles | $100–$250 | common |
| Power train | 80,000–130,000 miles | $500–$2,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission fluid check
- Coolant system flush
- Air filter replacements
- Spark plug changes
- Tire rotations
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Intermittent lighting failures
- Unpredictable electrical issues
- Transmission hesitation
- Engine stalling
- Unresponsive vehicle speed control
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Buick Rainier at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.