Electrical ? My 2004 buick rainier has had a problem for a few years now with the intermittent dimming of the headlights. As best as I can figure out, it happens noticeably at night when I am coasting at 30-32 MPH. The battery voltage meter will drop down to around 11, causing the lights to dim and then go back up. It mostly happens when there is moisture in the air, it is not generally an issue during the months of jan-mar where it is crisp and drier. I start my vehicle and let it run for about a minute or more before driving the vehicle and during my night time travel, it may happen 3 times or more than a dozen times. There does not seem to be a drain on the power or handling of the vehicle. I find this disconcerting whereas my lights are noticeably dimming to other vehicles on the road. It may appear to other drivers that I am indicating with the ?flashing? Of the headlights that they can cut out in front of me or make the turn from a side street. I have had a few close calls in this regard but I drive knowing that it could be an issue. It only appears to be a problem when I am coasting and not applying pressure to the gas pedal.
2004 Buick Rainier electrical complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 83, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Speedometer and tachometer step motors malfunction and do not go back down upon deceleration. My speedo will show I'm doing 40 MPH while stopped and sometimes peg out while driving in the neighborhood. This creates an unsafe situation with speed management in all types of driving conditions.
The current investigation into faulty ignition switches is much broader than currently being investigated.. In 2004 I purchase the buick rainier above. On initial test drive with salesman the vehicle shut off at 35 MPH. After review by the mechanic it was attributed to a computer issue. I purchased the vehicle after retesting. During the next 4 years this happened at least 3 more times. Each time it was attributed to a computer upgrade. I have not had a problem since then in 2008. The symptoms and the results are consistent with all reported failures. I also have a friend with a buick full size car 2006 I believe who had the same issue. The reports that this has not occurred on buicks or SUV is not correct. This is a larger problem.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick rainier. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the speedometer failed. The contact also stated that the oil pressure light illuminated as the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic where they stated that the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.
My 2004 buick rainier has an issue with the electrical system where the battery keeps being drained by a dead short in the system and rendering the car useless sporadically. Unfortunately, the professionals I have talked to don't seem to know the answer to the problem and I don't want to keep throwing good money after bad in my attempt to resolve it.
I just bought a buick rainier 2004. I was driving it and stopped at a red light and the speedometer never went back to 0.took it to a shop and they tried to reset it . No luck . The shop told me that they have gotten a lot of them with the same problem. Must have it taken out and sent to be fixed. I think this is a safety problem it its happening to a lot of cars and suvs.is their any recall on this .will their be any recalls on this .I went on line and read a lot of complaints about the same problem I am having . Can you advise me what to do .thank you for your time.
The gauge cluster works sometime. The only gauge that works properly is the speed. There seems to be a short. Took it to the dealership and they seem to think the cluster is bad but aren't 100% sure sense it works sometime. There has been a couple of times that I have been driving and have lost all elec components (no radio, no power windows locks, or any of the gauges) after reading im not the only one having the same kind of problems.
This is my second complaint rising from the same issue, I own two 2004 buick rainier's and they both have had an issue with the low beam headlamp bulb and connector being melted due to poor connection. This is a costly repair since the gm parts catalog does not list a replacement connector, they would rather sell the entire headlamp assembly. The first complaint occurred on my other rainier now this one. No headlamp is a safety concern, and due to the wiring overheating and melting could be a potential fire hazard.
Driving on a city street- speed limit of 35 MPH my meter read 75 MPH. I put my GPS system on to monitor my MPH. At traffic light while idling the meter read 45 MPH. 2004 buick rainier had been sitting outside for 3 days with the temperature in the 20's and this was the 1st time I had driven it. Tried accelerating and stopping a little suddenly hoping to jolt the meter back to normal. No results. Parked for about 30 minutes, started the car and it began to register at 65 MPH when driving 35 MPH per GPS. Idling read 25 MPH. After more stops and restarts the idle speed would read just below 20 MPH. Called onstar for a diagnostic and they connected me with gmc tech. They were going to try and reset the speedometer but found out it could not be done and wanted me to go to a local dealership. I was 400 miles from home and instead contacted my dealership at home. I was informed that this is an ongoing complaint about 2004 rainiers and that I should have no trouble traveling home in 2 days and that my speed control should work fine. I am very displeased that the gmc tech did not convey this information to me knowing that I was traveling and was concerned about safety. The next day I drove about 30 minutes parked the car for 1 1/2 hours and when I started driving then the speedometer was back to normal. Googled this problem and found many complaints and stories just as mine and found out the there has been no recall because there were not enough complaints about the problem. Shame shame shame on buick!!! I have since visited my local dealership and will be having a cluster replaced next week. S. So consider this a complaint about 2004 buick rainier and a complaint about gmc tech handling of what I consider a safety issue. I intend to trade in a year or two - but at that time I will certainly reconsider purchasing a gmc and/or buick.
It is a known fact by buick/gm that there is a major issue with the instrument cluster/electrical make up of this vehicle. Hundreds of people are complaining of electrical issues with their vehicle, first and foremost is the failure of the instrument cluster. From what we have deducted so far, this is an electrical issue stemming from a ground short near the radio. We just can't pinpoint it yet. Some days the instrument cluster works, some not. Usually starts working on a wet day - indicating the ground short. There is no excuse for not recalling this, other than they realize how many would be involved. I spent thousands on this vehicle and now gm will not back their product. The problem didn't start until after the warranty was past, surprise surprise. I have to use a GPS system with a speedometer to avoid speeding/getting fined. All the dealerships agree - the hours of labor to resolve this are beyond my pocketbook. Step up and acknowledge your fault in this, gm. Now.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick rainier. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, she smelled an odor of burning wires. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was notified and an appointment was scheduled to have the vehicle examined. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,000. Updated 10/10/12
1) fuel gauge - the fuel gauge has done a 180, the needle is now upside down. And doesn't work really. I searched the internet and found out the there is a recall on 2005- 2007 buick rainiers but not on my 2004. Maybe with my complaint, maybe it will include 2004 models. 2) drives door lock - the car key will no longer open the car door. I can only open the door with the remote button.
Going down the road speedometer stuck at 120.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick rainier. The contact stated that the instrument cluster malfunctioned and the speedometer failed. In addition, the ABS warning light was illuminated whenever the vehicle was started. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they advised the contact that the ABS sensor and instrument panel would need replacing. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was unknown.
Gauges don't function right. Speedo reads too fast, too slow or not at all, fuel gauge reads twice as full. Needle pegged to stop as is the oil gauge needle. Buying this was the biggest mistake ever made.
Dashborad gauges do not keep an accurate account of RPM's as well as speed. The battery gauge just started being inaccurate january 2012.
2004 buick rainier- instrument panel - speedometer, temperature, fuel and oil pressure gauges all started working intermittently and providing false readings (120mph at dead stop with engine off, temp in red zone at start up). This appears to be all to common of an issue with gm trucks/suvs of this era and needs to be addressed via recall. The problem is now getting progressively worse.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick rainier. The contact stated the vehicle headlights turned on and off intermittently. The air bag, the seat belt, and the brake warning lights also illuminated. The speedometer displayed the incorrect reading. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 83,868.
I have a 2004 buick rainier. Speedometer is saying 120mph when only going 25. It would adjust itself for a day but then it was all over the place and now staying at 120 more often. This started at the end of may. For a few years now the hatch window lock is a problem. Can't open it because I have an issue with getting it locked again without slamming it. Have also had condensation in my head and rear lights since I've gotten it. Why they have yet to recall about the speedometer is crazy. This is a safety issue especially when children or the elderly are involved! The cost to fix the cluster alone is 455.80$ (cheapest). This should not be my responsibility when most, if not all, of the rainiers are all malfunctioning in the same way.
The first incident we ran out of fuel with the fuel gauge showing we still had fuel in the tank. Next incident, the oil pressure gauge indicated a very high oil pressure reading, leading me to believe something was wrong with the engine. Took the car home and drove another vehicle until I could do some testing on the vehicle. Oil gauge returned to normal operation. In april of 2010 I was driving exiting an interstate highway onto a four lane road and the speedometer reading became inaccurate. I was traveling faster than the indicated speed. After stopping at an intersection the speedometer never moved from zero when I was moving down the road. This occurs after a brief period of driving. Mechanics I have spoken to inform me this is a common occurrence with this model vehicle. Gauges such as fuel gauge, oil pressure, tachometer and speedometer are not trustworthy and give inaccurate readings. This is a very expensive item to replace and should be considered a safety hazard because you cannot determine your speed at any given moment.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick rainier. The contact stated that the speedometer would become stuck at 40 MPH and sporadically, would not return to zero when the vehicle was at a complete stop. The dealer inspected the vehicle and advised that the stepper motor in the speedometer had failed. The failure mileage was 71,000 and current mileage 71,488.
Failure of speedometer. Quit working at about 32,000 miles.
I bought this car monday and the dealer stated it had all scheduled service, including the 130k mile service on february 26, 2011. We drove around the neighborhood and the car seemed to drive beautifully, and appeared to be immaculately maintained. Until I drove to work this morning, and the speedometer started going higher and higher, reaching 80 MPH, even though I had slowed down and pulled over. I shut the car off and restarted it. It appeared normal for the first 30 MPH, then stuck at 40, even though I was following traffic in a 70 MPH zone. It stayed at 40 MPH, even after the car was turned off. I did some research on this problem and found that the instrument panel cluster has been a known problem in gm cars, and was supposed to have been corrected as the result of a class action lawsuit. There are several tsbs related to the speedometer, gas gauges, or other instruments in this cluster. I find it unforgivable that the federal safety agency has allowed an unsafe condition exist in virtually an entire brand of cars for over 7 years and has not issued a recall on these vehicles. This allowed the dealer to sell the car, knowing about the problem, but not required by law, to disclose it. And should I be on the highway, driving along at 90 MPH, when my speedometer says 60, nobody is safe. Not me, not the other cars on the road, certainly not pedestrians, since the braking distance is obviously far longer than my speedometer leads me to believe it is. How many millions of defective vehicles have been placed on the road in the last 7 years? How would you feel if your 5 year-old rode a bicycle into the street as I drove by? Thinking I was going 30, but really going 60? This isn't just an inconvenience, it is a fatality waiting to happen. You have the authority, and the moral responsibility, to fix it. Recall these cars before somebody dies.
I have been experiencing a problem with the instrument cluster in my buick rainier. It started with the speedometer which was either to fast or showing below zero at highway speeds. It started about 2 years ago but at that time it happened occasionally. The problem has continued to migrate to other gauges in the instrument panel-- the oil pressure reads anywhere from 50 to the 80 or peg, the tack will read below zero at highway operating speeds and the volt meter reads 14+. These problems happen individually or several at once. I have contacted the dealer where I purchased it and they do not acknowledge it as a problem and offer no financial assistance with a replacement or repair. The dealer will replace the instrument cluster for $370 for parts and labor at $92/hour - approximately $600. I contacted gm about the problem and they acknowledge there is a problem with instrument clusters in certain vehicles during that period of time but my vehicle is no involved. If you research this on the internet you will find several sites with discussions and complaints about the instrument clusters on this particular vehicle, including this site. I think this is a wide spread problem and should be corrected with a mandated government recall. I had an identical problem with a 2003 cadillac escalade xt and there was a recall and free replace for the instrument cluster.
Erratic windshield wiper operation. When you turn the wipers on for use they immediately go to "normal" mode of operation and can be switched to "high speed" and back to normal but will not go to "delay" or turn off. Then they may stay on for days before they will stop on their own. They do not trun off with the switch. This has been a problem for about 6 months but is getting worse.
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.
No particular event just driving and speedometer stopped working a few weeks later gas gauge stopped once in awhile the speedometer starts but is inaccurate all of the instrument cluster is going . Many other complaints online for same problem . Tried to have the dealer co operate and fix the defect but got nowhere need help as this is a extremely expensive fix on a faulty part that should have a recall as it is a unsafe situation.
Speedometer failing and/or working intermittently.
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