The contact owns a 2005 Buick Rainier. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front windshield wipers and wiper fluid spray activated independently and failed to turn off. The contact also stated that occasionally the headlights would inadvertently turn off; requiring the vehicle to be restarted before the vehicle regained headlight functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced the headlight failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V519000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.
2005 Buick Rainier lights problems
17 complaints (17% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 60,000.
- owner complaints
- 17
- of this car's complaints
- 17%
- typical mileage
- 60,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Headlights3
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Buick Rainier lights problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2005 Buick Rainier lights
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Loss of Headlights
The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at under the identification numbers in the attached document.
RQ17002
What 2005 Buick Rainier owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
While driving down the interstate last night at about 70 MPH my low-beam headlights suddenly went off plunging the road ahead of me into pitch black darkness. Full beam and directional lights were still functioning, managed to safely pull of to the side of the interstate, and luckily was able to use my cell phone to determine that the solid state headlight relay had failed. Luckily there is a similar relay located in the fuse box that controls the engine fan that I was able to utilize and continue on my journey. Needless to say this was a very unnerving/scary experience and can't imagine what it would be like for a less experienced driver. I find it hard to believe that gm thought that a system that could affect both headlight simultaneously in this way was remotely even a good idea?!
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 buick rainier. While driving 65 MPH, the headlights failed without warning. The failure occurred two more times. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (modern chevrolet located at 5955 university pkwy winston-salem, north carolina 27105) where it was diagnosed that the low beam module failed. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v519000 (exterior lighting). The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The contact was informed that the federal safety agency determined which vehicles to include in recalls and referred the contact to the federal safety agency. The failure mileage was approximately 53,800. Updated 09/01/17*lj
The lights go out completely while driving.
The drivers door master power switch shorts out - cannot roll down windows (of any kind), lights flicker and go out completely my headlights turn off completely while im driving!!!!! And has caused me to immediately pull over with no lights, no vision to turn them on manually!!! Unacceptable!!
Our low beam lights quit working without warning. Sometimes they come back on at other times they do not and you have to hit the high beams or even the fog lights. Not a good thing to happen. Car is always in motion at night when failure happens. This has happened many times over last couple of years. Not sure how many times. Not always noticeable depending on if you are in city lighting or in country. Daylight running lights, high beams and fog lights seem to work but not low beams.
Our 2005 buick rainier started acting up this past summer when the blower stayed on when car shut off..now when we turn on the heater on the car hesitates and stalls out while driving! The volt gauge is maxed out...the passenger window doesn't work now? Now the blower doesn't work unless I fool with wires in the glovebox going to some black box? I also noticed front headlight always flickers when driving ..even replaced bulb! Always dimmer?? Now we smell wires burning from somewhere..so many problems !! Over 100;000 miles on it....
My speedometer does not work correctly. Some times it seems to read right, but lots of times it will say I am doing 120 when I am doing 30 MPH or it will show I am doing 0 when I am actually doing 70 MPH on the interstate. I cannot rely on my speedometer to be accurate. I can be driving, it appears to be working but then it starts to slowly go down until it is back at zero and all the while I am in drive and moving. Also, my oil gage has stopped working. It moves when I start my car and shut it off, but it is never correct either. It is either at zero or on the complete opposite side. Sometimes my car stalls when I am sitting at a light or driving slowly. My dash will say, oil pressure low, stop engine and die on me. I keep my oil changed regularly and keep the levels checked. It does not leak, it always measures fine when I check it. So something is wrong with the oil gage and it is continuously telling my computer the oil pressure is low causing my car to die on me while driving or in traffic. These are both very serious driving hazards. I could go to pull out left and turn, my car could die on me, and I could get hit from oncoming traffic. This has not happened, but it is a possible scenario due to my car stalling out of the blue because of the oil gage/sensor not working right. I have also noticed some of my lights in my dash area half work and on my doors. Other than this, I have had great luck with my vehicle. I bought it new and really have not had any problems but with this. I also had the fuel gage go out, but there was a recall on it, and I had it replaced. I cannot give you a specific date, because this happens almost on a daily basis, so I will give you an approximate date as to when I think it started around.
On the evening of 9/5/2015 I was driving my 2005 buick rainier when the low beam headlights went out. I was able to drive to a safe location using my high beam headlights. When inspected by my local buick dealer (ferman buick) it was found that relay 46 (headlamp driver module) had burned up and damaged additional fuses and relays. The entire fuse box had to be replaced due to the damage. This case has been reported to gm (#8-1567980379). Gm currently has multiple years of buick rainier under recall for this exact problem, so I'm hoping they expand the recall to cover 2005.
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 buick rainier. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the headlights would intermittently operate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
Questions about the 2005 Buick Rainier lights
Does the 2005 Buick Rainier have lights problems?
Owners have filed 17 complaints about the lights of the 2005 Buick Rainier, 17% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2005 Buick Rainier lights problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 60,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Buick Rainier lights?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Buick Rainier have the most lights problems?
The Buick Rainier model years with the most lights complaints are 2004 (22 complaints), 2005 (17 complaints) and 2006 (12 complaints).
Other 2005 Buick Rainier problems
Electrical 38Fuel system 27Engine 10Brakes 9Acceleration 7Airbags 7Suspension 7Body 5Driver assistance 5Steering 5Transmission 3Visibility 3Locks 2Tires 2Seat belts 1Seats 1
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