2006 Buick Rainier: wrong fuel gauge reading

Filed Jan 26, 2022 · Fuel system · CO

In driving cross country, filled up the fuel tank and resumed travel when the fuel gauge immediately went to empty (I didn’t even have time to drive up the highway ramp back onto the highway). The alerts started ringing and blinking and dash board told me there was no fuel. I went to a gravel area and inspected the engine compartment, under the car and the interior to be sure I was not missing anything, then restarted the SUV. Could not find any issues anywhere, including leaking fuel. I took off the fuel cap and reattached it to be sure there was no problem there. I had no choice but to get on the highway and continue my journey. The problem continued for the following 1000 ish miles. When I got home I contacted my dealer and set up an appointment to look at vehicle. They found the vehicle needing a sensor kit which was a recall back a few years ago. I had the issue repaired which took 3 days. They may have the removed items. Attached please find the invoice from the repair that shows the message numbers, etc from the inspection prior to and during repair. Since this issue was a recall, but I understand not for my vehicle but for many similar SUV’s and Pickups of the same area of manufacture; I feel the same components were used in my vehicle and should be paid for and included in this recall. Attached please find the invoice if I can figure out how to get it attached to this type of format.

Filed Aug 17, 2021 · IA

When I fill my gas up my gas gauge goes to empty, the low fuel light comes on, and my check engine light comes on. I can run out of gas and another can hit me. This is very unsafe, not just for me but others. Buick needs to fix this before someone gets seriously hurt or killed. This is a law suit waiting to happen.

Filed Jun 13, 2014 · Fuel system · 84,500 miles · CO

The fuel sensor for my 2006 buick rainier started to malfunction approximately two years ago. I had it diagnosed by gm dealer, king chevrolet buick gmc of longmont, colorado and they informed me the car needed a new fuel sensor. The fuel gauge indicates the tank is empty, when actually full. We decided not to correct the problem, due to the cost. The buick ran out of gas numerous times throughout the last 2 years. Three days ago the car stalled on interstate 25 with passengers on board. We towed it back to king chevrolet buick gmc, longmont, co. And now diagnosed with a faulty fuel pump with an estimated cost of $1400 to correct the fuel pump/sensor problem. Each time the car was diagnosed by the gm dealer, not a word was mentioned by staff/technicians about the known fuel component failure. I discovered this issue after searching the internet, yesterday. I find it hard to believe that this serious safety hazard is not publicly acknowledged by gm corp and its dealers and a recall for these vehicles has not occurred. Seems gm corp and king chevrolet buick gmc have no concern for consumer safety.

Filed Oct 7, 2013 · Body · 80,000 miles · NE

I bought my 2006 buick rainier in march of 2011 and about 3 months later the right rear passenger door handle broke because it is plastic and can't be opened from the outside. Then a week later the child lock decided to lock itself on the same door and now the door can't be opened from either the inside or outside. Then about 6 months later the front passenger door handle broke and now it won't open from the outside and I have to reach clear across the truck to open the door for any passengers to get in on that side. This last weekend the left back passenger door is now broke and can't be opened from the outside and is self locking the child safety lock now on this door as it did on the other back passenger door. Luckily I got the door opened just once to unlock the child safety lock on this door and so it is still able to open for now from the inside until it locks its self again. Once it locks it's self again I won't be able to get the door open again to unlock the child safety lock cause the door no longer opens from the outside. At this point I have one door left that functions properly and that is the drivers door if that handle breaks I won't be able to open any of my doors from the outside and will only be able to open the two front doors from the inside. Who makes plastic door handles anyway what a stupid design for a car part that is used many times throughout the course of one day let alone for the life of the vehicle. I don't know if it is a safety issue but my daughter can't get in or out of the back passenger doors and has to crawl up through to the front seats and get out through the drivers door. I can't believe I have a fairly new car and can't properly use 3 doors on it. I too have issues with my gas gauge and will be taking it in to have fixed very soon.

Filed Apr 8, 2013 · Fuel system · 65,000 miles · OR

The fuel gauge stopped working and the check engine light came on at about 65k miles in february 2009. I took the vehicle to the dealer where I purchased and was told that the fuel sensor inside the gas tank had failed and that the repair would not be covered under warranty because the 60k miles had been exceeded. Not being able to afford this costly repair has forced me to continue to use the trip meter on the odometer as a way to estimate my fuel level. It is now 4 years later and I have never received any notice of recall or service notice from the manufacturer or dealer. The vehicle now has over 125k miles and apparently no longer qualifies for the offer from gm of splitting the repair cost with the customer. I have not received any notification from gm or my dealer of any offer of assistance with this issue. Gm obviously installed faulty equipment and the fact that they expect their so called valued customer to pay at all for correcting this type of issue is not good business practice. I guess that I'm not that valued a customer as I brought this issue to their attention in 2009, repair was denied under warranty and I have never received any service notice regarding this issue.

Filed Mar 21, 2012 · Fuel system · 50,000 miles · NV

Fuel gauge showed more fuel than what was actually in fuel tank causing vehicle to stall while driving. Fuel gauge now reads empty at all times even when tank is full.

Filed Mar 13, 2012 · Fuel system · 43,000 miles · NY

The fuel gauge suddenly showed empty after filling and then about 10 miles later showed full. Shortly later empty again. The erratic fuel readings continue to date. This malfunction is creating a very dangerous situation. Buick is not willing to repair or replace the fuel gauge.

Filed Jan 5, 2012 · Fuel system · NJ

This tuesday as I was driving down a major highway with my 2 year old daughter, my 2006 buick rainier turned off and came to a complete stop. It was freezing cold and we were on a major highway, luckily I was able to coast to the shoulder and no one was hurt. Come to find out I ran out of gas. I have never in my life run out of gas, my fuel gauge was reading incorrectly. I had to make my husband leave work, while my daughter and I had to sit in the freezing cold car!!! I have an appointment to fix the fuel gauge, and I was informed this is a common problem. Gm is only paying half the repair costs, although they admit this is a defect. Please help, these repairs are not in my budget, but I also can not be stranded again.

Filed Nov 18, 2011 · Fuel system · WI

Filled up at the gas station one day. Started my rainier and the gas gauge read empty and the low fuel light was on. Drove for a bit and the gas gauge appeared to start working again. Over the next couple of weeks the gauge would fluctuate randomly. Then one day, with my children in the car and my gas gauge telling me I had plenty of fuel, I ran out of gas on a very busy street. I was fortunate enough to coast into a parking lot and avoid an accident. My dealer kept telling me I needed to put a fuel cleaner into my gas tank and that would fix the problem. This faulty fuel sensor has caused me to run out of gas a number of times (even when using the trip mileage indicator to give myself some idea of my fuel levels). This creates a very dangerous situation. Please, please please issue a recall as soon as possible.

Filed Oct 11, 2011 · Fuel system · 60,514 miles · AZ

Filled fuel tank and gas gauge went to empty, turning on the low fuel light and the check engine light. The fuel gauge indicator bounces from empty to full. After a few miles the fuel gauge needle stays in range but as I get closer to needing gas it does not read accurately and I cannot tell for sure if I might run out of gas. My concern is running out of gas when in heavy traffic, fearing for my safety and that of any passengers. I believe this is indicative of a design flaw and needs to be adequately addressed by gm. I have a recall that indicates they would pay half the cost at a gm dealership, this is unacceptable to me. I am not half responsible for this design flaw. This is a serious safety issue and should be completely addressed by gm.

Filed Sep 28, 2011 · Fuel system · 100,500 miles · WI

Fuel gauge works erratically. When the gas tank is filled completely the fuel gauge reads low and dings the "low fuel" alarm. Gauge then climbs toward full as you speed up and then repeatedly drops to the low fuel alarm. The faulty fuel level could leave you stranded on the highway with no gas if you are not tracking your fuel level.

Filed Sep 26, 2011 · Fuel system · 54,250 miles · IL

Fuel gauge stopped working. Gauge became erratic reporting low/no fuel when tank was filled. Fuel gauge continuously bounces between full and empty. Behavior continues to exist. Can't rely on fuel gauge to determine when a fill up is required. Currently calculating mileage to next fill up by tracking mileage. Flashing low fuel light is distracting.