2006 Buick Rainier problems
The 2006 Buick Rainier has 117 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (32%) concerns fuel system. Next are electrical system (15%) and lighting (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 117 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Fuel system 32% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 7
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 76,000 miles 94 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 6 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 5 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 22 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 17 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 6 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 23 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 8 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 5 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 94 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 76,000 miles. For fuel system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 63,000 miles (30 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 7 complaints mention a fire.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2006 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 4 model years of the Buick Rainier with enough data (50 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 7 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Vehicle idling in driveway while I went inside to retrieve cell phone. Came out and smoke in vehicle and electrical fire smell. Pull exterior of power window panel up and saw switch burned and melted on one corner.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 buick rainier. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the passenger side low beam headlight blew out. The contact replaced the bulb; however, the failure recurred and the headlight socket melted. The contact repaired the vehicle. The failure recurred on the driver side low beam headlight. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14v755000 (exterior lighting). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure.
The air conditioning and heating controls had not been working and /or working erratically. We took the vehicle to the local dealership for repair. They claimed that they couldn't find any problem. We also asked them to fix the recall item, door switch, and were told there was no recall on our vehicle eventhough we had received notice from GM by mail. On march 14, 2015 I was driving on the interstate when the air conditioner suddenly started working full force.
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.
Buick rainier 2006, [xxx], I have had trouble with my SUV turning off while driving many times. Also, it will not start after several attempts until it just wants to. Now, it has completely stopped starting and is sitting in a parking lot after trying to start over 5 hours, I am so upset and stranded. My VIN does not appear on recall list for switch, but that is the trouble I am having. What do I do now?