Problems · by component

2005 Buick Rainier electrical system problems

38 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Buick Rainier cite electrical system, 37% of all 103 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
38
37% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“POWER STEERING LEAKS, THE GAS GAUGE AND OTHER GAUGES DON'T WORK, MOST THE ELECTRICAL DON'T WORK INSIDE THE CAR, MAKES A WEIRD NOISE WHEN IT BACKS UP AND THE ENGINE REVS WHEN IT'S STARTS AND SOMETIMES WHEN IT DRIVES AND GOES FASTER EVEN WHEN YOU ARE NOT HITTING THE GAS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 1, 2020Steering, Electrical system, EngineODI 11292507
“ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE COMMUNICATION. LOUD BANGING, AWD LIGHT CAME ON, CODE SHOWED THE ABOUT REASON. (ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE COMMUNICATION)”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 18, 2018Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 11080001
“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!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2016Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10904306
“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....”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 15, 2016Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10849805
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED AND DISPLAYED 120 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 146,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 8, 2015Electrical systemODI 10809039
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 14, 2015Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed controlODI 10782119

Showing 6 of 38 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.