Problems · NHTSA complaints
2006 Buick Rainier problems
Owners filed 91 complaints about the 2006 Buick Rainier with NHTSA between Sep 2006 and Dec 2025. The most-cited component is fuel system, gasoline (25).
Complaints
91
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Fuel system, gasoline25
- Electrical system17
- Exterior lighting12
- Fuel system, other8
- Suspension7
- Power train7
- Visibility/wiper6
- Fuel/propulsion system4
- Electronic stability control (esc)4
- Structure4
- Steering3
- Air bags3
- Visibility3
- Engine3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
2
0
0
5
27
7
7
6
13
4
5
3
1
2
1
3
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 27 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Fuel system, gasoline
25 reports
“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. *TR”
Electrical system
17 reports4 fires2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2006 Buick Rainier. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in his driveway, the contact attempted to use the remote starter key fob to unlock the doors, but the doors failed to unlock. The contact stated that he manually unlocked the doors. The contact stated that he manually attempted to start the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to start. The anti-theft warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being lifted onto the tow truck, he was informed by the tow truck driver that the driver’s side wiring harness had melted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness had melted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer nor manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000.”
Exterior lighting
12 reports1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK RAINIER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT CALLED LUTHER BROOKDALE (6701 BROOKLYN BLVD, BROOKLYN CENTER, MN 55429, PHONE NUMBER: (763) 515-2412) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND 14V404000 (VISIBILITY); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Fuel system, other
8 reports
“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. *JS”
Suspension
7 reports
“WE BOUGHT A BUICK RAINIER 2006 AND IT HAS HAD NOTHING BUT ELECTRICAL, DOOR PROBLEMS AND DOOR HANDLE PROBLEMS. IT HAS A FAULTY BACK WINDOW WIPER. SUSPENSION ISSUES AND A VOTING UNDER BODY CARRIAGE. I BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALER AND NONE OF THESE RECALL ISSUES WHERE TAKEN CARE OF, AND THESE RECALLS DATE BACK TO 2015 I BOUGHT THE RAINER IN MARCH 2018. *TR”
Power train
7 reports1 crash
“I HAD INVOLVED CAR ACCIDENT WHICH FROM THEY CALLED THROTTLEBODY DUE TO (TPS...SHIFT BY WIRE) YOU CAN FIND IN ASK.COM ENCYCLOPEDIA *(SEE BOTTOM) THAT I EXPERIENCED WHICH I HAD. IT WAS RUNNING IN REVERSE AND HIT STEEL POST THAT PROTECT GAS METER WHILE I TRIED BRAKE BUT ENGINE AND TRANNY WAS IN FULL IDLE AND I TRIED CHANGE TO INTO DRIVE WHILE IT STILL IN FULL IDLE AND MY BRAKE CANT STOP UNTIL I HIT EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURN ENGINE OFF BY KEY SWITCH. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND I'M NOT ALONE AND MY INSURANCE (NATIONAL GENERAL WHICH USED BE GMAC) PUSHED MY CAR INTO TOTALED THAT THEY USED BY NEVADA LAW AND BODY SHOP TRYING TO SEND THIS CAR TO DEALER FOR TESTING BUT NEVER HAPPEN CUZ OF TOTALED PROCESSING. WHICH LEAVE ME PUZZLED AND FOUND OUT THAT MY CAR SOLD TO BODY SHOP AND REPAIRED AND SOLD OTHER PEOPLE. MY WORRY IS IF THEY NOT TESTING THROTTLE AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THIS CAR MAY FACE RISK WHICH I HAD. *DISADVANTAGES THE COST OF DBW SYSTEMS IS OFTEN GREATER THAN CONVENTIONAL SYSTEMS.THAT FALL UNDER THE CATEGORY OF SAFETY CRITICAL SYSTEMSWHICH ARE RECOMMENDED TO BE DEVELOPED UNDER STANDARDS LIKE ISO 26262 WHICH REQUIRE EXTENSIVE CHANGES IN THE DEVELOPMENT…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.