Problems · NHTSA complaints

2007 Buick Rainier problems

Owners filed 38 complaints about the 2007 Buick Rainier with NHTSA between Apr 2008 and Nov 2023. The most-cited component is fuel system, gasoline (8).

Complaints
38
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Fuel system, gasoline8
  2. Electrical system7
  3. Exterior lighting6
  4. Suspension4
  5. Power train3
  6. Visibility3
  7. Visibility/wiper2
  8. Fuel system, other2
  9. Engine1
  10. Seats1
  11. Structure1
  12. Steering1
  13. Latches/locks/linkages1
  14. Tires1

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 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20081
20090
20100
201110
20128
20134
20143
20156
20164
20170
20180
20190
20201
20210
20220
20231

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Fuel system, gasoline

8 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RAINIER. AFTER ADDING FUEL TO THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED EMPTY AND THE EMPTY FUEL TANK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 11/14/12*LJ”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2012Fuel system, gasolineODI 10478256

Electrical system

7 reports2 fires2 related recalls
“Window motors and window controls failing. I replaced two window motors at in 2017, at dealer because they failed, then the rear passenger window motor failed in 2020 and was replaced at mechanic shop with factory replacement, this rear passenger window is seldom used, but rear passenger window motor failed again in 2023 and was replaced again at mechanic shop. Drivers window motor now needs to be replaced. Window controls are intermittant. The components were replaced by dealer and by third-party mechanic. There is no warning prior to failure other than rolling down a window and not being able to get it back up at all, which poses a hazard in torrential rain and damages vehicle; or not being able to roll a window down when needed. The first replacement was under warranty. The rest have been out of pocket and have caused other damage due to rain. I feel the entire window operating system should have been recalled, driver side controls and all of the operting motors. This is a dangerous and expensive continuing problem. Never had this problem with any GM vehicle before the 2007 Rainer. Rear air suspension went out in 2018 and rear end fell down causing severe…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 28, 2023Suspension, Electrical systemODI 11557359

Exterior lighting

6 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO SUPPLY THE PART FOR THE REPAIR FOR LONGER THAN 18 MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THE RECALL REPAIR BEYOND A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/10/16*LJ UPDATED 11/21/2017*JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 4, 2016Exterior lightingODI 10853342

Suspension

4 reports
“BOTH TRAILING ARMS IN THE REAR SUSPENSION HAVE FAILED TO DUE TO RUST. THE FAILURE OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE TWO TRAILING ARMS OCCURRED WHEN TRAVELING ACROSS A BUMP IN THE ROAD AT LOW SPEED WHILE ON A LONG DISTANCE TRIP. THE 2007 BUICK RAINIER HAD A HISTORY OF BEING IN PENNSYLVANIA. THE USE OF SALT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WAS THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILING OF THE TRAILING ARMS RESULTED IN CONSIDERABLE VIBRATIONS AT LOW SPEEDS UP TO ~40 MPH. THE FAILING OF THE TRAILING ARMS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE LOST OF REPLACEMENT SPRINGS IF A SIGNIFICANT BUMP HAD BEEN HIT WHILE DRIVING. NOTE: REPLACEMENT SPRINGS ARE OFTEN NECESSARY AFTER THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAG SPRINGS, AS WAS THE CASE FOR THIS VEHICLE. FORTUNITLY, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BEFORE ANY ACCIDENT OCCURRED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 23, 2020SuspensionODI 11384755

Power train

3 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE REAR END OF VEHICLE JERKED AND THE STABLE TRACK SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE OUTPUT SHAFT ON TRANSFER CASE AND SLIP YOKE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,507. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2013Power trainODI 10511405

Visibility

3 reports2 related recalls
“DRIVERS DOOR WINDOW SCREECHES WHEN LOWERED, STOPS HALF WAY WHEN RAISED. HAS BECOME WORSE OVER THE PAST MONTH. NOW I MUST TRY HELPING IT BY HAND WHILE PUSHING THE UP BUTTON..NOW I AM AFRAID TO LOWER WINDOW FOR FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET IT TO RAISE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 3, 2012Electrical system, VisibilityODI 10487171
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

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