RoadVitals

2006 Buick Rainier Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Jun 12, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
18%
of 91 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Buick Rainier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Jun 12, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID
11526598
Incident
Jun 9, 2023
Mileage
168,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 20, 2022

Low beam lights go off intermittently while driving and eventually come back on. This does not affect high beams or any other lights on the vehicle. But causes a serious danger to my needing to drive at night due to my job.

NHTSA ID
11457557
Incident
May 11, 2021
Driver assistanceElectricalSuspension
Filed May 10, 2020

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

NHTSA ID
11324044
Incident
May 10, 2020
Electrical
Filed Oct 31, 2019

DOOR LOCKS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. LATCHES WOULD NOT OPEN, COULD NOT CLOSE DOORS.

NHTSA ID
11277370
Incident
Oct 30, 2019
Mileage
120,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 25, 2018

THE DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS WANT WORK AT ALL ..

NHTSA ID
11090168
Incident
Jan 1, 2018
Mileage
141,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Feb 21, 2018

TAKATA RECALL WIPER BLADES AND WASHER FLUID COME ON BY THEMSELVES. HAPPEN TO MY WIFE TODAY ON HER WAY TO SCHOOL AND SHE WAS TERRIFIED BECAUSE IT WAS HARD FOR HER TO SEE PLUS IT WAS RAINING. ALSO I READ THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BACK IN 2004 FOR THE TRAILBLAZERS.

NHTSA ID
11073982
Incident
Feb 20, 2018
ElectricalFuel systemVisibility
Filed Feb 24, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK RAINIER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE POWER WINDOWS WERE JAMMED AND WOULD NOT WIND UP OR DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO LEAKED FUEL ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID
10956820
Incident
Feb 3, 2017
Mileage
105,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 9, 2016
Fire reported

JUST PURCHASED CAR 3 WEEKS AGO, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AT 3 AM AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 6 HOURS.FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT STARTED AT THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WIRING OR SWITCH AREA. COMPLETELY DESTROYED MY ENGINE BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED.

NHTSA ID
10854557
Incident
Apr 9, 2016
Mileage
131,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 15, 2015

AFTER FILLING UP THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL, THE GAS GAGE GOES TO ZERO AND THE TANK EMPTY WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 2 TO 3 MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. AFTER DRIVING ANOTHER 10-15 MILES THE GAS GAGE RETURNS TO SHOWING ACTUAL LEVEL AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OUT. HOWEVER, AT ABOUT A TANK LEVEL OF ABOUT 1/4 THE TANK IS NEAR EMPTY. THIS ERRATIC MALFUNCTION OF THE GAS GAGE IS DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID
10810540
Incident
Sep 11, 2015
Mileage
53,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 22, 2015
Fire reported

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. WITHIN 10 MINUTES I SMELLED AN ELECTRIC FIRE AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO THE CAB FROM ABOVE AND BELOW THE DASH. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO OPEN THE HOOD. AS THE SMOKE INCREASED I WENT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO REMOVE BELONGINGS FROM THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE DASH AND BURNING EMBERS FALLING INTO THE CAB. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVE, THE VEHICLE WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. MY FAMILY AND I WERE NOT HURT, BUT ARE NOW WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND STILL OWE THE FINANCE COMPANY SINCE WE HAD ONLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 9 MONTHS AGO. SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH REVEALED THE HEADLIGHTS WE HAD REPLACED TWICE ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES, AND THE SUSPENSION NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE HAD MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10712209
Incident
Mar 14, 2015
Mileage
106,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 28, 2014

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? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10629253
Incident
Mar 26, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 22, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, THE CONTACT HAD STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH, VARIOUS WIRES, AND THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V406000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

NHTSA ID
10627550
Incident
Jul 25, 2014
Mileage
112,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 13, 2014

DRIVING BACK TO FINDLAY OHIO FROM LIMA OHIO ON INTERSTATE 75 AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED, NOTHING WORKED - NO LIGHTS, NOTHING. IGNITION REPLACED AT A COST OF $300.00. WANTING TO KNOW IF THIS MODEL SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE GM RECALL? *JS

NHTSA ID
10579459
Incident
Apr 2, 2014
Electrical
Filed Dec 30, 2013

THE ENGINE QUITS UNANNOUNCED AND THE SAFETY LOCK DASH LIGHT ILLUMINATES. THIS CAN OCCUR ANYTIME REGARDLESS OF SPEED. IF AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE CAR WILL RESTART ON ITSELF. AT LOW SPEED, I HAVE TO PUT THE TRANNY IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM BUT SUSPECTS THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE PROBLEM IS WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA ID
10557715
Incident
Dec 10, 2013
Mileage
72,364 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Aug 21, 2012

DRIVER'S DOOR MODULE, POWER DOOR LOCK AND POWER WINDOW SWITCHES FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY AND BECAME INOPERATIVE. I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. $422 TO FIXED. WAITING ON PART, AS IT WAS ORDERED TODAY. 8-21-12 NOTHING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WORKS, THE WHOLE DOOR IS DEAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10471822
Incident
Mar 1, 2012
Mileage
100,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 13, 2012
Fire reported

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10458243
Incident
Apr 4, 2011
Mileage
149,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .