2007 Buick Rainier Problems

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

AFTER FILLING ENGINE TO FULL, UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, FUEL SENSOR DROPPED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO EMPTY AND THE LOW FUEL LIGHT CAME ON. LATER, IT CAME BACK UP BUT LEVEL DOESN'T REFLECT WHAT IT SHOULD BE. I HAVE RESORTED TO RESETTING MY TRIP ODOMETER AND FILLING UP WHEN IT NEARS 300 MILES SO I KNOW I WON'T BE STRANDED WITHOUT FUEL. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. *JS

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 handling difficulty. Had to replace rear air suspension with conventional shocks because parts were not available in a timely manner and vehicle could not be driven safely without rear suspension. Had similar issue with air suspension on 2004 Buick SUV, where the air suspension went haywire and caused handling issues. (Vehicle was returned to dealer and exchanged for one with a conventional suspension.) Was told by dealer the air suspension problem was fixed on later models after 2004, but apparently not. Would not have purchased a vehicle with air suspension had I known it still had these issues.

FIRST RECALL WAS ON THE WINDOW SWITH IN DRIVER DOOR . SECOND RECALL WAS ON THE LIGHTS AND AS OF NOW THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX IT. BEFORE I GOT THE RECALL NOTICE WE WENT AND HAD IT FIXED AND WE HAD TO PAY FOR THAT. THEY DONT SEEM TO BE TO CONCERENED ABOUT OUR SAFTEY OR IT WOUL ALREADY BE FIXED .NOW ONLY BACK PASSENGER DORR CAN BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE ALL THE OTHER DOORS MESSED UP AT THE SAME TIME AND THEY WANT 500.00 TO FIX TWO DOORS REALLY.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOLS CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/07/16*LJ *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. MA 10/16/15 *CN

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED ACTING ERRATICALLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN COMPLETELY DRY WEATHER. THE WIPERS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES AND PERIODICALLY ACTIVATE THE WASHER WHICH WOULD SPLASH WATER ALL OVER THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES. WHEN THIS WAS OCCURRING THE ON OFF SWITCH WOULD NOT FUNCTION AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO STOP THE WIPERS FROM COMING ON OR SPRAYING WATER. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHEN THE WIPERS AND WASHERS WILL TURN ON START SPRAYING WATER AND BLOCK MY VISION OF THE ROAD. I SEARCHED AND FOUND THAT A GM SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THE 2006 RAINIER ON YOUR WEBSITE REGARDING A WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTION. I CALLED GM TO INQUIRE WHAT STEPS THEY WOULD TAKE TO REPAIR THIS EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION. I WAS TOLD THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS NOT APPLICABLE TO MY 2007 VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THE MANUFACTURING DATE LISTED ON MY RAINIER IS AUGUST 2006. THEY SAID THE VIN # WAS TIED TO THE YEAR MODEL 2007 AND THEY COULD NOT AUTHORIZE A REPAIR BASED ON A 2006 LISTING IN THE BULLETIN. I BELIEVE GM INSTALLED ONE OF THE DEFECTIVE WASHER MOTORS IN MY 2007 RAINIER WHEN IT WAS BUILT IN AUGUST 2006 AND I WANT THEM TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *TR

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 handling difficulty. Had to replace rear air suspension with conventional shocks because parts were not available in a timely manner and vehicle could not be driven safely without rear suspension. Had similar issue with air suspension on 2004 Buick SUV, where the air suspension went haywire and caused handling issues. (Vehicle was returned to dealer and exchanged for one with a conventional suspension.) Was told by dealer the air suspension problem was fixed on later models after 2004, but apparently not. Would not have purchased a vehicle with air suspension had I known it still had these issues.

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.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE GEAR WOULD NOT LOCK. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. *TR

THE HEATED SEAT GOT HOT AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF. THE LEATHER SEAT BURNT THROUGH FROM THE HEATING UNIT OR WIRE TO THE HEATING ELEMENT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM SO IT IS NOT FIXED. THERE IS NO LONGER POWER TO THE SEAT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RAINIER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE EXTERIOR. THE DOOR WOULD ONLY OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS AGAIN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED A THIRD TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

UNABLE TO OPEN DRIVER SIDE DOOR FROM OUTSIDE IN ANY MANNER. THIS IS STARTING TO HAPPEN TO OTHER DOORS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL EMITTED A SQUEAKING NOISE WHILE TURNING. THE NOISE WAS ALSO PRESENT WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS OR POTHOLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO NOISE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 08/28/12*LJ UPDATED 08/30/12 UPDATED 09/04/2012 *JS

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED, HE COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T. WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND WAITING TO HERE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RAINIER. THE VEHICLE HAS FOUR MICHELIN 17 INCH, 245 TIRES. IN THE CONTACT'S OWNER'S MANUAL (PAGE 427), THERE WAS A CAUTION THAT STATED THAT TIRES OF DIFFERENT SIZES, BRANDS, OR TYPES MIXED TOGETHER COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND LOSS OF CONTROL. HOWEVER, THE SPARE TIRE THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE WAS OF A DIFFERENT BRAND AND SIZE (WRANGLER 16 INCH, 235). THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS CONCERN WAS WITH THE DIFFERENCES IN BRANDS AND SIZES OF THE TIRES, WHICH WERE IN DIRECT OPPOSITION TO THE CAUTION IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,319. UPDATED 04/25/08 *BF