AI Damage2006 Buick Rainier: common problems
Owners of the 2006 Buick Rainier filed 91 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 91
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 34% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 19% of all complaints
- 3 Exterior lighting 13% of all complaints
- 4 Visibility 10% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 6 Suspension 8% of all complaints
- 7 Electronic stability control 4% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel/propulsion system 4% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 31 complaints (34% of all).
- Electrical system: 17 complaints (19% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 12 complaints (13% of all).
- Visibility: 9 complaints (10% of all).
- Powertrain: 7 complaints (8% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4.2 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 5.3 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 91 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel jerked independently without warning, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the brake pedal while depressing the brake pedal.
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 driverâs side wiring harness had…
The wiper cover AC Delco/GM part number 19120931 will fail and loose control of the wipers (fail to shut off while driving). Because you cannot shut off the wipers, the driver's vision is obscured, and the noise from the wipers on the dry glass is very distracting.
In driving cross country, filled up the fuel tank and resumed travel when the fuel gauge immediately went to empty (I didnât even have time to drive up the highway ramp back onto the highway). The alerts started ringing and blinking and dash board told me there was no fuel.
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.
While driving various speeds, the headlights failed to illuminate. The contact called luther brookdale ([address], brooklyn center, [ZIP], phone number: [phone]) 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.
My service airbag light is coming and on and going off for no apparent reason. Reason unknown. This is happening while the suv is in motion, in drive, on highways and side roads traveling anywhere from 25mph to 65mph. I am gravely concerned for my safety and the safety of my passengers.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,786 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Rainier has 78 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 91, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Buick Rainier?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, electrical system, exterior lighting. Total complaints: 91. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (23%), headlights and tail lights (12%), warning lights, check engine (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2006 Buick Rainier?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2006 Buick Rainier from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2006 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.