INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOING CRAZY. SPEEDOMETER READING 80 WHEN GOING 45 (I'M ESTIMATING OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA EXACTLY HOW FAST), FUEL GAUGE WORKING WHEN IT WANTS TO. FEEL UNSAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR FAULTY CLUSTER. ESTIMATED $600. WHEN I RESEARCH MANY GM VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS (STEPPER MOTORS) BUT NOT MY VEHICLE. FUNNY, WHEN THEY SOLD IT TO ME THEY TO…
2005 Buick Rainier electrical problems
moderate 31 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850
Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$850
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT READ THE CORRECT SPEED. SOMETIMES WHILE TRAVELING AT 55MPH IT WILL STATE I AM ONLY GOING 40 WHILE OTHER TIMES IT WILL STATE I AM GOING 120. SOMETIME WHEN I START MY VEHICLE THE NEEDLE WILL READ BELOW 0 AND OTHERS IT WILL READ OVER 80 WHILE JUST IDLING. THIS ON TOP OF THE GAS GAUGE NOT READING ACCURATELY, STATING I AM ALMOST OUT OF GAS AFTER I JUST FILLED IT TELLS ME THE…
THE LOWER INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY, THAT SHOWS THE ODOMETER, FUEL MILEAGE ETC, DOES NOT ALWAYS COME ON. I HAVE HAD THE DISPLAY SHOW UP PRIOR TO STARTING, WHILE IN "RUN" BUT NOT STARTED AND THEN NOT COME ON AFTER STARTING. MOST OF THE TIME IT WILL COME ON THE NEXT TIME I START THE VEHICLE AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR A MINUTE OR TWO.. EVEN MORE RECENTLY THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT GO UP TO FULL AFTER A…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED AND DISPLAYED 120 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 146,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT DISPLAY CORRECT SPEED. SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES FROM 0 TO 100MPH AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. *TR
THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN STICKING AT NIGHT. WE KEPT DRIVING THE CAR USING THE RPM GAUGE TO TRY TO JUDGE SPEED. THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD WORK SPORADICALLY. IT NOW DOESN'T WORK. IT SHOW 100 MPH WHEN YOU MAY BE GOING 20 OR IT SHOWS 20 MPH WHEN YOU ARE GOING 60. LAST NIGHT WE WERE SHOWING 45 MILES AN HOUR PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT A SAFE WAY TO DRIVE A CAR. I KNOW THAT GM HAS HAD PROBLE…
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2005 Buick Rainier?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 31 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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