Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Buick Rainier owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Have noticed after a heavy and driving rain that the electrical systems acts up. We call it crazy car! All the dash lights blink & flash, bells ding and gauges fluctuate while the vehicle is at rest and on the move. We shut the engine off, sit for a minute and restart only to get the same thing. That May happen for the entire ride duration or we May get no dash lights at all. It appears to me that there is a short or a moisture that creates this happening because after a few days of good sunny weather where the water has evaporated from the roadways, our beloved rainer comes back to normal. We still experience the dimming of the headlights as we are driving at night when we are cruising with no gas pedal application at around the 32 MPH marking which is rather annoying as other drivers feel as if we are flashing them. …
Headlights fail intermittently while driving. While driving last night the low beam headlights went out. The high beams still worked. This is about the sixth time this has happened. I changed out the headlight relay just before this occurred as I had seen a recall on 2006 and 2007 rainiers showing this as the problem. After a short time the high beams also went out. I parked and turned the engine off for a while and when I restarted the high beams were working again but not the low beams. I was doing a combination of street and highway driving and it appears to be unrelated to any road conditions as this has happened on both highways and city streets.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Buick Rainier. The contact stated that the headlights turned off intermittently without warning. The contact stated that the headlights remained off for approximately six minutes. When the lights turned back on, the lighting was dim. The vehicle was taken to j.d. Byrider (5101 new bern ave, raleigh, nc 27610) where they replaced the replaced the headlight driver module on two different occasions, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 150,471.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Buick Rainier. The contact stated that the low beam headlight socket melted causing the light to shake. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the head lamp module needed to be replaced, along with replacement of the light. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14V755000 (exterior lighting). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Low beams on lighting goes out for no apparent reason. This has happened two times in the last two weeks. Dealership says they just can't find anything wrong. Although they had another vehicle there with same problem. This seems to be a recurring problem with GM SUV's. My 1994 GMC did the same thing and I heard reports of other GMC's doing the same thing. Not good on interstates at night.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Buick Rainier. While driving at 50 MPH, the headlights failed to illuminate. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.
In October, 2003 I purchased a new 2004 Buick Rainier. A couple months later my wife and I were driving home one night and the headlights suddenly dimmed and then came back up. It happened at least twice that night. We took it to the dealer and reported the problem. They were fixing several other problems at the same time so we assumed it was fixed. Last week, October 28, 2004, I was driving on the freeway over a dark mountain pass when the headlights went completely off. They stayed off for 2 to 3 seconds before coming back on. Luckily, I didn't crash because the lights of a nearby semi kept me from crashing into the freeway barrier. I followed the semi after that because I was afraid they would go off again. A few miles down the road, in a narrow on-lane construction area the headlights dimmed several times but never went completely out. …
I have had trouble with the headlights dimming while driving since the beginning, the dealership has several times worked on the problem, which I think has cleared up..so far. Now my speedometer has started messing up, it says I am going 50 while parked and 120 while driving. I only drive short distances and mostly into and back from town 6 mile one way. I have 50,969 miles on my 2004 vehicle, I keep its checkups and oil changes regularly: dealership has records. I feel this vehicle has had electrical issues from day one, I see turn signal and brakelight issues in recall so I don't believe I am wrong about this. They want to charge me over $400 to change the "cluster" as the economy goes, I too cannot afford this kind of charges on an item that should not have issues. Especially when I take good care of it and really has low mileage and wear and tear (perfect condition).
I have a 2004 Buick Rainier. Speedometer is saying 120mph when only going 25. It would adjust itself for a day but then it was all over the place and now staying at 120 more often. This started at the end of May. For a few years now the hatch window lock is a problem. Can't open it because I have an issue with getting it locked again without slamming it. Have also had condensation in my head and rear lights since I've gotten it. Why they have yet to recall about the speedometer is crazy. This is a safety issue especially when children or the elderly are involved! The cost to fix the cluster alone is 455.80$ (cheapest). This should not be my responsibility when most, if not all, of the rainiers are all malfunctioning in the same way.
I own two 2004 Buick Rainier's and have had this issue with both, also have talked to many friends that had the same issue. The issue is that the headlamp bulb connectors are melting where they plug into the bulb, causing intermittent or no function at all of the headlamp. When trying to find a new connector for the bulb I was told I would have to buy the entire headlamp housing assembly, which is quite expensive. I know there are more cases out there with this as an issue, as GM uses these type of connectors on the Chevrolet trailblazer, GMC envoy, Oldsmobile bravada, and the Buick Rainier. I think this issue should be addressed because it is a very common problem caused by defective materials.
Related recalls
Exterior lighting › Turn signal
On certain trucks and sport utility vehicles, the driver wishing to signal a turn by moving the directional signal lever, (up or down) May cause the front marker/turn lights and rear turn lights to flash in a manner similar to hazard warning, rather than flashing on the desired side only.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the suspect flasher modules with a new flasher module designed with sealed relays and more durable contact material inside of the relays free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2005.
Exterior lighting › Brake lights
On certain sport utility vehicles, vibration and heat May cause the tail lamp/stop lamp bulb to loosen in its socket. If this occurs, the bulb May flicker and eventually become inoperative.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tail lamp/stop lamp assemblies, and if necessary, replace them. The recall began on November 22, 2004.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of Headlights
The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV.
Brake lamp failure
GM states that some brake/tail lamp bulbs can prematurely become inoperative due to malfunctioning brake/tail lamp sockets.on March 2, 2004, GM initiated a 6-year/72,000 mile special policy for 989,487 subject vehicles to inspect and replace the rear brake/tail lamp bulb socket assemblies.on April 4, 2004, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe04-032) based on consumer…
Headlight complaints in other Rainier years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2004 Buick Rainier?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the lights of the 2004 Buick Rainier, 14% of the model year's 158 complaints. The component named most often is headlights (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Buick Rainier headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-198 (turn signal, May 5, 2005); NHTSA recall 04V-527 (brake lights, Nov 1, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Buick Rainier headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 95,000 miles, and 24% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to lights problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.