Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Buick Rainier owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
In driving cross country, filled up the fuel tank and resumed travel when the fuel gauge immediately went to empty (I didn't 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. I went to a gravel area and inspected the engine compartment, under the car and the interior to be sure I was not missing anything, then restarted the SUV. Could not find any issues anywhere, including leaking fuel. I took off the fuel cap and reattached it to be sure there was no problem there. I had no choice but to get on the highway and continue my journey. The problem continued for the following 1000 ish miles. When I got home I contacted my dealer and set up an appointment to look at vehicle. They found the vehicle needing a sensor kit which was a recall back a few years ago. …
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.
The fuel gauge stopped working and the check engine light came on at about 65K miles in February 2009. I took the vehicle to the dealer where I purchased and was told that the fuel sensor inside the gas tank had failed and that the repair would not be covered under warranty because the 60K miles had been exceeded. Not being able to afford this costly repair has forced me to continue to use the trip meter on the odometer as a way to estimate my fuel level. It is now 4 years later and I have never received any notice of recall or service notice from the manufacturer or dealer. The vehicle now has over 125K miles and apparently no longer qualifies for the offer from GM of splitting the repair cost with the customer. I have not received any notification from GM or my dealer of any offer of assistance with this issue. …
The fuel sensor for my 2006 Buick Rainier started to malfunction approximately two years ago. I had it diagnosed by GM dealer, king Chevrolet Buick GMC of longmont, colorado and they informed me the car needed a new fuel sensor. The fuel gauge indicates the tank is empty, when actually full. We decided not to correct the problem, due to the cost. The Buick ran out of gas numerous times throughout the last 2 years. Three days ago the car stalled on interstate 25 with passengers on board. We towed it back to king Chevrolet Buick GMC, longmont, co. And now diagnosed with a faulty fuel pump with an estimated cost of $1400 to correct the fuel pump/sensor problem. Each time the car was diagnosed by the GM dealer, not a word was mentioned by staff/technicians about the known fuel component failure. I discovered this issue after searching the internet, yesterday. …
The fuel gauge on my 2006 Buick Rainier is malfunctioning. The problem started about 6 months ago and is now continual. It does not give accurate fuel levels. Sometimes when the tank is full, the gauge reads empty, and vice versa. This is most definitely a safety issue !!! I was on the freeway the other day and ran out of gas (even though the fuel gauge showed nearly half-a tank.) this could've resulted in serious injury or death to myself and/or others. As I understand it, there are many instances of fuel gauge malfunctions on GMC cars of this vintage. There needs to be a government mandated recall of affected vehicles before lives are lost because of this component failure. My Buick dealer wants over $500 to correct this problem, which is not the result of wear and tear or carelessness or misuse on my part, but rather the failure of a critical safety device. …
We have had numerous electrical and mechanical problems. The fan motor control module when out,then the module that controls the fuel indicator and display went bad. Now less than 6 months later the transmission has gone bad. It is only working in 2 & 3. No overdrive or first. This last problem suddenly started on 7/17/11. Our mechanic came and checked it out (he did not want us to drive it) and said the transmission was only working in second and third and we should not drive it and needs to be replaced or repaired. We are still paying for this car and for the last repairs on this car. I have seen several complaints and service bulletins on this problem and the problem with the gas gauge. Has there been any recalls or acknowledgement of these problems by GM?
Filled fuel tank and gas gauge went to empty, turning on the low fuel light and the check engine light. The fuel gauge indicator bounces from empty to full. After a few miles the fuel gauge needle stays in range but as I get closer to needing gas it does not read accurately and I cannot tell for sure if I might run out of gas. My concern is running out of gas when in heavy traffic, fearing for my safety and that of any passengers. I believe this is indicative of a design flaw and needs to be adequately addressed by GM. I have a recall that indicates they would pay half the cost at a GM dealership, this is unacceptable to me. I am not half responsible for this design flaw. This is a serious safety issue and should be completely addressed by GM.
The gas gauge began reading empty when it was actually full. This started in spring 2010 with the odometer reading about 65K. When the tank is initially filled the gauge will read full, then go down until the gauge read empty. This continued for several days after fill-up and fluctuated between full and empty. After driving approximately 15 to 20 miles the gauge would return to full and back to empty again. There needs to be a recall on this vehicle. I already paid my Buick dealer over $500 to correct this problem, which is not the result of wear and tear or carelessness or misuse on my part, but rather the failure of a critical safety device. The consumer should not be required to bear this financial burden.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Buick Rainier. While parked, the contact refueled the vehicle and noticed that the fuel gauge indicator was fluctuating in between readings. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where the technician indicated that the fuel level sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. There was an open investigation under NHTSA action number: pe11014 (fuel system, other fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system) that could potenitally have been related to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 57,600.
Approximately 6 months ago after getting gas at a gas station, I noted my gas gauge in my 2006 Buick Rainier to read "empty" despite having just filled it with gasoline. For a short time afterwards, my gas gauge fluctuated despite my gas levels. My check engine light also came on every time I filled up my tank. Still to this day, my gas gauge continues to read "empty" all the time despite filling it up with gas. Therefore, I never know exactly how much gas I truly have in my gas tank at a time and worry about running out of gas frequently.
NHTSA investigations
Fuel level gauge system failure
The office of defects investigations (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by General Motors (GM) as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers.In total, there were 5,089 unique reports indicating an inaccurate fuel level reading while driving.General Motors stated that this condition occurs when the contacts of the fuel sensor wear prematurely.Most of the complaints indicated an empty fuel gauge reading…
Fuel Level Gauge System Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles.Of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.Of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than…
Fuel System complaints in other Rainier years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2006 Buick Rainier?
NHTSA has 35 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2006 Buick Rainier, 38% of the model year's 91 complaints. The component named most often is storage › fuel gauge system (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Buick Rainier fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for the 2006 Buick Rainier, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Buick Rainier fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles.
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.