2007 Buick Rainier Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
No verdict The 2007 Buick Rainier logged 38 NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls, ranking 3rd out of 3 model years tracked. Its complaint index of 0 is lower than the 2005 (100) and 2006 (50), with Electrical System issues topping owner reports at 29% share.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 0/100
- #3 of 3 Rainier years
- Verdict
- No verdict
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 38
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- Best nearby year
- —
- no alternative with data
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 16
- 14 city / 20 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2007 Buick Rainier problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System11 (29%)
- Fuel System10 (26%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (13%)
- Visibility & Wipers5 (13%)
- Other3 (8%)
- Structure & Body3 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (8%)
- Engine1 (3%)
- Steering1 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe burning fumes coming from the driver door area while driving, linked to malfunctioning door electronics.
- Heated seats reportedly overheated and would not shut off, in one case burning through the leather and knocking out seat power.
- Fuel gauges are described as erratic, swinging between full and empty readings even with a properly filled tank, sometimes leading to stalling from unexpected empty tanks.
- The front driver door handle reportedly failed to open from outside, requiring repeated dealer repairs after the problem recurred.
- Some owners noted transmission cooler lines corroding and leaking at relatively low mileage.
- A squeaking noise from the steering wheel was reported during turns and over bumps, which dealers could not reproduce or diagnose.
2007 Buick Rainier recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 15V599000Sep 24, 2015Visibility & Wipers9,932 vehicles
Visibility:power window devices and controls
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer and GMC Envoy vehicles, and 2006 GMC Envoy XL and Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT vehicles. Fluid may enter into the driver's door master power window switch module, causing corrosion that could result in a short in the circuit board, causing window switches to become inoperative. Previously, the affected vehicles may have had their master power window switch module treated with a protective coating, instead of having it replaced.
Risk: The protective coating may not eliminate the risk that the circuit board could short and result in a fire, even while the vehicle is unattended.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a new driver's door switch module, free of charge. The recall began on November 2, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15700.
- NHTSA 15V519000Aug 14, 2015Electrical System429,170 vehicles
Exterior lighting:headlights
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix, 2006-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2007 Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT, GMC Envoy XL, 2006-2008 Isuzu Ascender, and Saab 9-7x vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the headlamp driver module (HDM) may overheat and fail, causing the headlamps and daytime running lights to not illuminate.
Risk: Headlamps that do not illuminate reduce the driver's ability to see the roadway and reduce the vehicle's visibility to oncoming vehicles, both of which increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HDM, free of charge. The recall began on May 17, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is 14291.
- NHTSA 14V404000Jul 2, 2014Visibility & Wipers184,611 vehicles
Visibility:power window devices and controls
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 SAAB 9-7x; 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL; and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier and Isuzu Ascender vehicles. Fluid may enter the driver's door master power window switch module, causing corrosion that could result in a short in the circuit board. A short may cause the power door lock and power window switches to function intermittently or become inoperative. The short may also cause overheating, which could melt components of the door module, producing odor, smoke, or a fire.
Risk: A short in the circuit board could lead to a fire, increasing the risk of personal injury. A fire could occur even while the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outside until the remedy has been made.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the part number on the door module, and install a new door module if necessary, free of charge. Parts for the remedy are not currently available. An interim letter was mailed to owners in August 2014. A second owner letter will be mailed when parts are available. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-462-8782 (GMC), 1-800-955-9007 (SAAB), and 1-800-255-6727 (Isuzu). GM's number for this recall is 14309. NOTE: This recall provides a new remedy for all vehicles covered by recall 13V-248. Vehicles whose modules were modified but not replaced as part of the previous recall remedy must have their vehicles remedied again under this campaign.
2007 Buick Rainier fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 14 MPG
- Highway
- 20 MPG
- Combined
- 16 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,050
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2007 compared with other Rainier years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2007 Buick Rainier reliable?
- NHTSA lists 38 complaints and 5 recalls for the 2007 Rainier, with a complaint index of 0, the lowest of the three model years with data. Electrical System problems, especially door module and fuel gauge issues, made up the largest share of complaints at 29%.
- What are the most common problems with the 2007 Buick Rainier?
- Electrical System issues account for 29% of complaints and Fuel System issues for 26%, mostly involving door modules, erratic fuel gauges, and door handle failures.
- Does the 2007 Buick Rainier have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2007 Rainier, most involving fluid entering the driver's door module and affecting the Visibility & Wipers and Electrical System components. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2007 Rainier compare to other Rainier model years?
- The 2007 model ranks 3rd of 3 years tracked with a complaint index of 0, compared to 100 for 2005 and 50 for 2006, meaning it has fewer reported complaints relative to those years.