Instrument Panel Problems of Buick Rainier - part 1

After driving for a approximately one hour at 65-70 mph on the interstate the speedometer reading drops off from 70 eventually down to 0 mph. Upon stopping and restarting the engine at a rest stop the speedometer returns to an accurate reading for a short while. I relied on my garmin gps to give me a speed approximation when the speedometer went out completely. Relying on a accurate speedometer is a critical safety issue especially at night. Without the gps giving me a speed reading it would be next to impossible to judge a safe speed in the darkness on a road illuminated only by my headlights. This defect must be similar to other models in the gm family, trailblazer and envoy. If one person were to rely on this faulty speedometer they might think they were driving 40 when in actuality they could be driving in excess of 70.

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Going down the road speedometer stuck at 120.

The speedometer has begun registering significantly higher speeds than the vehicle is traveling. At one point, a gps device in the vehicle indicated a speed of 55, and the speedometer for the vehicle registered more than 100 mph. In other cases, when standing still, the speedometer showed a speed of 35 mph. Subsequently, and intermittently, the speedometer works correctly, and then reverts to defective mode. Gm advised that the vehicle was out of warranty and that the cost of repair would have to be borne by the vehicle owner, even if it was a safety issue. A gm dealer in vermont indicated that the entire "bundle" for the instrument panel would have to be replaced. When given the ok to proceed, the dealership said that new bundles were no longer available, and rebuilt bundles would have to be used - and none were currently available. They suggested leaving the vehicle, removing the bundle and sending it away for rebuilding, and then installing it back into the vehicle. I declined that offer. The defective speedometer problem continues today, and I have to believe that the unavailability of new bundles, if correct, means that this is likely a widespread problem and potentially major safety issue.

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The contact owns a 2004 Buick Rainier. The contact stated that the instrument cluster malfunctioned and the speedometer failed. In addition, the abs warning light was illuminated whenever the vehicle was started. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they advised the contact that the abs sensor and instrument panel would need replacing. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was unknown.

2004 Buick Rainier- instrument panel - speedometer, temperature, fuel and oil pressure gauges all started working intermittently and providing false readings (120mph at dead stop with engine off, temp in red zone at start up). This appears to be all to common of an issue with gm trucks/suvs of this era and needs to be addressed via recall. The problem is now getting progressively worse.

I bought this car Monday and the dealer stated it had all scheduled service, including the 130k mile service on February 26, 2011. We drove around the neighborhood and the car seemed to drive beautifully, and appeared to be immaculately maintained. Until I drove to work this morning, and the speedometer started going higher and higher, reaching 80 mph, even though I had slowed down and pulled over. I shut the car off and restarted it. It appeared normal for the first 30 mph, then stuck at 40, even though I was following traffic in a 70 mph zone. It stayed at 40 mph, even after the car was turned off. I did some research on this problem and found that the instrument panel cluster has been a known problem in gm cars, and was supposed to have been corrected as the result of a class action lawsuit. There are several tsbs related to the speedometer, gas gauges, or other instruments in this cluster. I find it unforgivable that the national highway traffic safety administration has allowed an unsafe condition exist in virtually an entire brand of cars for over 7 years and has not issued a recall on these vehicles. This allowed the dealer to sell the car, knowing about the problem, but not required by law, to disclose it. And should I be on the highway, driving along at 90 mph, when my speedometer says 60, nobody is safe. Not me, not the other cars on the road, certainly not pedestrians, since the braking distance is obviously far longer than my speedometer leads me to believe it is. How many millions of defective vehicles have been placed on the road in the last 7 years? how would you feel if your 5 year-old rode a bicycle into the street as I drove by? thinking I was going 30, but really going 60? this isn't just an inconvenience, it is a fatality waiting to happen. You have the authority, and the moral responsibility, to fix it. Recall these cars before somebody dies.

The speedometer on my 2004 Buick Rainier stops working intermittently. There is no pattern as to when this occurs, it has happened in all types of weather and all temperatures. Sometimes it says I'm going faster than I am, sometimes it says I'm going slower. Sometimes it stops working all together. I have researched and this is a common problem with Rainiers. I'm wondering why this hasn't been recalled? the vehicle has about 100,000 miles on it now, but the speedometer stopping has been an issue for a few years.

The contact owns a 2003 Buick Rainier. The contact stated that the speedometer stopped functioning. The speedometer would indicate a speed over 100 mph when the contact may have only been traveling 50 mph. The dealer stated that the instrument panel needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000 and the current mileage was 62,400.

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Odometer freezes.

I have been experiencing a problem with the instrument cluster in my Buick Rainier. It started with the speedometer which was either to fast or showing below zero at highway sppeds. It started about 2 years ago but at that time it happened occasionally. The probem has continued to migrate to other gauges in the instrument panel-- the oil pressure reads anywhere from 50 to the 80 or peg, the tack will read below zero at highway operating speeds and the volt meter reads 14+. These problems happen individually or several at once. I have contacted the dealer where I purchased it and they do not acknowledge it as a problem and offer no finanical assistance with a replacement or repair. The dealer will replace the instrument cluster for $370 for parts and labor at $92/hour - approximately $600. I contacted gm about the problem and they acknowledge there is a problem with instrument clusters in certain vehicles during that period of time but my vehicle is no involved. If you research this on the internet you will find several sites with discussions and complaints about the instrument clusters on this particular vehicle, including this site. I think this is a wide spread problem and should be corrected with a mandated goverment recall. I had an identical problem with a 2003 Cadillac esclade xt and there was a recall and free replace for the instrument cluster.

Speedometer failure. Prior to becoming pinned at 120 plus mph, worked intermittently. Ticking noise upon stopping. Mechanic stated he was aware that this is a common problem with gm vehicles and thought it was a recall. Defective part is speedometer "cluster" made by speedo. This is unsafe on the road as I am unable to determine the speed at which I am traveling.

Speedometer failure. At a standstill the speedometer reads anywhere from 10mph to 40mph. On a few occasions it seems to read correctly.

The contact owns a 2004 Buick Rainier. While driving approximately 35 mph all of the interior and exterior lights came on. The lighting on the instrument panel also became inoperable. The vehicle stalled and upon restart, the lights began functioning normally. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to diagnose the failure. Approximately 5 months later, the failure recurred with the headlights and running lights. The manufacturer advised the contact that he had to pay a fee in order to perform a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not examined or repaired. The failure mileage was 63,000 and the current mileage was 68,000. Updated evoq 10/04/10.

2005 Buick Rainier with 63,000 miles. The speedometer will register 120 when going 60 and 60 when completely stopped. Gm refuses to see this as a safety issue and replace it free of charge when other gm vehicles with the same problem are covered up to 70,000 miles.

The contact owns a 2005 Buick Rainier. The contact stated that the speedometer does not display the proper speed the vehicle was traveling. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The current mileage was approximately 81,000.

My speedometer on my 2004 Buick Rainier is erratic. It says I am going 100 when doing 70 and sometimes says I am going 0 when on the highway.

I own a 2004 Buick Rainier v-8 and the speedometer has stopped working. It will be functioning properly and then suddenly it will show 120 mph. Sometimes it will work properly but then it goes to 120 mph again. I wouldn't normally file a report for this but after research on the internet I see where there are dozens of owners reporting the same problem with the same vehicle. I am in the process of getting it fixed.

I have a 2004 Buick Rainier and the speedometer and the other gauges don't work I don't know how fast I am going or how my car is running its been like that a little after I got it and it works some times but sometimes it don't I have talked to other people who have a car like mine and they have the same problem to.

2004 Buick Rainier speedometer is registering 25-30 mph faster than what the vehicle is actually traveling. When in park is shows the SUV traveling 25 mph.

Dashborad gauges do not keep an accurate account of rpm's as well as speed. The battery gauge just started being inaccurate January 2012.

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).

My wife was stopped by the SC highway officer for speeding. Based on her speedometer reading she was not speeding. In addition to speeding ticket she received warning for operating vehicle with broken equipment. It turned out that the speedometer quit working while she was driving and is now acting unpredictable.

I was driving one morning and noticed that my speed registered 80miles when I had just pulled off. I cut the car off and then starting back driving and it then said I was going 120. I took my car in and they told me that my car was not under warranty for this repair, and it would cost me $575. To get it fixed. I asked for the main number to Buick and called them, they said that my car did not fall in the extended warranty category and they did not have enough complaints to have this as a recall. I also told them that this is a safety hazard and that I should not have to pay out of pocket for a manufacturer defect and that I am not the only one with this problem on this particular vehicle. I could be sitting with the car idle and the speedometer reads 120, even when I made the appt. To have it checked out the service guy said that quite a few people have been in with that problem.

Speedometer started sticking, and eventually stopped working completely. I am having a hard time, but from what I can tell so far it is expensive to fix or even find a used one. What an aggravating thing to go wrong on a newer vehicle that clearly has to be at the fault of manufacturer.

Speed and oil pressure indicator failures.

As I began to work on Tuesday of this week, I looked down and my speedometer was registering 120 mph. I was only just beginning so I realized something was wrong. I stopped and switched the car off and thought it would reset the gauges but it only went to 65mph. As I began driving again it started registering 120mph. Then on Wednesday, it would not leave off the 120mph when I turned the engine off. The next time it went back it beginning at 65 and as I accelerated it went to 120. I have no clue what speed I am traveling while driving. I went to my dealer and he said I would have to pay for it to be fixed. I did not have it fixed.

Instrument control for speedometer and radio just quit working. Not always sure of traveling speed because speedometer quits working. Very dangerous because of not sure of traveling speeds and afraid of getting ticket because of unkown speed.

There seems to be a known safety issue with speedometer control module. The dealers know about this issue, transmission and speedometer repair shops knpw about this issue. This is a very dangerous problem as you are driving and the speed registers different & sometimes not at all.

My speedometer started to stick at 60 mph when driving slowly after exiting off of the freeway at night. I then proceeded on my way home in a 30mph zone and then the speedometer was pegged out at over 120mph. From then on sometimes the needle on the gauge almost goes to zero until you start to drive the vehicle, and then it peg's out again. Consequently my wife and I do not know how fast we are going which is a major safety issue especially at freeway speeds or driving through the neighborhood where children play. I have not payed to replace a 500 hundred dollar item.

Intermittent speedometer readings. Speedometer stuck anywhere between 0-120mph.

The contact owns a 2004 Buick Rainier. While driving 70 mph, the speedometer will display speeds between 20-120 mph. While driving various speeds on the freeway, the speed will decrease on its own. The contact must literally stand on the accelerator pedal to maintain a steady speed. While idling at a stop sign or light, the engine continues to rev. The contact scheduled an appointment with the dealer for June 23, 2008 to diagnose the failures. The current mileage was 41,000 and failure mileage was 35,000.

Faulty speedometer, reads between 70 mph to 130 mph at all times.

The dash cluster lighting is too dim in the daylight and non existent at dawn and dusk. There is not a manual override that allows you to select night lighting during these transitional times and on certain days so you can not see the speedometer output nor the driver advisory display. I discussed it with several dealers and they say some work this way and some don't. They have no way to tell which work properly and which ones will not. They all refused to replace it under warranty as Buick says that is the way the system is supposed to work. For up to 15 minutes in morning and night the display is totally unreadable while it is slowly transitioning night time visibility. Yes, I have the lighting set as bright as the system will allow at any given time but it is still not visible to me or anyone else that drives the car. I have found quite a few others on the net that have the same problem and the same could care less responses from Buick on this safety issue. This goes on everyday so it probably is only a matter of time until it results in a serious accident and/or a serious mechanical failure that will be missed because you can't read the instrument cluster under certain but daily conditions such as sunrise and dusk.

We have a 2004 Buick Rainier. During the colder times, our speedometer tic, so you don't know how fast or slow you are going. This is a safety issue. Having no way to tell your speed, we could get a ticket, cause an accident. I have also noticed online, numerous people having the same problem. There needs to be a recall. We have not had it fixed. It would $600 to fix, and should not be charged to us, but to Buick for a malfunction.

I was in the midst of a 10 hour road trip over the holidays when the speedometer originally quit working. I was traveling at a rate of 70 mph. The speedometer started inching up and buried itself at 120 mph. I pulled off the road in an attempt to get the speedometer to go back down but it settled on 60 mph while in park. I continued on w/my trip and took the car to the dealership upon arrival in abilene, KS. They were not able to identify the problem in the cluster and checked bulletins for past problems w/speedometers. Over the course of 3 months the speedometer continued to repeat this action. I had it into a dealership in austin, TX on three separate occasions w/the same response from the dealership until the speedometer finally quite working altogether. The dealer told me he had seen this in a few other models by gm. I called and filed a complaint with gm and was told there was nothing they would do. I then had to pay to have the cluster replaced in February 2007. Three weeks later the car was back in b/c the entire system shut down and the speedometer quit working. The service department saw the problem upon arrival but was unable to prolong.