NHTSA — Air Bags Problems

CarComplaints.com Notes: The Buick Rainier is a replacement for the Oldsmobile Bravada, hopefully minus the transmission issues and AWD complaints.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
80,816 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Buick Rainier seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2004 Buick Rainier Owner Comments

problem #9

Apr 292016

Rainier

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owned a 2004 Buick Rainier. While driving approximately 30 mph in the rain, the vehicle hydroplaned. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a wall. As a result, the contact was rendered unconscious and transported to the hospital via ambulance. The contact's head struck the driver's side window and the contact remained in a coma for several months. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the right side of the head, which caused walking complications and a loss of feeling in the right side of the body. In addition, the contact suffered a loss of sight in the right eye due to a crushed skull. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed destroyed. A dealer was not made aware of the air bag failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Mason, TN, USA

problem #8

Nov 172012

Rainier 8-cyl

  • 52,000 miles
A person ran two stop signs and entered vehicle path. The two vehicles hit head on and this vehicle made impact at 40 mph after it decelerated from 43 mph. The two vehicle hit head on with near perfect even impact, based upon third party visual description of the front end of the vehicles damage. The vehicle decelerated at a max SDM recorded velocity change rate of -14.07 (mph) and a algorithm enabled to maximum SDM recorded velocity change of 127.5 msec. Driver of the vehicle hit the steering wheel with head knocking the person out. Airbags did not deploy. Onstar was not notified that there was an accident. Computer shows the seatbelt was worn by driver. When the onstar was manually activated by the driver when he came too, the gps showed the vehicle further North up the road causing incorrect police division being called. Vehicle was going up hill when the accident occurred. Other vehicle was going downhill. The other vehicle was a Subaru. Vehicle computer data was retrieved by a Bosch crash data retrieval tool using version 8.0 software. I have a copy of this data. GM reports that the computer was correct not to deploy airbags and not call for help using onstar. The vehicle had a software modification due to a fault with the fan speed calibration setting off a warning light. We had complained that things were never correct after this modification of the software and took the vehicle to two different dealerships complaining that computers were doing strange things after this firmware modification. Vehicle VIN: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Johns Island, SC, USA

problem #7

Nov 172012

Rainier 8-cyl

  • 52,000 miles
A person ran two stop signs and entered vehicle path. The two vehicles hit head on and this vehicle made impact at 40 mph after it decelerated from 43 mph. The two vehicle hit head on with near perfect even impact, based upon third party visual description of the front end of the vehicles damage. The vehicle decelerated at a max SDM recorded velocity change rate of -14.07 (mph) and a algorithm enabled to maximum SDM recorded velocity change of 127.5 msec. Driver of the vehicle hit the steering wheel with head knocking the person out. Airbags did not deploy. Onstar was not notified that there was an accident. Computer shows the seatbelt was worn by driver. When the onstar was manually activated by the driver when he came too, the gps showed the vehicle further North up the road causing incorrect police division being called. Vehicle was going up hill when the accident occurred. Other vehicle was going downhill. The other vehicle was a Subaru. Vehicle computer data was retrieved by a Bosch crash data retrieval tool using version 8.0 software. I have a copy of this data. GM reports that the computer was correct not to deploy airbags and not call for help using onstar. The vehicle had a software modification due to a fault with the fan speed calibration setting off a warning light. We had complained that things were never correct after this modification of the software and took the vehicle to two different dealerships complaining that computers were doing strange things after this firmware modification. Vehicle VIN: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Johns Island, SC, USA

problem #6

Aug 082014

Rainier

  • 141,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2004 Buick Rainier. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 mph, the air bag inadvertently deployed as the rear of the vehicle dropped to the ground. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The technician stated that the air compressor and the air bags needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 141,000.

- Kings Mountain, NC, USA

problem #5

May 162014

Rainier 6-cyl

  • 183,346 miles
Both rear air bags are starting to leak causing back of car to sit low. When the car is started it will air back up but will go back down as soon as the car is parked. The car has not been in any accidents to cause the defect. I have searched the internet to find that this is a common problem found in this make and model. I am wanting to know if this has been classified as a safety recall or a defect through the manufacture.

- Tuscumbia, MO, USA

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problem #4

Apr 012012

Rainier 6-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
Air bag suspension will not stay air up. Constantly have to work on the ABS.

- Savannah, TN, USA

problem #3

Apr 052009

Rainier

  • 62,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While traveling at a speed of approx 50-55 on a interstate, I was reared ended by a auto, my auto was struck then shoveled into a cement wall block and then bounced into on coming traffic to the other cement wall block on the opposite site while trying to stop, I was wearing a seat belt, the vehicle's air bags didn't go off at all in the vehicle. A head injury occurred, neck and shoulder injuries occurred. The auto was a total loss!

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #2

Mar 202008

Rainier 6-cyl

  • 87,000 miles
My fiance was in accident with my SUV and the air bag didn't deploy can I sue the company who sold me the vehicle?

- Kenosha, WI, USA

problem #1

Oct 182006

Rainier 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While crossing an intersection I was hit in the front right quarter of the vehicle. I was hit by a person running a red light. He was doing 40 to 50 mph in a light truck and knocked my SUV sideways about 15 feet. There is more than $8,000 damage to the vehicle but the side air bags did not deploy. I suffered a concussion and soft tissue injuries. GM told me I had to get hit in a certain way for the air bags to deploy. They don't tell you that when selling the car. Can you tell me if the bags should have deployed?

- Bellevue, WA, USA

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