Sell your 2006 Buick Rainier for cash

The 2006 Buick Rainier is a SUV that came with a choice of 4.2L 6-cyl and 5.3L 8-cyl engines. At 20 years old, many are reaching the point where repairs cost more than the car is worth. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.

  • Free offer for your 2006 Rainier in about 30 seconds
  • Free towing, running or not
  • Paid at pickup

Get an offer for your 2006 Rainier

Six quick questions. No obligation.

Thanks! Online offers are launching soon. Please check back shortly.

Free, no-obligation offer. Free towing included.

2006 Buick Rainier at a glance

Body styleSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines4.2L 6-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl
TransmissionsAutomatic 4-spd
DriveRear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
FuelRegular Gasoline
Fuel economy14 city / 20 highway / 16–17 combined MPG
EPA annual fuel cost$3,950–$4,200 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles)
Tailpipe CO₂523–555 grams per mile
Curb weight (NHTSA test vehicle)4,646 lb
Versions tested by EPA4 configurations: Rainier 2WD, Rainier AWD
Age20 years

Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data; weights from NHTSA crash-test records. Your car's exact equipment may differ.

What affects its junk value

  • Age: at 20 years old, most of a 2006 Rainier's value comes from reusable parts and scrap metal, not resale.
  • Weight: NHTSA's crash-test 2006 Rainier weighed 4,646 lb at curb weight. Scrap value is largely priced by weight, so this is a good starting point. See how scrap prices by weight work.
  • Catalytic converter: like all gas and diesel cars, it has a catalytic converter containing precious metals, one of the most valuable parts on a junk car. An offer assumes it's still in place. More on catalytic converters.
  • Recalls: NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2006 Rainier. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking it.
  • Known problems: owners reported the most issues with the fuel system, gasoline, typically around 58,000 miles. If that's what failed on yours, it can still be sold as-is.

How junk car offers are calculated

2006 Buick Rainier recalls

NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls covering the 2006 Buick Rainier. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.

VisibilitySep 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V599000

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…

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.

Exterior LightingAug 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V519000

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…

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.

VisibilityJul 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V404000

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…

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.

VisibilityJun 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V248000

General Motors (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 module, causing corrosion that could result in a short in the circuit board. A short may…

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.

VisibilityAug 2012 · NHTSA campaign 12V406000

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, SAAB 9-7x, and Isuzu Ascender vehicles, originally sold or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan…

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.

EquipmentDec 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V552000

Certain trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were shipped with tire and loading information labels listing an inacccurate vehicle capacity weight.

Risk: A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading specifications or tire inflation which could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.

SteeringOct 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V455000

Certain passenger vehicles may have been built with a power steering hose that is not to specification. Under extreme steering maneuvers, such as turning the steering wheel fully to the left or right while braking, the hose may fracture and leak fluid.

Risk: If this were to occur, power steering assist would be lost and increased steering effort would be required. On vehicles equipped with hydro-boost power brakes, it could also result in loss of power brake assist and increased braking effort

Common 2006 Rainier problems

Owners have filed 91 complaints about the 2006 Buick Rainier with NHTSA. 1 report involved a crash and 5 reports involved a fire.

Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.

Most-reported components

  • Fuel System, Gasoline25
  • Electrical System15
  • Exterior Lighting11
  • Visibility/Wiper6
  • Suspension5
  • Fuel System, Other4

Typical mileage when problems were reported

  • Fuel System, Gasoline58,000 mi
  • Electrical System112,000 mi
  • Exterior Lighting108,000 mi
  • Visibility/Wiper167,000 mi
  • Suspension69,000 mi
  • Fuel System, Other75,000 mi

2006 Buick Rainier crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 Buick Rainier.

VersionOverallFrontal crashSide crashRolloverRollover risk
4 Dr, RWD/AWDNot rated——★★★★☆19.1%

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP). Ratings from different model years or rating systems aren't directly comparable.

2006 Buick Rainier service bulletins

Manufacturers have filed 778 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 2006 Buick Rainier. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.

Most common bulletin topics

  • Equipment104
  • Equipment101
  • Electrical System76
  • Engine and Engine Cooling49
  • Equipment36
  • Engine33

Recent bulletins

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsJul 2025 · PIP5601C

    This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsMay 2025 · PIT5074R

    This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsMay 2025 · PIT5074R

    This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsMay 2025 · PIT5074R

    This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA opened 4 defect investigations covering the 2006 Buick Rainier.

Exterior LightingRQ17002 · opened Apr 2017, closed Mar 2021

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 varian

Electrical SystemEA12004 · opened Jun 2012, closed Jun 2013Led to recall 12V406000

Driver's Master Power Window Switch

On August 15, 2012 General Motors (GM) announced a regional recall action (12V-406) involving model year (MY) 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, Isuzu Ascender and MY2005-2007 SAAB 9-7x vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the salt belt states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, I

Fuel System, OtherPE11014 · opened Apr 2011, closed Sep 2011

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

Fuel System, OtherDP10001 · opened Jan 2010, closed May 2011

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, 4

Selling a 2006 Rainier: questions

How much is a 2006 Buick Rainier worth for junk?

It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. As a heavier vehicle, its scrap weight adds to the offer. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.

Can I junk a 2006 Rainier that doesn't run?

Yes. We buy 2006 Rainiers that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.

Can I sell a 2006 Rainier with open recalls?

Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2006 Buick Rainier; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What paperwork do I need to sell my 2006 Rainier?

Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.

Sources

Data retrieved October 2026.

Get cash for your 2006 Rainier today

Get a free offer in minutes. Towing is always free and you get paid at pickup.

Get my offer