1997 Pontiac Bonneville engine problems

ENGINE

THE CAR LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IT WOULD JUST QUIT AND I WOULD HAVE NO BRAKES OR STEERING AND ALL GAUGES WOULD SHUT DOWN. SOMETIMES IT WOULD LOSE POWER AND THEN IT WOULD COME BACK ON WHILE I WAS STILL DRIVING CUTTING IN AND OUT REPEATEDLY. IT HAPPENED A LOT WHEN I WAS IDLING AT A CORNER AND THEN WOULD START THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. IT WOULD QUIT GOING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T START AFTER DRIVING IT A SHORT DISTANCE. AFTER IT SAT FOR A FEW MINUTES, A FEW HOURS OR SOMETIMES OVERNIGHT IT WOULD JUST START LIKE THERE WASN'T ANY PROBLEM WITH IT. IT DIDN'T SPUTTER OR ACT LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING GAS OR ANYTHING, IT JUST WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING AND HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF ALL POWER. WE TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY COULD NEVER REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND DIAGNOSTICS DIDN'T SHOW ANY PROBLEMS THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS ISSUE. I ASKED A COUPLE OF TIMES IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS AND THE SERVICE GARAGE SAID NO. I FINALLY QUIT DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE I WAS TIRED OF BEING STRANDED AND WITH TAKING MY CHANCES WITH IT LOOSING POWER DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR THROUGH INTERSECTIONS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME ISSUE THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY RECALLING SOME GM MODELS FOR BECAUSE OF AN IGNITION SWITCH SPRING BUT BONNEVILLE AREN'T ON THE RECALL LIST.

NHTSA complaint #10576488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BATTERY AND CHECK OIL SENSORS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA complaint #10450042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE LEAK. A YEAR AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAN CONNECTED TO THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE INTERMITTENTLY UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE DEFROST AND SUDDENLY, THE FRONT WINDOW CRACKED. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT DOES EXIST. THE HEATER FAN ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 11/10/09 *BF UPDATED 11/13/09.

NHTSA complaint #10282369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS PLASTIC INTAKE PARTS, WHICH INCLUDE THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A ROUTINE TUNE-UP, SHE NOTICED ANTIFREEZE ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD BOOMING NOISE SIMILAR TO A BACKFIRE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT COULD SMELL FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AFTER PLACING FUEL INTO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURES DESCRIBED ON THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

NHTSA complaint #10260064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

DT: CALLER SAID THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD BROKE . THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. CALLER'S WIFE HAD TO GET HELP TO PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD, AND CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. CALLER SAID THERE WAS A RECALL # 04V090000. MANUFACTURER SAID THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10126193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON MY 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 3800 SERIES ENGINE FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO GAIN ACCESS TO INTERNAL ENGINE PARTS. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND BECOME TOTALLY INOPERABLE REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2200.00. THIS FAILURE ALSO HAPPEND IN A PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, THAT I ALSO OWNED, WITH THE SAME SERIES OF ENGINE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR TO THE GRAND PRIX WAS APPROX. $650.00. THE ENGINE IN THE GRAND PRIX DID NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED. LOOKING AT AND READING THE VARIOUS GM MESSAGE BOARDS ON THE INTERNET, THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY PREVALENT WITH THE 3800 SERIES OF ENGINE. GM CONTINUES TO IGNORE THIS WITH NO REGARD TO THE CONSUMER.

NHTSA complaint #10118651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 BONNEVILLE WARPED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE WHICH THEN SEIZED THE ENGINE. REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD AND REBUILT BOTH ENGINE HEADS. TOTAL COST WAS $1,525. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE GM 3800 SERIES ENGINES BECAUSE THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD IS PLASTIC. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, A ROD BEARING FAILED. I WAS TOLD IT FAILED PREMATURELY BECAUSE COOLANT HAD ENTERED THE ENGINE. I DO NOT HAVE A REPAIR ESTIMATE YET. I BELIEVE ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO THE DEFECTIVE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.

NHTSA complaint #10110065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

G.M. 3800 SERIESII V-6 ENGINE PLASTIC UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENUM & GASKETS. FAILURE OF INFERIOR PARTS IN CONJUCTION WITH DEX COOL (G.M. ANTI-FREEZE/COOLANT). CAUSING DETERIORATION AND FAILURE OF PLENUM FORCING COOLANT INTO ENGINE. ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SEIZES,TRYING TO RESTART WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO STARTER,FLYWHEEL,BATT.,AND ENGINE. REMEDY? TOW TO G.M. SERVICE CENTER REPLACE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENUM,MANIFOLD GSKTS,SPARK PLUGS & WIRES,STARTER,PWR-FLUSH ENG.& COOLING SYS.,REPLACE ALL FLUIDS. G.M. IS AWARE OF PROBLEM THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. SERVICE MNGR. TOLD ME DAMAGES TO VEH.WAS NOT DUE LACK OF MAINTENANCE BUT USE OF PLASTIC PARTS AND COOLANT BY G.M. THIS A MAJOR DEFECT & PROBLEM. COST OF REPAIRS? $1,300.00.

NHTSA complaint #10108329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

VEHICLE BACK FIRED WHILE DRIVING,THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10107229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

NAR 1/29/2003. THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO THE CONSUMER WITH A BENT WATER PUMP AND A BENT WHEEL. THE ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING PUMP, TRANSMISSION AND EGR VALVE WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10006051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

NAR 1/29/2003. THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO THE CONSUMER WITH A BENT WATER PUMP AND A BENT WHEEL. THE ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING PUMP, TRANSMISSION AND EGR VALVE WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10006051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I PAID THE STATED AMOUNT TO REPLACE A COMPONENT REFERRED TO ME AS A "PLENNUM". THE SYMPTOM MY CAR WAS HAVING WAS, IT WAS OVERHEATING. IT IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IS MOUNTED ON THE TOP OF THE 3800 ENGINE. LITTLE DID I KNOW, THAT THE DAMAGE HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE. THE FAILED PART HAD LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE. A WEEK AND A HALF AFTER HAVING THE PLENNUM REPLACED, MY CAR BROKE DOWN. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE FROM THE PLENNUM HAD CAUSED PREMATURE FAILURE OF A "ROD BEARING" IN THE ENGINE. THE COOLANT I'M TOLD ATE AWAY THE BEARING LUBRICANT. I AM TOLD MY ONLY OPTION AT THIS POINT IS AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I AM NOT A CAR MECHANIC BY ANY MEANS AND SUSPECTED NOTHING, AND WAS TOLD NOTHING. I UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THE FACT THAT MAN MADE PRODUCTS WEAR OUT AND NEED REPLACING. THIS TO ME SEEMS TO BE A POOR ENGINEERING FLAW THAT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX. I DID NOT INCLUDE THE $2000.00 ENGINE REPLACEMENT IN MY TOTAL REPAIR COST ABOVE. THE PLASTIC PLENNUM PART, BY THE WAY, WAS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER PLASTIC PART. I TOLD THE DRIVER THAT WAS RETURNING ME HOME WHILE THE PLENNUM WAS BEING REPLACED, THAT I WAS INTENDING TO TRADE MY BONNEVILLE IN ON A MONTANA MINIVAN THIS SUMMER. HIS REPLY TO ME WAS THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE MONTANA, AS WELL AS OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE 3800 ENGINE. IT SEMS CLEAR TO ME THAT THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM HERE THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA complaint #10069769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OR THE PLEMIUM WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THE THING WORE OUT AND ALL OF MY ENGINE COOLANT WENT INTO THE FUEL CYLINDERS AND LOCKED MY MOTOR DOWN I WAS HEADED TO MACON GA FROM DOUGLAS,GA GOING TO THE HOSPITAL WERE THEY HAD TRANSFERED MY BROTHER AND HERE I AM IN PERRY,GA BROKE DOWN BECAUSE PONTIAC PUTS A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON A MOTOR I FEEL LIKE PONTIAC SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS PART BEING REPLACED. I ALSO HAVE TROUBLE WITH MY CAR SURGING BETWEEN 35 AND 55 MILES PER HOUR THIS IS THE SORRIEST CAR I HAVE EVER OWED AND I HAVE OWNED 2 GRAND PRIXS BEFORE THIS CAR BUT LIKED THE BODY STYLE OF THE BONNEVILLE AND I RHOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD CAR BUT BOY WAS I WRONG I BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST,2002 AND HAVE SPENT ENOUGH MONEY ON REPAIRS ON IT THAT I COULD PROBABLY DONE PAID FOR ANOTHER GRAND PRIX.AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SIGHT I FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THEM FOR THE TRANSMISSIONS AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS BECAUSE THEY ALL SEEM TO BE RELATED TO ME .PEOPLE PAY A LOT OF MONEY FOR THERE CARS AND STILL HAVE TO PUT MONEY IN REPAIRS ITS JUST NOT FAIR .

NHTSA complaint #10067614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WITH DEXTROL COOLANT IS CAUSING CONSTANT TROUBLE. THE LATEST IS HAVING TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD TO THE TUNE OF $598.18. WHY IS THIS PIECE PLASTIC, BUT THE PIPE GOING INTO IT IS METAL? THE DEX COOL IS DETERIORATING ALL RUBBER SEALS.

NHTSA complaint #10054730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED. *AK THE CRACKED GASKET ALLOWED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDER'S.

NHTSA complaint #10053726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

A BLOCK FROM HOME OUR ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THE UPPER MANIFOLD HAD A HOLE IN IT DUE TO THE MANIFOLD BEING PLASTIC, AND CRYSTALIZING OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. IT COST US $729.00 TO GET IT FIXED. LUCKILY OUR ENGINE WASN'T HOT OR WE WOULD HAVE HAD MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10037097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY ALL STATED THE COMPUTER SHOWED NO ERRORS. *JB *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10032511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING A 100 MILES FROM HOME THE CAR OVERHEATED & HAD TO BE TOWED. WE FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A HOLE IN THE AIR PLENUM IN THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE OVER 20 SUCH CASES IN OUR SMALL COMMUNITY ALONE. ALL ON 3800 MOTORS IN PONTIAC'S. THIS IS A FOUR HUNDRED DOLLAR REPAIR BILL THAT OCCURRED ONLY BECAUSE PONTIAC DECIDED TO USE PLASTIC IN THEIR PART WHICH IN TURN MELTED & CAUSED OUR MOTOR TO OVERHEAT. I HOPE THAT PONTIAC WILL RECALL THESE PLENUMS & REIMBURSE US FOR THE COST OF REPAIRING & TOWING OUR CAR. IF PONTIAC WOULD CALL THEIR DEALERS THEY WOULD FIND OUT JUST HOW MANY OF THESE PARTS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #10023674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

LOSS OF COOLANT. PLASTIC AIR INTAKE MOUNTED ON TOP OF INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED LEAKING COOLANT UNDER PRESSURE INTO COMBUSTION CHAMBER. TALKED TO SEVERAL LICENSED TECHNICIANS IN THE AREA AND THEY STATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF AIR INTAKE. $275 & LABOR. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10016448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) FAILED CAUSING A HOLE IN THE MANIFOLD. TS

NHTSA complaint #10002284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE ON 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. COOLANT ENTERED INTO CYLINDER #4 CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR APPROXIMATELY $900. REOCCURING PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE, AND CALLS TO PONTIAC RESULTED IN NO SATISFACTION.

NHTSA complaint #10000082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING COOLANT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS FUMES NOTICED SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW, HOWEVER SOMEWHAT BETTER BUT CAN STILL BE DETECTED.

NHTSA complaint #8023682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. DEALER NOTIFIED.TS

NHTSA complaint #8023046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE VEHICLE WAS GOING 65MPH, THE ACCLERATOR PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. ENGINE WAS RUNNING HOT, AND THE OIL WAS SIZZLING. DEALER INFORMED. CONSUMER SAYS THAT 6 OUT OF 6 BEARINGS WERE WORN OUT , AND 4 OUT 6 RODS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ALSO, OIL PRESSURE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED, AND THAT THE ENGINE & OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR SHOULD BE RECALLED TO PREVENT INJURY OR FATALITY.*SCC

NHTSA complaint #8014088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

EXCESSIVE LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8013068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.