256 of the
2,580 complaints filed about the Pontiac Bonneville
are about the braking system —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1992.
I WAS GOING ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN THE TRUCK AHEAD OF ME STOPPED. I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD AND THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMED HARD AS IF IT WASN'T MOVING AND MY CAR JUST KEPT MOVING FORWARD RESULTING IN REAR ENDING THE TRUCK AHEAD OF ME. I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED HOME AND THE FLUID LEVEL LOOKED OKAY MAYBE DOWN A LITTLE. HAVE NEVER CHANGED OUT THE BRAKE FLUID AND HAD THE BRAKES RECENTLY CHECKED BY LEW SCWAB TIRES BRAKES NEW BRAKE SHOES FRONT AND REAR BRAKES OKAY
NHTSA complaint #11398467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BACK TWO CRADLE MOUNTS ON BOTH SIDES RUSTED OUT AND MOUNTS PULLED THROUGH THE CRADLE CAUSING THE STEERING TO BECOME LOOSE FILLING AND CAUSING STEERING TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND WHEN HIT BRAKES FRONT WOULD DART ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AND LOTS OF NOISE COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE FROM CRADLE BOUNCING WHEN HITTING BUMPS TRIED THE FIND ONE IN JUNK YARDS AND ALL ARE THAT WAY.
NHTSA complaint #10713247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE NEW YORK THRUWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY CAR SHUT OFF. I HAD TO POWER STEER, NO POWER BRAKES, THE FUEL GAUGE READ NO FUEL AND THE BELLS WENT OFF. I HAD TO TRY TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE AND RESTART MY CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY MORE TIMES. I CAN BE GOING 25MPH OR 70MPH; I CAN HAVE THE CRUISE ON OR OFF; I CAN HAVE THE HEAT OR A/C ON OR OFF, IT DOES NOT MATTER; IN ALL CASES, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN I AM NOT EXPECTING IT.
NHTSA complaint #10608590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, AND BRAKES FAILED. I HAD TO RESTART THE CAR AND HOPEFULLY RESUME DRIVING SO THE CAR COMING BEHIND ME DID NOT CRASH INTO ME. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE INCLUDING TIMES WHILE ON I-95, I-81, RURAL MOUNTAINOUS ROADS (WHICH RESULTED IN MY CAR ROLLING BACKWARDS), AND CITY TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN NUMEROUS TIMES TO MY MECHANIC AND HE HAS NOT COME UP WITH A REASON AS TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. I AM GIVEN NO WARNING BY MY CAR THAT THIS IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. THE WARNING BELL CHIMES AND THE CAR FAILS AT THE SAME TIME. THIS HAPPENED LAST EVENING AND THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID A CRASH. PLEASE ADD MY CAR TO YOUR RECALL OR GIVE ME SOME KIND OF ANSWER TO TAKE TO MY MECHANIC.
NHTSA complaint #10574017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH SHE ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED. SHE COASTED THE VEHICLE UP-HILL TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND A MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE BRAKE LINE FAILED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10289095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, FAILED IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AND LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE FAILURE CAUSED BRAKE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE SALES DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CONSULT THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF HE ONLY HAD 100,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,526 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,520. UPDATED 10/14/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND PITTED. UPDATED 10/16/08.
NHTSA complaint #10232690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WARNING LIGHTS FOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, BRAKES, AND TRACTION CONTROL COME ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FEATURE IS DISABLED WHEN LIGHT IS ON. BRAKE PERFORMANCE IS GREATLY REDUCED SOMETIMES WHILE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON. TRACTION CONTROL DOES NOT FUNCTION WHEN LIGHT IS ON. DEALER SAID GM HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR CORROSION IN A WIRING HARNESS PLUG LEADING TO THE WHEEL ROTATION SENSOR. DEALER STATED REPLACEMENT WIRING HARNESS WAS $500. DEALER TRIED CLEANING CONTACTS ON PLUG AND APPLYING CONDUCTIVE CORROSION PREVENTING. DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ANTI-LOCK FEATURE IS DEACTIVATED, TRACTION CONTROL DEACTIVATED, AND BRAKE PERFORMANCE IS REDUCED. DEVELOPED PROBLEM IN DECEMBER 2006.
NHTSA complaint #10229926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT REMAIN ON 90% OF THE TIME I AM DRIVING. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY ON TWO OCCASIONS HAD THE LEFT WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY $450.00. THAT IS WHAT THE COMPUTER CODES INDICATED. THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS, BUT THEN IT RETURNED. THE LAST TIME THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR THREE HOURS. THIS DISABLES ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS FROM OPERATING. IT IS PROBABLY A SHORT CIRCUIT OR BRAKE SENSOR PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A PONTIAC, GOVERNMENT-MANDATED RECALL TO CORRECT THIS SAFETY MATTER. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10211761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING
ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT REMAIN ON 90% OF THE TIME I AM DRIVING. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY ON TWO OCCASIONS HAD THE LEFT WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY $450.00. THAT IS WHAT THE COMPUTER CODES INDICATED. THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS, BUT THEN IT RETURNED. THE LAST TIME THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR THREE HOURS. THIS DISABLES ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS FROM OPERATING. IT IS PROBABLY A SHORT CIRCUIT OR BRAKE SENSOR PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A PONTIAC, GOVERNMENT-MANDATED RECALL TO CORRECT THIS SAFETY MATTER. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10211761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AND DANGLED WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE IN THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED MOVING, JUMPED A CURB, AND LANDED IN HER NEIGHBOR'S YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS A FAILED PEDAL ASSEMBLY RETAINER CLIP, WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,078 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,023. UPDATED 11/29/07.
NHTSA complaint #10209006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL SOMETIMES GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. SOMETIMES IT FEELS MUSHY WITH A FLUID FEELING PEDAL PUSH BACK. A CLICK NOISE HAS ALSO BEEN OBSERVED. IT IS POSSIBLE TO STOP THE CAR BUT THE STOP FEELS UNSTABLE AND DANGEROUS THE CAR HAS 36,600 MILES. WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY IN 2006 THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMED TO GO AWAY FOR A WHILE BUT HAS RETURNED (WORSE THAN BEFORE) IN LATE JANUARY 2007.
NHTSA complaint #10183894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMPONENT FAILURE-GAUGE CLUSTER PANEL-2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SE 1. FAILURE - TEMP GAUGE FAILURES PROMPTED A COMPUTER CHECK ENGINE READING THAT STATED THE TEMP SENDING UNIT WAS PROBABLE CAUSE. DEALER "EWING BUICK-PONTIAC" DID NOT HAVE PART, REFERRED TO RELIABLE CHEVROLET WHO SOLD US THE PART AS SPECIFIED IN TECH PUB BUT WAS NOT THE CORRECT SENDING UNIT. COMPARED THE OLD ONE TO ANOTHER YEAR MODEL AND LOCATED AN IDENTICAL SENDING UNIT WITHIN 48 HOURS BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE TEMP GAUGE. THE CAR NEVER HAS OVERHEATED BUT THE GAUGE WOULD READ A DIFFERENT TEMP DAILY UNTIL IT FINALLY RARELY EVER READ A DEGREE. DEALER SAID WOULD NEED TO PULL CLUSTER PANEL AND SEND OUT. ONLY THE WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED 5,000 MILES AND DEALER QUOTED $650.00 TO PULL THE UNIT OUT AND SEND OUT TO HAVE DIAGNOSED AND WOULD TAKE ABOUT A WEEK. SERVICE WRITER SUGGESTED I WAIT UNTIL WARNING LIGHTS INDICATE A PROBLEM. NEXT DAY THE TACHOMETER GAUGE BEGAN FAILING. YOU COULD START THE CAR OVER 4 OR 5 TIMES AND GET BOTH TEMP AND TACH TO READ SOMETHING AND SOMETIMES THOUGHT IT WAS ACCURATE BUT WITHIN ANOTHER MONTH THE GAUGES RARELY REGISTERED ANYTHING AND THEN THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AS PRE-OWNED GM CERTIFIED VEHICLE AND WARRANTY WAS UNTIL 39000 MILES AND AT 45000 THE GAUGES BEGAN FAILING OF COURSE THE TEMP SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED AT 43000 MILES BECAUSE OF A CHECK ENGINE WARNING CODE. I HAVE ONLY OWNED 2 PONTIACS IN MY DRIVING HISTORY BUT MOST VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED WERE GM PRODUCTS AND I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE WITH MORE FAULTS, WHICH STARTED WITH THE TEST DRIVE AND A POPPING IN THE STEERING AND BRAKE PROBLEMS AT 28000 MILES BUT DEALER CONVINCED TO PURCHASE AS THE ITEMS WERE COVERED UNDER MANF WARRANTY AND THEY GAVE ME ANOTHER CAR TO DRIVE FOR A WEEK WHILE REPAIRS WERE MADE TO MY BONNEVILLE PURCHASED JAN 2005. THIS CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE ENOUGH MILES ON IT YET TO BE REQUIRING COSTLY MAJOR COMPONENT FAILURES WHICH ARE A SAFETY CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint #10175020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
2001 BONNEVILLE ABS WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY SENSOR FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TS ***NAR*** THIS PART HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE CONSUMER WOULD EXPERIENCE ERRATIC BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE FIRST REPLACEMENT OF THE RIGHT FRONT ASSEMBLY WAS AT 16619 MILES AND THE MOST RECENT REPLACEMENT WAS DONE AT 55030 MILES. THE VEHICLE'S TRUNK RELEASE WAS INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMMUNICATION LINK AND TRUNK RELEASE FUSE. THE FRONT TRANSMISSION MOUNT WAS WORN CAUSED EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT TRANSMISSION MOUNT.
NHTSA complaint #10172233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AT EVERY CONNECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING DUE TO THE CORROSION. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WERE 10-15 OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. UPDATED 9/5/2006 -
NHTSA complaint #10165772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2000 BONNEVILLE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN PRESSED GOES TO THE FLOOR AFTER THE GEAR HAS BEEN PLACED IN REVERSE. *TS THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED WAS RELATED TO RECALL 00V114000, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10164762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE WAS DISCOVERED AND RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE BEING TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES WERE RUSTED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *NM UPDATED 02/21/06.
NHTSA complaint #10148073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS TRAVELING MUCH FARTHER THAN NORMAL. SINCE THIS IS MY WIFE 'S CAR, AND I DO NOT DRIVE IT MUCH,THOUGHT THAT THE BACK SHOES WERE LOW SINCE THEY HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED IN AWHILE. PURCHASED A NEW SET AND PLANNED ON INSTALLING. HOWEVER THE NEXT DAY NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WARNING CAME ON AND THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LOW. TOPPED UP AND LIGHT WENT OUT. I THOUGHT THAT THE LOW LEVEL WAS DO TO THE WORN SHOES WHICH WOULD MAKE THE LEVEL GO DOWN. HOWEVER THE LEVEL CONTINUED TO GO DOWN AS I DROVE. THAT MEANT A LEAK. THOUGHT PERHAPS A WHEEL CYLINDER. ALL LOOKED OK THE PROBLEM : RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ABS CONTROLLER ALL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ALL FOUR LINES RUSTED TWO OR MORE LEAKING!!! CONTINUED USE AND HARD BRAKING WOULD HAVE CAUSE NO BRAKE AND SURELY AND ACCIDENT ALL FOUR LINES MUST BE REPLACED THESE LINES ALSO GO UNDER THE CAR TO THE BACK. WILL HAVE THE DEALER DO HAVE CALLED GM AND GO NO SATISFACTION CAR IS A 1999 BONNEVILLE 113000 MILES THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN . POOR QUALITY STEEL AND WORKMANSHIP HAVE OWNED CARS WITH 300000 + MILES AND SOME 20 + YEARS OLD WITH NO PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. WHY AREN'T BRAKE LINES STAINLESS STEEL???
NHTSA complaint #10147128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.