FaultScore

Pontiac Bonneville engine problems

615 of the 2,580 complaints filed about the Pontiac Bonneville are about the engine — 24% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.

615

Complaints

24%

Share of all complaints

6

Crashes

95

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

Median failure at 50,000 miles

Median failure at 38,000 miles

1992 Bonneville 11 1.8%

Median failure at 128,000 miles

1993 Bonneville 20 3.3%

Median failure at 225,532 miles

1994 Bonneville 18 2.9%
1995 Bonneville 58 9.4%

Median failure at 109,644 miles

1996 Bonneville 49 8.0%

Median failure at 100,000 miles

1997 Bonneville 59 9.6%

Median failure at 98,774 miles

1998 Bonneville 217 35.3%

Median failure at 70,226 miles

1999 Bonneville 60 9.8%

Median failure at 64,504 miles

2000 Bonneville 43 7.0%

Median failure at 67,000 miles

2001 Bonneville 31 5.0%

Median failure at 100,000 miles

2002 Bonneville 15 2.4%

Median failure at 92,000 miles

2003 Bonneville 15 2.4%

Median failure at 90,000 miles

Median failure at 22,000 miles

Median failure at 137,000 miles

What owners said

2003 Pontiac Bonneville Calexico, CA

ENGINE

Look at the car the car is located [XXX] first of all you start off as a passcode 2 system and then it says passcode 3 system on the thing and I just don't want to deal with this because you have the cut off switch you have the fuel cut off switch but you still have current going through the switch or the fuel they fuel I'll probably leaking into the tank it doesn't start but still sending fuel the oil has excessive amount of liquid in it so does transmission I bought it used the guy goes you know I lost the key go in and remove it I started without the key you know or something like that and I said well here's I got the chamber and I will get it anyway I don't want to deal with this take your car around it took that he sold a mindful but it took the Kelly converter around he didn't tell me about it he asked who did it well he was the city I guess a city bought this car now they're trying to sell it I work clean the electrical Transit system to get a car doesn't work just take it just get it out of it I'm going to be blunt with you just get this XXX car off the property please thank you the XXX had no gas now it shows a full tank of gas just trying to blow me up at this XXX or what just get the XXX out my property man thank you INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11750406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Pontiac Bonneville at 168,445 miles Newberg, OR Crash

ENGINE

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.

2001 Pontiac Bonneville at 191,600 miles Greenville, TX Fire

ENGINE

MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE BACK IN JANUARY 2020 UNDER THE HOOD ON MY WAY TO WORK THE FIRE STARTED BEHIND THE VALE COVER GASKETS AND NOW OIL IS LEAKING ON THE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND GAS IS MIXING WITH THE OIL AND I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR ANYMORE HELP ME PLEASE.

NHTSA complaint #11350207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Pontiac Bonneville at 264,000 miles Albuquerque, NM

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL OUT OF THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND THE SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINER CAUSING A MISFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT FAILED TO PROPERLY ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE FUMES INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED EYE IRRITATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TPMS, CHECK ENGINE, SERVICE ENGINE, SEAT BELT, AND AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, AFTER REFUELING, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO PROVIDE AN ACCURATE FUEL READING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPARK PLUG RETAINER AND VALVE COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V238000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 264,000.

NHTSA complaint #11343664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Pontiac Bonneville Bedford, IN Fire

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE MADE AN ABNORMAL BANGING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND PRODUCED A THICK CLOUD OF SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #11190448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Pontiac Bonneville at 161,234 miles Orangeburg, SC

ENGINE

"TAKATA RECALL" UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISE CAR WON'T BRAKE FUMES COMING INSIDE THE CAR. CAR SHAKING AND VIBRATING LOW OIL PRESSURE EVEN WHEN I GOT A OIL CHANGE. AFTER OIL CHANGE CAR WOULDN'T GO NO MORE THAN 16 MILES PER HOUR. CAR WILL NOT CRANK IF IT'S 47 DEGREES OR LOWER TEMPERATURE. IN MOTION IN CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY

NHTSA complaint #11166710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Pontiac Bonneville at 113,600 miles RIB Lake, WI Fire

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, SMOKE EMERGED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (WHEELERS CHEVROLET OF MEDFORD, 704 N 8TH ST, MEDFORD, WI 54461) AND WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,600.

NHTSA complaint #11072386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Pontiac Bonneville Happy Valley, OR

ENGINE

CAR WONT START

NHTSA complaint #11071953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Pontiac Bonneville at 130,000 miles Gary, IN

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER HOWEVER, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CAME TO REVIEW THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA complaint #10968984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Pontiac Bonneville at 94,000 miles Dayton, OH

ENGINE

VALVE COVER GASKETS LEAKING OIL CAN GET ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING AN ENGINE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10940205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Pontiac Bonneville at 96,000 miles Westfield, MA

ENGINE

CAR WILL RE-START ON ITS OWN AFTER KEY IS REMOVED. AFTER PARKING AND SHUTTING OFF THE CAR, THEN REMOVING THE KEY AND OPENING THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO EXIT: IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY PRESS THE UPPER PART OF THE LOCK BUTTON ON THE DOOR (THE UNLOCK FUNCTION) INSTEAD OF PRESSING THE LOWER PART OF THE LOCK BUTTON (THE LOCK FUNCTION), THE CAR WILL RE-START ITSELF. IT THEN CANNOT BE TURNED OFF BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS ALREADY IN THE OFF POSITION. THE ONLY WAY TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IS TO JIGGLE THE SHIFTER.

NHTSA complaint #10864729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Pontiac Bonneville at 130,000 miles Harper Woods, MI

ENGINE

ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY PANEL MALFUNCTIONING MY FUEL GAUGE IS MALFUNCTIONING THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CHECK TIRE PRESSURE CHECK OIL ALL THE LIGHTS STAY ON AND I CAN'T RESET THE PANEL I'M ALSO HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR STOPPING WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE IT TURNS OFF

NHTSA complaint #10863650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Pontiac Bonneville at 100,000 miles Beach Park, IL Fire

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GASKETS AND VALVE COVER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10855555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Pontiac Bonneville at 75,000 miles Lisle, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MOVING THE VEHICLE FROM ITS PARKED LOCATION, THE CONTACT NOTICED ENGINE OIL LEAKING ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING DIMINISHED ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 03/16/16

NHTSA complaint #10825808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Pontiac Bonneville at 166,000 miles Long Grove, IA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING UNTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING WHITE SMOKE TO EMIT OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

NHTSA complaint #10810053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Pontiac Bonneville at 70,000 miles Lisle, IL

ENGINE

LEAKING OIL, SAME ENGINE AS OTHER CARS IN RECENT RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10809488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Pontiac Bonneville at 100,000 miles Tucson, AZ

ENGINE

THE CAR I DRIVE (3.8 LITER SIX CYLINDER) HAS AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE LEFT VALVE COVER. AFTER I COME TO A STOP OR MAKE A LEFT TURN, I SMELL OIL FUMES AND CAN SEE A LIGHT SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT THE CURRENT RECALL FOR CARS MADE BEFORE AND AFTER MY CAR. HOW DO I GET MY CAR ON LIST OF RECALLS FOR REPAIR?

NHTSA complaint #10786884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Pontiac Bonneville at 100,000 miles Norwich, CT Fire

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND EXPLODED WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS INSERTED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10786335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Pontiac Bonneville at 150,000 miles Snohomish, WA Fire

ENGINE

I HAD LEFT MY LIGHTS ON AND BATTERY WENT DEAD. WENT TO JUMP THE VEHICLE AND CHARGE THE BATTERY. CABLES CONNECTED CORRECTLY. WHEN I WENT TO START THE VEHICLE, I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION NOISE LIKE A BACK FIRE BUT SAW A FLAME THEN SMOKE OUT OF ENGINE. THE ENGINE HOOD WAS CLOSED SINCE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED UNDER THE BACK SEAT OR THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL OR A SERIOUS INJURY. THE FLAME MUST HAVE BEEN EXTINGUISHED BY THE FLUIDS? WHEN WE OPENED THE HOOD AFTER A SHORT PERIOD, WE FOUND THAT THEIR WAS SOME TYPE OF EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND IN MY DRIVEWAY

NHTSA complaint #10779022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Pontiac Bonneville Fargo, ND Fire

ENGINE

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE APPROXIMATELY 30 MINS AFTER SHUTDOWN. INCIDENT 2015-00001363

NHTSA complaint #10764467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Pontiac Bonneville problems