FaultScore

Pontiac Bonneville fuel system problems

169 of the 2,580 complaints filed about the Pontiac Bonneville are about the fuel system — 7% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.

169

Complaints

7%

Share of all complaints

3

Crashes

27

Fires

Fuel & Propulsion complaints by model year

Median failure at 103,724 miles

1996 Bonneville 26 15.4%

Median failure at 127,000 miles

1997 Bonneville 12 7.1%

Median failure at 64,303 miles

1998 Bonneville 37 21.9%

Median failure at 61,513 miles

1999 Bonneville 24 14.2%

Median failure at 92,600 miles

2000 Bonneville 13 7.7%

Median failure at 95,000 miles

2001 Bonneville 14 8.3%

Median failure at 105,367 miles

Median failure at 43,500 miles

Median failure at 128,500 miles

Median failure at 43,000 miles

What owners said

2003 Pontiac Bonneville Calexico, CA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

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

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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.

2000 Pontiac Bonneville at 160,000 miles Lancaster, PA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

SMELL OF FUEL DUMPING FROM EXHAUST. AIR FILTER CHECKS OUT. MILD SMELL JUST OUTSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HEADACHE PRODUCING SMELL INSIDE CAN. WASN'T THEIR A RECALL FOR PART TOLERANCES TO CORRECT THIS? ARE ALL GM DELPHI REPLACEMENT PARTS PRESENTLY SOLD ADEQUATE TO ADDRESS THIS. PREVIOUS OWNER HAD NEW UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD INSTALLED. HARD COLD STARTING CAN CAUSE AND CAUSED MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE EXCESS FUEL SMELL. YESTERDAY AND TODAY DRIVING I AM GETTING THE FUEL IN THE PASSENGER CABIN SMELL. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THIS IS A FUEL REGULATOR ISSUE. AND I WILL PUT ON A FRESH AIR FILTER TO REDUCE ERRONEOUS ENRICHMENT. ODD HOW MY CODE READER CAN PERFORM A FUEL PRESSURE CHECK AND REMEDY THE COLD HARD START CONDITION. THESE FUMES OCCUR FROM TAILPIPE WHEN STARTING, FROM ALL OVER NOW WHEN DRIVING. AFTER PARKING THE SMELL REMAINS SOME AT THE HOOD. SOME DRIVERS FOLLOWING ME STAY EIGHT CAR LENGTHS BACK.

NHTSA complaint #11163083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Pontiac Bonneville at 136,589 miles Clearmont, FL

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

' TAKATA RECALL" DRIVING AND THE CAR CUT OFF..AFTER I STOP THE CAR AND TURN THE KEY OFF. WAS ABLE TO RE START THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPEN A FEW TIMES. THIS IS NOT A SAFE THING WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREE WAYS ....I WAS IN MOTION AND ON THE STREET. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BUT WAS NOT WERE OF IT THIS WAS IN 2009 NOW IT 2016 AND THE PART IN MY CAR IS NOT WORKING?

NHTSA complaint #10903615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Pontiac Bonneville at 160,000 miles Freeport, NY

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, A FUEL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING AND THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V238000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATE 01/15/16 MA

NHTSA complaint #10776535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Pontiac Bonneville at 97,000 miles Rome, GA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF FAILED TO OPERATE, BOTH SIDE MIRRORS WOULD OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED A WHISTLING NOISE ACTIVATED THAT WOULD LAST FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED UNKNOWN PARTS. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA complaint #10643528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Pontiac Bonneville Rome, GA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE FUEL INJECTOR STARTED HAVING ISSUES, AND THE CAR HAS A WHISTLING SOUND WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON. THE SMELL OF GAS IS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN OFF SINCE WE GOT THE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER OF 2013, THE MIRRORS MOVE BY THEMSELVES AND THE SUNROOF NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10641886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Pontiac Bonneville at 188,000 miles Newport News, VA Fire

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND O2 SENSOR FAILURE CONSTANT. 10/2013 SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY WHILE IN MOTION12/2013 LEAKS IN LOWER GASKET VALVE...ENGINE IS EXTREMELY HOT MOST OF THE TIME 04/2014 SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON DUE TO O2 SENSOR FAILURE EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT 7/2014 INTERIOR LIGHTS CAUGHT FIRE 05/2014.

NHTSA complaint #10633472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Pontiac Bonneville at 150,000 miles Citrus Spring, FL

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #10625996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Pontiac Bonneville Huntsville, AL

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE EXTREMELY ROUGH AS IF IT COULD HAVE STALLED WHEN THERE WAS A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL OR LESS. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V238000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10611278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Pontiac Bonneville at 130,000 miles Longmeadow, MA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

UPON ACCELERATING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, AFTER REACHING HIGHWAY SPEED, VEHICLE STALLS AND WOULD NOT START. FLOODING ENGINE, GASOLINE COMING OUT OF EXHAUST, ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER RESEARCH AND REPLACING LEAKING LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD, THIS WAS NOT MY PROBLEM THERE WAS NO LEAK. AFTER MORE RESEARCH I REPLACED MORE SENSORS AND EVENTUALLY CYLINDER GASKETS AND LOWER INTAKE GASKET AGAIN. STILL ENGINE WOULD NOT START. AFTER 2 YEARS OF CAR SITTING I UNPLUGGED MAF SENSOR AND THEN IT STARTED FINALLY. FAULTY MAF SENSOR BUT NO WAY TO FIND OUT UNLESS IT IS UNPLUGGED BECAUSE SENSOR DID NOT GIVE OFF ANY PERTAINING FAULT CODE POINTING TO THE PROBLEM SPECIFICALLY.

NHTSA complaint #10604668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Pontiac Bonneville SAN Angelo, TX

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS I HAVE PULLED TO A DEAD STOP AT A LIGHT AND DURING THE IDLING TIME THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND IT WILL NOT START AGAIN. VERY EMBARRASSING SET OF TRIPS TO NEARBY GROCER. ..

NHTSA complaint #10595871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Pontiac Bonneville at 69,000 miles Whitehall, MI

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

VARIABLY THE ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING,RENDERING THE PS BRAKES TO BECOME INOPERABLE, EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR ME AS I AM 78 YEARS OLD.THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED THERE WAS NO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO PULL OFF,LEAVING THE CAR IN WHATEVER LANE IT STALLED IN! IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 5 MIN TO 1/2 HOUR TO RESTART VERY VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS TO OTHER TRAVELERS AND TO ME! SOMETHING DESPERATELY NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS!

NHTSA complaint #10593863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Pontiac Bonneville at 137,000 miles Indianapolis, IN

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

GAS FUMES COMING INTO THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10510030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Pontiac Bonneville at 229,000 miles Zimmerman, MN Fire

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ACTED LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS, LOSS OF POWER AND SPEED. ONLY 50MPH WHEN A BOOM IN THE ENGINE, PULLED OVER POPPED THE HOOD LATCH, SAW SMOKE, EXITED CAR AS FLAMES CAME OUT OF THE HOOD. CALLED 911.. CAR BURNT TO THE GROUND. WITNESS STOPPED AND TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH FAULTY FUEL LINES .

NHTSA complaint #10474028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Pontiac Bonneville at 140,000 miles Kalamazoo, MI Fire

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS HAD TO BE MADE BEFORE SUCCEEDING IN STARTING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND OXYGEN SENSOR. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAP WAS MELTING AND CAUSING OIL TO SPILL. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE WAS PRODUCING WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE AS TO THE EXACT REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILED AND WOULD ALERT THE CONTACT THAT THE DOORS WERE OPENED, AND THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT SECURED ERRONEOUSLY. THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE FUEL INJECTOR, AND ADDING FUEL CLEANER. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM) AND 95V204000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA complaint #10463433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Pontiac Bonneville at 55,000 miles Iola, TX

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THIS CAR BELONGS TO MY ELDERLY MOTHER WHICH SHE BOUGHT USED AND HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM! OCCASIONALLY WHEN STARTING THE CAR, THE ENGINE WILL BACKFIRE, AFTER STARTING IT WOULD RUN OK. THE CAR NOW DOES NOT RUN AS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS BROKEN FROM THE BACKFIRING AND ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE THE LAST TIME IT WAS ATTEMPTED TO START THE MOTOR! ACCORDING TO PONTIAC THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR BY THE VIN NUMBER!!

NHTSA complaint #10458548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Pontiac Bonneville at 174,000 miles Detroit, MI Fire

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES WOULD SEEP INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD EMIT A LOUD CLICKING NOISE. A LOCAL MECHANIC AND DEALER WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA complaint #10453204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Pontiac Bonneville Stockbridge, GA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY RECALL FOR 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RECALL ANNOUNCED: FEBRUARY 24 2004 NHTSA REFERENCE: #04V090000 NUMBER AFFECTED: 910,873 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE. CONSEQUENCE: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE. FIX: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668. FOR DETAILED INFORMATION & SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, SEE THE OFFICIAL NHTSA PAGE CONCERNING RECALL #04V090000.

NHTSA complaint #10436929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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