FaultScore

Pontiac Bonneville steering problems

218 of the 2,580 complaints filed about the Pontiac Bonneville are about the steering — 8% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2000.

218

Complaints

8%

Share of all complaints

8

Crashes

1

Fires

Steering complaints by model year

Median failure at 190,000 miles

Median failure at 126,000 miles

1995 Bonneville 28 12.8%

Median failure at 147,852 miles

Median failure at 85,000 miles

1997 Bonneville 14 6.4%

Median failure at 118,515 miles

Median failure at 100,000 miles

Median failure at 136,589 miles

2000 Bonneville 58 26.6%

Median failure at 60,000 miles

2001 Bonneville 35 16.1%

Median failure at 27,920 miles

2002 Bonneville 20 9.2%

Median failure at 20,602 miles

2003 Bonneville 10 4.6%

Median failure at 40,000 miles

Median failure at 40,662 miles

Median failure at 46,000 miles

What owners said

1999 Pontiac Bonneville at 136,589 miles Clearmont, FL

STEERING

' 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.

1995 Pontiac Bonneville at 152,000 miles Danvers, MA

STEERING

1995 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE MY STSERING WHEEL WAS MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE THEN WHEN DRIVING HOME I TURNED THE CORNER GOING RIGHT MY LOWER SUB FRAME DROPPED OUT FROM RUSTED BOLTS AND LOST ALL CONTROL! NO STEERING AT ALL. STILL SHAKING.CAN'T BELIEVE THERES A RECALL FOR HEADLIGHTS RECALL BUT NO STEERING URECALL .I CALLED PONTIAC AND REGISTERED A COMPLAINT . FOR NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS BUT WHAT IF WAS MY LIFE AND NOT MONEY I LOST.THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. THE POLICE HAD TO COME AND DIRECT TRAFFIC AROUND MY CAR WHILE I SAT THERE SHAKING.

NHTSA complaint #10896899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Pontiac Bonneville at 105,673 miles Centralia, IL

STEERING

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.

2000 Pontiac Bonneville at 98,000 miles Munster, IN

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING THE BONNEVILLE THE CAR WILL JUST SHUT DOWN, LOOSES ALL POWER. IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND ALSO JUST ON LOCAL CITY DRIVING. YOU CAN BE GOING 30 MPH OR 65 MPH. CAR WILL JUST SHUT DOWN (WHICH IS VERY SCARY GOING 65 MPH) AND SOMEONE ON YOUR BUMPER. LOOSES POWER STEERING SO ITS HARD TO MOVE OVER LANES ON THE EXPRESSWAY, WE HAVE FOUND YOU NEED TO IMMEDIATELY PUT ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS, SHIFT CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY. SOMETIMES IT WILL START ON THE FIRST TURN OF THE KEY BUT SOMETIMES IT TAKES MULTIPLE TIMES OF TURNING THE KEY, ALL THIS WHILE COASTING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WITH PEOPLE BUZZING ALL AROUND YOU. THE ONE TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS RIGHT BY THE GARAGE WE HAVE BEEN TAKING IT TO, TOOK IT OVER, THEY RAN A CHECK ON THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND NOTHING CAME UP. THEY ARE AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO WITHOUT JUST START RANDOMLY CHANGING PARTS THEY THINK IT MIGHT PERTAIN TO? ANY SUGGESTIONS, THIS ISN'T SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN IT DOES THIS, AND ITS JUST RANDOM WHEN IT DOES DO IT, NO WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #10700689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Pontiac Bonneville at 114,000 miles Centerville, OH

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA complaint #10681322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Pontiac Bonneville at 164,000 miles Columbus, OH Crash 1 injured

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE ROAD DIVIDER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000. DR

NHTSA complaint #10593415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Pontiac Bonneville at 118,515 miles Jonesville, MI

STEERING

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.

2004 Pontiac Bonneville at 42,000 miles Columbus, OH

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY EXHIBIT A CLUNKING SOUND. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE FOR A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY RESUMING NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,550.

NHTSA complaint #10575424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Pontiac Bonneville at 52,000 miles Edenton, NC

STEERING

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.

1995 Pontiac Bonneville at 137,845 miles Bridgeport, CT

STEERING

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN AND WENT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK I HAD TO PUT IT IN PARK THEN REVERSE TO MAKE THE TURN WENT DOWN A WAYS CAME TO A STOP SIGN AS I PROCEEDED IT SOUNDED A S THOUGH I HIT SOMETHING AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME FLIMSY I COULDN'T STEER AT ALL IT JUST KEPT GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES SO I STOPPED THE CAR A POLICE OFFICER CAME I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK LONG STORY SHORT THE BUSHING MUST HAVE FELL OFF BECAUSE IT WAS SO ROTTED WHICH IN TURN THE K FRAME BROKE AND THE MOTOR DROPPED DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10511229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Pontiac Bonneville at 90,000 miles Williamstown, NJ

STEERING

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF SHAKING IN THE FRONT END. IT GETS VERY BAD BETWEEN 50-60 MPH. I HAVE HAD ALL THE TIRES REPLACED BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ALIGNMENT, AND I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT SHOPS AND ALL 3 HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING THE SHAKING. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT RODS, THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES, THE SHOCKS AND THE TIRES ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE ISSUE. BECAUSE OF THE SHAKING IT CONSTANTLY DESTROYS MY FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES WHICH I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. IT ALSO MAKES IT EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS ONE OF THE SHOPS TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT ASSEMBLIES WERE SO DESTROYED FROM THE SHAKING THAT I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT THE TIRES DID NOT FOLD UNDER THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I HAVE TRIED FOR 3 YEARS TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND NO ONE HAS A REMEDY. I HAVE ALSO READ ON CONSUMER REVIEW THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR BONNEVILLE IN THE SAME YEAR (2000) AND AGAIN, NO SHOPS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE REASON BEHIND THE SHAKING. I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH THIS ISSUE AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NO RECALL IN PLACE TO FIX THIS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10496390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Pontiac Bonneville at 90,000 miles Williamstown, NJ

STEERING

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF SHAKING IN THE FRONT END. IT GETS VERY BAD BETWEEN 50-60 MPH. I HAVE HAD ALL THE TIRES REPLACED BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ALIGNMENT, AND I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT SHOPS AND ALL 3 HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING THE SHAKING. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT RODS, THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES, THE SHOCKS AND THE TIRES ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE ISSUE. BECAUSE OF THE SHAKING IT CONSTANTLY DESTROYS MY FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES WHICH I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. IT ALSO MAKES IT EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS ONE OF THE SHOPS TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT ASSEMBLIES WERE SO DESTROYED FROM THE SHAKING THAT I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT THE TIRES DID NOT FOLD UNDER THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I HAVE TRIED FOR 3 YEARS TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND NO ONE HAS A REMEDY. I HAVE ALSO READ ON CONSUMER REVIEW THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR BONNEVILLE IN THE SAME YEAR (2000) AND AGAIN, NO SHOPS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE REASON BEHIND THE SHAKING. I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH THIS ISSUE AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NO RECALL IN PLACE TO FIX THIS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10496393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Pontiac Bonneville at 154,000 miles Pittsburgh, PA

STEERING

TRYING TO MAKE HARD TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT MOSTLY WHILE PARKING THE POWER STEERING LOCKS OR GETS REALLY TIGHT. PUT POWER STEERING FLUID IN. DOES NOTHING AT ALL. WHAT CAN I DO. LOOKING AT OTHER POST...OBVIOUSLY NOTHING.

NHTSA complaint #10488648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Pontiac Bonneville at 40,662 miles Strongsville, OH

STEERING

STEERING WHEEL CLUNKED & FELT DETACHED---CAR TAKEN TO GM DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE QUOTE A "BROKEN STEERING COLUMN." STEERING COLUMN PART WAS REPLACED, PART #26087952 COLUMN AS 6,518. COST WAS $1516.58. CAR WAS DELIVERED ON 3/15/05 AND HAS ONLY 40,662 + MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10448228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Pontiac Bonneville at 109,000 miles Hazelwood, MO

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MAKING A CLUNKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA complaint #10435604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Pontiac Bonneville at 182,000 miles Peru, IN

STEERING

WHEN I KICKED IT DOWN. MY SERVICE LIGHT STARED TO BLINK. NOISE IN MY STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT OF CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10427955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Pontiac Bonneville at 143,705 miles West Bloomfield, MI

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 143,705.

NHTSA complaint #10402986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Pontiac Bonneville at 25,000 miles Cedar Grove, NJ

STEERING

2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SE 2 DEFECTS 1) "CLUNKING" OF STEERING SHAFT - HAS BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE 2) GAS GAUGE STOP WORKING AFTER 4 YEAR (2006).

NHTSA complaint #10398570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Pontiac Bonneville at 110,000 miles Apple Valley, CA

STEERING

STEERING SHAFT ON MY 2001 BONNEVILLE SSEI MAKING GRINDING AND CLUNKING NOISE. THE SOUND IS MORE NOTICEABLE AT LOWER SPEEDS BELOW 20 MPH. I HAVE HEAD FROM OTHER BONNEVILLE OWNERS THIS IS AN ONGOING EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. THE DESIGN OF THE STEERING SHAFT SEEMS TO BE FLAWED.

NHTSA complaint #10369225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Pontiac Bonneville at 24,000 miles Molino, FL

STEERING

HAVE A 2004 BONNEVILLE GXP AROUND THE 24,000 MILE MARK THE CAR SEEMED TO FALL APART. THE PASSENGER WINDOW STICKS, THE TRUNK STAYS FULL OF WATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PAN FILLS UP WITH WATER ONCE EVERY 4 MONTHS, THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE STOPPED WORKING, THE TACHOMETER STOPPED WORKING, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, AND MOST CONCERNING THE STEERING JOINT IN THE STEERING COLUMN IS BAD. WE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER AT THE TIME AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY THREE CHILDREN AROUND IN THIS CAR. A FORTY THOUSAND DOLLAR CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE MANY PROBLEMS WITH SO LITTLE MILEAGE. I JUST FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED THIS VEHICLE. I AM DISGUSTED WITH GENERAL MOTORS.

NHTSA complaint #10311692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Pontiac Bonneville problems