AI DamagePontiac Bonneville: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Pontiac Bonneville across 28 model years: 1,981 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
| Year | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) | YouTube repair videos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9999 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 54 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 89 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | 129 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | 214 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 143 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 277 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | 147 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | 150 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | 244 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | 88 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | 138 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 | 113 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | 39 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 27% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 15% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 12% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 10% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 6% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 532 complaints (27% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 299 complaints (15% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 229 complaints (12% of all), 25 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 198 complaints (10% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 161 complaints (8% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1984–2005named in 25 complaints
- 3.8 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cyl 1992–2004named in 25 complaints
- 4.3 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1986
- 4.6 L · petrol · 8 cyl 2004–2005
- 5 L · petrol · 8 cyl 1984–1986
- 5.7 L · diesel · 8 cyl 1984
- automatic, 3-speed 1984–1986
- automatic, 4-speed 1984–2005
Drive: FWD, RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 1,981 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 532 | 4 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 299 | 2 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 229 | 25 | 0 |
| Steering | 198 | 7 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 161 | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 152 | 3 | 0 |
| Air bags | 143 | 42 | 0 |
| Visibility | 128 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 91 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 58 | 7 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 57 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 48 | 9 | 0 |
| Suspension | 43 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 42 | 2 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The airbags did not deploy all the way my [XXX] is in the car as well and the driver side and passenger airbags did not deploy 100% it did cause me to end up having a cut on my face and abruzz eye I have pictures but I did not go to the ER but my [XXX] did cuz she had two cuts on her head it also shattered my…
The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly loss power and stalled. The contact stated another vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle and the airbags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact suffered minor injuries and was hospitalized.
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 contact's seat belt failed to properly restrain her and did not retract. The front driver's side air bag did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the chest, head, and back. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer did not provide a reason for the air bag and seat belt failure.
A dear friend of mine had an accident a few days ago deploying the passenger side airbag resulting in the windshield being busted to an extent that it not being able to see through .. Shouldn't this be a recall .... She owns a 99 pontiac bonneville srs.
The front end was damaged, but the air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries. The insurance company stated that the vehicle was destroyed. The current and failure mileages were 91,512.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.