AI Damage1987 Pontiac Bonneville: common problems
Owners of the 1987 Pontiac Bonneville filed 19 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 19
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 26% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 21% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 16% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 5 Seat belts 11% of all complaints
- 6 Equipment 5% of all complaints
- 7 Seats 5% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- Steering: 5 complaints (26% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (21% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (16% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (11% of all).
- Seat belts: 2 complaints (11% of all).
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
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 19 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Right front wheel broke free from vehicle, ohio state police report.
The car will momentarily hesitate when attempting to accelerate from a stopped position. It is periodic and not consistent, therefore, hard to duplicate according to the dealer. I asked gm to e-mail some of their nationwide pontiac dealerships and ask for their input on this type of problem but they refused.
While sitting in seat and leaning back passenger's and driver's seats fell back, consumer was able to put seat back up, but if continuing to lean it would come back down. Consumer feels this is very unsafe in an ancident.
While driving, doors locked down and interior lights came on. When trying to turn off inerior lights, control switch sunk/melted into dash. Dash ablaze within 2 to 3 minutes, entire vehicle engulfed 3 to 4 minutes later. Escaped through open window. Very unsafe.
Whenever in drive and slowing down vehicle would cut off. If another vehicle was behind consumer's vehicle it would rear ended it.
While driving vehicle engine dies out, causing no brake power also no steering. Electronic control module has been replaced which temporary corrected the probelm. Cause unknown.
Power steering dies, does not work until engine warms up whenever outside temperature is bellow 40 degrees.
Vehicle stalls intermittently (since new) and dealer cannot determine cause or resolve problem.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 8,437 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 23% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Bonneville has 71 complaints (28 years in the data). This year has 19, below average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
- Bonneville 19783 sources
- Bonneville 19863 sources
- Bonneville 198817 sources
- Bonneville 198928 sources
- Bonneville 199039 sources
- Bonneville 199122 sources
- Bonneville 1992113 sources
- Bonneville 1993138 sources
- Bonneville 199488 sources
- Bonneville 1995244 sources
- Bonneville 1996150 sources
- Bonneville 1997147 sources
- Bonneville 1998277 sources
- Bonneville 1999143 sources
- Bonneville 2000214 sources
- Bonneville 2001129 sources
- Bonneville 200289 sources
- Bonneville 200354 sources
- Bonneville 200428 sources
- Bonneville 200527 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1987 Pontiac Bonneville?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, electrical system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 19. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (16%), seat belts (11%), steering or power steering problems (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1987 Pontiac Bonneville?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1987 Pontiac Bonneville from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1987 models
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.