AI Damage1999 Pontiac Bonneville: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Pontiac Bonneville filed 143 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 143
- involving a crash
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 41% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 15% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 15% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 4% of all complaints
- 8 Tires 3% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 59 complaints (41% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 22 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel system: 21 complaints (15% of all).
- Service brakes: 9 complaints (6% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 8 complaints (6% of all), 1 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 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- 3.8 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 143 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 | 59 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
While standing outside of the vehicle the vehicle began to roll forward. The vehicle rolled across a neighbor's yard and into a tree. The vehicle was totaled. Cause is unknown. Please describe further.
While driving vehicle was involved in a collision. Driver's seat belt did not retract, driver sustained minor injuries.
Vehicle was in the driveway and without prior warning vehicle rolled into wall of garage and damaged the vehicle.
Brakes failed frequently since the purchase of the vehicle. The rim cracked during the accident. The alternator and rear wheel cylinder failed. Oil pan gasket failed causing oil leak. A/c failed four times.
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.
While stopped on a side street (25 mph zone), the air bags involuntarily deployed. The driver was severely bruised and suffered significant & permanent hearing loss. There are 7 other incident reports filed with the nhtsa for the same event involving a 1999 pontiac bonneville. What does it take for a recall?
I have been informed by my daughter-in-law that her mother does not buckle her and her sister up. She also allows them to ride on the front seat. Mind you the two girls are only 4 and 5 years of age. I have reported this to social services on numerous occasions .
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 2,746 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 7% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Bonneville has 71 complaints (28 years in the data). This year has 143, above average.
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.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
- Bonneville 19783 sources
- Bonneville 19863 sources
- Bonneville 198719 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 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 1999 Pontiac Bonneville?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, electrical system, fuel system. Total complaints: 143. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (23%), smoke, burning smell, fire (7%), fuel system, fuel smell (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 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 1999 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 1999 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.