AI Damage2002 Pontiac Bonneville: common problems
Owners of the 2002 Pontiac Bonneville filed 89 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and visibility. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 89
- involving a crash
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 21% of all complaints
- 2 Visibility 15% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 11% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 7% of all complaints
- 8 Seats 6% of all complaints
- Steering: 19 complaints (21% of all).
- Visibility: 13 complaints (15% of all).
- Electrical system: 10 complaints (11% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 10 complaints (11% of all).
- Powertrain: 7 complaints (8% 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
- 3.8 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 89 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 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 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.
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…
Dt the head rest did not provide any type of support. Vehicle was involed in a rear end crash in february. It does not provide any support. Had a case of whip lash. The consumer can raise the head rest up but can not pull it forward. This febr 14th, 2005.
Dear sir or madam, I was involved in a rear-end collision in a 2002 pontiac bonneville and received a case of whiplash, which I believe was due to a poorly designed head rest. When I purchased the car I did not check out the head rest as I don't use head rests during the course of normal driving.
When involved in an accident, the fuel safety shut off in my wife's bonneville didn't work. She was struck just behind the passenger side rear door and then pushed into a traffic light hard enough to set off the air bags. After both impacts the car was still running and had to be shut off by the ignition key.
Purchased pontiac bonneville july 2002, equipped with firestone affinity touring t2 tires. July 17, 2003 at 12,351 miles had r/r tire- repaired at dealer (m&s chevrolet in pawling ny)(was told there was a screw in tire) told no warranty on the tires. Tires were rotated & balanced at this time.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 pontiac bonneville. When the vehicle was started, the air bag indicator illuminated. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 187,000. . Consumer owned the vehicle for a year an airbag light came on.
While driving at various speeds, the vehicle began to smoke under the hood. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the gaskets and valve cover failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.
The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start without warning. The vehicle was able to be started, but it took several attempts. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch malfunctioned and needed to be replaced.
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 3,835 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Bonneville has 71 complaints (28 years in the data). This year has 89, above average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- 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.
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 1999143 sources
- Bonneville 2000214 sources
- Bonneville 2001129 sources
- Bonneville 200354 sources
- Bonneville 200428 sources
- Bonneville 200527 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Pontiac Bonneville?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, visibility, electrical system. Total complaints: 89. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (20%), windows, sunroof (15%), smoke, burning smell, fire (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2002 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 2002 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 2002 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.