Pontiac Bonneville Complaints

1,973 consumer complaints on file.

#10057454February 3, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN POWER STEERING WENT OUT. ALSO, THIS OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECTS AS THE PONTIAC, GRAND PRIX WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056481February 3, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
REPLACED PLENUM ON 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE THREE TIMES. LAST TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY AT 87,000 MILES. FAULTY (PLASTIC) PART ALLOWED ANTIFREEZE AND OIL TO MIX IN THE ENGINE CAUSING STALLING (IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STATE ROAD INTERSECTION, A SAFETY HAZARD). THE MIXING OF THE FLUIDS ALLOWS THE ENGINE TO BURN THE ANTIFREEZE AND BY THE TIME YOU REALIZE ANYTHING YOU ARE OVERHEATED. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057395February 2, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IDLING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056292February 1, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE PLENUM CRACKED. SUCKED UP COOLANT/ANTI-FREEZE , ALMOST DESTROYING THE ENGINE BLOCK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056069January 29, 2004
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD. UPON IMPACT THE CHILD IN THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT WITH SEAT BELT ON FLEW FORWARD AND HIT THE PLASTIC CONSOLE BETWEEN BOTH FRONT SEATS AND SPLIT OPEN THE FOREHEAD. CONSUMER FELT THAT DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE CONSOLE IT POSED A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO THE OCCUPANT IN THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10056046January 28, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE HEATER IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OVERHEATED AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT MATERIAL. DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055869January 27, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE ENGINE EXPLODED UPON STARTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PARK AVENUE WHICH HAD THE SAME ENGINE AS THE BONNEVILLE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE BONNEVILLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054940January 26, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
BARELY USED POWER WINDOW MOTOR BROKEN. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054860January 25, 2004
AIR BAGS
DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054808January 24, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
I BOUGHT MY 1996 BONNEVILLE NEW IN THAT YEAR. AROUND 20,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. AT 145,000 MILES I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND A SMELL OF BURNT FLUID. TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER. THEY FLUSHED AND REPLACED THE TRANS FLUID STATING THE FLUID WAS BURNT (MEANING NOT USEFUL ANY MORE). I HAD THE FLUID CHANGED A COUPLE OF TIMES DURING THE LIFE OF THE CAR AS I ALSO INSURE ALL MAINTENANCE IS DONE. THAT FLUSHING LASTED ABOUT 1,000 MILES BEFORE THE TRANS BEGAN SLIPPING AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE RESULT WAS MY 3RD TRANSMISSION AT A COST TO ME OF $2,500. I REALIZE I HAVE A LOT OF MILES ON THE CAR/ENGINE/TRANS BUT WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE, AS I'VE DONE, I WOULD EXPECT A LONGER LIFE FROM THE TRANSMISSION! *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054730January 23, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WITH DEXTROL COOLANT IS CAUSING CONSTANT TROUBLE. THE LATEST IS HAVING TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD TO THE TUNE OF $598.18. WHY IS THIS PIECE PLASTIC, BUT THE PIPE GOING INTO IT IS METAL? THE DEX COOL IS DETERIORATING ALL RUBBER SEALS. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054666January 22, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LAST WEEKEND WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY PONTIAC BONNEVILLE REGISTRATION TAG [XXX], NJ LICENSE PLATE HAS A [XXX] BACK DOOR POPS OPEN ACCIDENTALLY. SURPRISINGLY I CALL THE GM DEALER AND FOUND THIS VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH DOOR OPEN WARNING. THIS FEATURE IS VERY COMMON IN VERY CHEAP BASIC CARS, WHERE AS LARGE BIG CAR IS MISSING. BEING A FULL SIZE FAMILY SEDAN, I WAS EXPECTING TO SEE THIS TYPE OF BASIC SAFETY WARNING SYSTEM WHEN THIS CAR HAS SUNROOF, ANTILOCK BRAKES, LEATHER SEATS, TRACTION CONTROL AND CLIMATE CONTROL ETC. IT WAS GOOD THAT MY ELEVEN-YEAR KID HAD A SAFETY BELT ON AT TIME IT HAD OCCURRED. I DO NOT WANT TO SAME THING HAPPEN TO OTHER DRIVERS AND LIVE IN FEAR WEATHER OR NOT CAR IS REALLY LOCKED OR NOT. I AM REALLY NOT FEELING COMFORTABLE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITH WHOLE FAMILY. I APPRECIATE YOUR IMMEDIATE HELP. THANKS, [XXX] UPDATED 07/27/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055412January 20, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHEN TURNING LEFT. CONSUMER STATED THAT RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054547January 20, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE ENGINE PART. PONTIAC 3.8L INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE CAUSING POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE IF ENGINE VAPOR LOCKS AT TIME OF FAILURE WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THIS PART FAILED ON MY VEHICLE AND THE INDEPENDANT REPAIR SHOP I TOOK IT TOO ALREADY HAD NEEDED REPAIR PART ON HAND BECAUSE (AS THEY STATED) THERE ALWAYS FIXING THIS ENGINE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I FOUND 1 TSB ON YOUR SITE #01060007A BUT IT WAS 2.5 YEARS AGO. I SPOKE WITH A GM REPRESENTATIVE BUT WAS ADVISED THE COULD NOT COMMENT ON IF THIS WAS A PROBLEM OR NOT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054447January 19, 2004
AIR BAGS
INADVERTENT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10054251January 16, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HAD THE HOOD OPEN AND TRIED TO START CAR. CAR MADE LOUD BOOM AND BLEW OFF PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD AND BALL OF FLAME SHOT UP. MY CHILDREN WERE NEARBY AND PLASTIC PARTS WENT SHOOTING ALL AROUND NEARBY AREA. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055288January 16, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSES IN ORDER TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054315January 16, 2004
AIR BAGS
MY 1995 PONTIAC PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED, WITH NO IMPACT! IT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND WHEN GM WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE THERE REPLY WAS "TO BAD, ITS YOUR PROBLEM, THE CAR IS MORE THAN 5 YEARS OLD". IF THERE HAD BEEN A PASSENGER THERE WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN SERIOUS INJURY! *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070878January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PAINT IS PEELING AROUND KEY HOLE ON TRUNK - AT THIS TIME APPROXIMATELY A 5 INCH DIAMETER CIRCLE SPOT. THE HOOD IS TURNING MILKY LOOKING. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR CAR WAS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION AND HAD BEEN TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF. WE WERE TURNED DOWN DUE TO BEING OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON YOUR 1998 BONNEVILLE REGARDING ANY PAINT CONCERNS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071045January 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN
OUR PROBLEMS STARTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AT INITIAL LAUNCH. A REAL SUPRISE AND SAFETY CONCERN WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. THIS WOULD HAPPEN WITHOUT WARNING. I DROPPED THE TRANSMISSION OIL PAN AND REVEALED METAL DEBRIS AND GEAR TEETH. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I HAVE LEARNED THAT A (ALLEGED) DEFECTIVE THRUST BEARING, SUPPLIED (1999) BY GM'S SUPPLIER, FAILS AND DESTROYS THE 'SUN/REACTION GEARSET' AND THE DEBRIS CONTAMINATES THE INSIDE WORKINGS OF THIS 4T65-E TRANSMISSION. JUST SHOWING THE DEBRIS TO THE GM SERVICE MANAGER, THEY OFFERED TO DO A 50/50 SPLIT ON REPAIRS. I INSISTED ON 100% SINCE THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT TO THE RECOMMENDED 50K OIL AND FILTER CHANGE. WITH THE FACT OF NOT GETTING A WRITTEN ESTIMATE, BUT A VERBAL ESTIMATE OF A MAX COST TO ME OF $3500 FOR THE REPAIR, I HAD AN INDEPENDENT REBUILD THE UNIT. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #03-07-30-017 ISSUED MAY 7, 2003, DESCRIBING THE DEALER FIX (REBUILD) FOR THIS FAILURE. THIS TSB COVERS THIS MODEL TRANS THAT IS USED IN 1999-2002 BUICK CENTURY, LESABRE, PARK AVENUE,CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, SILHOUETTE, PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, GRAND PRIX, MONTANA, 2000-2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, 2001-2002 PONTIAC AZTEK, 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS, ALL WITH THE TRANSAXLE AUTO 4-SPEED, 4T65E(RPO MN3) THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WRITTEN #03-07-30-017 ISSUED MAY 7, 2003. IT IS ALSO UNDERSTOOD THAT THE REPLACEMENT THRUST BEARINGS ARE CORRECTLY MADE NOW, AND FOR THE 2004 MODEL OF THIS TRANSMISSION, GM IS USING A SPECIAL COATING (BALZER COATING) ON THE 'SUN/REACTION GEARSET' TO INCREASE DURABILITY OF THE COMPONENTS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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