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Pontiac BonnevilleYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 1,979 NHTSA owner complaints across 35 model years, no Pontiac Bonneville year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1989, 1990, 2004 and 2005. The Bonneville has 40 safety recalls on record.

Pontiac Bonneville
Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1995, 1998, 2000Best years'89 '90 '04 '05Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints1,979Top: Engine and engine coolingSafety recalls401965–2005 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.

Best & worst years

Pontiac Bonneville years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Bonneville median. Tap a year for its full report.

'65'66'69'71'72'74'75'76'77'78'79'81'82'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2005Best83/10027 complaints · 0 recalls2004Best84/10028 complaints · 0 recalls2003Best70/10054 complaints · 2 recalls2002Solid61/10089 complaints · 2 recalls2001Solid47/100129 complaints · 0 recalls2000Caution39/100214 complaints · 2 recalls1999Solid49/100143 complaints · 3 recalls1998Caution33/100277 complaints · 1 recall1997Solid47/100147 complaints · 1 recall1996Solid46/100150 complaints · 2 recalls1995Caution37/100244 complaints · 1 recall1994Solid56/10088 complaints · 0 recalls1993Solid47/100138 complaints · 1 recall1992Solid51/100113 complaints · 3 recalls1991Not rated–/10022 complaints · 1 recall1990Best77/10039 complaints · 0 recalls1989Best83/10028 complaints · 1 recall1988Not rated–/10017 complaints · 0 recalls1987Not rated–/10019 complaints · 3 recalls1986Not rated–/1003 complaints · 1 recall1985Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1984Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1982Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1979Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1978Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls1977Not rated–/1001 complaint · 4 recalls1976Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1975Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1974Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1972Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1971Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1969Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1966Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1965Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Pontiac Bonneville problems

All model years combined: 1,979 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling53272
Electrical system29947
Service brakes, hydraulic21327
Steering1989
Power train16112
Air bags14367
Fuel system, gasoline13325
Visibility1283
Structure916
20 other systems46460
40 recalls

Pontiac Bonneville recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Fuel system, gasoline: delivery04V-090 · 1998–2000 · Feb 24, 2004 · 910,873 vehicles–Storage: tank assembly03V-238 · 2002–2003 · Jul 1, 2003 · 102,212 vehicles–Air bags: frontal02V-222 · 2002–2003 · Aug 9, 2002 · 133,221 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components00V-114 · 2000 · Apr 17, 2000 · 8,132 vehicles–Power train: automatic transmission99V-089 · 1999 · Apr 26, 1999 · 99,333 vehicles–Wheels99V-072 · 1999 · Apr 12, 1999 · 352 vehicles–Seats96V-196 · 1997 · Oct 8, 1996 · 47 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system96V-116 · 1996 · Jul 1, 1996 · 275,811 vehicles–Automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines96V-015 · 1992–1993 · Jan 23, 1996 · 585,182 vehicles–Anti-theft: control module95V-204 · 1996 · Oct 23, 1995 · 32,869 vehicles–Exterior lighting: headlights94V-190 · 1995 · Oct 4, 1994 · 1,997 vehicles–Power train: automatic transmission91V-198 · 1991 · Nov 14, 1991 · 6,866 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 40 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

19 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Bonneville

  1. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIREEA07008 · 1999–2002 · closed May 1, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-118
  2. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA02030 · 1996–2002 · closed Mar 9, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-090
  3. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE02050 · 1996–2000 · closed Oct 22, 2002
    No recall
  4. TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCERQ99007 · 1999 · closed Feb 8, 2002
    Led to recall 99V-089
  5. FUEL LEAKSEA93018 · 1993 · closed Jun 24, 1994
    No recall
  6. FUEL LINE FAILUREEA93011 · 1992 · closed May 31, 1994
    No recall
  7. FUEL LINE CONNECTOR FAILSPE92010 · 1992 · closed May 22, 1992
    No recall
  8. BRAKE FAILUREEA90017 · 1986–1988 · closed Apr 22, 1991
    No recall
  9. DIRECT TORQUE BRAKE SYSTEMDP90002 · 1984 · closed May 10, 1990
    No recall
  10. BRAKE FAILUREPE89171 · 1986–1988 · closed Mar 26, 1990
    No recall