Owners filed 138 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 1 time.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
23
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
10
0
3
0
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines
7
0
3
0
Vehicle Speed Control
5
2
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
5
2
0
2
Structure › Frame and Members
4
0
0
0
Structure › Body › Door
4
0
0
1
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
4
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum › Wheel Cylinders
3
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Air › Antilock
3
0
0
0
1 safety recall
Part 573 reports
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines96V015000
Filed Jan 23, 1996585,182 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.
Risk. VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Jan 7, 201130 milesTN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ENCOUNTERING A SPEED BUMP, HE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. HE OBSERVED THAT THE FRONT FRAME AND ENGINE BOTH DETACHED AND WERE POSITIONED ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE A SHORT DISTANCE TO THE RESIDENCE AT AN EXTREMELY LOW SPEED; AND UPON REACHING THE DESTINATION THE STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED COMPLETELY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Steering
Filed Apr 13, 2009147,000 milesMN
1993 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE (3.8L) REAR ENGINE CRADLE ROTTED AT ALL FOR BOLT POINTS CAUSING REAR OF ENGINE CRADLE TO FALL OUT OF THE CAR CAUSING STEERING ISSUES AND AN EVENTUAL LOSS OF STEERING. 1.) DRIVING DOWN NORMAL PAVED CITY STREET. BEGAN TURNING A CORNER. (EXTREMELY LUCKY THIS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEEDS ON A CITY STREET. IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY SERIOUS INJURY COULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE) 2.) FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE. ANY FAILURE CAUSING STEERING LOSS IS ONE TOO MANY. 3.) NOT YET REPAIRED IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET I SEE THAT GM HAS ISSUED RECALLS FOR THIS EXACT TYPE OF FAILURE ON THE PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, BUT I DO NOT SEE ONE LISTED FOR THE BONNEVILLE. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER REPORTS OF THIS OCCURRING. THIS WAS CRITICAL ENOUGH TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, THEN THIS SHOULD BE SERIOUS ENOUGH TO INCLUDE THE BONNEVILLE AS WELL. *TR
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines
Filed Apr 3, 200855,000 milesCT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE IS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE MANUFACTURER MADE A REPORT; HOWEVER, THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE NOT COMPLETELY SURE IF HIS VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V015000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES). THEY STATED THAT THEY WILL INVESTIGATE AND PROVIDE HIM WITH AN ANSWER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 4/21/08 *CN
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 9, 2007233,065 milesCA
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO MIDAS FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. A FEW HOURS LATER, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S OIL WAS BLACK. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE OIL CHANGE WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT COULD POSSIBLY RESULT FROM ENGINE FAILURE. AS A RESULT, MIDAS FAILS TO REIMBURSE THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WOULD START, BUT MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE CONTACT HAS THE RECEIPT AND PAPERWORK FROM THE EVENT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 233,065.
Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Apr 17, 2006160,000 milesMI
I OWN A 1993 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, VIN [XXX] WITH JUST OVER 160,000 MILES ON IT. ON THE EVENING OF APRIL 6TH, 2006 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THIS CAR NEAR OUR HOME. SHE WAS AT A STOP SIGN ON ORTMAN ROAD AND AS SHE PULLED ONTO CHERRY CREEK ROAD SHE HEARD A LOUD CLUNK. AT THE SAME TIME SHE LOST ALL STEERING ABILITY. WHEN SHE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL IT JUST SPUN IN CIRCLES AS IF IT WERE NO LONGER ATTACHED TO ANYTHING. I WAS CALLED AND WENT TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE I SAW THAT THE SUB FRAME AND MOTOR HAD DROPPED DOWN ABOUT 6 INCHES. THERE ARE FOUR BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE SUB FRAME TO THE BODY OF THESE VEHICLES. THE BOLTS WERE ALL IN PLACE AND IN GOOD SHAPE. EACH BOLT HAS A WASHER, WHICH RETAINS THE SUB FRAME TO THE BODY OF THIS CAR. ON MY CAR THE WASHERS CORRODED AND WORE TO THE POINT THAT THEY WOULD NO LONGER RETAIN THE SUB FRAME. THE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE MOUNTING HOLES OF THE SUB FRAME, THUS ALLOWING THE ENGINE AND ALL RELATED COMPONENTS TO DROP ABOUT 6 INCHES. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE SHAFT FROM THE RACK AND PINION STEERING TO THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED APART, THEREBY LEAVING THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE WITH NO ABILITY TO STEER. ON FRIDAY APRIL 7TH I CALLED PUBLIC SERVICE GARAGE IN MARQUETTE MI. AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS ??NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THAT HE SEES THIS A FEW TIMES A YEAR??. I CALLED AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH PONTIAC ALSO. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS ??VERY UNLIKELY THAT PONTIAC WILL DO ANYTHING BECAUSE
Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module
Filed May 15, 2005MI
WENT TO THE STORE AND WHEN I CAME OUT MY CAR WOULD NOT START, THE SECURITY LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I READ THE OWNERS MANUAL AND IT SAID TO CLEAN THE KEY AND CHECKS THE FUSES. I DID BOTH OF THESE AND STILL NO START. I CALLED A GM DEALER AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HE SAID THAT THE CAR IS NOT RECOGONING THE KEY AND THAT IS WHY IT WONT START. THE KEY HAS A CHIP ON IT, NOW THIS IS IN NO WAY SOMETHING THAT WAS CAUSED BY NEGLECT, IT IS FROM A DEFECT IN THE KEY, YET GM WILL NOT PAY TO GET THIS FIX AND GET THE CAR BACK ON THE ROAD.
Tires › Sidewall
Filed Feb 28, 2005162,000 milesIN
TIRE DEFECT. GROOVE DEVELOPING ON SIDEWALL APPROXIMATELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE "BRAND" AND "MODEL" LETTERING. LOOKS AS IF THE TIRE HAS BEEN RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING, BUT IS ON OUTSIDE OF TIRE. THIS IS HAPPENING ON TWO TIRES. ONE PASSENGER REAR, THE OTHER, DRIVER FRONT. POSSIBLE BELT SEPARATION?
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum › Wheel Cylinders
Filed Jan 10, 200524,000 milesFL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDER, AND THE MASTER CYLINDER AFTER ONLY 24,000 MILES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR THESE REPAIRS. HOWEVER, AFTER 35,000 MILES THE WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED AGAIN. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP.OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Structure › Frame and Members
Filed May 4, 2004OH
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH FRONT FRAME DROPPED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Seat Belts › FrontCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 3, 200479,800 milesOH
INVOLVED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION, MVA. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BEING A DISABLED FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC I AM AN ADVID WEARER OF SEATBELT'S. POST ACCIDENT AS I ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE, I REACHED DOWN TO FIND THE SEATBELT HAD NOT HELD DURING THE ACCIDENT. I AM GOING TO INSPECT THE CAR ON 03/05, THEN RELEASE IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. HOW DO I PROCEED IF IT IS FOUND TO BE FAULTY? *AK
Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Feb 26, 2004105,000 milesOH
THE DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB *JB
Power Train
Filed Feb 10, 2004MS
THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING COOLANT AND OIL. *LA THERE WERE ALSO BRAKE AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *SC *JB
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 16, 2004218,000 milesMO
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
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/Supercharger
Filed Jun 6, 2003IL
HEY, HOW YOU DOING. MY NAME IS [XXX]. I TOOK MY MOTHERS ([XXX]) 93 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE INTO THE PONTIAC DEALERSHIP ON 159TH ST IN SOUTHHOLLAND ILLINOIS. I KNOW THAT DEALERSHIPS HAVE CERTIFIED MECHANICS. THE PROBLEM IS, MY MOTHER'S CAR WOULD CRANK BUT WOULDN'T START. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NEED A TURBO GASKET AND A MANIFOLD GASKET. WHEN THE JOB WAS DONE THEY TOLD ME THE BILL CAME TO SIX HUNDRED AND SOMETHING DOLLARS. HOWEVER, MY CAR WAS STILL NOT RUNNING BECAUSE THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME I NEED TO GET A NEW TURBO SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM IS, I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S FAIR FOR THE DEALERSHIPS, CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO BE MAKING GUESSES ON WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR WHEN HE WENT TO SCHOOL TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING I DON'T NEED, THE CAR IS STILL NOT RUNNING, BECAUSE THE MECHANIC DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. ON TOP OF THAT, YOU CAN'T TAKE YOUR CAR TO NO PLACE BETTER THAN THE DEALERSHIP .*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Air Bags
Filed May 2, 2002CA
CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAGS HAS SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL RESULTING IN THE HORN NOT TO WORKING.*JB
Air Bags
Filed May 2, 2002CA
CONSUMER STATES THE HORN ASSEMBLY DOES NOT FUNCTION BECAUSE AIR BAG HAS SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING HORN NOT TO FUNCTION DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED HOWEVER DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR PROBLEM.*JB
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor
Filed Apr 8, 2002NY
GMC CONVERTER LOCK-UP PROBLEM.*AK
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings
Filed Mar 25, 2002PA
A LEAK IS INSIDE OF ENGINE COOLANT LINE CAN CAUSE A FIRE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and LinesFire
Filed Mar 20, 2002GA
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE SEPARATED, BLOWING TRANSMISSION FLUID ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *TT
Air Bags › Side/WindowCrash
Filed Feb 25, 2002IA
WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Jan 23, 1996. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.