1994 Pontiac Bonneville

Routine

Owners filed 88 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags › frontal. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline8
020
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip7
300
Air Bags › Frontal7
403
Structure › Frame and Members6
000
Unknown or Other4
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission4
000
Electrical System › Ignition4
000
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor3
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine3
000
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator3
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Aug 24, 2008150,000 milesMI

1994 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. DUE TO CORROSION THE ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS / MOUNTING FAILED AND ENGINE FELL OUT OF CAR. LUCKILY IT WAS WHILE TURNING AROUND IN THE DRIVEWAY, IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON / AT ROAD SPEEDS THERE COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, MULTI CAR INVOLVEMENT, INJURIES, OR LOSS OF LIFE. GM SERVICE OFFERED ZERO HELP ON RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN INFORMATION AND DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECT OR REPAIR. *TR

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Jan 13, 2006160,000 milesMI

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLT AND RETAINER PULLED THROUGH THE CRADLE. THE REAR CRADLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND THE STEERING SEPARATED. THIS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE ROAD, AND TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT VERBALLY SPOKE WITH AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR MECHANIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHO SUGGESTED THE VEHICLE BE BROUGHT IN FOR INSPECTION. *JB

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Nov 23, 2005146,000 milesMN

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT HE DETECTED THE ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING. HE SAW GRAY SMOKE COMING FROM THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING VENTS, AND A YELLOW FLAME CLOSE TO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER AREA. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND DISTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. NO REPAIRS COULD BE MADE DUE TO THE FIRE DAMAGE. *AK

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Sep 21, 200514,525 milesMN

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE ENGINE FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2005 WHILE SLOWLY PULLING OUT FROM A STOP LIGHT. HE HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND LOST STEERING CONTROL AND THE CAR DRIFTED TO THE CURB AND STOPPED. THE GM MANUFACTURER WANTED TO KNOW HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER FOUND OUT THAT THEY DONE ALMOST ALL THE MAINTENANCE THEY TOLD HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TEN YEARS OLD. SHE UNDERSTOOD THIS, BUT SHE STILL FELT THAT AN ENGINE SHOULD NOT JUST FALL OUT OF A VEHICLE. HER PRIMARY CONCERN WAS TO MAKE NHTSA AND THE MANUFACTURER AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IF DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED AND THIS HAPPENED THEN YOU WOULD LOSE ALL STEERING CAPABILITIES . THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A REPAIR SHOP AND THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD HER THAT THEY HAD A FORD TAURUS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT THEY HAD A DODGE INTREPID WITH THE SAME PROBLEM . THERE IS A FRAME THAT HOLDS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO THE BODY OF THE CAR. THERE IS A LARGE THREE INCH DIAMETER WASHER THAT IS UNDER A METRIC .5 INCH DIAMETER BOLT. THE BOLT DID NOT FAIL, BUT THE WASHER DID FAIL. THERE ARE FOUR BOLTS IN THE REAR AND TWO BOLTS IN THE FRONT, AND THE TWO IN THE FRONT WERE OKAY, BUT THE FOUR IN THE REAR BROKE AWAY AND FAILED. THE GM BUSHING PART NUMBER IS 25536051 FOR THE FRONT TWO BOLTS.*AK UPDATED 01/19/06. *JB

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Sep 8, 2005MI

TURNING INTO STREET WHEN THE ENGINE CRADLE FELL OUT IN THE REAR. LOSS OF ALL STEERING. HAD A CUTLASS SUPREME THAT DID THAT ALSO EXCEPT THERE WAS A RECALL. HUGE SAFETY HAZARD, A VEHICLE GOING DOWN THE ROAD NO STEERING??? WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE. GM NEEDS A RECALL ON THIS. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Aug 23, 200592,000 milesLA

DT: WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF IT OVERHEATED. BEFORE THIS OCCURRED THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THERE ALMOST HAST BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THEY FINALLY DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. THE HAVE DONE OTHER THINGS TO THE VEHICLE TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DID NOT WORK. THEY HAVE FOUND IT TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Jun 20, 2005150,000 milesMI

DT: CONTACT STATES: THE CRADLE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE WHICH HELD THE SUSPENSION UP IN THE FRONT. THERE WERE FOUR BOLTS HOLDING IT UP, AND THE WASHERS RUSTED, CAUSING THIS FAILURE. DEALER SAID THEY HAD NOT SEEN THAT HAPPEN. THEY HAVE AGREED TO FIX IT ALL AT CONSUMER'S COST. CONTACT COMPLAINED TO GM, AND WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS TOO OLD.*AK

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Dec 7, 2004156,000 milesNJ

FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT WHERE THE A-FRAME ATTACHES. *AK

Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody Shields
Filed Aug 16, 200488,000 milesPA

1. NOISE FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE 2. BOLTS HOLDING MOTOR TO K FRAME SNAPPED DROPPING MOTOR TO THE GROUND - LOST CONTROL OF STEERING - CAR HAS NEVER HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS.*AK 3. TOWED FOR SERVICE - COURSE OF ACTION PENDING.

Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody ShieldsCrash
Filed May 26, 2004127,000 milesOH

I WAS EXITING OFF ROUTE 82 AND HEADING EAST ON RT. 422 GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. EST. WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG SOUND. THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES WENT OUT AND THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR CAME TO REST ABOUT 50 FT. AFTER THE CAR HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER. OHIO HIGHWAY STATE PATROL MADE A CRASH REPORT AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO GREENWOOD AUTOBODY DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS BROKE OUT THE FRAME. ALLOWING THE ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN TO DROP ON THE ROAD. DAMAGE IS BEING ESTIMATED BY THE AUTOBODY SHOP AND INSURANCE COMPANY. CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 15, 200484,000 milesOH

I HAVE NOT SOUGHT ANY INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM AS OF YET BECAUSE I THOUGHT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO SINCE MY CAR WAS ALREADY SIX YEARS OLD WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED. NOW I HAVE PEELING PAINT IN SEVERAL SPOTS ON MY CAR AND IT LOOKS TERRIBLE. THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN MINT CONDITION. I STILL BELIEVE GM SHOULD PAY FOR RE-PAINTING BECAUSE THEY KNEW OF THEIR DEFECT YEARS AGO. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO GET THIS DONE?

Fuel System, Other › Storage › Fuel Gauge System
Filed Sep 3, 2003GA

FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT USED.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 26, 2003FL

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE GOT SHUT OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 19, 200369,000 milesNY

THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A VEHICLE WITH A PAINT DEFECT. THE DEALER KNEW ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND STATED THAT THE PAINT NEVER ADHERED TO THE PRIMER. *SCC *NLM

Air Bags › Frontal1 injured
Filed Nov 13, 2002GA

DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. DRIVER SUFFERED FACIAL INJURIES. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. MR

Air Bags
Filed Nov 12, 2002GA

CONSUMER STATES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKING AT HOME THE PASSEGER AIR BAG DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFROMATION:: MR

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System1 injured
Filed Oct 24, 2002MI

BENT AND TWISTED FINGERS. WHILE IN FLORIDA VISITING MY UNCLE AND AUNT (BEFORE HE DIED) I HAD NOTICED HIS FINGERS WERE BENT AS MY ARE. HE ALSO HAD A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH LEFT SHOULDER PAIN. WHEN IN FLORIDA THIS PAST JANUARY, I DROVE HIS 1994 BONNEVILLE. THE STEERING WAS TIGHT LIKE TO 2000 IMPALA. THIS ACCOUNTED FOR HIS GOING TO THE DOCTOR FOR SHOTS IN HIS SHOULDER AND AT ONE TIME A VISIT TO THE HOSPITAL ROOM BECAUSE OF THE SHOOTING PAIN WHICH HE BELIEVED WAS FROM A HEART ATTACK. SUBMITTED BY MIKE TOMICH 989-665-2311 BUT DIDN'T MAKE THE CONNECTIION WITH THE HARD STEERING. DT

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Oct 2, 2002FL

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT IT IS HARD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Aug 10, 2002PA

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW. WITHIN 6MO THE FIRST ALTERNATOR PROBLEM OCCURRED. IN THE PAST 8YEARS I HAVE HAD 10 ALTERNATORS AND 4 BATTERIES PUT IN THE VEHICLE. EVERYTIME THE BATTERY GUAGE WOULD GO LOW WHEN CHECKED I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE ALTERNATOR. ON ONE OCCASSION I TOOK MY CAR DUE TO THE FACT THE DEALER WAS CLOSED, TO ANOTHER CAR REPAIR SHOP WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT STATED THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND UNTIL THAT IS FIXED I WILL STILL HAVE ALTERNATOR/ BATTERY PROBLEMS. I HAVE DISCUSSED THE SITUATION WITH THE DEALERTO NO SATISFACTION. INITIALLY THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY SO THE DEALER REPLACED PARTS. THEN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED KICKED IN, AGAIN PAYING FOR PARTS. WHEN THE WARRANTYEXPIRED I HAD GREAT EXPENSE PAYING FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I ALSO LOST USE OF MY VEHICLE AND HAD TO FIND ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION. I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY NEVER GOT BACK TO ME . AFTER SEVERAL CALLS AND PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE GM STATED I SHOULD GO BACK TO THE DEALER IT WAS A DEALER PROBLEM. WHEN I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND SERVICE MANAGER THEY SAID IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM. THAT IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND THAT THE CAR DRAWS A LOT OF ELECTRIC AL POWER. THEY COULD ONLY RECOMEND PUTTING IN A NEW WIRING SYSTEM ROUGH COST 3,000 BUT COULD NOT TELL ME THIS WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I KNOW MY CAR IS NOW 8 YEARS OLD. I HAVE ALL THE REPAIR BILLS SHOWING NINE GOING ON TEN ALTERNATORS. THE PROBLEM IS ON GOING AND I WAS TOLD YESTERDAY I NEED ANOTHER ALTE

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Jul 26, 2002NH

I WAS DRIVING UP MY DRIVEWAY AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 3 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LITERALLY FELL INTO MY LAP. THE CAR WAS UNSTEERABLE. I HAD JUST MOVED TO NH AND CALLED TH ELOCAL DEALER.....FAIRFIELD IN KEENE. THEY CAME OUT AND FLATBEDDED THE CAR TO THE SHOP. 4 WEEKS LATER AFTER THEY LOCATED THE PARTS I WAS TOLD THAT THE COLLAR THAT HOLDS THE STEERING COLUMN HAD BROKE AND THAT THIS SHOULD NEVER HAD HAPPENED UNLESS I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGHER SPEED. GM SAID IT WAS THE RESPONIBILITY OF ME TO PROVE IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART. I BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD INVESTIGATE IT. I SPOKE TO THE ESIS ..GREG THRASHER.. ON 7/24/2002. PHONE 1-800-888-0164. WHO TOLD ME IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL IF THE PART WAS EVER DEFECTIVE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU.*AK

20 of 88 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1998
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200527010Routine
200428010Routine
200354250Routine
200289230Routine
20011290200High concern
20002142210High concern
1999143490Routine
19982772280High concern
19971472160Routine
1996150370Routine
1995244140Above average
1994 — this page88090Routine
19931381110Routine
1992113350Routine
199122210Routine
199039110Routine

Compare every Bonneville year →

Reading this record

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.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.