1996 Pontiac Bonneville

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Defect. A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A NO-START CONDITION AND POSSIBLY AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING. UNTIL THE CAMPAIGN REPAIR IS MADE, THE VEHICLE HOOD SHOULD BE SHUT WHENEVER STARTING THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Defect. THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE THAT CAN CONTAIN A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. IF THE CAPACITOR IS DAMAGED, THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" WARNING CHIME AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WARNING CHIME AND INDICATOR LAMP MAY NOT WORK. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION" AND FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." IN ADDITION, OTHER CHIME REMINDER FUNCTIONS, INTERIOR LIGHTING CONTROLS, AND POWER DOOR LOCKING FEATURES ARE ALSO AFFECTED.

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE; THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE KEY WAS LEFT IN THE IGNITION OR THAT THE SAFETY BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACE THE MALL MODULE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,474.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE ANTI-THEFT AND AN UNKNOWN SECURITY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE REQUIRED MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AND A NEW KEY MADE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HORN AND CHIME SOUNDED UNCONTROLLABLY. IN ADDITION, THE RADIO FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE INTERIOR LIGHTING CONTROLS AND THE POWER DOOR LOCKING FEATURES FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 95V204000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE IMPACT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 1/28/15*CN UPDATED 9/6/2017*CN

INTERIOR LIGHTING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. LIGHT'S STAYING ON WHEN CAR IS RUNNING AND SENORS CHIMMING FOR DOORS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE CHIMED BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS HAD TO BE MADE BEFORE SUCCEEDING IN STARTING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND OXYGEN SENSOR. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAP WAS MELTING AND CAUSING OIL TO SPILL. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE WAS PRODUCING WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE AS TO THE EXACT REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILED AND WOULD ALERT THE CONTACT THAT THE DOORS WERE OPENED, AND THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT SECURED ERRONEOUSLY. THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE FUEL INJECTOR, AND ADDING FUEL CLEANER. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM) AND 95V204000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

THIS CAR BELONGS TO MY ELDERLY MOTHER WHICH SHE BOUGHT USED AND HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM! OCCASIONALLY WHEN STARTING THE CAR, THE ENGINE WILL BACKFIRE, AFTER STARTING IT WOULD RUN OK. THE CAR NOW DOES NOT RUN AS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS BROKEN FROM THE BACKFIRING AND ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE THE LAST TIME IT WAS ATTEMPTED TO START THE MOTOR! ACCORDING TO PONTIAC THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR BY THE VIN NUMBER!! *JS

I LEFT MY HOUSE ON 9/10/2011 AND WENT TO GAS STATION. AFTER FUELING UP I NOTICED THAT MY AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. I DID NOT PULL OVER BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A SENSOR PROBLEM AND I HAD NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE HAVING TO PULL OVER FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT. I PROCEEDED TO THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN I REACHED 57 MPH I PUT ON MY CRUISE CONTROL. IN ABOUT 2 MINUTES BOTH OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND MY VISIBILITY WAS 0%. IF I HAD NOT HAD BOTH OF MY FRONT WINDOWS DOWN, THE POWDER THAT ENGULFED MY CAR COULD HAVE SUFFOCATED ME. I AM ON BREATHING MEDICINE FOR COPD. ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS UP THERE IN YEARS IT IS NOT UP THERE IN MILEAGE. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM SOMEONE 4 YEARS AGO, WHO ONLY USED THE CAR ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IT HAD 58,000 MILES ON IT AND ONLY HAS 91,500 TODAY. THIS WHOLE PROCESS TOOK ABOUT 15 MINUTES FROM START TO FINISH.

I LEFT MY HOUSE & STOPPED FOR GAS. AFTER GETTING GAS I NOTICED MY AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. I DID NOT PULL OVER THINKING IT WAS A SENSOR PROBLEM. I PROCEEDED TO THE HIGHWAY & WHEN I REACHED 57MPH I PUT ON MY CRUISE CONTROL. IN ABOUT 2 MINUTES MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED & MY ABILITY TO SEE WAS 0%. THE ENTIRE INCIDENT TOOK ABOUT 15 MINUTES FROM HOUSE TO DEPLOYMENT. THE POWDER/SMOKE ENGULFED MY CAR. IF I HAD NOT HAD BOTH MY FRONT WINDOWS DOWN I THINK I COULD HAVE SUFFOCATED. I AM CURRENTLY ON BREATHING MEDS FOR COPD. THE VEHICLE IS OLD IN YEARS BUT NOT IN MILEAGE. I BOUGHT IT FROM SOMEONE THAT ONLY USED THE CAR FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS, 4 YRS AGO, IT HAD 58,000 MILES ON IT. IT RUNS GREAT BUT NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN 15 MPH WHEN THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INVOLUNTARILY. ONE OF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE DEPLOYMENT. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INSPECTOR TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT WATER HAD ENTERED THE AIR BAG MODULE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. DUE TO THE WATER DAMAGE, THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS CORRODED AND CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

MY SON WAS AT A STOP SIGN IN HIS 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, JUST AS HIS WAS GETTING READY TO PROCEED, BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, HE HADN'T EVEN PUT HIS FOOT ON THE GAS, INSURANCE APPRAISER, APPRAISED THE DAMAGE IN EXCESS OF $2000 AND COME TO FIND OUT THEY WON'T COVER IT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR WASN'T IN AN ACCIDENT, THEY SAY IT'S A MANUFACTURERS ISSUE, HE RECEIVED A MINOR BURN ON HIS ARM FROM THE AIRBAG DEPLOYING. *LN

96 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.WHILE PARKED AT RESIDENCE VEHICLE WENT INTO SECURITY LOCK MODE AND WONT ALLOW VEHICLE TO START. ALL ADVICE FROM INDIVIDUALS TO "RESET" SECURITY FAILED. ONLY OPTION LEFT IS TO TOW TO LOCAL DEALER FOR SERVICE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 10 MPH OR WHILE SITTING IDLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE POWER WINDOWS, SEATS AND FUEL PUMP WOULD BECOME INOPERABLE AS WELL. THE CONTACT WOULD RECHARGE THE BATTERY AND ONCE FULLY CHARGED, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE STALLING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHEN SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ADDITIONAL FAILURES. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE IGNITION ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER WAS FAULTY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE, (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 95V204000: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER), HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 98,000.

1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE PLASTIC MANIFOLD IN ENGINE FROM MANUFACTURE BROKE CAUSING DEX COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE DESTROYING SEALS/HEAD GASKETS. REPLACE AT DEALER GASKET,GASKET KIT,VALVE,VALVE KIT,UPPER MANIFOLD, LOWER MANIFOLD RESEAL,COOLANT. DEALER DOES NOT HONOR RECALL. *TR

NO INCIDENTS BUT THERE IS DAMAGE DONE TO THE FUEL , EMISSION AND BRAKE LINE THE FUEL AND EMISSION LINES FROM THE FUEL TANK USE A PLASTIC QUICK CONNECT COUPLING JUST UNDERNEATH NEAR THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE . THE COUPLING BECOMES LOSE AND SPRAYS THE FUEL LINES AND BRAKE HOSES WITH FUEL THIS WASHES OFF THE PROTECTIVE LAYER OF THE HOSES WHICH THEN CORRODE AND LEAK FUEL AND BRAKE FLUID , THIS HAPPENED ON MY 1996 BONNEVILLE CAN ANYONE EMAIL ME IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS ON THIS CAR FOR THAT REASON OR IF I AM ENTITLED TO REPAIRS BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE AIR BAG EXPLODED AND SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CALLED AND THEY DECLARED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

I PUT GAS INTO MY 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WENT TO START IT AND IT BACKFIRED AND STARTED RUNNING RAGGED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *TR

WHEN I PURCHASED MY 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SSE USED I SEARCHED FOR ANY RECALLS ON IT I FOUND 2 ONE FOR THE INTAKE BREAKING AND ONE FOR THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM I TOOK IT TO LOCAL DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS NOT APPLICABLE TO MY VEHICLE NOW I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH BACKFIRING CONSTANTLY AND HAVE EVEN CALLED PONTIAC HELP LINE WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT VALID AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE FAST FORWARD A FEW MONTHS AND MY WIFE THIS MORNING WENT TO THE STORE WHERE THE CAR BACKFIRED AND THE INTAKE EXPLODED INTO SEVERAL PIECES AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE ISSUED FROM UNDER THE HOOD NOW THIS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY COST ME A SMALL FORTUNE TO REPAIR WHAT AM I TO DO NOW? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE BACKFIRED SEVERELY. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE PLASTIC COVER WAS SHATTERED. HE REMOVED THE COVER AND FOUND THAT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED. THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM) PERTAINING TO THE SAME FAILURE. HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT LOCATE THE RECALL. THE DEALER REFERRED HIM TO THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OLDER THAN TEN YEARS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 93,495. UPDATED 1/26/09 *CN UPDATED 01/26/09. *JB

AROUND JAN 2008 WHILE DRIVING A PLASTIC WATER HOSE BURST. I REPLACED IT AND HAD NO OTHER PROBLEM UNTIL AROUND AUG 2008. THIS TIME THE WATER PUMP STARTED LEAKING. I REPLACED THAT AND THE THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR CAP, BUT I STILL KEPT LOOSING COOLANT. THEN I FOUND A CRACK IN THE RADIATOR WHICH I REPLACE AROUND THE END OF AUG 2008. I STILL KEPT HAVING TO TOP OFF THE COOLANT RESERVOIR EVER TWO DAYS. ABOUT JUNE 2008 I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE VEH STARTING, IT WOULD SEEM LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING ENOUGH GAS OR FLOODING. IT WOULD BE RUNNING BUT BARLEY AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL. FINALLY IT WOULD START. IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME BUT IT'S DOING IT MORE OFTEN NOW. I'VE FUEL SYSTEM AND INJECTION CLEANERS WITH NO CHANGE. THEN I WENT TO NHTSA AND FOUND A RECALL 96V-116 THAT SEEMS TO BE THE CAUSE OF MY PROBLEM. I WENT TO THE LOCAL PONTIAC DEALERS AND THEY SAID THAT MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY DO. I TOLD THEM THAT I WOULD BRING BACK TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. *TR