1997 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. THE SEAT COVER TRIM MATERIAL DOES NOT MEET THE FLAMMABILITY REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 302, "FLAMMABILITY OF INTERIOR MATERIALS."

Risk. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, A VEHICLE INTERIOR FIRE CAN OCCUR.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COVERS ON THE FRONT SEAT BACKS, REAR SEAT CUSHION AND REAR SEAT BACK ASSEMBLIES.

DRIVING AN SUDDENLY VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN, SPEED MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.STARTS BACK WITH NO PROBLEM. THIS IS A REGULAR PROBLEM, ALSO HAPPENS WHEN IDLING...MAKES FOR A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. HAS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY SURFACE STREETS, TURNING, ACCELERATING, EVEN WHEN BRAKING.THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN IT WOULDN'T START AND NO DOCUMENTATION OR INVOICES AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE TO TUG ON IGNITION WIRES. POSSIBLE REASON-IGNITION SWITCH UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL SECTION IS BAD. THIS VEHICLE HAS A CONSOLE, PLAN ON GETTING NEW IGNITION SWITCH.

THE CAR LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IT WOULD JUST QUIT AND I WOULD HAVE NO BRAKES OR STEERING AND ALL GAUGES WOULD SHUT DOWN. SOMETIMES IT WOULD LOSE POWER AND THEN IT WOULD COME BACK ON WHILE I WAS STILL DRIVING CUTTING IN AND OUT REPEATEDLY. IT HAPPENED A LOT WHEN I WAS IDLING AT A CORNER AND THEN WOULD START THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. IT WOULD QUIT GOING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T START AFTER DRIVING IT A SHORT DISTANCE. AFTER IT SAT FOR A FEW MINUTES, A FEW HOURS OR SOMETIMES OVERNIGHT IT WOULD JUST START LIKE THERE WASN'T ANY PROBLEM WITH IT. IT DIDN'T SPUTTER OR ACT LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING GAS OR ANYTHING, IT JUST WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING AND HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF ALL POWER. WE TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY COULD NEVER REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND DIAGNOSTICS DIDN'T SHOW ANY PROBLEMS THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS ISSUE. I ASKED A COUPLE OF TIMES IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS AND THE SERVICE GARAGE SAID NO. I FINALLY QUIT DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE I WAS TIRED OF BEING STRANDED AND WITH TAKING MY CHANCES WITH IT LOOSING POWER DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR THROUGH INTERSECTIONS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME ISSUE THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY RECALLING SOME GM MODELS FOR BECAUSE OF AN IGNITION SWITCH SPRING BUT BONNEVILLE AREN'T ON THE RECALL LIST. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BATTERY AND CHECK OIL SENSORS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

IN EARLY NOVEMBER MY CAR (97 BONNEVILLE SSE) BEGAN EXPERIENCING TROUBLE STARTING. IT RARELY STARTED RIGHT UP BUT REQUIRED SEVERAL TRIES TO START. OCCASIONALLY I COULD SMELL GAS AFTER IT WAS STARTED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE IAC VALVE WAS REPLACED BUT THAT CHANGED NOTHING. AFTER SEVERAL MORE WEEKS OF THE ISSUE GETTING WORSE I SCHEDULED IT FOR SERVICE ON DEC 22. THE SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF DEC 18; THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE DEC 21. ON DEC 22 THE CAR WAS "FIXED". WITHIN 24 HRS I KNEW THE STARTING ISSUE WAS NOT FIXED. I HAD TO START IT MULTIPLE TIMES EVERY TIME & COULD OFTEN SMELL GAS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE GARAGE PAID ATTENTION TO THE REASON THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR SERVICE & INSTEAD FIXED THE IMMEDIATE ISSUE. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE GARAGE DEC 26 BUT HAD TO LEAVE A MESSAGE WITH THE GAS ATTENDANT AS THE SERVICE DEPT WAS CLOSED. ON MON DEC 28 I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR FOR WORK. THE ENGINE CRANKED 1-2 TIMES THEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD "BANG" UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL. SMOKE POURED FROM UNDER THE HOOD ALMOST INSTANTLY. THE SMOKE RAPIDLY INTENSIFIED AND CHANGED COLOR. FIRE COULD THEN BE SEEN BENEATH THE ENGINE & ENGULFED A MAJOR PART OF IT WITHIN 2-3 MINUTES. ALTHOUGH THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED LESS THAN 4 MIN AFTER THE FIRE STARTED, THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. *TR

I HAD A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY IN MICHIGAN, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS NOT SPEEDING, AND MY CAR WAS PERFECTLY SERVICED AND MAINTAINED. BY THE TIME THE FIRE SERVICE GOT THERE, THE WHOLE CAR BURNT DOWN. IT TOOK LESS THAN 20 MINUTES FOR THE WHOLE CAR TO GET BURNT BEYOND RECOGNITION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE LEAK. A YEAR AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAN CONNECTED TO THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE INTERMITTENTLY UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE DEFROST AND SUDDENLY, THE FRONT WINDOW CRACKED. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT DOES EXIST. THE HEATER FAN ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 11/10/09 *BF UPDATED 11/13/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS PLASTIC INTAKE PARTS, WHICH INCLUDE THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A ROUTINE TUNE-UP, SHE NOTICED ANTIFREEZE ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD BOOMING NOISE SIMILAR TO A BACKFIRE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT COULD SMELL FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AFTER PLACING FUEL INTO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURES DESCRIBED ON THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 EVENFLO INFANT CARRIER, MODEL NUMBER 25800402 (NA). THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN MAY OF 2006. THE CONTACT FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS ON INSTALLING THE CHILD SEAT IN HER 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CHILD SEAT FELL OVER WITH THE CHILD STRAPPED IN THE SEAT. THE CHILD SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED , BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE. THE FAILURE TYPE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I WAS DRIVING AND MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR AWHILE THEN OUT OF NO WHERE MY AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND FILLED MY WHOLE CAR WITH SMOKE AND POWDER. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING PRIOR TO THE AIR BAG EXPLODING NOR AFTER. I SUFFER FROM CUTS AND BURNS ON MY RIGHT ARM AND STOMACH. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED IT. I HAVE NOT DROVE THE CAR SINCE THEN BECAUSE I CANNOT DISCONNECT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE CAR WILL NOT START WITHOUT THE FUSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE VEHICLE SPED INTO FULL THROTTLE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO REVERSE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CONTAINED NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WHEN THE MECHANIC STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT WAS STILL AT FULL THROTTLE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *AK

CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WHILE DECELERATING AT ANYWHERE FROM 30-55 MPH. SOMETIMES CAN RESTART, SOMETIMES NOT FOR A HALF HOUR OR SO. THE CAR'S ENGINE COOLANT HAS LEAKED OUT ONTO ENGINE. CAR SHUT DOWN, NO POWER, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, THEN THE COOLANT SPILLED OUT EVERYWHERE, ENGINE STARTED SMOKING AND NOW THE ENGINE HAS STOPPED WORKING EVEN AFTER REPLACING HEAD GASKET. CAR HAD BEEN INTO DEALERS NUMEROUS TIMES TO NO AVAIL. NO ONE COULD IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. NOW HAVE A CAR THAT HAD TO BE TOWED AND IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. NUMEROUS FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED IN HOPES OF STOPPING THE STALLING OUT AND SHUTDOWNS, BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED. WAITING FOR A COUPLE OF QUOTES ON WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO TRY AND FIX THE ENGINE OR MOST LIKELY NEED REPLACED. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WAS FAIRLY NEW.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AT EVERY CONNECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING DUE TO THE CORROSION. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WERE 10-15 OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. UPDATED 9/5/2006 - *NM

HEARD A "POPPING" NOISE, THEN LOST POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT. RIGHT TURNS WORK FINE, BUT NO POWER STEERING TO THE LEFT. *JB

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING, WOULD NOT ALLOW A LEFT TURN. RIGHT TURNING CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH ONE FINGER, HOWEVER LEFT TURNS REQUIRE TREMENDOUS STRENGTH. RECALL ISSUED FOR GRAND PRIX AND SIMILAR 97 PONTIAC'S, BUT NOT THE BONNEVILLE. *NM

DT: CALLER SAID THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD BROKE . THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. CALLER'S WIFE HAD TO GET HELP TO PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD, AND CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. CALLER SAID THERE WAS A RECALL # 04V090000. MANUFACTURER SAID THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *AK *NM

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON MY 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 3800 SERIES ENGINE FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO GAIN ACCESS TO INTERNAL ENGINE PARTS. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND BECOME TOTALLY INOPERABLE REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2200.00. THIS FAILURE ALSO HAPPEND IN A PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, THAT I ALSO OWNED, WITH THE SAME SERIES OF ENGINE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR TO THE GRAND PRIX WAS APPROX. $650.00. THE ENGINE IN THE GRAND PRIX DID NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED. LOOKING AT AND READING THE VARIOUS GM MESSAGE BOARDS ON THE INTERNET, THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY PREVALENT WITH THE 3800 SERIES OF ENGINE. GM CONTINUES TO IGNORE THIS WITH NO REGARD TO THE CONSUMER.

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 BONNEVILLE WARPED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE WHICH THEN SEIZED THE ENGINE. REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD AND REBUILT BOTH ENGINE HEADS. TOTAL COST WAS $1,525. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE GM 3800 SERIES ENGINES BECAUSE THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD IS PLASTIC. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, A ROD BEARING FAILED. I WAS TOLD IT FAILED PREMATURELY BECAUSE COOLANT HAD ENTERED THE ENGINE. I DO NOT HAVE A REPAIR ESTIMATE YET. I BELIEVE ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO THE DEFECTIVE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK

G.M. 3800 SERIESII V-6 ENGINE PLASTIC UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENUM & GASKETS. FAILURE OF INFERIOR PARTS IN CONJUCTION WITH DEX COOL (G.M. ANTI-FREEZE/COOLANT). CAUSING DETERIORATION AND FAILURE OF PLENUM FORCING COOLANT INTO ENGINE. ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SEIZES,TRYING TO RESTART WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO STARTER,FLYWHEEL,BATT.,AND ENGINE. REMEDY? TOW TO G.M. SERVICE CENTER REPLACE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENUM,MANIFOLD GSKTS,SPARK PLUGS & WIRES,STARTER,PWR-FLUSH ENG.& COOLING SYS.,REPLACE ALL FLUIDS. G.M. IS AWARE OF PROBLEM THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. SERVICE MNGR. TOLD ME DAMAGES TO VEH.WAS NOT DUE LACK OF MAINTENANCE BUT USE OF PLASTIC PARTS AND COOLANT BY G.M. THIS A MAJOR DEFECT & PROBLEM. COST OF REPAIRS? $1,300.00. *AK

VEHICLE BACK FIRED WHILE DRIVING,THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE LEANING BACK IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT, THE RECLINING PART OF THE SEAT FAILS TO HOLD ME.*AK

THE REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK. THE LATCHES ARE MIXED, THEY DO NOT GO TOGETHER. THEY HAVE GM ON THE BELTS.*AK

WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. CONSUMER HAD TO USE FORCE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE BUT THERE WERE RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME RACK AND PINION. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PRODUCED AT THE PLANT OF THE RECALLED CARS. *NM

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK-UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *LA

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OR THE PLEMIUM WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THE THING WORE OUT AND ALL OF MY ENGINE COOLANT WENT INTO THE FUEL CYLINDERS AND LOCKED MY MOTOR DOWN I WAS HEADED TO MACON GA FROM DOUGLAS,GA GOING TO THE HOSPITAL WERE THEY HAD TRANSFERED MY BROTHER AND HERE I AM IN PERRY,GA BROKE DOWN BECAUSE PONTIAC PUTS A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON A MOTOR I FEEL LIKE PONTIAC SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS PART BEING REPLACED. I ALSO HAVE TROUBLE WITH MY CAR SURGING BETWEEN 35 AND 55 MILES PER HOUR THIS IS THE SORRIEST CAR I HAVE EVER OWED AND I HAVE OWNED 2 GRAND PRIXS BEFORE THIS CAR BUT LIKED THE BODY STYLE OF THE BONNEVILLE AND I RHOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD CAR BUT BOY WAS I WRONG I BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST,2002 AND HAVE SPENT ENOUGH MONEY ON REPAIRS ON IT THAT I COULD PROBABLY DONE PAID FOR ANOTHER GRAND PRIX.AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SIGHT I FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THEM FOR THE TRANSMISSIONS AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS BECAUSE THEY ALL SEEM TO BE RELATED TO ME .PEOPLE PAY A LOT OF MONEY FOR THERE CARS AND STILL HAVE TO PUT MONEY IN REPAIRS ITS JUST NOT FAIR .*AK

1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RACK& PINION STEERING THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT ONLY. TURNING RIGHT WAS STILL FUNCTIONING WITH POWER ASSIST. THE PROBLEM INCREASED OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TO WHERE THE CAR WOULDN'T TURN LEFT AT ALL (EVEN MANUALLY). COMPLAINT WAS MADE TO DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS MANUFACTURER WITH ABSOLUTLELY NO RESOLUTION.

MY CAR SURGES ALL THE TIME AND THE CRUISE CONTROL GETS STUCK ON IT I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET PLACE THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION GONE IN IT. BUT I STILL DRIVE IT I BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM MYSELF. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN SEPT OF 2002 AND IT WAS DOING IT WHEN I GOT IT. BUT IT WAS A BUY AS IS DEAL SO THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO ABOUT IT. BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET PLACE THEY ALREADY HAD THE CAR ON FILE BUT WOULD NOT TELL ME WHAT THE FILE SAID ABOUT THE CAR. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED. *AK THE CRACKED GASKET ALLOWED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDER'S. *NM

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

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

I PAID THE STATED AMOUNT TO REPLACE A COMPONENT REFERRED TO ME AS A "PLENNUM". THE SYMPTOM MY CAR WAS HAVING WAS, IT WAS OVERHEATING. IT IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IS MOUNTED ON THE TOP OF THE 3800 ENGINE. LITTLE DID I KNOW, THAT THE DAMAGE HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE. THE FAILED PART HAD LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE. A WEEK AND A HALF AFTER HAVING THE PLENNUM REPLACED, MY CAR BROKE DOWN. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE FROM THE PLENNUM HAD CAUSED PREMATURE FAILURE OF A "ROD BEARING" IN THE ENGINE. THE COOLANT I'M TOLD ATE AWAY THE BEARING LUBRICANT. I AM TOLD MY ONLY OPTION AT THIS POINT IS AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I AM NOT A CAR MECHANIC BY ANY MEANS AND SUSPECTED NOTHING, AND WAS TOLD NOTHING. I UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THE FACT THAT MAN MADE PRODUCTS WEAR OUT AND NEED REPLACING. THIS TO ME SEEMS TO BE A POOR ENGINEERING FLAW THAT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX. I DID NOT INCLUDE THE $2000.00 ENGINE REPLACEMENT IN MY TOTAL REPAIR COST ABOVE. THE PLASTIC PLENNUM PART, BY THE WAY, WAS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER PLASTIC PART. I TOLD THE DRIVER THAT WAS RETURNING ME HOME WHILE THE PLENNUM WAS BEING REPLACED, THAT I WAS INTENDING TO TRADE MY BONNEVILLE IN ON A MONTANA MINIVAN THIS SUMMER. HIS REPLY TO ME WAS THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE MONTANA, AS WELL AS OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE 3800 ENGINE. IT SEMS CLEAR TO ME THAT THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM HERE THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

VEHICLE'S PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF DAMAGING THE FRONT FENDER AND DOOR.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE TO CAME OFF DUE TO BROKEN STUDS. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FENDER AND DOOR (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

VEHICLE FAILED TO START. UPON OPENING HOOD CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY TERMINAL POST CAME OFF, AND ACID WAS LEAKING OUT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED DRIVER BEGAN TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. DRIVER PROCEEDED TO DRIVE HOME, AND PARKED VEHICLE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A WHOLE IN THE PLENUM THAT ALLOWED WATER TO LEAK AND WARP THE HEADS. *AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY ALL STATED THE COMPUTER SHOWED NO ERRORS. *JB *SCC *JB

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 25 MPH SUDDENLY ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DIED. NO BRAKES/ NO POWER STEERING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER POPPED HOOD, AND NOTICED BATTERY ACID ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND BATTERY CABLES WERE LOOSE. DEALER REPLACED CABLES, AND PUT JELLY AROUND THEM. FIVE DAYS LATER, CABLES WERE LOOSE AGAIN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. THE CABLE HAS LOOSEN AGAIN AND VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER. CONSUMER WAS LEFT STRANDED. *AK

A BLOCK FROM HOME OUR ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THE UPPER MANIFOLD HAD A HOLE IN IT DUE TO THE MANIFOLD BEING PLASTIC, AND CRYSTALIZING OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. IT COST US $729.00 TO GET IT FIXED. LUCKILY OUR ENGINE WASN'T HOT OR WE WOULD HAVE HAD MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING A 100 MILES FROM HOME THE CAR OVERHEATED & HAD TO BE TOWED. WE FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A HOLE IN THE AIR PLENUM IN THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE OVER 20 SUCH CASES IN OUR SMALL COMMUNITY ALONE. ALL ON 3800 MOTORS IN PONTIAC'S. THIS IS A FOUR HUNDRED DOLLAR REPAIR BILL THAT OCCURRED ONLY BECAUSE PONTIAC DECIDED TO USE PLASTIC IN THEIR PART WHICH IN TURN MELTED & CAUSED OUR MOTOR TO OVERHEAT. I HOPE THAT PONTIAC WILL RECALL THESE PLENUMS & REIMBURSE US FOR THE COST OF REPAIRING & TOWING OUR CAR. IF PONTIAC WOULD CALL THEIR DEALERS THEY WOULD FIND OUT JUST HOW MANY OF THESE PARTS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. *JB

WHILE ROTATING MY TIRES, I NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE STABILIZER BAR WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE LINK BOLT AND BUSHING WERE MISSING. I PURCHASED A NEW ASSEMBLY FROM PONTIAC DEALER AND INSTALLED. *TT

TRANSMISSION BUMPS AND JERKS AT SPEEDS OVER 30 MPH. USUALLY WHEN CLIMBING A HILL. SOLUTION...LET OFF THE GAS FOR A SECOND AND RE APPLY TO STOP THE BUCKING TEMPORARILY. ALSO HAPPENED TO MY 92 BONNEVILLE WHICH HAD THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION THAT NEVER FAILED WITH OVER 180,000 MILES ON IT, BESIDES THE BUCKING. *NLM

LOSS OF COOLANT. PLASTIC AIR INTAKE MOUNTED ON TOP OF INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED LEAKING COOLANT UNDER PRESSURE INTO COMBUSTION CHAMBER. TALKED TO SEVERAL LICENSED TECHNICIANS IN THE AREA AND THEY STATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF AIR INTAKE. $275 & LABOR. *NLM

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE AND EXPLOSION IN A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SE 3800 (3.8L NON-SUPERCHARGED ENGINE) DUE TO A BACKFIRE UPON START-UP.

I HAVE A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WITH POWER SEATS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ONLY. I RECENTLY HAD THE SEAT RUNAWAY BYGOING FWD AND BACK AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT. I FINALLY HAD TO FORCE THE SWITCH TO THE BACK POSITION UNTIL IT ALL STOPPED. THE MOTOR GOT HOT AND QUIT. NOW IT NO LONGER DRIVES FWD OR BACK. I COULD HAVE HAD A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I HAD BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD.

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) FAILED CAUSING A HOLE IN THE MANIFOLD. TS

NAR 1/29/2003. THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO THE CONSUMER WITH A BENT WATER PUMP AND A BENT WHEEL. THE ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING PUMP, TRANSMISSION AND EGR VALVE WERE REPLACED. *JB

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE ON 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. COOLANT ENTERED INTO CYLINDER #4 CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR APPROXIMATELY $900. REOCCURING PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE, AND CALLS TO PONTIAC RESULTED IN NO SATISFACTION.

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING COOLANT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS FUMES NOTICED SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW, HOWEVER SOMEWHAT BETTER BUT CAN STILL BE DETECTED. *TT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. DEALER NOTIFIED.TS

WAS DRIVING AND SMELLED STRONG GASOLINE ODOR THE LONGER DRIVEN. LUCKILY NOT ON HIGHWAY, WAS ABLE TO STOP AND INVESTIGATE, SAW DRIPPING LINE ONTO ENGINE BLOCK. PROCEEDED TO LOCAL DEALER A FEW BLOCKS AWAY. (SULLIVAN PONTIAC) THEY REPLACED THE LINE. SAID THIS IS WHY BONNEVILLE'S MOSTLY HAVE FIRES. I WAS LUCKY WASN'T ON HIGHWAY, AND PULLED OVER WHEN I DID,,COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE/EXPLOSION DESTROYING MY AUTO, OTHERS AND CAUSED INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF AND / OR OTHERS. LEAK WAS IN LOCATION PROTECTED BY SHROUD. HOW DID LEAK OCCUR? DEFECTIVE FUEL LINE? DEALER DID NOT SAVE THE DEFECTIVE LINE FOR LATER EXAMINATION. PAID $299.85 FOR LABOR, $40 FOR SHIPPING NEW FUEL LINE, AND $87.57 FOR THE NEW FUEL LINE= $427.42. WORRIED ABOUT IS THIS SAFE FOR OTHERS!? NLM

SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WOULD BUCK AT 30-40 MPH. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ON JULY 22, 2002 DEALER STATED THAT VALVE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE TURNING LEFT IN PARKING LOT, MY WIFE HEARD A POP/THUMP NOISE AND THEN COULD NOT CONTINUE LEFT TURN. STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN RIGHT WITH POWER ASSIST BUT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN STEERING WHEEL LEFT. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER WHO REPORTED "POWER STEERING RACK BROKE INSIDE". DEALER REPLACED RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY.*AK