1998 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. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.

Risk. THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE APPROXIMATELY 30 MINS AFTER SHUTDOWN. INCIDENT 2015-00001363

THE BACK TWO CRADLE MOUNTS ON BOTH SIDES RUSTED OUT AND MOUNTS PULLED THROUGH THE CRADLE CAUSING THE STEERING TO BECOME LOOSE FILLING AND CAUSING STEERING TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND WHEN HIT BRAKES FRONT WOULD DART ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AND LOTS OF NOISE COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE FROM CRADLE BOUNCING WHEN HITTING BUMPS TRIED THE FIND ONE IN JUNK YARDS AND ALL ARE THAT WAY. *TR

MY CAR HAS BEEN STOLEN FROM SIOUX FALLS RESIDENTS HOME JULY 10 TH BUT HAVE A POLICE REPORT [XXX] BEEN SPOTTED IN MITCHELL OFF INTERSTATE 90 FIRST PARKING LOT RIGHT AFTER EXIT 90 INTO MITCHELL TANISH COLOR TRUNK HAS BUNNGIE CORD ON TRUNK SILVER SMALL SPOT ON PASSENGER SIDE PONTIAC 1998. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE NEW YORK THRUWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY CAR SHUT OFF. I HAD TO POWER STEER, NO POWER BRAKES, THE FUEL GAUGE READ NO FUEL AND THE BELLS WENT OFF. I HAD TO TRY TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE AND RESTART MY CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY MORE TIMES. I CAN BE GOING 25MPH OR 70MPH; I CAN HAVE THE CRUISE ON OR OFF; I CAN HAVE THE HEAT OR A/C ON OR OFF, IT DOES NOT MATTER; IN ALL CASES, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN I AM NOT EXPECTING IT. *JS

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS I HAVE PULLED TO A DEAD STOP AT A LIGHT AND DURING THE IDLING TIME THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND IT WILL NOT START AGAIN. VERY EMBARRASSING SET OF TRIPS TO NEARBY GROCER. .. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE ROAD DIVIDER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000. DR

AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, AND BRAKES FAILED. I HAD TO RESTART THE CAR AND HOPEFULLY RESUME DRIVING SO THE CAR COMING BEHIND ME DID NOT CRASH INTO ME. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE INCLUDING TIMES WHILE ON I-95, I-81, RURAL MOUNTAINOUS ROADS (WHICH RESULTED IN MY CAR ROLLING BACKWARDS), AND CITY TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN NUMEROUS TIMES TO MY MECHANIC AND HE HAS NOT COME UP WITH A REASON AS TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. I AM GIVEN NO WARNING BY MY CAR THAT THIS IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. THE WARNING BELL CHIMES AND THE CAR FAILS AT THE SAME TIME. THIS HAPPENED LAST EVENING AND THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID A CRASH. PLEASE ADD MY CAR TO YOUR RECALL OR GIVE ME SOME KIND OF ANSWER TO TAKE TO MY MECHANIC. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,506.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS MELTED AND THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT, I GOT A WHIFF OF A BURNING SMELL, 2 DAYS IN A ROW, SHORT QUICK SCENT. NEXT 4 DAYS, SMELLED NOTHING (EVEN DROVE CAR 80 MILES ONE WAY AND BACK). DAY OF INCIDENT, I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE HEATER VENT. I INCREASED SPEED TO ABOUT 30 MPH TO GET TO A SAFE SPOT, AND BLACK SMOKE BILLOWED OUT OF HEAT VENT ON TOP OF DASHBOARD, AND FRONT OF DASHBOARD. TURNED CORNER TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC, CAME TO A STOP AND FLAMES SHOT OUT OF CIGARETTE LIGHTER, AND AIR VENT IN FRONT OF DASH. HEATER WAS OFF, RADIO WAS OFF, AND CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS NOT BEING USED. CAR FULLY ENGULFED IN APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MINUTES. CAR TOTALED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT HESITATED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE PLASTIC GASKET FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AND CAUSED ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS.THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,433.

98 PONTIAC 86,000 MILES INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME... PARTS REPLACED...SPARK PLUGS (FOULED)..STARTER ASSEMBLY.. MOTOR WAS WATERLOCKED BROKE STARTER...INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED.....OIL CHANGED DUE TO COOLANT CONTAMINATION...REPLACE ANTIFREEZE...TOTAL BILL LABOR AND PARTS... $1387.99..GM HAS NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS ISSUE...WHY HAS A RECALL NOT BE ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM ?? *TR

THE AIR INTAKE GASKET HAS FAILED FOR 2 REASONS. 1 FACTORY TIGHTLY PUT THE BOLTS ON TO TIGHT. 2 PLASTIC GASKET AND PLASTIC MANIFOLD PARTS DO NOT MEET GOVERNMENT SAFETY STANDARDS FOR, FAILURE AVOIDANCE, BECAUSE OF MATERIALS USED TO CONNECT THE PLASTIC TO METTLE CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

MY UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS ENGINE COOLANT INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS AND INTO THE CRANKCASE. THE EGR TUBE MELTS THE UPPER PLASTIC MANIFOLD I HAVE HAD THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE REPLACED FOR THIS ISSUE ONCE BEFORE WITH GM PARTS AND IT HAPPENING AGAIN. IF IT NOT FIXED THE COOLANT CAN CONTAMINATE MY OIL AND LOCK UP MY ENGINE WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AND POSSIBLY CAUSE ME TO CRASH. IF THE ENGINE LOCKS UP I WILL LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. *TR

I OWN A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SE. I SAW RECENTLY THAT GM WAS RECALLING 1.5 MILLION VEHICLES WITH THE 3800 3.8 LTR V6. WAS WONDERING HOW THEY COULD RECALL THOSE VEHICLES AND NOT MINE, MY CAR IS IN THE SAME YEAR RANGE "1998" AND HAS THE EXACT MOTOR "3800 3.8 V6" AND OIL DRIPS ON MANIFOLD ON MY CAR AS WELL. WHAT KIND OF INFO CAN I GET ON THIS? THANK YOU *TR

98 BONNEVILLE WITH 3800 SERIES ENGINE. NOTICED COOLANT WAS LOW SO I ADDED COOLANT, THEN REPLACED THERMOSTAT BECAUSE HEATER WAS PUTTING OUT COLD AIR. SAW BIG CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECT INVOLVING A PLASTIC MANIFOLD AND EGR VALVE THAT THE COOLANT HAD MIXED WITH THE OIL DUE TO HOLES CAUSED BY THE DEFECT IN THE UPPER AND LOWER MANIFOLDS. CALLED PONTIAC DIRECTLY AND THEY SAID SORRY ABOUT YOUR SITUATION BUT NO RECALL. CONTACTED PREVIOUS OWNER AND HE SAID THE SAME THING HAPPENED 3 YEARS AGO AND HE HAD THE SAME THING FIXED. LONG STORY SHORT, I'M SPENDING $1400 FOR A PROBLEM THAT THE ENGINEERS OF THIS ENGINE KNEW WAS A PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING OF PRODUCTION. *TR

6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THIS PROFESSIONAL CARED FOR CAR (GM GARAGE 8YRS) FROM MY MOTHER WITH ONLY 62,000 MILES ON IT I BEGAN SEEING COOLANT ON THE ENGINE WHICH LED ME TO HAVE MY MECHANIC AT PRECISION TUNE AUTO CARE TAKE A LOOK. HE SAID IT IS LIKELY A LEAK FROM EITHER THE PLENUM OR THE GASKET. AFTER DIGGING INTO IT THEY ENDED UP REPLACING UPPER PLENUM AND LOWER INTAKE GASKET AND COOLANT AND OIL. COST WAS 739.71. MILEAGE ON CAR AT THAT TIME WAS 78540. I HAVE RECEIPT FROM PRECISION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, FAILED IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AND LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE FAILURE CAUSED BRAKE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE SALES DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CONSULT THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF HE ONLY HAD 100,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,526 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,520. UPDATED 10/14/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND PITTED. UPDATED 10/16/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND FROM BENEATH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR A MECHANIC. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,735. UPDATED

DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGERS SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN AUTO ACCIDENT. FRONT DRIVERS SIDE IMPACT THEN ROLLED 3 TIMES.*CN

1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE POOR PRODUCTION MANIFOLD/GASKETS. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE MANIFOLD/GASKETS AND DEX. COOL WERE IN POOR PRODUCTION ON HER VEHICLE. *KB THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE THERMOSTAT AND GASKET HAD COOLANT IN THEM. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS BAD. METAL FRAGMENTS WERE FOUND IN THE OIL WHICH WAS COMING FROM, THE ROD BEARING THAT FAILED DUE TO THE VEHICLE OVER HEATING AND COOLANT IN THE OIL. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING ROUGH AND THE ENGINE WAS SHAKING. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT THE MANIFOLD FROM CRACKING. AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED IN JULY 2004, THE MANIFOLD CRACKED ONE MONTH LATER. THE CONSUMER STATED EVER SINCE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED SHE HAS ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST 2004 THE LOWER MANIFOLD SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS WELL TO PREVENT FUTURE DAMAGE, HOWEVER SINCE IT WAS NOT REPLACED, STOP LEAK PELLETS MIXED WITH THE DEX-COOL AND THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED.

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WITH A 3800 ENGINE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE CAR HAS LESS THEN 42,000 MILES ON IT. THE UPPER INTAKE (PLENUM) AND SEALS HAVE FAILED RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. I PHONED AN ACQUAINTANCE WHO WORKED AS A TECHNICIAN AT THE GM POWER TRAIN ENGINEERING FACILITY IN FLINT, MICHIGAN WHERE THE 3800 ENGINE WAS ENGINEERED. HE SAID IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE BY THE ENGINEERING SKILLED TRADES EMPLOYEES THAT THE UPPER INTAKE DESIGN WAS FLAWED. THERE WERE MANY INTAKE FAILURES OBSERVED DURING DYNAMOMETER TESTING. SOME EVEN EXPLODED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINEERS AND MANAGEMENT WAS WELL AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN, BUT FOR SOME REASON, CHANGES WERE NOT MADE. I CAN DIRECT INVESTIGATORS TO EMPLOYEES WHO WITNESSED INTAKE DESIGN FAILURES IN THE TESTING FACILITIES. *NM

THE 3800 ENGINE IN MY PONTIAC HAS IN THE PAST TWO YEARS FOR SOME REASON HAS HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE IT HAS CRACKED. I AM TRYING TO OUT IF THERE IS A RECALL OR SOME SORT OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE OR OTHER 3800 SERIES ENGINES? *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT AN IDLE, THE ENGINE RPMS ELEVATED, AND THE OIL GAUGE INDICATED LOW PRESSURE, FOLLOWED BY ENGINE HESITATION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED NO OIL LEAK WAS PRESENT, BUT A PLUG WIRE TO THE ENGINE CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM STARTING THE VEHICLE, A SEVERE HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, AS WELL AS BACKFIRING OF THE ENGINE. AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE MECHANIC DISCOVERED LOW FLUID LEVELS IN THE RADIATOR, WET AND RUSTED SPARK PLUGS, CRACKED HEAD GASKETS AND THE PISTON HAD TORN THROUGH THE OIL PAN. THE MANUFACTURER THE RECALLED (04V090000) ITEM WAS REPLACED IN JULY OF 2004 BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND THE RECALL WAS CLOSED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SERVICE MECHANIC FOR COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS.*AK

DISAPPEARING COOLANT - NO VISIBLE LEAKS. ENGINE QUIT RUNNING REQUIRED TOW. REPLACED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. *JB

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WITH LOW MILEAGE HAD SERVICE ENGINE ALERT GO OFF. CAR GAUGES INDICATED IT WAS OVER HEATING. PULLED OFF ROAD TO CHECK OUT AND FOUND ANTIFREEZE LOW-NEVER SAW ANY LEAK OR PUDDLE. COOLED CAR AND ADDED ANTIFREEZE. CAR WORSENED AND ACTED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO START FIRE. HUGE WHITE SMOKE OUT OF TAILPIPE & LOUD ENGINE NOISE. TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY SAID IT IS INTAKE MANIFOLD DESIGN DEFECT DUE TO PLASTIC CASING ON MANY GM MODELS. THEY REPLACE AT LEAST ONE PER WEEK. STRANDED OUT OF TOWN FOR OVER 8 HOURS. OIL AND ANTIFREEZE IN ALL SPARL PLUGS. SPENT $1100.00 TO HAVE NEW "UPDATED DESIGN MANIFOLD", OIL CHANGED TWICE, COOLANT FLUSHED, NEW SPARK PLUGS AND NEW STARTER DONE DUE TO A CHUNK BROKEN OFF OF CONE BECAUSE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURE. *NM

THERE IS AN ARMREST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT SEAT OF OUR CAR. IT IS INTENDED TO BE THE BACK SUPPORT OF THE FRONT CENTER PASSENGER SEAT. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SEAT BELT, ARE TO PROVIDE A SAFE RIDE FOR THE MIDDLE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT OF OUR CAR. A PASSENGER IN OUR CAR SITTING IN THIS POSITION HAD THE ARMREST BREAK. THIS WAS UNDER NORMAL USE. THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER WAS NOT VERY BIG. WE HARDLY EVER USE THIS POSITION AS A SEAT. THE ARMREST BROKE AND PROJECTED INTO THE REAR SEAT COMPARTMENT. THE PASSENGER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT SEAT WAS THRUST BACKWARD. IN THE EVENT OF AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT / COLLISION, BOTH PASSENGERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT AND BACK SEATS WOULD BE SEVERELY INJURED. THE PERSON IN THE BACK SEAT WOULD BE INJURED BY HITTING THE HEAD OF THE PERSON IN THE FRONT SEAT THRUST BACK IN THE REAR SEATING AREA OR BY HITTING THE ARM REST THAT PROTRUDES INTO THE REAR SEATING AREA. THE PERSON IN THE FRONT SEAT WOULD BE THRUST BACK TOWARD THE REAR SEATING COMPARTMENT WITH NO BACK SUPPORT. I SPOKE TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM TO FIX OR RECTIFY. *JB I SPOKE TO GMC AND RECEIVED A SIMILAR RESPONSE GMC CASE NO. 1-383907053, 12/28 (29)/2005 TELEPHONE NUMBER 866-932-4368 EXT 35624, JESSICA PAGET THE SUPPORT MATERIALS FOR THE ARMREST ARE OBVIOUSLY INADEQUATE. THIS IS A DEFECT AND A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, IF NOT FOR THIS SERIES OF AUTOMOBILE, THEN FOR FUTURE AUTOMOBILES USING THIS METHOD OF

1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE OVERHEATED. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER AND THEN WOULD PICK UP ABRUPTLY AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD WATER WAS COMING OUT OF THE PLUG HOLES. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT WHERE HE WAS THEN TOLD THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THE MECHANIC STATED THE MANIFOLD HAD A LEAK AT THE THROTTLE BODY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED AGAIN 4 YEARS LATER. *JB

THERE ARE 313 COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE AS OF TODAY CONCERNING THE 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. OUT OF THOSE 313 REPORTS, AT LEAST 132 ARE 100 PERCENT RELATED TO THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD FAILURE WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT TO CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE ON MY VEHICLE TWICE WITHIN 4 YEARS. GMC IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND IT IS A SHAME THAT THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN INTEGRITY,HONOR AND PEOPLE'S LIVES. WHAT HAPPENED TO PRIDE IN WHAT YOU MANUFACTURE?SHAME ON GMC!!! *JB

PLEASE BE SURE TO FILE YOUR COMPLAINT AT WWW.AUTOSAFETY.ORG AND SIGN UP FOR THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST GMC. I KNOW THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THE SAME ENGINE COOLANT AND PLASTIC MANIFOLD PROBLEM THAT HAVE HAD TO REPLACE OR REBUILD THE ENGINE IN THE 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. *JB

DASH AND REAR LIGHT SWITCH HAVE BLOWN FOR 2 YEARS IN A ROW AFTER AROUND THANKSGIVING/CHRISTMAS TIME FORCING ME TO DRIVE HOME WITH NO DASH OR REAR TAILLIGHTS. $150.00 REPAIR. *JB

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY ENGINE LOCKED UP AND RADIATOR FLUID WAS COMING OUT OF THE HEAD GASKETS ON THE ENGINE WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WITHIN 4 YEARS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS CAR. *JB

IT IS VERY OBVIOUS THAT GMC IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE APPARENT DEFECTS WITH THE PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. MY ENGINE LOCKED UP IN JULY 2001 WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THE MECHANIC THAT REPAIRED THE CAR TOLD ME THAT WATER AND RADIATOR FLUID WAS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AND THE CHEAP PLASTIC PLENTUM HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW,THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ONCE AGAIN ON 11/07/2005. THE CAR WAS ONLY GOING 35 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE OVER-HEATED AND THIS TIME IT IS COSTING ME 2,321.00! I FEEL SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BY GMC OR RESEARCH SHOULD BE DONE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. IT IS EXTREMELY APPARENT THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN ALL 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLES AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR NOR CAN I AFFORD TO RE-BUILD OR RE-PLACE MY ENGINE EVERY 3-4 YEARS. *JB

DT: GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, PUT PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL AND IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. TRIED MASHING ON THE BRAKES, AND THE VEHICLE JUST KEPT GOING, THE MORE THE CONSUMER MASHED ON THE BRAKES THE FASTER THE VEHICLE WENT. VEHICLE HIT A BRICK BUILDING ON JUNE 6, 2005. CONTACTED PONTIAC, THEY SENT OUT AN INSPECTOR. THEN, THEY SENT A LETTER STATING THAT THE ALLEGATION HAD NO MERIT. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED FROM THE AIR BAGS. *AK

DT: CONTACT STATES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING INTO CYLINDERS, CAUSING ENGINE TO LOCK, DAMAGING STARTER AND SPARK PLUGS. REMOVED AND REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME ON 6-17-05 AT A COST OF $900.00: THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKET, REPLACED SPARK PLUGS DUE TO A RECALL #04V09000 FUEL SYSTEM/ GASOLINE DELIVERY. SHE WAS REFUNDED MONEY BY PONTIAC. NOW SHE WAS REQUESTING MONEY BACK FOT THE SECOND TIME. ALSO, RECEIVED AN INVESTIGATION# PEO2050; CONCERNING ENGINE, BUT SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER . *AK

THE HEAD GASKET SPRUNG A LEAK OF ANTIFREEZE THAT BROKE A ROD INSIDE THE BLOCK AND THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. WE ALSO HAD A THE UPPER PELENIUM BREAK ON IT AS WELL. IT IS A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SE 3800 V6. WE HAVE TO GET A RIDE BACK TO MINNESOTA AND MY CAR IS IN ND.

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET (PLENUM) FAILED COSTING ME $2000 IN REPAIRS. THE GASKET HAD BEEN MADE OF A FAULTY PLASTIC BY GM IN TRYING TO CUT MANUFACTURING COSTS. THE CAR IS A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. I PURCHASE IT WITH 49,000 MILES IN 2003 AND IT CUREENTLY HAS 62,000 MILES.

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER AND FOUGHT THE FLAMES WITH AN EXTINGUISHER. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO THEIR VEHICLES COMPONENTS AND THAT THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS FROM EXTERNAL SOURCES. AN ELECTRICAL EXPERT BELIEVES THAT THE LEAD FROM THE CIGARETTE LIGHT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FUSE WAS BLOWN BUT THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED AFTER THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER'S CELL PHONE WAS CHARGING IN THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. *JB *NM

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ABOUT 2 YEARS MY 98 BONNEVILLE HAD THE PLENUM CRACK WHILE SIMPLY DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS. THIS ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER TOP OF MOTOR WHICH REQUIRES VEHICLE TO BE SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY OR MOTOR WILL OVERHEAT UNTIL IT IS RUINED. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES AT FIRST OCCURRENCE AND HAS 72,108 MILES ON IT WHEN IT OCCURRED AGAIN LAST FRIDAY. CAR IS UNDRIVABLE UNTIL PARTS CAN BE BOUGHT AND INSTALLED, MAKING THIS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF YOU ARE ON HIGHWAY WHEN THAT OCCURS. IT HAS COST MORE THAN $ 800.00 EACH TIME TO GET VEHICLE FIXED AND I NOW HAVE NO TRUST IN THIS PART OF MOTOR WHAT SO EVER AS THERE IS NO REAL REASON WHY IT OCCURS OTHER THAN PLENUM BEING PLASTIC SO IT CAN'T STAND UP TO NORMAL PRESSURES OR TEMPERATURE CHANGES. VEHICLE MANUFACTURER HAS ADMITTED THEY MADE A FIX FOR PROBLEM BUT IT IS AT OWNER'S EXPENSE WHICH DOES NOT SEEM FAIR AS THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW WHICH ALLOWS DANGEROUS SITUATIONS FOR OWNER TO HAPPEN.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO START IT, AND IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. CONSUMER LATER FOUND A RECALL FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, HOWEVER, HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK

CONSUMER DISAPPOINTED WITH REIMBURSEMENT FOR 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. *BF RECALL CAMPAIGN: 04V090000. THE RECALL IS RELATED TO THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR LEAK. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS FLUCTUATING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. THE CONSUMER TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND ALLOWED IT TO COOL OFF. THE CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD BACK FIRE WITH A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL SHORTLY AFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY DEALER. THE INTAKE PLENUM AND THE INTAKE PLENUM GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE THERMOSTAT BLEW OUT AGAIN. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE FEELS THAT THE FAILURES ARE A RESULT OF THE RECALL ISSUE THEREFORE THE REIMBURSEMENT CHECK WAS NOT SUFFICIENT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKES HAD A TICKING NOISE. *TC

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER , PUT THE FIRE OUT, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

'RECALL CAMPAIGN' CONCERNING 19998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. *BF THE CONSUMER HAD THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR REPLACED PRIOR TO THE RECALL BEING ISSUED BECAUSE THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER SUBMITTED THE REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT, HOWEVER HE HAS NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING WHAT THE DECISION WAS. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE DONATED THE VEHICLE. *JB

TRANSAXLE: AFTER STARTING COLD ENGINE AND DRIVING 20-30 MILES TRANSMISSION STARTS SHIFTING HARD INTO 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH GEAR. DOES NOT SHIFT HARD WHEN LOCK-UP CONVERTER ENGAGES. TOOK IT TO PONTIAC DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE PCS (PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID) AND IT WAS GOING TO BE $700 TO REPAIR. CALLED SEVERAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND THEY SAID IT COULD BE THE PCS OR THE VALVE BODY AND MOST ALL 4T60 AND 4T65-E TRANSAXLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM?? IF THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS, WHY DOESN'T GM DO SOMETHING TO AT LEAST CUT THE COST OF REPAIRS??*AK

RECALL CAMPAIGN: THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. *NM THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR MADE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. IT WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED WITHIN TWO YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. *AK *NM

UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK INTO CYLINDERS. ON STARTUP, THE ENGINE HYDROLOCKED. WHEN ENGINE HYDROLOCKED, THE STARTER WAS DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND SPARK PLUGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND ALL MANIFOLDS WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL.*AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL 04V09000. HE WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OFF. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BLEW UP APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE YEARS AGO. HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER DAYS AGO, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WORK SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE 2 OR 3 YEARS AGO. CONTACTED PONTIAC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PLENUM WAS THE DEFECTIVE PART ON THE VEHICLE. WHICH HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. HOWEVER, HIS CLAIM WAS DENIED. *AK

SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE TO ENTER THE ENGINE, OIL RESULTING IN COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AT 75 MPH. *AK ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC REPLACED ENGINE, INTAKE MANIFOLD AND PERIPHERALS FOR OVER $5000. HAVE POSSESSION OF ORIGINAL FACTORY INTAKE MANIFOLD SHOWING HOLE IN EGR AREA THAT FAILED. RUINED ENGINE HAD TO BE RETURNED FOR CORE FEE. CAR RECENTLY OFF EXTENDED WARRANTY. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE UNCOOPERATIVE AND CLAIMS THAT TSB 010601007A (NHTSA ITEM #620835) NOT PUBLISHED BY GM. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE CLAIMS CAR HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED, DID NOT CARE TO HAVE DETAILS OF OIL CHANGES (EVERY 3000 MILES) OR OTHER SERVICE PERFORMED AS RECOMMENDED IN OWNER'S MANUAL. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS PRODUCT FAILURE AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AT HIGWAY SPEEDS! WHEN ENGINE LOCKED UP, LOST ALL POWER AND HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ONTO THE SHOULDER. VERY THANKFUL MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND NOT ME, AS I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE TREMENDOUS STRENGTH REQUIRED TO PERFORM THAT TASK WHEN THERE IS NO POWER STEERING! RECENTLY RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL FROM GM FOR THE GASOLINE PRESSURE REGULATOR THAT MUST HAVE A NUMBER OF VARIABLES HAPPEN ALL AT THE SAME TIME TO BECOME AN ISSUE. WHY IS GM NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS SERIOUS INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM THAT APPEARS TO BE LYING IN WAIT FOR THE UNSUSPECTING CONSUMER?