2000 Pontiac Bonneville

High concern

Owners filed 214 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the visibility › power window devices and controls. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
62,000 milesMedian miles at failure

116 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls40
000
Steering14
100
Engine and Engine Cooling14
040
Power Train › Automatic Transmission11
000
Steering › Rack and Pinion9
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine9
030
Electrical System8
010
Suspension6
000
Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear5
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip4
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery04V090000
Filed Feb 24, 2004910,873 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components00V114000
Filed Apr 17, 20008,132 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKS IN THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT.

Risk. WHEN THE REAR BRAKE PROPORTIONING, ANTILOCK BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL, OR STABILITY CONTROL FEATURE IS ACTIVATED IN SOME DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE FEATURE MAY NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS HYDRAULIC MODULATOR UNIT AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC MODULATOR.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Dec 22, 2018160,000 milesPA

SMELL OF FUEL DUMPING FROM EXHAUST. AIR FILTER CHECKS OUT. MILD SMELL JUST OUTSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HEADACHE PRODUCING SMELL INSIDE CAN. WASN'T THEIR A RECALL FOR PART TOLERANCES TO CORRECT THIS? ARE ALL GM DELPHI REPLACEMENT PARTS PRESENTLY SOLD ADEQUATE TO ADDRESS THIS. PREVIOUS OWNER HAD NEW UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD INSTALLED. HARD COLD STARTING CAN CAUSE AND CAUSED MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE EXCESS FUEL SMELL. YESTERDAY AND TODAY DRIVING I AM GETTING THE FUEL IN THE PASSENGER CABIN SMELL. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THIS IS A FUEL REGULATOR ISSUE. AND I WILL PUT ON A FRESH AIR FILTER TO REDUCE ERRONEOUS ENRICHMENT. ODD HOW MY CODE READER CAN PERFORM A FUEL PRESSURE CHECK AND REMEDY THE COLD HARD START CONDITION. THESE FUMES OCCUR FROM TAILPIPE WHEN STARTING, FROM ALL OVER NOW WHEN DRIVING. AFTER PARKING THE SMELL REMAINS SOME AT THE HOOD. SOME DRIVERS FOLLOWING ME STAY EIGHT CAR LENGTHS BACK.

Electrical System
Filed Feb 9, 2018OR

CAR WONT START

Engine
Filed Mar 28, 2017130,000 milesIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER HOWEVER, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CAME TO REVIEW THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Electrical System
Filed Jul 15, 2015238,000 milesTN

I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR A YEAR AND AFTER I GOT IT THE SECURITY SYSTEM LOCKED ME DOWN SO THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE FIRST INCIDENT I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY SECURITY LIGHT STARTED FLASHING THEN THE CAR QUIT. I PULLED OVER AS FAST AS I COULD AND PLAYED WITH THE GEAR LEVER AND KEY AND GOT THE CAR RESTARTED. SO AFTER THAT I HAD TO GET A NEW KEY AND HAVE IT PROGRAMED TO THE CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT WILL FIX IT. WELL IT HAPPENED 4 MORE TIMES AFTER THAT BUT AFTER PLAYING WITH THE KEY IT STARTED UP. THEN THE LAST TIME I WAS AT WORK AND AFTER 4 HOURS CAME OUT TO GO HOME IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED HOME AND NOW IT IS AT THE GM DEALERSHIP BEING REPAIRED. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY CAR THAT HAS DONE THIS FROM WHAT I AM READING THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH ALL GM'S WITH THIS SECURITY SYSTEM. IT LOCKS OUT THE INJECTORS AND STARTER. GUESS WHAT THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN FIX THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THEIR COMPUTERS CAN READ THE COMPUTER. THIS IS A BIG RIP-OFF FOR PRIVATE PEOPLE WHO CANT AFFORD TO HAVE THEIR CAR FIXED AT THE DEALER.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 20, 201598,000 milesIN

WHILE DRIVING THE BONNEVILLE THE CAR WILL JUST SHUT DOWN, LOOSES ALL POWER. IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND ALSO JUST ON LOCAL CITY DRIVING. YOU CAN BE GOING 30 MPH OR 65 MPH. CAR WILL JUST SHUT DOWN (WHICH IS VERY SCARY GOING 65 MPH) AND SOMEONE ON YOUR BUMPER. LOOSES POWER STEERING SO ITS HARD TO MOVE OVER LANES ON THE EXPRESSWAY, WE HAVE FOUND YOU NEED TO IMMEDIATELY PUT ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS, SHIFT CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY. SOMETIMES IT WILL START ON THE FIRST TURN OF THE KEY BUT SOMETIMES IT TAKES MULTIPLE TIMES OF TURNING THE KEY, ALL THIS WHILE COASTING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WITH PEOPLE BUZZING ALL AROUND YOU. THE ONE TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS RIGHT BY THE GARAGE WE HAVE BEEN TAKING IT TO, TOOK IT OVER, THEY RAN A CHECK ON THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND NOTHING CAME UP. THEY ARE AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO WITHOUT JUST START RANDOMLY CHANGING PARTS THEY THINK IT MIGHT PERTAIN TO? ANY SUGGESTIONS, THIS ISN'T SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN IT DOES THIS, AND ITS JUST RANDOM WHEN IT DOES DO IT, NO WARNING. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Sep 19, 2014171,000 milesMS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR ELECTRICAL SWITCH FOR THE LOCKS AND WINDOWS FAILED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Aug 18, 2014150,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Electrical System
Filed Aug 12, 2014WA

2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER PAID $352.14 TO HAVE TO IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. *JB

Engine
Filed May 24, 201469,000 milesMI

VARIABLY THE ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING,RENDERING THE PS BRAKES TO BECOME INOPERABLE, EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR ME AS I AM 78 YEARS OLD.THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED THERE WAS NO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO PULL OFF,LEAVING THE CAR IN WHATEVER LANE IT STALLED IN! IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 5 MIN TO 1/2 HOUR TO RESTART VERY VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS TO OTHER TRAVELERS AND TO ME! SOMETHING DESPERATELY NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS! *TR

Electrical System
Filed Apr 10, 2014167,850 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THERE WAS A SLIGHT BUMP TO THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,850 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 169,100.

Engine
Filed Mar 24, 2014150,000 milesMN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2000 PONTAIC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Steering
Filed Feb 4, 201390,000 milesNJ

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF SHAKING IN THE FRONT END. IT GETS VERY BAD BETWEEN 50-60 MPH. I HAVE HAD ALL THE TIRES REPLACED BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ALIGNMENT, AND I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT SHOPS AND ALL 3 HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING THE SHAKING. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT RODS, THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES, THE SHOCKS AND THE TIRES ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE ISSUE. BECAUSE OF THE SHAKING IT CONSTANTLY DESTROYS MY FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES WHICH I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. IT ALSO MAKES IT EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS ONE OF THE SHOPS TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT ASSEMBLIES WERE SO DESTROYED FROM THE SHAKING THAT I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT THE TIRES DID NOT FOLD UNDER THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I HAVE TRIED FOR 3 YEARS TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND NO ONE HAS A REMEDY. I HAVE ALSO READ ON CONSUMER REVIEW THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR BONNEVILLE IN THE SAME YEAR (2000) AND AGAIN, NO SHOPS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE REASON BEHIND THE SHAKING. I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH THIS ISSUE AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NO RECALL IN PLACE TO FIX THIS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. *TR

Steering
Filed Feb 4, 201390,000 milesNJ

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF SHAKING IN THE FRONT END. IT GETS VERY BAD BETWEEN 50-60 MPH. I HAVE HAD ALL THE TIRES REPLACED BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ALIGNMENT, AND I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT SHOPS AND ALL 3 HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING THE SHAKING. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT RODS, THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES, THE SHOCKS AND THE TIRES ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE ISSUE. BECAUSE OF THE SHAKING IT CONSTANTLY DESTROYS MY FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES WHICH I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. IT ALSO MAKES IT EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS ONE OF THE SHOPS TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT ASSEMBLIES WERE SO DESTROYED FROM THE SHAKING THAT I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT THE TIRES DID NOT FOLD UNDER THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I HAVE TRIED FOR 3 YEARS TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND NO ONE HAS A REMEDY. I HAVE ALSO READ ON CONSUMER REVIEW THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR BONNEVILLE IN THE SAME YEAR (2000) AND AGAIN, NO SHOPS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE REASON BEHIND THE SHAKING. I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH THIS ISSUE AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NO RECALL IN PLACE TO FIX THIS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. *TR

EngineFire
Filed Dec 4, 2012100,000 milesWV

WAS GOING TO START MY CAR I TURNED THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION AND HEARD A VERY LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE MOTOR BROKE OUT IN FLAMES. *TR

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Mar 26, 201290,500 milesWA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS ALL WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY INJURIES. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOTIFIED, BUT A REPORT WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND PENDING AN INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,500.

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Dec 21, 2011195,000 milesVT

THIS 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 3.8L WITH APPROXIMATELY 195K MILES WAS OPERATING NORMALLY OVER THE LAST 72 HOURS. IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES BETWEEN 12/16 AND 12/18 @ 12:50 PM THE DATE OF THE FIRE.THAT COLD MORNING (8 DEGREES F) IT WAS DRIVEN 10 MILES RT @ 9AM, 20 MILES RT BETWEEN 10:30 AND NOON, AND THEN SAT FOR APPROXIMATELY 1/2 HOUR BEFORE IT WAS DRIVEN 5 MILES TO A LOCAL STORE BY MY SON. WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE STORE/GAS STATION HE PARKED NEAR THE PUMPS AND WHEN HE SHUT OFF ENGINE TO GO INTO STORE, SMELLED BURNING SMOKE FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND WAS GREETED BY ACTIVE FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THE FIRE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY EXTINGUISHED AND THE BURNED PART OF THE ENGINE WAS THE TOP AND FRONT LEFT QUARTER (FACING THE VEHICLE). THE ANTI-FREEZE RESERVOIR WAS MELTED THROUGH. *TR

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed May 7, 2011142,000 milesMN

AFTER CAR WAS PARKED FOR 5 - 10 MINUTES FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Apr 3, 201154,002 milesOH

I SMELLED A BURNING ODOR IN MY BONNEVILLE SSEI. THE LOCAL GM DEALER, ON THE INCIDENT DATE IN THIS FORM, TOLD ME THE CAUSE WAS OIL DRIPPING ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THAT IT WAS A FIRE HAZARD. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND AN EXISTING NHTSA ACTION NUMBER (EA07008) FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM I AM HAVING FOR THE EXACT 3800 SERIES II V6 L67 GM ENGINE. THERE WERE 2 RECALLS FOR CARS WITH THIS ENGINE, BUT MY PONTIAC MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED (EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE EXACT SAME ENGINE). THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALLS ARE 08V118000 & 09V116000. I ESCALATED THIS PROBLEM WITHIN GM AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE GM DEALER FOR ANOTHER INSPECTION. THE GM DEALER VERIFIED THAT MY ENGINE IS THE SAME AS THE RECALLED ENGINE AND THAT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. GM REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE MY VEHICLE'S VIN WASN'T SPECIFICALLY INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS. I STRONGLY BELIEVE MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE EARLIER RECALLS AND NOW SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A NEW RECALL TO ELIMINATE THIS SAFETY HAZARD.

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Dec 14, 201074,000 milesNH

FIRE IGNITED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE PARKED IN A MALL PARKING LOT ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES AFTER LEAVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY DESTROYING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 22, 2010GA

I HAVE A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE W/ A 3.8 V6 3800 SERIES LL ENGINE. I HAVE NOTICED OIL COMING FROM THE INTAKE DRIPPING DOWN ONTO THE MANIFOLD. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SUPER CHARGED 3800 SERIES LL FOR THE REGAL AND GRAND PRIX. I WOULD LIKE TO NO WHY THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS MODEL. SAME PROBLEM, JUST NOT SUPER CHARGED. WHAT HAPPENS IF IT CATCHES FIRE LIKE SOME OF THE OTHERS HAVE? THEN WILL THERE BE A RECALL? I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO IT IS ALL ON ME. *DT

20 of 214 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1998
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200527010Routine
200428010Routine
200354250Routine
200289230Routine
20011290200High concern
2000 — this page2142210High concern
1999143490Routine
19982772280High concern
19971472160Routine
1996150370Routine
1995244140Above average
199488090Routine
19931381110Routine
1992113350Routine
199122210Routine
199039110Routine

Compare every Bonneville year →

Reading this record

A high number of complaints describe fires or crashes.

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: Feb 24, 2004. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.