2003 Pontiac Bonneville

Routine

Owners filed 54 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
78,029 milesMedian miles at failure

40 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 90,000105,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine8
020
Steering7
000
Electrical System5
010
Unknown or Other4
000
Power Train3
000
Fuel System, Gasoline2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling2
000
Electrical System › Ignition2
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Windshield › Electrical Heating Element1
010

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly03V238000
Filed Jul 1, 2003102,212 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. ON CERTAIN CADILLAC DEVILLE AND SEVILLE PASSENGER VEHICLES, FUNERAL COACHES, AND LIMOUSINES EQUIPPED WITH A V8 (4.6L) ENGINE, OLDSMOBILE AURORA PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A V8 (4.0L ) ENGINE, AND PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SSEI PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A SUPERCHARGED V6 (3.8L) ENGINE, THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSORS ARE UNUSUALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO MALFUNCTIONS. IF THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS, EXCESSIVE VACUUM CAN BE APPLIED DURING SELF-DIAGNOSTIC TESTING.

Risk. FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS CAN BE DAMAGED AND FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN IT IS REFUELED. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Air Bags › Frontal02V222000
Filed Aug 9, 2002133,221 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.

Risk. PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Jul 14, 2026CA

Look at the car the car is located [XXX] first of all you start off as a passcode 2 system and then it says passcode 3 system on the thing and I just don't want to deal with this because you have the cut off switch you have the fuel cut off switch but you still have current going through the switch or the fuel they fuel I'll probably leaking into the tank it doesn't start but still sending fuel the oil has excessive amount of liquid in it so does transmission I bought it used the guy goes you know I lost the key go in and remove it I started without the key you know or something like that and I said well here's I got the chamber and I will get it anyway I don't want to deal with this take your car around it took that he sold a mindful but it took the Kelly converter around he didn't tell me about it he asked who did it well he was the city I guess a city bought this car now they're trying to sell it I work clean the electrical Transit system to get a car doesn't work just take it just get it out of it I'm going to be blunt with you just get this XXX car off the property please thank you the XXX had no gas now it shows a full tank of gas just trying to blow me up at this XXX or what just get the XXX out my property man thank you INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 16, 2020101,000 milesIL

PASSENGER CONTROL ARM IS BAD

EngineFire
Filed Feb 12, 2018113,600 milesWI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, SMOKE EMERGED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (WHEELERS CHEVROLET OF MEDFORD, 704 N 8TH ST, MEDFORD, WI 54461) AND WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,600.

Power Train
Filed Apr 10, 2017130,000 milesPA

WITH THE KEY TURNED TO ACC YOU CAN PULL THE CAR OUT OF PARK WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. WITH THE KEY TURNED TO RUN YOU MUST DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PULL IT OUT OF PARK. CAR IS NOT RUNNING. ALSO CHECKED 3 OTHER PONTIAC BONNEVILLE'S. ONE IS A 2002 VIN # [XXX]. THEY ALL SHOWED THE SAME OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed May 5, 2016OH

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE 2003, HAVE HAD 5 DIFFERENT SERVICE TECHS, INCLUDING DEALER LOOK FOR THE PROBLEM, NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIX OR FIND THE PROBLEM.

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 20, 201630,000 milesOH

BURNT SMELL AFTER RUNNING CAR. SERVICEMAN CHECKED AND OIL WAS LEAKING. NEED NEW VALVE COVER GASKETS AS LEAKING ON MANIFOLD WILL CAUSE A FIRE.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 12, 201675,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MOVING THE VEHICLE FROM ITS PARKED LOCATION, THE CONTACT NOTICED ENGINE OIL LEAKING ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING DIMINISHED ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 03/16/16*JB

Engine
Filed Dec 10, 201570,000 milesIL

LEAKING OIL, SAME ENGINE AS OTHER CARS IN RECENT RECALL.

Engine
Filed Oct 28, 2015100,000 milesAZ

THE CAR I DRIVE (3.8 LITER SIX CYLINDER) HAS AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE LEFT VALVE COVER. AFTER I COME TO A STOP OR MAKE A LEFT TURN, I SMELL OIL FUMES AND CAN SEE A LIGHT SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT THE CURRENT RECALL FOR CARS MADE BEFORE AND AFTER MY CAR. HOW DO I GET MY CAR ON LIST OF RECALLS FOR REPAIR?

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Sep 25, 2015160,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, A FUEL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING AND THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V238000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATE 01/15/16 MA

Electrical System
Filed Aug 13, 201581,000 milesWI

MY CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. I NOTICE IT BECAUSE POWER STEERING IS HARD TO USE AND RPM'S GO DOWN TO ZERO AND CAR HAS SHUT OFF. IT STARTED UP AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN A REAL PROBLEM. DEALER TESTED CAR AND SAID IT WAS A CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. I REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. CAM SENSOR REPLACED TOO. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. NO ONE KNOWS WHY THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHEN IT WANTS TO. NOW THE CAR STILL SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, BUT ALSO IT TAKES 2 TO 3 TIMES TO RESTART. STILL TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT. IT IS AUGUST 2015 AND I NEED THIS CAR. IS THIS A RECALL ISSUE?

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Oct 21, 2014NJ

PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 2003, CAR WOULD JUST TURN OFF WHILE WE WERE DRIVING. WE DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS TURNING OFF AT FIRST, WE JUST THOUGHT THE STEERING AND BRAKES WERE BECOMING HARD TO WORK. WE WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON. *JS *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Oct 9, 201497,000 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF FAILED TO OPERATE, BOTH SIDE MIRRORS WOULD OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED A WHISTLING NOISE ACTIVATED THAT WOULD LAST FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED UNKNOWN PARTS. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

Engine
Filed Oct 7, 2014110,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Oct 6, 2014GA

THE FUEL INJECTOR STARTED HAVING ISSUES, AND THE CAR HAS A WHISTLING SOUND WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON. THE SMELL OF GAS IS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN OFF SINCE WE GOT THE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER OF 2013, THE MIRRORS MOVE BY THEMSELVES AND THE SUNROOF NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY. *TR

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jul 29, 2014143,875 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION LOCKED AND PREVENTED THE KEY FROM TURNING TO START THE VEHICLE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE KEY, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE SECURITY SENSOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN SECURITY MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,875.

Power Train
Filed Jun 30, 2014210,000 milesMS

THE CAR WILL FROM TIME TO TIME ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. ON ONE OCCASION I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AFTER IT HAD BEEN DOING FOR ABOUT A WEEK, HOWEVER ON THE DAY I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP IT WAS NOT DOING IT AND THE SHOP COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. RECENTLY IT HAD BEEN DOING IT FOR A COUPLE DAYS AND THE MORNING I WAS TAKING IT TO THE SHOP, IT WOULD NOT DO IT SO I DID NOT TAKE IT BECAUSE, AS BEFORE, AT THE TIME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. IT SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRONIC OR VACUUM CONTROL PROBLEM. WHEN IT STARTS ACCELERATING, I CAN PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND IT WILL INCREASE RPM'S BRIEFLY THEN IDLE DOWN. IT IS UNPREDICTABLE WHEN IT WILL START DOING. ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, IT WILL GET UP TO ABOUT 55 MPH WITH MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND CRUISE CONTROL OFF. IF IT STARTS DOING AGAIN, I WILL TAKE IT TO A SHOP RIGHT AWAY. *TR

Engine
Filed Mar 17, 2014MI

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE LOST POWER. I SHIFTED VEHICLE TO NEUTRAL AND ATTEMPTED RESTART. ENGINE RESTARTED. CONTINUED DRIVING WHEN DRIVE OVER BUMPS, BUCKLES IN PAYMENT ENGINE LOOSES POWER. ALL NEEDLE INDICATORS DROP TO OFF POSITION, CAR STARTS TO SLOW DOWN, STEERING LOOSES POWER, ALL LIGHTS GO OUT AS WELL. THIS IS A CONDITION THAT HAS BECOME INCREASING MORE DANGEROUS AS SPEEDS INCREASES. I HAD VEHICLE CHECKED OUT AND MECHANICS ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSIS. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE AS WELL WHICH DID THE SAME WHEN DRIVEN OVER BUMPS, OR IMPERFECTIONS IN THE ROAD. THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT, AND I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING. I PREVIOUSLY STATED I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO RECALL GM HAS RECENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED FOR SOME CARS. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY HAVE INCLUDED ALL VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN THIS PROBLEM. MY PREVIOUS ODI (YOUR CONFIRMATION NUMBER (ODI NUMBER) IS: 10564622 )THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE NOTED, AND INCLUDED WITH SAFETY RECALL BY GM AND NHTSA. *TR

Engine
Filed Feb 17, 2014130,000 milesMI

WHILE DRIVING MY ENGINE LOST POWER COMPLETELY. I HAD WENT OVER BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. I PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, AND ABLE TO RESTART AND CONTINUE DRIVING. HIT BUMP IN ROAD AGAIN AND ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER. RESTARTED ENGINE AND RETURNED HOME. HAD REPAIR SHOP CHECK VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE ISSUE. NEITHER WAS GM DEALER. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN EVERYTIME I GO OVER BUMP IN ROAD, USUALLY AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MILES PER HOUR. I HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH 2001 BONNEVILLE. I SAW GM RECALLING 2005 G5 WITH SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE MY PROBLEM IS RELATED ISSUE AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED SIMILARLY BY GM. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS LIMITED TO G5 AND COBALT. AS I STATED 2001 AND 2003 BONNEVILLES HAVE SAME ISSUE. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jan 21, 20147,300 milesAZ

ON 8/1/11 WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE I HAD BEEN HIT BY SOMETHING SO I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT MY LEFT REAR WINDOW HAD DROPPED DOWN BY ITSELF AND I COULD NOT RAISE IT BY ACTIVATING THE SWITCH. GM REPLACED THE OPERATOR. ON 12/13/13 MY RIGHT FRONT WINDOW OPERATOR FAILED AND I SHARED THE COST OF THE REPAIR WITH GM. NOW ON 1/19/14 MY RIGHT REAR WINDOW OPERATOR HAS FAILED. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 7300 MILES ON IT AND IN MY ESTIMATION SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. GM SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

20 of 54 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1998
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200527010Routine
200428010Routine
2003 — this page54250Routine
200289230Routine
20011290200High concern
20002142210High concern
1999143490Routine
19982772280High concern
19971472160Routine
1996150370Routine
1995244140Above average
199488090Routine
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.

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: Jul 1, 2003. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.