2005 Pontiac Bonneville

Routine

Owners filed 27 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the airbags. No safety recall has been issued.

Not among the Pontiac Bonneville years to avoid. Which Pontiac Bonneville years to avoid →

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
122,000 milesMedian miles at failure

26 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 120,000–150,000 miles.

Most common 2005 Pontiac Bonneville problems

12 of the 27 complaints (44%) are about the airbags.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags · airbags12
203
Steering4
000
Electrical System4
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Tires › Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems1
000
Suspension1
000
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System1
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling · engine1
010
Engine1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 1, 2021MN

My gas gage and tempature gage don't work

Electrical System
Filed Jan 13, 2019161,234 milesSC

"TAKATA RECALL" UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISE CAR WON'T BRAKE FUMES COMING INSIDE THE CAR. CAR SHAKING AND VIBRATING LOW OIL PRESSURE EVEN WHEN I GOT A OIL CHANGE. AFTER OIL CHANGE CAR WOULDN'T GO NO MORE THAN 16 MILES PER HOUR. CAR WILL NOT CRANK IF IT'S 47 DEGREES OR LOWER TEMPERATURE. IN MOTION IN CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY

Air Bags
Filed Jul 20, 2017170,000 milesIA

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING; REPAIR SHOP SAYS SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED

Air Bags
Filed Oct 3, 2016116,000 milesSD

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD THE AIRBAG WILL NOW ONLY WORK IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS STRAIGHT. IF IT IS TURNED AND I GET HIT, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY.

Electrical System
Filed May 6, 2016130,000 milesMI

ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY PANEL MALFUNCTIONING MY FUEL GAUGE IS MALFUNCTIONING THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CHECK TIRE PRESSURE CHECK OIL ALL THE LIGHTS STAY ON AND I CAN'T RESET THE PANEL I'M ALSO HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR STOPPING WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE IT TURNS OFF

Air Bags
Filed May 5, 2016102,000 milesFL

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT GO OUT. INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONING SPEEDOMETER , TEMPERATURE AND VOLTAGE ALL NOT WORKING. HEADLINER FALLING.

Engine
Filed Dec 14, 2015166,000 milesIA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING UNTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING WHITE SMOKE TO EMIT OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 3, 2015143,000 milesIL

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT IS ON.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 3, 2015132,000 milesIL

FUEL GAUGE QUIT WORKING

Air Bags
Filed Aug 4, 201570,000 milesID

STARTED UP MY CAR AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND WON'T GO OFF. ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL LIGHTS IN THE DASH. PART OF THE LIGHTS FOR THE SPEEDOMETER/AIR-CONDITIONER BUTTONS ARE ONLY 1/2 WORKING AND PART OF THE LIGHTS ON THE RADIO DON'T LIGHT UP EITHER. AFTER READING SEVERAL OF THESE IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A BIG ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF CAR.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 23, 2015122,000 milesTN

STARTED THE CAR ONE MORNING AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WON'T GO OFF. DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SERIOUS OR NOT . CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT CHECKED RIGHT NOW. THERE IS A BIG AIRBAG RECALL RIGHT NOW, JUST WONDERING IF MY CAR COULD BE A DANGER. ALSO OUR TEMP GAUGE HAS STOPPED WORKING AND OUR RADIO DASH LIGHT HAS WENT OUT ..MAYBE A DASH BOARD PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES

Air Bags
Filed Aug 4, 201459,000 milesIL

AIR BAGS LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND HAD THE IGNITION KEY CHANGED IN 2010 AT A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jul 28, 2014136,000 milesMO

MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WON'T GO OFF AND I WAS WANTING TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THERE AIR BAGS AND IF IT WILL STILL WORK IF I AM IN A CRASH. *JS

Air Bags
Filed Jul 28, 2014136,000 milesMO

MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WON'T GO OFF AND I WAS WANTING TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THERE AIR BAGS AND IF IT WILL STILL WORK IF I AM IN A CRASH. *JS

Air Bags
Filed Jul 28, 2014136,000 milesMO

MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WON'T GO OFF AND I WAS WANTING TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THERE AIR BAGS AND IF IT WILL STILL WORK IF I AM IN A CRASH. *JS

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Jul 3, 2014137,000 milesMS

CAR SHUT OFF WHILE SITTING AT YIELD SIGN ,WAS REAR ENDED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 27, 2014137,000 milesMS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSS POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND WAS HOSPITALIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED BUT THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

Steering
Filed Dec 12, 2012154,000 milesPA

TRYING TO MAKE HARD TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT MOSTLY WHILE PARKING THE POWER STEERING LOCKS OR GETS REALLY TIGHT. PUT POWER STEERING FLUID IN. DOES NOTHING AT ALL. WHAT CAN I DO. LOOKING AT OTHER POST...OBVIOUSLY NOTHING. *TR

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Nov 18, 201063,635 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND SMOKE STARTED WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE DUE TO THE SENSORS MELTING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,635.

Tires › Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems
Filed Sep 14, 201048,000 milesMD

DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER (DIC) ON THE 2005 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. I HAD IT REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO RESET IT. NOW 4 YEARS LATER, I'M EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND DON'T WANT TO PAY OVER $100 FOR WHAT THE MANUFACTURER OUGHT TO COVER. *TR

Suspension
Filed Sep 10, 201079,000 milesAR

VIBRATION AT ABOUT 60 MPH TRIED SEVERAL TIME TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM SOLVED ,NO SOLUTION. I'VE ALSO CALLED GM SEVERAL TIME THEY SENT ME TO A GM DEALER NO SOLUTION.CALLED GM BACK AND WAS TOLD THIS CAR WAS PROBABLY DESIGN TO DO THIS ,YOU CAN BELIEVE OR NOT THIS IS THE TRUTH. *TR

Steering
Filed Dec 16, 200952,000 milesPA

2005 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, CLUNKING NOISE IN STEERING. PER DEALER, INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS MANUFACTURER KNOWN PROBLEM, WHILE UNDER WARRANTY SHAFT WAS LUBED, THEN REPLACED, THEN LUBED AGAIN. PROBLEM PERSISTS AND IS WORSE IN COLD WEATHER. STEERING BECOMES LESS THAN ACCURATE PROVIDING IMPROPER ROAD FEEDBACK AND IMPROPER RESPONSE TO DRIVER INPUT. MY CONCERN IS THAT SHAFT WILL FAIL OR WILL CAUSE OTHER STEERING FAILURE. THIS HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT PROBLEM SINCE OWNERSHIP TAKEN 4 SEPT 2004. *TR

Electrical System
Filed May 19, 200936,000 milesNY

DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER SHOWS LOW BRAKE FLUID AND LOW TIRE PRESSURE, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OF THE TIRES. I CAN'T CHANGE ANY SETTINGS FOR THE DIC. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN COMBINATION OR ANOTHER. I AM CONSTANTLY CHECKING THESE SYSTEMS EVERY TIME I USE THE CAR. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 11, 200886,000 milesMD

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS HARD SHIFTING AND SLIPPING IN TRANSMISSION. *TR

Steering
Filed Jul 25, 200837,000 milesFL

WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL PASSES THROUGH STANDING WATER MOISTURE IS DEFLECTED ONTO THE SERPENTINE BELT. THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHICH RENDERS THE VEHICLE NOT ABLE STEER UNTIL THE SERPENTINE BELT STOPS SLIPPING. MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES. *TR

Steering
Filed Feb 24, 200732,000 milesMO

INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT APPROXIMATELY 32000 MILES AND NOW I HAVE THE SAME SYMPTOMS AGAIN, CLUNK IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 40000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE NOW. UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NO WARRANTY LEFT SO I REALLY CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR OF WRECKING AND POSSIBLY KILLING SOMEONE. *NM

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Sep 11, 200646,000 milesGA

MAGNASTEER ISSUE: EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS (BELOW 15 MPH) WHEN VEHICLE IS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE. SUMMER TIME CONDITIONS ENHANCE THIS PROBLEM. WHEN THE STEERING FLUID HEATS UP, THE STEERING BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE. THE MAGNASTEER RACK HAS BEEN REPLACED 1 TIME. THIS CURED THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY (1000 MILES). THE DEALERSHIP HAS WORKED FEVERISHLY AND EXTREMELY WELL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM UNRESOLVED SO FAR. *JB

All 27 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1998
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2005 — this page27010Routine
200428010Routine
200354250Routine
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.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.