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1978 Pontiac Bonneville

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
3Owner complaints

Model-year median: 19

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
0
19750
19761
19773
19782
19791
1981
Compare all Bonneville years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tires
2Power Train
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Tires. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

3 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2000
Tires

THE FIRESTONE FR721 P215/75R15 MS TIRES ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OVER NINE OCCASIONS OF TIRE DEFECTS, MOST OF WHICH WERE TREAD SEPARATIONS, ALL FAILURES OCCURRED BETWEEN THE MILEAGES OF 42,000 TO 94,638 MILES. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #556424

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 1999
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #545075

Mileage unknown · May 13, 1995
Tires

UNIROYAL TIRE BLEW OUT DUE TO PREMATURE TREAD DAMAGE. *SKD

NHTSA ODI #486091

Official recalls

2

78V139000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan

Jun 13, 1978

THE HUB PORTION OF THE FAN BLADE ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK DUE TO HIGH STRESS LEVELS GENERATED DURING ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS. EVENTUALLY, THE BLADE COULD BREAK APART AT THE HUB AND BLADE PIECES COULD BE PROPELLED INTO THE ENGINE. IF THE HOOD IS OPEN WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, THE FRAGMENTS WOULD BE FREE TO FLY FROM THE VEHICLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE FAN BLADE ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

77V200000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

Nov 16, 1977

THE REAR WHEEL MOUNTING BOLTS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, ARE BRITTLE AND THEREFORE MAY FRACTURE. THIS BRITTLENESS IS DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT DURING MANUFACTURE. IF THE BOLTS BREAK, THE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE DEFECTIVE BOLTS ON ALL AXLES AND THE TEN REAR AXLE WHEEL MOUNTING BOLTS, FREE OF CHARGE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.