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1988 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 →
17Owner complaints

Model-year median: 19

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

4Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
19853
198619
198717
198828
198939
199022
1991
Compare all Bonneville years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
5Fuel System, Gasoline
2Seat Belts
2Structure
2Unknown Or Other
2
All reported categories
Equipment
1Power Train
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Steering
1Suspension
1Visibility
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 17 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2001
Electrical System

THE ALTERNATOR ON MY 1988 BONNEVILLE SSE HAS FAILED FIVE TIMES SINCE NEW, THE LAST TIME AFTER ONLY LESS THAN 18K MILES AND LESS THAN 2 YEARS, EACH TIME STRANDING ME. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ALL BONNEVILLES FROM 1987 THROUGH MID-1992 MODEL YEAR HAVE VERY HIGH FAILURE RATES ON ALTNERNATORS, PERHAPS BECAUSE THE ALTERNATORS WER…

Read full complaint

THE ALTERNATOR ON MY 1988 BONNEVILLE SSE HAS FAILED FIVE TIMES SINCE NEW, THE LAST TIME AFTER ONLY LESS THAN 18K MILES AND LESS THAN 2 YEARS, EACH TIME STRANDING ME. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ALL BONNEVILLES FROM 1987 THROUGH MID-1992 MODEL YEAR HAVE VERY HIGH FAILURE RATES ON ALTNERNATORS, PERHAPS BECAUSE THE ALTERNATORS WERE TOO SMALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL LOAD ON THE BONNEVILLE. THIS REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE OWNERS OF THESE BONNEVILLES, INCLUDING ME, BECAUSE WHEN THE ALTERNATOR FAILS, IT STRANDS THE OWNER. A RECALL IS CLEARLY INDICATED, SINCE THERE ARE MILLIONS OF THESE CARS STILL ON THE ROAD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #748501

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2001
Electrical System

PRIOR ALTERNATOR LASTED LEST THAN 15K MILES. I GET STRANDED EVERY TIME THE ALTERNATOR FAILS (NOW FOR THE FIFTH TIME). THIS IS DANGEROUS AND COULD LEAD TO MY INJURY OR EVEN DEATH, DEPENDING ON WHERE I AM THE NEXT TIME THE ALTERNATOR FAILS, INCLUDING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

NHTSA ODI #748439

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 1995
Electrical System

THE CARS COMPUTER SHUT THE CAR DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND LOST ALL THE POWER. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #971635

Mileage unknown · May 10, 1995
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineUnknown Or Other

FUEL PUMP FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #486054

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 1995
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ALTERNATOR; BEEN REPLACE ABOUT THREE AND CAR WOULDN'T START. TT

NHTSA ODI #959601

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

4

EA90017 · Brake Failure

Opened Mar 26, 1990 · Closed Apr 22, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

PE89171 · Brake Failure

Opened Sep 26, 1989 · Closed Mar 26, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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PE89145 · Parking Brake Cable

Opened Jul 21, 1989 · Closed Sep 22, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake

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PE89098 · Anti Lock Brakes

Opened Mar 10, 1989 · Closed May 17, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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