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1992 Pontiac Bonneville

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 9 of 113 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports5 fire reports10 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

17 reports
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100,000 miles · Mar 12, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568831

152,800 miles · Feb 23, 2011
Electrical SystemSeatsInjury

WHILE WORKING IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR AREA OF THE VEHICLE MY SHIRT/BELT ACTIVATED THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEAT CONTROL. THE SEAT ADVANCED FORWARD TO THE END OF THE SEATS TRAVEL AND PINNING ME UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE UNDER DASHBOARD AREA OF THE CAR. MY LEFT UPPER ARM AND LEFT WRIST WERE ENTRAPPED IN AROUND THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY RIG…

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WHILE WORKING IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR AREA OF THE VEHICLE MY SHIRT/BELT ACTIVATED THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEAT CONTROL. THE SEAT ADVANCED FORWARD TO THE END OF THE SEATS TRAVEL AND PINNING ME UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE UNDER DASHBOARD AREA OF THE CAR. MY LEFT UPPER ARM AND LEFT WRIST WERE ENTRAPPED IN AROUND THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY RIGHT ARM WAS ENTRAPPED BY IN THE GAS PEDAL AREA, THE THROTTLE PUNCTURED MY RIGHT WRIST. I WAS UNABLE TO SUMMONS HELP, AND AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS WAS NEAR EXHAUSTION, AND TO FREE MYSELF I WAS FORCED TO SELF CAUSE INJURES TO MY LEFT ELBOW, LEFT UPPER ARM, AND RIGHT ARM TO FREE MYSELF FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE UNDER DASH AREA OF THE CAR. I SUSTAIN SEVERAL CUTS ON MY ARMS, CHEST, AND BACK. EMERGENCY ROOM EXAMINATIONS AND TESTS SHOWED POSSIBLE RIB FRACTURES, DEEP BRUISING OF THE CHEST, BACK, AND LEFT UPPER ARM AND LEFT ELBOW, INTERCOSTAL CHEST WALL MUSCLES. I FEEL THE CAUSE OF THIS EVENT WAS THE LOCATION OF THE POWER SEAT SWITCH IN THE FRONT OF THE SEAT TOWARDS THE OUTER SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. ANY SERVICE ACTIVITIES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR AREA IS AT HIGH RISK OF ENTRAPPING THE INDIVIDUAL OF ENTRAPMENT BY THE POWER DRIVERS SEAT.

NHTSA ODI #10385052

200,000 miles · Jul 18, 2006
Electrical System

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALERSHIP AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC COIL AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE SIX TIMES. EACH TIME THE PARTS FAIL WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF BEING INSTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10162716

153,000 miles · Aug 14, 2003
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

CAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GOES ON AND OFF WHENEVER A/C IS ON.VERY DIM LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUT WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10032859

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2002
Electrical System

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THERE WAS SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8020098

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2000
Electrical System

VOLTAGE FALLS AND MOTOR QUITS IN HEAT. BATTERY IS DEAD. REPLACING ALT & BATT DOES NOT HELP. VOLTAGE GETS LOWER AS HEAT BUILDS UNTIL BATTERY DIES. ENGINE FALTERS AND QUITS. HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED (DIDN'T HAPPEN BEFORE). SSEI DOES NOT HAVE A VOLTMETER AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE BATTERY LIGHT COME ON IN…

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VOLTAGE FALLS AND MOTOR QUITS IN HEAT. BATTERY IS DEAD. REPLACING ALT & BATT DOES NOT HELP. VOLTAGE GETS LOWER AS HEAT BUILDS UNTIL BATTERY DIES. ENGINE FALTERS AND QUITS. HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED (DIDN'T HAPPEN BEFORE). SSEI DOES NOT HAVE A VOLTMETER AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE BATTERY LIGHT COME ON IN ANY OF THE EVENTS (THOUGHT IT IS WEAK AND HARD TO SEE SO WE CAN'T BE SURE). DEALER KNOWS NOTHING. WE HAVE NOT FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM. I INSTALLED THE 130 AMPERE OPTION ALTERNATOR (FOR CARS WITH ELECTRICALLY HEATED WINDSHIELDS) THE LAST TIME AND HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE VOLTAGE. THE VOLTAGE DROPS STEADILY AS HEAT BUILDS, BUT SEEMS TO STOP AT ABOUT 13 VOLTS (I DIDN'T ADD VOLTMETER BEFORE GOING TO THE LARGER ALTERNATOR SO I DON'T KNOW HOW LOW VOLTAGE WENT IN EARLIER EVENTS .. THOUGH I DID EXPERIEMENT WITH SEMI-DEAD BETTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR DISCONNETED AND THE ENGINE QUITS AT ABOUT 10 VOLTS). I SEE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM ON YOUR WEB SITE AND I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHER SSEI OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL HAVE REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND/OR BATTERY TO NO AVAIL.

NHTSA ODI #729216

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1998
Electrical System

CONSUMER PUT SOME ITEMS INTO THE TRUNK, AND ANOTHER CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRUNK. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE DID'NT PUT ANYTHING INTO THE TRUNK WHICH WAS FLAMMABLE.

NHTSA ODI #829721

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1998
Electrical System

DASH CLUSTER MODULE FAILED THREE TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #537066

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 1998
Electrical System

THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE BURNED OUT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822318

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

TWO ALTERNATORS AND ONE BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605686

Official recalls

3

96V015000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Jan 23, 1996

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.

91V167000 · Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical

Sep 23, 1991

WHEN APPLIED, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY MAY RELEASE ONE OR MORE TEETH, REDUCING THE CABLE LOAD TO THE REAR BRAKES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE LEVER RELEASE AND ROADLEVEL. THE PARKING BRAKE MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, ALLOWING IT TO ROLL, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 105.

Remedy: REPLACE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY.

91V131000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Aug 5, 1991

TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE MAY DISENGAGE FROM SHIFT CONTROL CABLE BRACKET, CAUSING LOSS OF GEAR INDICATOR REFERENCE, AND SHIFT SELECTOR OPERATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DISENGAGED CABLE COULD FALSELY INDICATE TRANSMISSIONGEAR POSITION, AND THE VEHICLE MIGHT BE LEFT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE WHEN THE DRIVERMOVED THE GEAR SELECTOR TO PARK OR THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. A VEHICLE LEFT ON ANINCLINE WITHOUT PARKING BRAKES WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR IS PLACED IN PARK COULDMOVE. EITHER CASE RESULTS IN UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNINGAND COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL A TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP ON THE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE BRACKET ON TOP OF TRANSAXLE.

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

2

EA93011 · Fuel Line Failure

Opened May 3, 1993 · Closed May 31, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE92010 · Fuel Line Connector Fails

Opened Jan 27, 1992 · Closed May 22, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available