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1996 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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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

63 reports with mileage · 87 unknown

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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports7 fire reports14 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

43 reports
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140,000 miles · Jun 28, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel/propulsion SystemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS HAD TO BE MADE BEFORE SUCCEEDING IN STARTING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND OXYGEN SENSOR. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAP WAS MELTING AND CAUSING OIL TO SPILL. IN ADDITION, THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS HAD TO BE MADE BEFORE SUCCEEDING IN STARTING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND OXYGEN SENSOR. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAP WAS MELTING AND CAUSING OIL TO SPILL. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE WAS PRODUCING WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE AS TO THE EXACT REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILED AND WOULD ALERT THE CONTACT THAT THE DOORS WERE OPENED, AND THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT SECURED ERRONEOUSLY. THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE FUEL INJECTOR, AND ADDING FUEL CLEANER. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM) AND 95V204000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10463433

55,000 miles · May 15, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel/propulsion System

THIS CAR BELONGS TO MY ELDERLY MOTHER WHICH SHE BOUGHT USED AND HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM! OCCASIONALLY WHEN STARTING THE CAR, THE ENGINE WILL BACKFIRE, AFTER STARTING IT WOULD RUN OK. THE CAR NOW DOES NOT RUN AS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS BROKEN FROM THE BACKFIRING AND ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE THE LAST TIME IT WAS ATTEMPTED TO STAR…

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THIS CAR BELONGS TO MY ELDERLY MOTHER WHICH SHE BOUGHT USED AND HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM! OCCASIONALLY WHEN STARTING THE CAR, THE ENGINE WILL BACKFIRE, AFTER STARTING IT WOULD RUN OK. THE CAR NOW DOES NOT RUN AS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS BROKEN FROM THE BACKFIRING AND ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE THE LAST TIME IT WAS ATTEMPTED TO START THE MOTOR! ACCORDING TO PONTIAC THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR BY THE VIN NUMBER!! *JS

NHTSA ODI #10458548

122,097 miles · Mar 9, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE PLASTIC MANIFOLD IN ENGINE FROM MANUFACTURE BROKE CAUSING DEX COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE DESTROYING SEALS/HEAD GASKETS. REPLACE AT DEALER GASKET,GASKET KIT,VALVE,VALVE KIT,UPPER MANIFOLD, LOWER MANIFOLD RESEAL,COOLANT. DEALER DOES NOT HONOR RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10318090

170,000 miles · Oct 8, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

AROUND JAN 2008 WHILE DRIVING A PLASTIC WATER HOSE BURST. I REPLACED IT AND HAD NO OTHER PROBLEM UNTIL AROUND AUG 2008. THIS TIME THE WATER PUMP STARTED LEAKING. I REPLACED THAT AND THE THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR CAP, BUT I STILL KEPT LOOSING COOLANT. THEN I FOUND A CRACK IN THE RADIATOR WHICH I REPLACE AROUND THE END OF AUG 2008. …

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AROUND JAN 2008 WHILE DRIVING A PLASTIC WATER HOSE BURST. I REPLACED IT AND HAD NO OTHER PROBLEM UNTIL AROUND AUG 2008. THIS TIME THE WATER PUMP STARTED LEAKING. I REPLACED THAT AND THE THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR CAP, BUT I STILL KEPT LOOSING COOLANT. THEN I FOUND A CRACK IN THE RADIATOR WHICH I REPLACE AROUND THE END OF AUG 2008. I STILL KEPT HAVING TO TOP OFF THE COOLANT RESERVOIR EVER TWO DAYS. ABOUT JUNE 2008 I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE VEH STARTING, IT WOULD SEEM LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING ENOUGH GAS OR FLOODING. IT WOULD BE RUNNING BUT BARLEY AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL. FINALLY IT WOULD START. IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME BUT IT'S DOING IT MORE OFTEN NOW. I'VE FUEL SYSTEM AND INJECTION CLEANERS WITH NO CHANGE. THEN I WENT TO NHTSA AND FOUND A RECALL 96V-116 THAT SEEMS TO BE THE CAUSE OF MY PROBLEM. I WENT TO THE LOCAL PONTIAC DEALERS AND THEY SAID THAT MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY DO. I TOLD THEM THAT I WOULD BRING BACK TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244906

105,000 miles · Mar 5, 2008
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT BACKFIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED A…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT BACKFIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND WOULD COST $503 TO REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 176,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATED 04/08/08. *LJ THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING.

NHTSA ODI #10220126

150,000 miles · Apr 13, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE VEHICLE BACKFIRED WHEN THE IGNITION WAS STARTED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DAMAGED. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE AND THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL # 96V116000…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE VEHICLE BACKFIRED WHEN THE IGNITION WAS STARTED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DAMAGED. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE AND THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL # 96V116000. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE CONTACT POSSESSED THE REPAIR INVOICES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10187745

121,200 miles · Apr 30, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

MY 1996 BONNEVILLE STARTED ACTING UP, ROUGHLY IDLING, AND HESITATING WHEN TAKING OFF. THERE WAS LOSS OF POWER, POOR GAS MILEAGE, CAR WOULD SHUT IT SELF OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED FLASHING. TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE TO GET IT CHECKED. SCANNER IDICATED THAT IT HAD MULTIPLE MISFIRES, AND…

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MY 1996 BONNEVILLE STARTED ACTING UP, ROUGHLY IDLING, AND HESITATING WHEN TAKING OFF. THERE WAS LOSS OF POWER, POOR GAS MILEAGE, CAR WOULD SHUT IT SELF OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED FLASHING. TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE TO GET IT CHECKED. SCANNER IDICATED THAT IT HAD MULTIPLE MISFIRES, AND THAT MY MAP SENSOR WAS BAD. REPLACED MAP SENSOR. STILL DIDNT CHANGE ON HOW THE VEHICLE OPERATED. REPLACED ONE OF COIL PACKS, STILL NOTHING. PUT NEW PLUG WIRES AND NOTHING CAHNED. NEW OXYGEN SENSOR INSTALLED, AND STILL NOTHING. CHANGES. OVER ALL I JUST GOT DONE SPENDING $150.00 ON THIS CAR AND I CANT EVEN AFFORD THAT, AND STILL HAVE NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. I REPLACED BASICALLY EVERYTHING THAT THE COMPUTER CAME UP WITH. WHAT CAN I DO HERE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT ME HURTING MY FINANCIAL STATUS, AND ME BLOWING THE CAR UP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10118753

76,600 miles · Nov 24, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

1)COOLANT LOSS FROM PLASTIC UPPER INTAKE. 2)EGR PIPE BURN THROUGH FAILURE, UPPER AND LOWER GASKET FAILURE. 3)REPLACE UPPER PLASTIC INTAKE, UPPER AND LOWER GASKETS, COOLANT ELBOW OIL AND FILTER CHANGE. (5 HRS LABOR). *NM

NHTSA ODI #10100470

54,820 miles · Jun 17, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

COOLANT FROM UPPER INTAKE PLENUM FOUND TO CAUSE MIS-FIRE CYLINDER. REPLACED UPPER INTAKE PLENUM TWICE ONCE AT 54,820 MILES AND AGAIN AT 107,181 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10078410

92,203 miles · May 11, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

AN INDEPENDENT DEALER REPLACED THE MANIFOLD GASKET AND UPPER PLENUM ON 01/16/04, 03/15/04 THE GASKET AND EGR VALVE WAS REPLACED, AND THE PLENUM GASKET WAS REPLACED ON 02/27/03. COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10067165

Official recalls

2

96V116000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System

Jul 1, 1996

A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A NO-START CONDITION AND POSSIBLY AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING. UNTIL THE CAMPAIGN REPAIR IS MADE, THE VEHICLE HOOD SHOULD BE SHUT WHENEVER STARTING THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF PERSONAL INJURY.

95V204000 · Electrical SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL Module

Oct 23, 1995

THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE THAT CAN CONTAIN A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. IF THE CAPACITOR IS DAMAGED, THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" WARNING CHIME AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WARNING CHIME AND INDICATOR LAMP MAY NOT WORK. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION" AND FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." IN ADDITION, OTHER CHIME REMINDER FUNCTIONS, INTERIOR LIGHTING CONTROLS, AND POWER DOOR LOCKING FEATURES ARE ALSO AFFECTED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE; THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE KEY WAS LEFT IN THE IGNITION OR THAT THE SAFETY BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACE THE MALL MODULE.

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

EA02030 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 9, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Fuel System, Gasoline

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

PE02050 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Jun 13, 2002 · Closed Oct 22, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

No summary supplied.