IllustrationFAILURE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKET ON MY AUTOMOBILE. ALLOWED ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDERS OF THE ENGINE. CAR: 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WITH 3.8L V-6 ENGINE, USING THE DEX-COOL GM COOLANT. REPAIRS REQUIRED A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF INTAKE MANIFOLD AND ALL ENGINE GASKETS. REPAIRS COSTS EXCEED $1400.
1996 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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Bonneville years →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
20–25K
325–50K
750–75K
1175–100K
26100–150K
14150K+
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 reportsDEALER SAYS INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED & NEEDS REPLACED. WILL THIS BE RECALLED? I READ A NEWS BULLETIN SAYING YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THIS. DT
CONSUMER STATES THE MOTOR "LOCKED UP" WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT ANTIFREEZE IS LEAKING INTO ENGINE CYLINDERS. TS
11/01/2002 I HAD MY CAR SERVICED. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE MANIFOLD HAD COOLANT ON IT. 11//02//2002 I WENT TO THE PART DEPARTMENT AT THE PONTIAC DEALER AND ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY NOTICES ABOUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THEY TOLD ME ON 11/05/2002 THE CAR WOULD NOT START. FINALLY I GOT IT STARTED AND HAD WHITE SMOKE FILLIN…
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11/01/2002 I HAD MY CAR SERVICED. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE MANIFOLD HAD COOLANT ON IT. 11//02//2002 I WENT TO THE PART DEPARTMENT AT THE PONTIAC DEALER AND ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY NOTICES ABOUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THEY TOLD ME ON 11/05/2002 THE CAR WOULD NOT START. FINALLY I GOT IT STARTED AND HAD WHITE SMOKE FILLING THE AREA. I GOT IT TO THE MECHANIC BECAUSE I WAS NOT SURE WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND ALSO BECAUSE PONTIAC HAD SAID THEY HAD NO INFORMATION ON THE MANIFOLD. 11/07/2002 I PICKED UP THE CAR WITH THE REPLACED MANIFOLD. THEY ALSO GAVE ME A COPY OF BULLETIN NO. 01-06-01-007 DATED FEB. 2001. THE BULLETING IDENTIFIES THE PROBLEM AND THE REDESIGNED PARTS THAT ARE THE REPLACEMENTS. IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM IN MANY ENGINES IN MANY CARS THAT ARE LISTED IN THE BULLETIN. THE MECHANIC SAID I WAS LUCKY I DID NOT LOSE THE ENGINE. IT SEEMS PONTIAC HAS IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM, HAS DESIGNED A SOLUTION BUT WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THEY CREATED THE PROBLEM AND DO A VOLUNTARY RECALL. YOUR HELP IS APPRECIATED. DT
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE, IT EXPLODED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD A RECALL DONE ON JAN 1998 FOR ENGINE BACKFIRE, DEALER CONTACTED . *AK ORIGINAL RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN #96V116000. KENTUCKY BASIC FIRE INCIDENT REPORT STATED THAT FIRE POSSIBLY STARTED AROUND THE INJECTOR AREA OF THE ENGINE. CONSUMER STATES THAT GM WOULD NOT ACCEPT RES…
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WHILE STARTING VEHICLE, IT EXPLODED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD A RECALL DONE ON JAN 1998 FOR ENGINE BACKFIRE, DEALER CONTACTED . *AK ORIGINAL RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN #96V116000. KENTUCKY BASIC FIRE INCIDENT REPORT STATED THAT FIRE POSSIBLY STARTED AROUND THE INJECTOR AREA OF THE ENGINE. CONSUMER STATES THAT GM WOULD NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR FIRE AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *TT
ON 02/18/2002, 04:20 AM, MY WIFE WENT TO START THE CAR TO LET IT WARM UP BEFORE GOING TO WORK. UPON START UP, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AND THERE WAS A FIRE INSTANTLY. I RAN OUT AND ROLLED THE CAR OUT OF THE CARPORT AND INTO THE BACK YARD. THE NEIGHBOR CAME RUNNING WITH A FIRE EXTINGUSHER AND PUT OUT THE FIRE JUST BEFORE THE FIRE D…
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ON 02/18/2002, 04:20 AM, MY WIFE WENT TO START THE CAR TO LET IT WARM UP BEFORE GOING TO WORK. UPON START UP, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AND THERE WAS A FIRE INSTANTLY. I RAN OUT AND ROLLED THE CAR OUT OF THE CARPORT AND INTO THE BACK YARD. THE NEIGHBOR CAME RUNNING WITH A FIRE EXTINGUSHER AND PUT OUT THE FIRE JUST BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THERE WAS A RECALL (YOUR NUMBER 96V116000). THE UPPER INTAKE MANAFOLD DID FRACTURE FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER...GAPPING OPEN ABOUT TWO AND A HALF INCHES.. MY CAR WAS REPAIRED FOR THIS RECALL ON 01/19/1998. I GUESS THAT THIS WAS NOT A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THE GM INVESTIGATER LOOKED AT THE CAR AND TOLD ME "THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WE HAD DONE TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM". HE WOULD NOT SAY ANYMORE. ON 02/18/2002, THE PRRSON FOR GM CALLED AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT ANY LIABILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. IF THE RECALL WAS NOT A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM, THERE ARE (ACCOURDING TO YOUR FIGURES),275,811 VEHICLES OUT THERE THAT THIS COULD STILL HAPPEN TO. LORD, HELP THE PERSON THAT IS LOOKING OVER THE ENGINE WHEN IT IS BEING STARTED. IT WILL TAKE THEIR HEAD OFF. THANK YOU, [XXX]*AK REFERENCED IN EA02-030 PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CHECKED UNDER HOOD, AND REALIZED THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN TANK. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE THE PLENUM. ALSO, WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN AT 90000 MILES.*AK *YD
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IT BACKFIRED AND CAUGHT FIRE IN ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA RECALL 96V116000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 97C02. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AKCONSUMERS CAR BACKFIRED, CAUSING THE MANIFOLD TO FRACTURE ALLOWING WATER INTO THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED AND WARRANTIED. *JG
ENGINE:GASKETS:OIL PAN REPLACED, VEHICLE HAS A REPEATED ENGINE OIL PAN LEAK. ENGINE LEAKS OIL AT OTHER LOCATIONS. CONCERNED ABOUT ENGINE FIRE.*AK
OIL HAD BEEN LEAKING FREQUENTLY FROM THE ENGINE REAR SEAL. TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *AK
Official recalls
296V116000 · 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
2EA02030 · 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.