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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

What owners actually said

150 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 1999
Power Train

THERE IS A "DRUM" INSIDE OF THIS TRANSMISSION THAT WAS ORIGINALLY MADE FROM A POOR QUALITY STEEL (SOFT)THAT STARTED TO DISINTEGRATE AND SENT SMALL PARTICLES OF METAL THROUGHOUT THE TRANSMISSION, THAT IN TURN, LOCKED THE 2,3 SOLENOIDS, RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. GM HAS SINCE CHANGED THE DRUM MATERIAL TO A CASE HARDENED O…

Read full complaint

THERE IS A "DRUM" INSIDE OF THIS TRANSMISSION THAT WAS ORIGINALLY MADE FROM A POOR QUALITY STEEL (SOFT)THAT STARTED TO DISINTEGRATE AND SENT SMALL PARTICLES OF METAL THROUGHOUT THE TRANSMISSION, THAT IN TURN, LOCKED THE 2,3 SOLENOIDS, RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. GM HAS SINCE CHANGED THE DRUM MATERIAL TO A CASE HARDENED ONE TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEMS THIS IS CAUSING.HOWEVER, AT THIS PRESENT TIME BOTH GM AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO EVEN ASSIST IN THE EXPENSE OF THIS REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED AT THE AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND 800 MILES BEFORE REQUIRED.

NHTSA ODI #701423

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 1998
Equipment

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR. AIR WILL NOT CIRCULATE IN VEHICLE UNLESS THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR HAS GONE OUT ONCE BEFORE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #830730

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 1998
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS INVOVLED IN A 35 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER THE COMPUTER SYSTEM INDICATED THE AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #829258

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE, THE FUEL LINE LEAKS FUEL WITHOUT A REASON, AND CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827545

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1998
Visibility

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE MADE TO STOP WHEN THERE IS HEAVY SNOW ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY STOP WHEN THERE IS HEAVY RAIN. DEALER CANT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT IS A BUILT-IN SAFETY FEATURE. *AK CONSUMER NOTIFIED GM WHO STATED THEY COULD NOT MODIFY UNDER WARRANTY. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #827282

Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 1998
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP AND THE VEHICLE TO DIE, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION 4 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PBORLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #826468

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 1998
Electrical System

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON. ALSO RADIO OPERATES ERRATICALLY. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #780061

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 1998
Electrical System

THE HORN IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. EXCESSIVE EFFORT IS NEEDED TO GET THE HORN TO WORK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #823910

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

IMPROPERLY INSTALLED TRANSMISSION CABLE TORE THROUGH THE BRAKE LINE CAUSING LOSS OF FLUID.

NHTSA ODI #532809

Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 1997
Power Train

TORQUE CONVERTER MISSES AND HESITATES.

NHTSA ODI #526882

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.