1996 Pontiac Bonneville

I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN DECEMBER OF 1999, I BELEIVE THAT THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT, BECAUSE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT HAVE THE LABELS ON THE DOOR FOR THE WEIGHT OR TIRE PRESSURE, ALL IT HAS IS A PARTS NUMBER STICKER A WHITE LABLE. I HAVE ASKED THE PONTIAC DEALER ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID THAT SOME COME WITH JUST THAT LABEL. I PAYED $16.000 FOR THE CAR AND BELEIVE THAT THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO PURCHASED DATE. I HAVE HAD THE PAINT PEEL OFF THE HOOD SHORTLY AFTER BUYING IT AND NOW PEELING ON THE ROOF OVER WINDSHEILD. BUT WITH THE STICKER OFF THE DOOR I BELIVE THAT I WAS TAKEN. I STILL OWE $9.000 IN PAYMENTS. I ALSO THINK THAT IT WAS A LEMON, BECAUSE ON THE WINSHEILD IS A STICKER THAT SAYS SUNSET PONTIAC SATISFACTION, A ROUND STICKER ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF WINDSHEILD. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANOTHER STICKER LIKE THIS ON ANY OTHER VECHICLE.

THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED IN JUN OF 1996 AND RECALL WAS ISSUED JUN 1996. SO WHY WEREN'T WE TOLD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THE PURCHASE. DEALERSHIP GREED . WHEN STARTING MY 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, 3.8L V6, IT BACKFIRED AND LOTS OF WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE MUFFLER. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO PICK UP THE CAR AND TAKE IT TO THE PONTIAC DEALER WHERE THEY PROCEEDED TO INFORM ME A FEW HOURS LATER THAT IT HAD A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO GET INTO THE MOTOR. I WAS TOLD THAT WE HAD ALREADY TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR THE RECALL, BUT I DIDN'T RECALL DOING THAT. AND DEALERSHIP HAS NOT PROVIDED ME WITH PROOF THAT THE RECALL WAS DONE AND DONE WITH THE REDESIGNED PARTS RECOMMENDED BY GM. GM KNEW OF THIS ON GOING PROBLEM, THEY INSTALLED THE SAME FAULTY PARTS AGAIN AND THE PROBLEM REARED ITS UGLY HEAD AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED US THAT WE WOULD NEED TO SPEND $1000.00 TO REPAIR THE CAR. BUT THEY COULD NOT GARANTEE THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT BLOW THE MOTOR OR CRACK ANOTHER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THERE ARE 275,811 BONNEVILLES WITH THIS PROBLEM AND GM STILL DOES NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. MAYBE MAKING THE PART OUT OF SOMETHING ELSE OTHER THAN PLASTIC MIGHT HELP. MEANWHILE PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF AND OTHER MIDDLE CLASS AMERCIANS ARE PAYING THROUGH THE NOSE TO FIX THEIR CARS WITH THE PROBLEM ONLY GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I CAN'T SEE WHY THERE ISN'T A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAIST GM IT HAS BEEN 8 YEARS AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. I HAVE SEEN WHERE THEY HAVE REPLACED SOME MOTORS FOR SOME CUSTOMERS, SO WHY NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPLACE THE MANIFOLD OR MOTOR WHERE IT IS WARRENTED FOR ALL PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING PROBLEMS. THIS EXPENSE SHOULD BE ON GM. AND FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN RAILROADED INTO PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS, REFUND THEM THE MONEY THEY HAVE SPENT TO FIX THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED A PRICE OF $5000.00 FOR A NEW MOTOR UNTOP OF THE $1000.00 REPAIR TO SEE IF THAT WILL WORK. *AK

MY 1996 BONNEVILLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY ON MONDAY MORNING, SEPT. 22, 2003. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY ENGINE HAD GONE INTO HYDRAULIC LOCK. THE PLASTIC INTAKE HAD CRACKED AND FILLED THE CYLINDERS WITH COOLANT. I HAD TO HAVE THE HEAD REMOVED AND SURFACED, THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED AND SEVERAL OTHER RELATED ITEMS. THE REPAIRS TOTALED TO OVER $2000. THIS WAS VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE I AM VERY CAREFUL TO HAVE ALL OF MY MAINTENACE DONE ON TIME AND ALL OF THE FLUIDS CHANGED EVERY 30,000 MILES. IF YOU CAN HELP WITH THIS, IT WILL BE MOST APPRECIATED. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH THIS DESIGN OF INTAKE. *LA