IllustrationTHE ENGINE LEAKED COOLANT.*TS *JB
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
What owners actually said
150 reportsTHE ENGINE ON THIS CAR FAILED. IT HAS 115,000 MILES. IT WAS MAINTAINED FROM THE START. WE PURCHASED IT NEW. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AND LEAKED ANTIFREEZE THROUGHOUT THE MOTOR. WE HAD THE MANIFOLDS, OXYGEN SENSORS, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. WE FOUND OUT THERE WAS A TSB ISSUED ON THIS VEHICLE REGARDING THE MANIFOL…
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THE ENGINE ON THIS CAR FAILED. IT HAS 115,000 MILES. IT WAS MAINTAINED FROM THE START. WE PURCHASED IT NEW. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AND LEAKED ANTIFREEZE THROUGHOUT THE MOTOR. WE HAD THE MANIFOLDS, OXYGEN SENSORS, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. WE FOUND OUT THERE WAS A TSB ISSUED ON THIS VEHICLE REGARDING THE MANIFOLD PROBLEM. PONTIAC AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE CONTACTED. THEY BOTH TOLD US IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT THEY'LL DO NOTHING. I'D UNDERSTAND GIVEN THE MILEAGE THAT THIS IS NOT A NEW CAR, HOWEVER, KNOWING THERE'S A TSB ISSUED ON IT, IT SEEMS THEY ARE FAILING TO PROVIDE A GOOD PRODUCT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.
COOLING SYSTEM LEAKAGE-THE BLACK PLASTIC COVER ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS COOLANT/WATER. IT LEAKS WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, IT DOES THIS WHEN EVER PARKED AND THE CAR IS ALLOWED TO SIT AND GET COLD. THERE IS CLEAR EVIDENCE IT IS LEAKING AROUND THE BASE OF THE PLASTIC COVER WHERE IT SEALS AGAINST THE ALUMINUM INTAKE MANIFOLD. IT…
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COOLING SYSTEM LEAKAGE-THE BLACK PLASTIC COVER ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS COOLANT/WATER. IT LEAKS WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, IT DOES THIS WHEN EVER PARKED AND THE CAR IS ALLOWED TO SIT AND GET COLD. THERE IS CLEAR EVIDENCE IT IS LEAKING AROUND THE BASE OF THE PLASTIC COVER WHERE IT SEALS AGAINST THE ALUMINUM INTAKE MANIFOLD. IT HAS DONE THIS EVERY WINTER FOR THE PAST FOUR WINTERS. IT IS GETTING WORSE, AND FROM THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ IT IS COMMON TO THE 3.8 L ENGINE. IT DOES NOT LEAK AT ALL IN THE SUMMER OR FALL, ONLY IN THE WINTER BELOW 35 DEGREE'S. WHAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM AND IS THERE A SOLID FIX FOR THIS, OR ARE ALL REPAIRS JUST TEMPORARY UNTIL THE NEW GASKETS START LEAKING AGAIN? IS THERE ANY TYPE OF RECOURSE OR RECALL? THE COLDER IT GETS, THE BIGGER THE LEAK AND THE PUDDLE UNDER THE CAR. IT ALSO STINKS WHEN YOU DRIVE IT WHILE THE COOLANT COOKS ON THE MOTOR. *JB
THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A COOLANT LEAK. *AK *JB
THE ENGINE FAILED.*DT *JB
1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 3800 K ENGINE . UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AT 63000 MILES CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK.
FAILURE 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.
DEALER 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
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.