IllustrationTHE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED OIL MIXED WITH THE ANTI-FREEZE. *JB
1998 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
40–25K
1325–50K
5050–75K
2975–100K
18100–150K
3150K+
117 reports with mileage · 160 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 194 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports28 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
277 reportsBONNEVILLE ENGINE OVER HEATING AND UPPER MANIFOLD CRACKED AND BROKE. *JB
NAR 04/28/2003 MR WHILE DRIVING 55-70 MPH THE CONSUMER ENGINE DIED OUT BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. *CB
UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED IN MY 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO HYDROLOCK. THIS FAILURE CAUSED ADDITIONAL FAILURES OF THE STARTER AND SPARK PLUGS. ALSO THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED WITHOUT FAILING WITH A REDESIGNED PART. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT GM THINKS TH…
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UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED IN MY 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO HYDROLOCK. THIS FAILURE CAUSED ADDITIONAL FAILURES OF THE STARTER AND SPARK PLUGS. ALSO THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED WITHOUT FAILING WITH A REDESIGNED PART. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT GM THINKS THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE MANIFOLDS THAT THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH REDESIGNED PARTS EVEN IF THEY DON'T FAIL. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS $1600. *NLM
ENGINE FAILED WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE STRANDING MY SON AND THREE FRIENDS FOR OVER 3 HOURS. THE DIAGNOSIS IS HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND WILL COST APPROX. $1300 TO REPAIR IN ADDITION TO THE $300 SPENT IN TOWING FEES. THIS IS THE 5TH ONE OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL THAT WE HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. DOES GM…
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ENGINE FAILED WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE STRANDING MY SON AND THREE FRIENDS FOR OVER 3 HOURS. THE DIAGNOSIS IS HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND WILL COST APPROX. $1300 TO REPAIR IN ADDITION TO THE $300 SPENT IN TOWING FEES. THIS IS THE 5TH ONE OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL THAT WE HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. DOES GM DELIBERATELY MAKE ENGINES TO SELF-DESTRUCT? *NLM
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB *TS
THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM OCCURRED DUE TO THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD NOT BEING ABLE TO WITHSTAND ENGINE HEAT TEMPERATURES. *JB
COOLANT WAS SUCKED INTO THE CYLINDERS THROUGH A HOLE IN THE PLENUM WHICH IS PART OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SYSTEM. I HAVE READ OVER 40 COMPLAINTS DETAILING THE SAME PROBLEM AT THIS LOCATION. THIS ENGINE HAD ONLY 56,000 MILES AND DEALER REFUSED TO WARRANTY OR TO ASSIST WITH COSTS. THIS IS CLEARLY A WIDE RANGING DEFECT AND THIS FLUID…
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COOLANT WAS SUCKED INTO THE CYLINDERS THROUGH A HOLE IN THE PLENUM WHICH IS PART OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SYSTEM. I HAVE READ OVER 40 COMPLAINTS DETAILING THE SAME PROBLEM AT THIS LOCATION. THIS ENGINE HAD ONLY 56,000 MILES AND DEALER REFUSED TO WARRANTY OR TO ASSIST WITH COSTS. THIS IS CLEARLY A WIDE RANGING DEFECT AND THIS FLUID LOCK CAN SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY STOP THE ENGINE WHILE IN TRAFFIC CAUSING A POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. THIS DEFECT AFFECTS ALL GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES WITH THE 3.8 L ENGINE YET GENERAL MOTORS HAS REFUSED TO DO A RECALL AND I CANNOT DETECT ANY ACTION BY NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS AND FORCE A RECALL. IT IS TIME TO DO THIS. *JB
THE ORIGINAL AND THE REPLACEMENT UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD MALFUNCTIONED. MR SCC *JB
THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. * MR THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START DUE TO THE COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE CYLINDERS. THE CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A BULLETIN WHICH WAS IN REFERENCE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD/COOLANT CONSUMPTION LEAK. SCC *JB
Official recalls
104V090000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
Feb 24, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
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.