IllustrationAFTER REFUELING ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER STATED RADIATOR NEEDED WATER. WATER WAS COMING THROUGH RADIATOR, AND EXITING THROUGH EXHAUST SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION.*AK
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. THEN, THE ENGINE STOPPED. CONTACTED DEALER, VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING, AND WATER WENT INTO ENGINE CYCLINDER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK THE MECHANICS REMOVED/REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, BOTH UPPER AND LOWER MANIFOLD GASKETS. *SCC
UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING COOLANT ONTO ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD DUE TO IT BEING WARPED WHERE IT JOINED THE THROTTLE BODY. *SLC
ANTI FREEZE WAD SLEAKING BUT NOT ON GROUND. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND NOTICED ANTI FREEZE LEAKING INTO ENGINE, INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
ENGINE WOULD NOT RUN DUE TO COOLANT IN CYLINDER/S, COST TO REPLACE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD APX. $900.00 THE TERM DEGRADE AS USED BY GM SHOULD BE DEFECTIVE AS BY ALL EXPERIENCE, AN INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS NO MOVING PARTS TO WEAR AND THE CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH COOLANT WHICH DOES NOT NEED REPLACINGG UNTIL 150,000 MILES OR FIVE YEARS. TH…
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ENGINE WOULD NOT RUN DUE TO COOLANT IN CYLINDER/S, COST TO REPLACE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD APX. $900.00 THE TERM DEGRADE AS USED BY GM SHOULD BE DEFECTIVE AS BY ALL EXPERIENCE, AN INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS NO MOVING PARTS TO WEAR AND THE CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH COOLANT WHICH DOES NOT NEED REPLACINGG UNTIL 150,000 MILES OR FIVE YEARS. THERE IS NO MAINTENACE THAT ANY OWNER CAN DO TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. IF IT HAPPENS WHEN IN TRAFFIC AND THE ENGINE STOPPED, THERE WILL BE SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. GM DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DEFECT OR DESIGN PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING, ENGINE STALLED, RESULTING IN VEHICLE BECOMING INOPERABLE.*AK CONSUMERS WIFE WAS COMING TO A STOP WHEN THE ENGINE FROZE. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL COOLANT AND RADIATOR WATER DUE TO THE PLENUM MELTING FROM THE EGB TUBE. THE POOR DESIGN HAS BEEN CORRECTED BY GM, BUT AS A REPAIR BULLETIN AND NOT A SA…
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WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING, ENGINE STALLED, RESULTING IN VEHICLE BECOMING INOPERABLE.*AK CONSUMERS WIFE WAS COMING TO A STOP WHEN THE ENGINE FROZE. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL COOLANT AND RADIATOR WATER DUE TO THE PLENUM MELTING FROM THE EGB TUBE. THE POOR DESIGN HAS BEEN CORRECTED BY GM, BUT AS A REPAIR BULLETIN AND NOT A SAFETY RECALL. *JG
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND SMELLED A ROTTEN SMELL COMING FROM VENTS AREA., AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, VEHICLE SHUTDOWN INSIDE OF PARKING LOT.*AK
ANTIFREEZE LEAKED FROM VEHICLE, DEALER DETERMINED THAT PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD MELTED, CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INTO ENGINE. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS GOTTEN A HOLE IN IT 2 TIMES NOW. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 83000 MILES AND RESULTED IN NEEDING A NEW ENGINE. THE NEW ENGINE HAD 16000 MILES ON IT AND AFTER DRIVING 19000 MILES THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN CAUSEING US TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD, HEAD GASKETS, BOLTS AND STARTER. IT HAS COST OVER 2000.0…
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THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS GOTTEN A HOLE IN IT 2 TIMES NOW. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 83000 MILES AND RESULTED IN NEEDING A NEW ENGINE. THE NEW ENGINE HAD 16000 MILES ON IT AND AFTER DRIVING 19000 MILES THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN CAUSEING US TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD, HEAD GASKETS, BOLTS AND STARTER. IT HAS COST OVER 2000.00 FOR THE SAME DEFECTIVE PLASTIC PEICE. THE GARAGE SAID TO GET RID OF THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS JUST GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING AND THERE IS NO WAY OF TELLING AHEAD OF TIME THAT IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. WE JUST PAID THE CAR OFF AND CANT TAKE ON NEW PAYMENTS SO THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. SO SOMEONE NEEDS TO GET GM TO FIX THEIR DEFECT SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP GOING THROUGH THIS. WE CONTACTED THE GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND THEY WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A DEFECT OR PROBLEM. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY HAD RECEIVED A BULLITIN ON IT AND SAID WHAT TO CHECK BUT WOULD NOT HELP WITH THE COST EITHER. NEITHER WERE ANY HELP AT ALL. BUT THEY WERE SORRY WE WERE HAVING DIFFICULTY WHAT A BIG HELP.*AK
CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK.*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.