IllustrationWHEN I KICKED IT DOWN. MY SERVICE LIGHT STARED TO BLINK. NOISE IN MY STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT OF CAR. *TT
2003 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
50–25K
825–50K
650–75K
975–100K
8100–150K
4150K+
40 reports with mileage · 14 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports5 fire reports2 injury reports
Steering complaints
10 reports2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SSEI WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, LEFT OR RIGHT FROM A STOPPING POSITION A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE APPEARS. IT IS FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN. WHILE DRIVING THE NOISE HAPPENS RARELY. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THIS BUT NO RECALL AS OF YET. I AM WORRIED THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN WH…
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2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SSEI WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, LEFT OR RIGHT FROM A STOPPING POSITION A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE APPEARS. IT IS FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN. WHILE DRIVING THE NOISE HAPPENS RARELY. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THIS BUT NO RECALL AS OF YET. I AM WORRIED THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAYS AT HIGH SPEEDS ESPECIALLY. IS SOMETHING LOOSE AND/OR GETTING RUBBED TO CAUSE DAMAGE AND LOSS OF STEERING IN THE FUTURE? GM DEALER DEFECT? *TR
AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN MAKING CLUNKING NOISES WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED REGARDLESS OF WHICH DIRECTION. THE NOISE/VIBRATION IS CONTINUOUS AND VERY ANNOYING. *TR
CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 BONNEVILLE SSEI AND THERE IS NO CORRECTION. ALSO SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM KEEPS COMING UP ON THE SCREEN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH OR TURNING THE VEHICLE LEFT OR RIGHT, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. HE CAN ALSO FELT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATE ONCE THE NOISE BEGAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT OTHER CONSUMERS WITH THE SAM…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH OR TURNING THE VEHICLE LEFT OR RIGHT, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. HE CAN ALSO FELT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATE ONCE THE NOISE BEGAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT OTHER CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE EXPERIENCED IDENTICAL FAILURES IN THE PAST. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BECAUSE IT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 35,000. UPDATED 05/15/09 *BF UPDATED 05/18/09.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE NOISE OCCURRED IN ANY GEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS LOOSE. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED AT 32,340 AND 37,000 MILES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE NOISE OCCURRED IN ANY GEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS LOOSE. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED AT 32,340 AND 37,000 MILES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
STEERING KNUCKLE U-JOINT WAS CLUNKING. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED AND I PAID $275. ONE YEAR LATER, IT STARTED CLUNKING AGAIN ON TURNS - DEALERSHIP ADDED IN GREASE KIT AT NO CHARGE. ONE YEAR LATER, STEERING STARTS CLUNKING AGAIN AND THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WHY IS THIS THING DESIGNED TO LAST ONLY ONE YEAR? THE…
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STEERING KNUCKLE U-JOINT WAS CLUNKING. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED AND I PAID $275. ONE YEAR LATER, IT STARTED CLUNKING AGAIN ON TURNS - DEALERSHIP ADDED IN GREASE KIT AT NO CHARGE. ONE YEAR LATER, STEERING STARTS CLUNKING AGAIN AND THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WHY IS THIS THING DESIGNED TO LAST ONLY ONE YEAR? THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD, BUT IF THE STEERING IS CLUNKING LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE, HOW DO I KNOW IT IS SAFE? *JB
WHEN TURNING FROM A STOP SIGN OR SIDE STREET THE CAR MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN I WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL THE SECOND TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN I WAS TOLD THEY WILL LOOK AT IT. THEY REPLACED A PART BECAUSE THERE WAS MORE PLAY THEN THERE SHOULD BE. BUT THEN TOLD ME IT WAS STILL NORMAL. *NM
2003 BONNEVILLE MADE A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING. MECHANIC REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. PROBLEM HAS RECURRED. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS A NORMAL FIX, THAT WILL CONTINUE TO OCCUR.*JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY ON A SIDE STREET THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER AND A NOISE CAME FROM THE RACK AND PINION AREA. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE DIFFICULT STEERING OR NOISE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED POWER STEERING FLUID SEEPING FROM THE RACK AND PINION. THE V…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY ON A SIDE STREET THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER AND A NOISE CAME FROM THE RACK AND PINION AREA. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE DIFFICULT STEERING OR NOISE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED POWER STEERING FLUID SEEPING FROM THE RACK AND PINION. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR INSPECTIONS. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE SEEPAGE WAS NORMAL. *AK
Official recalls
203V238000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Jul 1, 2003
ON CERTAIN CADILLAC DEVILLE AND SEVILLE PASSENGER VEHICLES, FUNERAL COACHES, AND LIMOUSINES EQUIPPED WITH A V8 (4.6L) ENGINE, OLDSMOBILE AURORA PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A V8 (4.0L ) ENGINE, AND PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SSEI PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A SUPERCHARGED V6 (3.8L) ENGINE, THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSORS ARE UNUSUALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO MALFUNCTIONS. IF THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS, EXCESSIVE VACUUM CAN BE APPLIED DURING SELF-DIAGNOSTIC TESTING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS CAN BE DAMAGED AND FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN IT IS REFUELED. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
02V222000 · Air Bags:frontal
Aug 9, 2002
CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.