Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 19 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
Steering. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
19 reports
Mileage unknown · May 7, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE CAR WILL MOMENTARILY HESITATE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. IT IS PERIODIC AND NOT CONSISTENT, THEREFORE, HARD TO DUPLICATE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. I ASKED GM TO E-MAIL SOME OF THEIR NATIONWIDE PONTIAC DEALERSHIPS AND ASK FOR THEIR INPUT ON THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSED. THIS CAN BE A VERY …
Read full complaint
THE CAR WILL MOMENTARILY HESITATE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. IT IS PERIODIC AND NOT CONSISTENT, THEREFORE, HARD TO DUPLICATE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. I ASKED GM TO E-MAIL SOME OF THEIR NATIONWIDE PONTIAC DEALERSHIPS AND ASK FOR THEIR INPUT ON THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSED. THIS CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN ENTERING MOVING TRAFFIC. SO MUCH FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WILL REMEMBER THAT WHEN I PURCHASE MY NEXT VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10018373
Mileage unknown · May 9, 2001
Seats
WHILE SITTING IN SEAT AND LEANING BACK PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SEATS FELL BACK, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT SEAT BACK UP, BUT IF CONTINUING TO LEAN IT WOULD COME BACK DOWN. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY UNSAFE IN AN ANCIDENT.*AK *JB
NHTSA ODI #887853
Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE DRIVING, DOORS LOCKED DOWN AND INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON. WHEN TRYING TO TURN OFF INERIOR LIGHTS, CONTROL SWITCH SUNK/MELTED INTO DASH. DASH ABLAZE WITHIN 2 TO 3 MINUTES, ENTIRE VEHICLE ENGULFED 3 TO 4 MINUTES LATER. ESCAPED THROUGH OPEN WINDOW. VERY UNSAFE.
NHTSA ODI #727578
Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2000
Power Train
WHENEVER IN DRIVE AND SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF. IF ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS BEHIND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IT WOULD REAR ENDED IT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #860002
Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 1999
Unknown Or Other
PAINT ON CAR IS PEELING TERRIBLY. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705117
Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 1998
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE DIES OUT, CAUSING NO BRAKE POWER ALSO NO STEERING. ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED WHICH TEMPORARY CORRECTED THE PROBELM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #824870
Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 1997
Steering
COLD STEERING. POWER STEERING DIES, DOES NOT WORK UNTIL ENGINE WARMS UP WHENEVER OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELLOW 40 DEGREES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #524491
Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 1997
Steering
STEERING RACK FAILED.MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR IT.
NHTSA ODI #526687
Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 1997
Steering
COLD POWER STEERING.
NHTSA ODI #520256
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY (SINCE NEW) AND DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OR RESOLVE PROBLEM.
EXCESSIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE FRICTION MAY RESTRICT THE CABLES FREE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE BODY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD PREVENT THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO CLOSED(IDLE) POSITION WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED; THUS, ENGINE SPEED WOULDNOT DECREASE, AND LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
AN IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK MAY MELT DOWN AND CAUSE A FIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK LOCATED IN THE AREA OF THEPLASTIC WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET MAY, UNDER A HIGH RESISTANCE LOAD,MELT DOWN AND IGNITE THE WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET RESULTING IN AN ENGINECOMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: THE WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED.
THE HEADLAMP CIRCUIT BREAKER MAY OVERHEAT AT LOW BEAM CAUSING AN INTERMITTENT HEADLAMP CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: HEADLAMP AND FOGLAMPS WOULD GO OUT SUDDENLY REDUCINGDRIVER VISIBILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: REVISE FOGLAMP CIRCUIT TO PREVENT OVERHEATING OF HEADLAMP CIRCUIT.
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
8
EA90017 · Brake Failure
Opened Mar 26, 1990 · Closed Apr 22, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE89171 · Brake Failure
Opened Sep 26, 1989 · Closed Mar 26, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
===
EA89028 · Rear Brake Pin
Opened Jul 28, 1989 · Closed Jul 27, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SUMMARY:THESE VEHICLES HAVE REAR DRUM BRAKES.THE PARKING LEVER PIVOTPIN IS HELD BY AN E RING.WHEN THE RING FAILS, PARTS OF THE RING ANDPIN FALL LOOSE INTO THE DRUM AND MAY JAM THE BRAKE, LOCKING THE WHEEL.A STRONGER E RING IS USED IN 1988 AND NEWER CARS.THIS INVESTIGATIONHAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE GMS C BODY CARS LISTED ABOVE (E RING COMMONTO ALL CARS SHOWN).===
PE89145 · Parking Brake Cable
Opened Jul 21, 1989 · Closed Sep 22, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake
===
PE89101 · Rear Brake Pin
Opened Mar 15, 1989 · Closed Jul 28, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
===
PE89098 · Anti Lock Brakes
Opened Mar 10, 1989 · Closed May 17, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
===
EA87022 · Stalling
Opened Aug 27, 1987 · Closed Nov 27, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT STALLING IS DUE TO VARIOUS FAULTYCOMPONENTS OF THE FUEL INJECTION AND/OR IGNITION SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWINGMODELS ARE INVOLVED:BUICK ELECTRA, LESABRE, RIVERA, CENTURY; OLDS CUTLASSCIERA, 88, 98, TORONADO; PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.STATUS:THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.WE ARE CONTINUING TO ANALYZEINFORMATION PROVIDED BY GM AND ARE PREPARING AN ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONREQUEST TO GM TO CLARIFY CERTAIN TECHNICAL ITEMS.===
PE87041 · Throttle System Failure
Opened Aug 4, 1987 · Closed Nov 30, 1987
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:GM REPORTED KNOWLEDGE OF 137OWNER COMPLAINTS, 317 FIELD REPORTS, AND 2 LAWSUITS, IN ADDITION TO THEREPORTS RECEIVED DIRECTLY BY THE NHTSA.THE REPORTS RECEIVED BY GM CITETHE OCCURRENCE OF 263 ACCIDENTS,INCLUDING 77 INJURY ACCIDENTS, 100 INJURIESAND 1 FATALITY.SEVERAL POSSIBLE MODES OF THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE OR MALFUNCTIONARE UNDER CONSIDERATION IN THIS PE, INCLUDING SELF-ACTUATION, FAILURE TODEACTIVATE UPON DRIVER COMMAND, AND THROTTLE SYSTEM STICKING OR BINDING.HAVING EVALUATED THE 456REPORTS RECEIVED DIRECTLY AND THE 36 CONSUMERCOMPLAINTS SUBMITTED BY NHTSA, GM INDICATED THAT NO MEANINGFUL FREQUENCYOR MODE OF MALFUNCTION COULD BE IDENTIFIED TO SUGGEST THE EXISTENCE OF ADEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.SEVERAL DESIGN/MANUFACTURING CHANGES WERE IDENTIFIED AS RELEVANT TO THESUBJECT OF THIS PE; HOWEVER, NO SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALL NOTIFICATIONSHAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM PROBLEMS.ANALYSIS:DURING GM'S COMPILATION AND EVALUATION OF INFORMATION REQUIREDTO RESPOND TO THE NHTSA'S REQUEST, INDICATIONS WERE GIVEN TO ODI THAT THENUMBER OF CONSUMER AND OTHER REPORTS CLEARLY SUGGESTED THE EXISTENCE OF ASAFETY PROBLEM AND THAT CORRECTIVE ACTION BY THE MANUFACTURER WERE INORDER.GM'S FORMAL LETTER RESPONSE, HOWEVER, RETREATED FROM THIS POSITION.NOTWITHSTANDING THE INCOMPLETE ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION SUBMITTED TO THENHTSA, THE NUMBERS OF OWNER AND FIELD REPORTS, TOGETHER WITH CLEAR DATATO SHOW THAT THROTTLE SYSTEM FAILURES HAVE RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT NUMBERSOF ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES, INDICATE THAT A MORE RIGOROUS EVALUATION OF THISMATTER IS IN ORDER.===
1987 Pontiac Bonneville Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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