IllustrationTHIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE BRAKES WENT OUT ON THIS CAR CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CAR THE SECOND TIME OCCURRED ONLY THREE MONTHS AFTER THE BRAKES WERE FIXED. *AK (TIRESIZE: 215/65/15)
1989 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
Limited mileage data: 2 of 28 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 8 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 →
- Seat Belts. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
8 reportsI HAVE HAD TWO BONNEVILLES' AN 1988' AND A 1989' AND HAVE HAD MAJOR BRAKE TROUBLES WITH BOTH VEHICLES. *AK
BEFORE THE DOORS JAMMED/THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS BEGAN TO MOVE BY THEMSELVES - NOT ONE OF THE DOORS JAMMED, BUT ALL FOUR- ALSO THE ABS HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR- I COULD UNDERSTAND IF IT WAS THE MOTOR THAT CAUSE THE PROBLEM, BUT EACH OF MY DOORS, AND THE UNHEARD OF PRICES THE DEALER WAS CHARGING, BEFORE…
Read full complaint
BEFORE THE DOORS JAMMED/THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS BEGAN TO MOVE BY THEMSELVES - NOT ONE OF THE DOORS JAMMED, BUT ALL FOUR- ALSO THE ABS HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR- I COULD UNDERSTAND IF IT WAS THE MOTOR THAT CAUSE THE PROBLEM, BUT EACH OF MY DOORS, AND THE UNHEARD OF PRICES THE DEALER WAS CHARGING, BEFORE FINALLY SAYING THEY CAN NOT OPEN THE DOORS AT ALL.
VEHICLE WAS IN STORAGE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, FIRST DRIVE ON THE ROAD THE BRAKES FAILED, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE ANIT-LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGED RETURNING A ROCK HARD PEDAL BUT DID NOT ENGAGE THE BRAKES, AFTER SEVERAL PUMPS, THE PEDAL RELEASED AND THE BRAKES ENGAGED. NLM
TEVES ABS KICKS IN UNDER ALL BRAKING CONDITIONS.
WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED ABS FAILURE; WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW/STOP PEDAL BECOMES HARD, THEN GOES TO FLOOR, ABS WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY. *AK
OWNER HAS ABS BRAKES SHE STATES THAT HER BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THAT SHE HAD WORK DONE ON ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM AND BRAKES STILL MALFUNTIONS
BRAKES DO NOT STOP VEHICLE WHEN YOU APPLY THEM IN SUDDEN SITUATIONS. THEY DO NOT STOP VEHICLE UNITL ABOUT THIRD TIME. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Official recalls
188V143000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage
Aug 29, 1988
FUEL ROLLOVER VALVE ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH VEHICLE BECOMES INVERTEDMISSING VALVE COULD ALLOW FUEL SPILLAGE IN EXCESS OF AMOUNT ALLOWED BY FMVSS 301WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL SENDER AND PUMP ASSEMBLY.
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.