IllustrationPOWER LOCKS ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY LOCK ON THEIR OWN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, AND SOMETIMES CANNOT BE UNLOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE WITH THE KEY, THIS CAUSED A CHILD TO BE LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE FOR HOURS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
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
What owners actually said
28 reportsVEHICLE 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
CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. CONSUMER HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKES, AND THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP. KNOCKED OVER A SIGN. MOTOR WAS RACING VERY HIGH, AND FINALLY VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND CAME TO A STOP. *AK
SPEEDOMETER FAILED.
TEVES ABS KICKS IN UNDER ALL BRAKING CONDITIONS.
DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING DOOR LOCK TO FAIL.
LEFT REAR BALL JOINT GAVE WAY, ALLOWING LEFT REAR FORK TO COLLAPSE. FORK THEN JAMMED ITSELF AGAINST THE INSIDE LEFT REAR WHEEL RIM, PREVENTING THE WHEEL FROM ROTATING IN EITHER DIRECTION. PROBLEM--REAR INDEPENDENT STRUT SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENT.
CRUISE CONTROL SELF ACTIVATED INTO SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING A COLLISION .
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BRACKETS SPLIT CAUSING SEAT TO TILT BACK, SEAT BELTS GET STUCK WITH DIFFICULTY IN RELEASING.
WATER PUMP FAILED.
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.