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1992 Pontiac Bonneville

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 9 of 113 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 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports5 fire reports10 injury reports

What owners actually said

113 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

LOSS OF FUEL ON RIGHT HAND TURN, CHRONIC WHEN FUEL IS AROUND 1/3 LEVEL, CAUSED BY INCORRECT FUEL STRAINER POSITION. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS WIDESPREAD AMONG 92 GM H-BODY OWNERS. SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY. LOSS OF POWER CAN CAUSE ANO…

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LOSS OF FUEL ON RIGHT HAND TURN, CHRONIC WHEN FUEL IS AROUND 1/3 LEVEL, CAUSED BY INCORRECT FUEL STRAINER POSITION. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS WIDESPREAD AMONG 92 GM H-BODY OWNERS. SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY. LOSS OF POWER CAN CAUSE ANOTHER VEHICLE TO HIT MERGING CAR. THE DATE LISTED IS MY PERSONAL FIRST EXPERIENCE WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENED BEFORE IN OTHER 92 GM H-BODY CARS, MY MOTHER'S AND MY BROTHER'S. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10062463

153,000 miles · Aug 14, 2003
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

CAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GOES ON AND OFF WHENEVER A/C IS ON.VERY DIM LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUT WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10032859

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2002
Electrical System

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THERE WAS SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8020098

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2002
EquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

FAILURE OF ABS SYSTEM CREATED A LOSS OF FATH IN ABS AS A MEANS OF STOPPING. DONOT TRUST THAT IT WILL WORK SPENT 2X'S ORIG . COST TO FIX. AIR CONDITIONER LOST FREON DUE TO LEAKS IN THE COIL BUILT IN THE DASH. THIS CAUSED OIL TO PLUG THE FINS THUS BLOCKING AIR FLOW. IT WAS STATED THAT GM USED A CRIMPING PROCESS INSTEAD OF SODERING…

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FAILURE OF ABS SYSTEM CREATED A LOSS OF FATH IN ABS AS A MEANS OF STOPPING. DONOT TRUST THAT IT WILL WORK SPENT 2X'S ORIG . COST TO FIX. AIR CONDITIONER LOST FREON DUE TO LEAKS IN THE COIL BUILT IN THE DASH. THIS CAUSED OIL TO PLUG THE FINS THUS BLOCKING AIR FLOW. IT WAS STATED THAT GM USED A CRIMPING PROCESS INSTEAD OF SODERING THE FINS WHEN THEY BUILT THIS TYPE OF RECEIVER.IF YOU DO NOT FIX , YOU WILL NOT GET FULL AIR FOR THE DEFROSTERS TO WORK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #757756

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS LOSING FUEL FROM GAS TANK, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR FACILITY, AND DISCOVERED THAT THE TOP OF FUEL TANK WAS CORRODED.*AK. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL TANK SENDER, GAS TANK, AND GAS TANK STRAP, ALL DUE TO A GAS LEAK. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #8002706

Mileage unknown · Jan 1, 2002
Power Train

TRANSMISSION MOUNT BOLTS HAVE FALLEN OUT AT LEAST 3 TIMES EVEN THOUGH REPLACED WITH THE CORRECT BOLTS AND CORRECT LOC-TITE. WHEN THEY FALL OUT THE DRIVETRAIN DROPS ONTO MY STEERING ASSEMBLY CAUSING IT TO PULL ONE DIRECTION OR ANOTHER OR SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO GO LEFT AND RIGHT AT THE SAME TIME. NOW MY STEERING IS ME…

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TRANSMISSION MOUNT BOLTS HAVE FALLEN OUT AT LEAST 3 TIMES EVEN THOUGH REPLACED WITH THE CORRECT BOLTS AND CORRECT LOC-TITE. WHEN THEY FALL OUT THE DRIVETRAIN DROPS ONTO MY STEERING ASSEMBLY CAUSING IT TO PULL ONE DIRECTION OR ANOTHER OR SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO GO LEFT AND RIGHT AT THE SAME TIME. NOW MY STEERING IS MESSY EVEN WITH TRANNY MOUNT BOLTS INSTALLED THE STEERING ASS SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN 'STRETCHED' CAUSING IT TO PULL BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT AT THE SAME TIME OR SOMETIMES REALLY HARD TO THE RIGHT (TIRES SEAM TO WEAR EVENLY -THOUGH IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE). TIRE SHOP FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS BALL JOINTS BUT DECIDED NO BAD BALL JOINTS. ALSO MANY TIMES WHEN I PUT THE CAR UP ON RAMPS OR A JACK TO CHANGE TO MY SUMMER WHEELS OR CHANGE OIL THE E-BRAKE DOESN'T WANT TO HOLD. I PUSH THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND COMES BACK UP ALMOST ALL THE WAY. ONLY ONCE OR TWICE IN THE 12 MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE CAR HAS THE E-BRAKE HELD. SOMETIMES IT WILL HOLD FOR A SECOND OR TWO BUT THEN IT RELEASES OR 'SLIPS'. THESE PROBLEMS BOTHER ME ESPECIALLY AFTER SEEING THE CORROSION RECALL FOR OTHER GM CARS FOR PROBLEMS LIKE MY DRIVETRAIN MOUNT BOLT HOLES CORROSION PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #756280

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2001
WheelsCrash

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF VEHICLE AT SLOW SPEED, COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES, I RECOVED 3 WHEEL STUDS FROM THE ROAD WITH LUG NUTS STILL INTACT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #740524

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2001
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

USING TRACTION CONTROL ON ABS BRAKES BURNED OPEN. TRACTION CONTROL WAS TOO LIGHT FOR AREAS GETTING LOTS OF SNOW. HAD NO TRACTION CONTROL AT ALL. EXPERIENCING A TEMPORARY LOSS OF BRAKING POWER DUE TO LOST OF TRACTION CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #878620

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE STOPPED THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND FORCED THE VEHICLE FORWARD INTO THE BACK BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #554637

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2000
Electrical System

VOLTAGE FALLS AND MOTOR QUITS IN HEAT. BATTERY IS DEAD. REPLACING ALT & BATT DOES NOT HELP. VOLTAGE GETS LOWER AS HEAT BUILDS UNTIL BATTERY DIES. ENGINE FALTERS AND QUITS. HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED (DIDN'T HAPPEN BEFORE). SSEI DOES NOT HAVE A VOLTMETER AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE BATTERY LIGHT COME ON IN…

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VOLTAGE FALLS AND MOTOR QUITS IN HEAT. BATTERY IS DEAD. REPLACING ALT & BATT DOES NOT HELP. VOLTAGE GETS LOWER AS HEAT BUILDS UNTIL BATTERY DIES. ENGINE FALTERS AND QUITS. HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED (DIDN'T HAPPEN BEFORE). SSEI DOES NOT HAVE A VOLTMETER AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE BATTERY LIGHT COME ON IN ANY OF THE EVENTS (THOUGHT IT IS WEAK AND HARD TO SEE SO WE CAN'T BE SURE). DEALER KNOWS NOTHING. WE HAVE NOT FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM. I INSTALLED THE 130 AMPERE OPTION ALTERNATOR (FOR CARS WITH ELECTRICALLY HEATED WINDSHIELDS) THE LAST TIME AND HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE VOLTAGE. THE VOLTAGE DROPS STEADILY AS HEAT BUILDS, BUT SEEMS TO STOP AT ABOUT 13 VOLTS (I DIDN'T ADD VOLTMETER BEFORE GOING TO THE LARGER ALTERNATOR SO I DON'T KNOW HOW LOW VOLTAGE WENT IN EARLIER EVENTS .. THOUGH I DID EXPERIEMENT WITH SEMI-DEAD BETTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR DISCONNETED AND THE ENGINE QUITS AT ABOUT 10 VOLTS). I SEE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM ON YOUR WEB SITE AND I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHER SSEI OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL HAVE REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND/OR BATTERY TO NO AVAIL.

NHTSA ODI #729216

Official recalls

3

96V015000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Jan 23, 1996

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.

91V167000 · Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical

Sep 23, 1991

WHEN APPLIED, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY MAY RELEASE ONE OR MORE TEETH, REDUCING THE CABLE LOAD TO THE REAR BRAKES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE LEVER RELEASE AND ROADLEVEL. THE PARKING BRAKE MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, ALLOWING IT TO ROLL, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 105.

Remedy: REPLACE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY.

91V131000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Aug 5, 1991

TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE MAY DISENGAGE FROM SHIFT CONTROL CABLE BRACKET, CAUSING LOSS OF GEAR INDICATOR REFERENCE, AND SHIFT SELECTOR OPERATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DISENGAGED CABLE COULD FALSELY INDICATE TRANSMISSIONGEAR POSITION, AND THE VEHICLE MIGHT BE LEFT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE WHEN THE DRIVERMOVED THE GEAR SELECTOR TO PARK OR THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. A VEHICLE LEFT ON ANINCLINE WITHOUT PARKING BRAKES WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR IS PLACED IN PARK COULDMOVE. EITHER CASE RESULTS IN UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNINGAND COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL A TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP ON THE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE BRACKET ON TOP OF TRANSAXLE.

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

2

EA93011 · Fuel Line Failure

Opened May 3, 1993 · Closed May 31, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE92010 · Fuel Line Connector Fails

Opened Jan 27, 1992 · Closed May 22, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available