IllustrationINTERMITTENTLY ENGINE REVVED, RPM'S WENT UP TO 3000 WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN PARK CAR JUMPED FOWARD DURING REVVING, AND TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO LOCK UP. CONSUMER HAD TO SLAM FOOT ON BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK
1993 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: 10 of 138 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 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports10 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
138 reportsTRANMISSION OIL COOLING LINES, DURING NORMAL OPERATION, DEVELOP A HOLE DUE TO TO VIBRATION/RUBBING ON A GUIDE BRACKET WHICH IS MOUNTED TO THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. TRANSMISSION OIL LEAKS OUT, WETTING DOWN THE UNDERSIDE OF CAR AND INNER AREA OF THE FRONT WHEEL, IN THE AREA OF THE DISC BRAKE. CAR WAS SERVICED AT SEELYE WRIGHT…
Read full complaint
TRANMISSION OIL COOLING LINES, DURING NORMAL OPERATION, DEVELOP A HOLE DUE TO TO VIBRATION/RUBBING ON A GUIDE BRACKET WHICH IS MOUNTED TO THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. TRANSMISSION OIL LEAKS OUT, WETTING DOWN THE UNDERSIDE OF CAR AND INNER AREA OF THE FRONT WHEEL, IN THE AREA OF THE DISC BRAKE. CAR WAS SERVICED AT SEELYE WRIGHT PONTIAC, SOUTH HAVEN, MICHIGAN, TO REPLACE PIPE.
THE DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S DOES NOT OPEN WITH THE KEYLESS ENTREE OR THE KEY, WHEN THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE IS HELD OPEN AND THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING BUTTON IS PUSHED DOWN. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
ABS SYSTEM INOPERATIVE ABS LIGHT ON CONSTANTIY, MECHANIC SAYS MODULATOR PROBLEM ,DEALER SAYS NO RECALLS OR SERVICE PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES.
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. MJS
WHILE DRIVING FROM CARBONDALE ILL. TO CHICAGO THE ENGINE FAILED AND STOPPED RUNNING AT 65MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WORDEN/MARTIN PONTIAC AT 100 CARRIAGE CENTER CT. ,CHAMPAIGN,ILL. 61820 /PHONE#(800)525-8689. I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MGR DAN HILDENBRAND THAT THE ENGINE FAILED BECAUSE OF "PRE-IGNITION" .I'VE OWNED MANY CARS AND I'VE…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING FROM CARBONDALE ILL. TO CHICAGO THE ENGINE FAILED AND STOPPED RUNNING AT 65MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WORDEN/MARTIN PONTIAC AT 100 CARRIAGE CENTER CT. ,CHAMPAIGN,ILL. 61820 /PHONE#(800)525-8689. I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MGR DAN HILDENBRAND THAT THE ENGINE FAILED BECAUSE OF "PRE-IGNITION" .I'VE OWNED MANY CARS AND I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM THAT COST ME$3,078.12USC. ALL I GOT FRPM GM WAS "THAT WILL COST YOU $3,078.12 .
RIGHT REAR BRAKE CYLINDER LEAKED AND DAMANGED THE BRAKE SHOE. CONSUMER TO THE CAR TO DEALER, AND DEALER CORRECTED PROBLEM AT 21000. CURRENTLY, AT36000 MILES BRAKE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED.
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH SMELLED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE FRONT VENTS AND FIRE WAS COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WHICH STARTED FROM TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT AND LINES. *AK
ABS PERFORMS START UP TEST PROPERLY. IN FORWARD MOVEMENT, THE FIRST BRAKE APPLICATION MAY BECOME A VIOLENT, UNEVEN, BRAKING EVENT THAT COULD MAKE THE CAR UNCONTROLLABLE. ADVISED NEEDING NEW FRONT WHEEL WIRING HARNESSES. NOT SHIELDED BY PONTIAC. $500+ TO REPLACE. DISCONNECTED FUSE FOR ABS.
Official recalls
196V015000 · 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.
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
1EA93018 · Fuel Leaks
Opened Jul 13, 1993 · Closed Jun 24, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available