IllustrationTHE INSURED STATED THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN IT BROKE DOWN. CLAIM#13-7503-708 *YH
1997 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
20–25K
325–50K
750–75K
875–100K
14100–150K
3150K+
37 reports with mileage · 110 unknown
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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports16 fire reports6 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
50 reportsCONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, IT WENT PUFF AND THE ENGINE AREA CAUGHT FIRE, FIRE STARTED BACK BY THE FIREWALL AND MELTED THE CENTER OF THE DASH, CLAIM 23-1435-647. *SLC
VEHICLE BROKE DOWN, CONSUMER SAW SMOKE, FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 13-7503-708. *SLC
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO HOLE IN EGR/ INLET IN INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH CAUSED ENGINE COOLANT TO ENTER FUEL INTAKE SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 17-9174-792. *SLC
WAS TRAVELING 55MPH WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, CHECKED UNDER HOOD, AND NOTICED STEAM & ANTI-FREEZE WAS SPILLING OVER EVERYTHING. TURNED VEHICLE OFF & ANTI-FREEZE JUST DRIPPED. NOTICED IT WAS COMING OUT OF BOTTOM OF WATER PUMP. LET VEHICLE COOL DOWN & REFILLED IT WITH WATER & DROVE HOME. DEALER REP…
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WAS TRAVELING 55MPH WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, CHECKED UNDER HOOD, AND NOTICED STEAM & ANTI-FREEZE WAS SPILLING OVER EVERYTHING. TURNED VEHICLE OFF & ANTI-FREEZE JUST DRIPPED. NOTICED IT WAS COMING OUT OF BOTTOM OF WATER PUMP. LET VEHICLE COOL DOWN & REFILLED IT WITH WATER & DROVE HOME. DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP, ENGINE COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED. *SLC
NO SUMMARY
TWICE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50MPH CAR LOST ALL POWER FOR A SECOND OR SO AND THEN CAME RIGHT BACK ON. DURING THIS SECOND OR SO, I HAVE NO POWER BRAKES, STEERING, NOTHING. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD, IF IT HAPPENS AT THE WRONG TIME, IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ONE TIME BEFORE I REMEMBER AT LEAST A MONTH A…
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TWICE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50MPH CAR LOST ALL POWER FOR A SECOND OR SO AND THEN CAME RIGHT BACK ON. DURING THIS SECOND OR SO, I HAVE NO POWER BRAKES, STEERING, NOTHING. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD, IF IT HAPPENS AT THE WRONG TIME, IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ONE TIME BEFORE I REMEMBER AT LEAST A MONTH AGO, THE RADIO JUST CUT OUT FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS FOR NO REASON, AND THE DAY AFTER THE FIRST TIME MY CAR LOST POWER, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND THEN WENT OUT. I DON'T KNOW IF THESE ARE RELATED, BUT SOMETHING IS WRONG, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE ENGINE, ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER. *AK
VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE IN MOTION UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER BETWEEN 4-6 TIMES, BUT DEFECT KEEPS OCCURRING. FINALLY DEALR REPLACED FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND DEFECT DID STOP, BUT ONLY FOR 2 YEARS. CURRENTLY, DEFECT HAS REAPPEARED.*AK FUEL PRESS…
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VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE IN MOTION UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER BETWEEN 4-6 TIMES, BUT DEFECT KEEPS OCCURRING. FINALLY DEALR REPLACED FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND DEFECT DID STOP, BUT ONLY FOR 2 YEARS. CURRENTLY, DEFECT HAS REAPPEARED.*AK FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED TWICE IN THREE YEARS. *YH
VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY ON THREE OCCASSIONS WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DECELERATING AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 35-50MPH. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER A PERIOD TIME. ONCE IMMEDIATELY AND THE OTHER TWO TIMES AFTER 15-30 MIN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER SERVICE AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DETEC…
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VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY ON THREE OCCASSIONS WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DECELERATING AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 35-50MPH. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER A PERIOD TIME. ONCE IMMEDIATELY AND THE OTHER TWO TIMES AFTER 15-30 MIN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER SERVICE AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DETECTED OR REPEATED. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON PROBLEM AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TAKEN.
Official recalls
196V196000 · Seats
Oct 8, 1996
THE SEAT COVER TRIM MATERIAL DOES NOT MEET THE FLAMMABILITY REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 302, "FLAMMABILITY OF INTERIOR MATERIALS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, A VEHICLE INTERIOR FIRE CAN OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COVERS ON THE FRONT SEAT BACKS, REAR SEAT CUSHION AND REAR SEAT BACK ASSEMBLIES.
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
2EA02030 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 9, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
PE02050 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Jun 13, 2002 · Closed Oct 22, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.