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1997 Pontiac Bonneville

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
147Owner complaints

Model-year median: 19

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1997 Pontiac Bonneville

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 147 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 50 reports
  • Electrical System: 28 reports
  • Power Train: 16 reports
  • Steering: 14 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 11 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
88
1994244
1995150
1996147
1997277
1998143
1999214
2000
Compare all Bonneville years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
50Electrical System
28Power Train
16Steering
14Service Brakes, Hydraulic
11
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
9Vehicle Speed Control
9Air Bags
4Exterior Lighting
3Fuel System, Other
3Seat Belts
3Seats
3Unknown Or Other
3Visibility
3Wheels
3Equipment
2Interior Lighting
2Suspension
2Child Seat
1Engine
1Parking Brake
1Tires
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Exterior Lighting complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

WHILE VEHICLE WAS GOING 65MPH, THE ACCLERATOR PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. ENGINE WAS RUNNING HOT, AND THE OIL WAS SIZZLING. DEALER INFORMED. CONSUMER SAYS THAT 6 OUT OF 6 BEARINGS WERE WORN OUT , AND 4 OUT 6 RODS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ALSO, OIL PRESSURE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINT…

Read full complaint

WHILE VEHICLE WAS GOING 65MPH, THE ACCLERATOR PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. ENGINE WAS RUNNING HOT, AND THE OIL WAS SIZZLING. DEALER INFORMED. CONSUMER SAYS THAT 6 OUT OF 6 BEARINGS WERE WORN OUT , AND 4 OUT 6 RODS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ALSO, OIL PRESSURE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED, AND THAT THE ENGINE & OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR SHOULD BE RECALLED TO PREVENT INJURY OR FATALITY.*SCC

NHTSA ODI #8014088

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2001
Exterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

1.FUEL GAUGE BEHAVES ERRATICALLY AND READS FULL WHEN ALMOST EMPTY.2. WHEN REPACING NON-WORKING BACKUP LIGHTS FOUND LIGHTS HAD CORRODED & RUSTED INTO SOCKETS-TOOK LOTS OF PATIENCE AND 2 1/2 HOURS TO GET THEM OUT!! 3.VEHICLE STALLS AT RANDOM TIMES FOR ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS AT SPEEDS OF 55-67.

NHTSA ODI #741737

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2000
Exterior Lighting

TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, CONSUMER STATES THAT SOMETIMES RIGHT SIGNAL BLINKS WHEN LEFT SIGNAL IS TURNED ON AND LEFT SIGNAL BLINKS WHEN RIGHT SIGNAL IS TURNED ON, ALSO SOMETIMES THE SIGNALS WILL BLINK TOGETHER REGARDLESS OF THE POSITION OF THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES, HOWE…

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TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, CONSUMER STATES THAT SOMETIMES RIGHT SIGNAL BLINKS WHEN LEFT SIGNAL IS TURNED ON AND LEFT SIGNAL BLINKS WHEN RIGHT SIGNAL IS TURNED ON, ALSO SOMETIMES THE SIGNALS WILL BLINK TOGETHER REGARDLESS OF THE POSITION OF THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES, HOWEVER HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #874841

Recall campaigns

1

96V196000 · 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 ↗

Defect investigations

2

EA02030 · 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.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.