IllustrationENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE AND EXPLOSION IN A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SE 3800 (3.8L NON-SUPERCHARGED ENGINE) DUE TO A BACKFIRE UPON START-UP.
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
What owners actually said
147 reportsI HAVE A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WITH POWER SEATS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ONLY. I RECENTLY HAD THE SEAT RUNAWAY BYGOING FWD AND BACK AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT. I FINALLY HAD TO FORCE THE SWITCH TO THE BACK POSITION UNTIL IT ALL STOPPED. THE MOTOR GOT HOT AND QUIT. NOW IT NO LONGER DRIVES FWD OR BACK. I COULD HAVE HAD A VERY SERIOUS…
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I HAVE A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WITH POWER SEATS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ONLY. I RECENTLY HAD THE SEAT RUNAWAY BYGOING FWD AND BACK AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT. I FINALLY HAD TO FORCE THE SWITCH TO THE BACK POSITION UNTIL IT ALL STOPPED. THE MOTOR GOT HOT AND QUIT. NOW IT NO LONGER DRIVES FWD OR BACK. I COULD HAVE HAD A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I HAD BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD.
NAR 1/29/2003. THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO THE CONSUMER WITH A BENT WATER PUMP AND A BENT WHEEL. THE ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING PUMP, TRANSMISSION AND EGR VALVE WERE REPLACED. *JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) FAILED CAUSING A HOLE IN THE MANIFOLD. TS
INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE ON 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. COOLANT ENTERED INTO CYLINDER #4 CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR APPROXIMATELY $900. REOCCURING PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE, AND CALLS TO PONTIAC RESULTED IN NO SATISFACTION.
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING COOLANT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS FUMES NOTICED SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW, HOWEVER SOMEWHAT BETTER BUT CAN STILL BE DETECTED. *TT
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. DEALER NOTIFIED.TS
WAS DRIVING AND SMELLED STRONG GASOLINE ODOR THE LONGER DRIVEN. LUCKILY NOT ON HIGHWAY, WAS ABLE TO STOP AND INVESTIGATE, SAW DRIPPING LINE ONTO ENGINE BLOCK. PROCEEDED TO LOCAL DEALER A FEW BLOCKS AWAY. (SULLIVAN PONTIAC) THEY REPLACED THE LINE. SAID THIS IS WHY BONNEVILLE'S MOSTLY HAVE FIRES. I WAS LUCKY WASN'T ON HIGHWAY, AN…
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WAS DRIVING AND SMELLED STRONG GASOLINE ODOR THE LONGER DRIVEN. LUCKILY NOT ON HIGHWAY, WAS ABLE TO STOP AND INVESTIGATE, SAW DRIPPING LINE ONTO ENGINE BLOCK. PROCEEDED TO LOCAL DEALER A FEW BLOCKS AWAY. (SULLIVAN PONTIAC) THEY REPLACED THE LINE. SAID THIS IS WHY BONNEVILLE'S MOSTLY HAVE FIRES. I WAS LUCKY WASN'T ON HIGHWAY, AND PULLED OVER WHEN I DID,,COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE/EXPLOSION DESTROYING MY AUTO, OTHERS AND CAUSED INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF AND / OR OTHERS. LEAK WAS IN LOCATION PROTECTED BY SHROUD. HOW DID LEAK OCCUR? DEFECTIVE FUEL LINE? DEALER DID NOT SAVE THE DEFECTIVE LINE FOR LATER EXAMINATION. PAID $299.85 FOR LABOR, $40 FOR SHIPPING NEW FUEL LINE, AND $87.57 FOR THE NEW FUEL LINE= $427.42. WORRIED ABOUT IS THIS SAFE FOR OTHERS!? NLM
SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WOULD BUCK AT 30-40 MPH. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ON JULY 22, 2002 DEALER STATED THAT VALVE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK
VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WITH FLUID DRIPPING IN FRONT OF PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. FOUND POSITIVE BATTERY POST (SIDE) SEPARATED FROM BATTERY CASE WITH BATTERY ACID LEAKING OUT. BATTERY TERMINAL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM CABLES AND THERE WAS SLIGHT CORROSION DAMAGE TO BATTERY TRAY AREA.*AK
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.