IllustrationA PLASTIC COMPONENT IN THE ENGINE OF THE 1998 BONNEVILLE MELTED ALLOWING ANTIFREEZE TO ENTER THE ENGINE AND CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. THERE WAS ONLY 70,000 MILES ON THE CAR. ALL REPLACEMENT ENGINES HAVE THE SAME PLASTIC COMPONENTS AND CAN HAVE THE SAME POTENTIAL FOR ENGINE FAILURE OR FIRE.*AK
1998 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
40–25K
1325–50K
5050–75K
2975–100K
18100–150K
3150K+
117 reports with mileage · 160 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 194 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 33 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 →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports28 fire reports6 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
194 reportsI OWN A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE MANIFOLD COVERS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND EVENTUALLY CRACK CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO ENTER THE ENGINE CAUSING VAPOR LOCK. THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF LEAVING THE DRIVER WITH NO POWER STEERING OR START UP CAPABILITIES BECAUSE THE STARTER CONE ON THIS INCIDENT WAS BLOWN OFF DUE TO INTENSE PRESSURE. MY 17 YE…
Read full complaint
I OWN A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE MANIFOLD COVERS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND EVENTUALLY CRACK CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO ENTER THE ENGINE CAUSING VAPOR LOCK. THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF LEAVING THE DRIVER WITH NO POWER STEERING OR START UP CAPABILITIES BECAUSE THE STARTER CONE ON THIS INCIDENT WAS BLOWN OFF DUE TO INTENSE PRESSURE. MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME AND I'M THANKFUL THAT SHE WAS IN TOWN TRAVELING ONLY AROUND 25 MPH. I DREAD THE THOUGHT WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I HAVE HEARD OF AND READ OF SEVERAL CASES THAT ARE EXACTLY LIKE THIS ONE. GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM YET REFUSES TO RECALL THIS MANIFOLD COVER PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS ONLY 83000 MILES ON IT. THERE IS NO WAY THIS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. IT IS VERY COSTLY TO MYSELF AS A CONSUMER. IT RAN ME NEARLY $900 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. HOPEFULLY THERE ISN'T ANY LONG TERM DAMAGE (WHICH I UNDERSTAND THERE WILL BE) TO MY ENGINE FROM THIS PROBLEM. *NLM
CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SINCE THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. DEALER STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. FOUR DAYS LATER, ENGINE BLEW OUT.*AK
CONSUMER TRIED TO START UP VEHICLE, AN UNDER HOOD FIRE OCCURRED. *MR THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T CRANK. THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START BECAUSE IT WAS COLD. THE VEHICLE SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING EXPLODED UNDER THE HOOD AS THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE. *SCC *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE BLEWOUT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULLOVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND BECAUSE IT IS COOLED BY THE ENGINE COOLANT IT REGULARLY FAILS. PH
I HAVE A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE (GM 3800 LITER V-6). THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED ALLOWING COOLANT TO FLOOD THE CYLINDERS AND RESUKTING IN A $675 REPAIR BILL. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED IN MY GARAGE AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. NO MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE. NO FIRE; JUST A COSTLY REPAIR BILL THAT I THINK GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
MY 1998 BONNEVILLE HAD BEEN LOOSING ANTIFREEZE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE THERMISTAT, THEN THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT. IT STILL LOST ANTIFREEZE....A COUPLE WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. MY INTAKE MANFOLD ALOUD MY ENGINE TO FILL WITH ANTIFREEZE, GM HAS A KIT FOR THIS PROBLEM.....SO TH…
Read full complaint
MY 1998 BONNEVILLE HAD BEEN LOOSING ANTIFREEZE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE THERMISTAT, THEN THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT. IT STILL LOST ANTIFREEZE....A COUPLE WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. MY INTAKE MANFOLD ALOUD MY ENGINE TO FILL WITH ANTIFREEZE, GM HAS A KIT FOR THIS PROBLEM.....SO THEY KNOW IT IS A PROBLEM.
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED OIL MIXED WITH THE ANTI-FREEZE. *JB
BONNEVILLE ENGINE OVER HEATING AND UPPER MANIFOLD CRACKED AND BROKE. *JB
Official recalls
104V090000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
Feb 24, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
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.