IllustrationPLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE ENGINE LOCKED UP AS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. NOBODY INJURED, BUT DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 2HX52K9W4202853. *JB
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
What owners actually said
277 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER SIDE. THE ABILITY TO STEER WAS GONE, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AN DID NEARLY COLLIDE WITH THE CURB. DEALER DETERMINED THAT A BOLT SHEARED OFF IN THE POWER STEERING UNIT, AND DEALER REPLACED THE BOLT AND A SENSOR. *AK
THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE BOLTS HAD INDEED SHEARED OFF AND CAUSED THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO BREAK FREE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT EXACTLY 3 WEEKS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME HE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED …
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THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE BOLTS HAD INDEED SHEARED OFF AND CAUSED THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO BREAK FREE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT EXACTLY 3 WEEKS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME HE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A PONTIAC DEALER. THE PONTIAC DEALER/MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT BY THE BOLTS BEING SHEARED OFF, IT HAD CRACKED HIS BLOCK, AND IT WOULD COST HIM $70.00 TO REALLY CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND APPROXIMATELY $1400.00 TO REPAIR IT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE CALLED GM AND WAS ALMOST TOLD, THAT THEY DO NOT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. CONSUMER STATED THAT HE THINKS GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY SINCE THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *NM
TRIED TO START CAR 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WITH 54,000 MILES, IT BACKFIRED AND COUGHT FIRE. IT IS TOTALLED. I READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD, BUT I HAVE NEVER BEEN ADVISED. MY CAR WHICH WAS LIKE NEW IS GONE.*AK
WHILE MY 1998 PONTIAC BONEVILLE WAS BEING AUTO STARTED IN -15 F TEMPERTURES THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE SUDDEN LOUD REPORT, MUCH LIKE A BACKFIRE, I LOOKED OUTSIDE AND THE CAR APPEARED TO BE FINE. IT TRIED TO AUTOSTART ITSELF 2 MORE TIMES IN SUCESSION. BOTH TIMES IT STARTED RATHER ROUGHLY AND SHUT ITSELF OFF IMMEDIATLY AGAIN. I…
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WHILE MY 1998 PONTIAC BONEVILLE WAS BEING AUTO STARTED IN -15 F TEMPERTURES THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE SUDDEN LOUD REPORT, MUCH LIKE A BACKFIRE, I LOOKED OUTSIDE AND THE CAR APPEARED TO BE FINE. IT TRIED TO AUTOSTART ITSELF 2 MORE TIMES IN SUCESSION. BOTH TIMES IT STARTED RATHER ROUGHLY AND SHUT ITSELF OFF IMMEDIATLY AGAIN. I QUICKLY WENT OUTSIDE AND UPON OPENING THE HOOD IT WAS SEEN THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BROKEN INTO SEVERAL PARTS.*AK
THE UPPER ENGINE COVER AND PLENUM BROKE. THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR LEAKED ONTO THE INTAKE AND CAUSED A BACKFIRE. THE PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED, AND THE LOWER AND UPPER INTAKE WAS RESEALED. *LA THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT STALLED. (THE LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AT START UP) *SC *JB
THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR LEAKED GASOLINE; ALLOWING FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. A SPARK IGNITED THE EXCESS FUEL CAUSING AN EXPLOSION AND RUPTURING THE MANIFOLD. THE BLAST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SO HARD THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED. SMOKE BELLOWED OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, BUT LUCKI…
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THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR LEAKED GASOLINE; ALLOWING FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. A SPARK IGNITED THE EXCESS FUEL CAUSING AN EXPLOSION AND RUPTURING THE MANIFOLD. THE BLAST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SO HARD THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED. SMOKE BELLOWED OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, BUT LUCKILY IT DIDN'T BURN. IT HAPPENED AS I WAS ENTERING AN INTERSECTION AND WE NEARLY MISSED BEING BROADSIDED. THE CAR LOST BOTH POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WHEN IT EXPLODED AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. ABOUT 2 WEEKS BEFORE THIS IT HAD BEEN TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE IT WAS STALLING OUT, DIFFICULT TO START AND THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES HAD BEEN FAILING. A NEW VACUUM HOSE WAS INSTALLED. IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED THE YEAR BEFORE BECAUSE IT LEAKED ANTIFREEZE INTO THE ENGINE, DAMAGING IT EXTENSIVELY. IT IS THE SECOND BONNEVILLE I OWN THAT HAS DONE THIS. IT IS THE THIRD DAMAGED ENGINE THAT FITS THE DESCRIPTION OF THE BUICK RECALL- GM #03054. GM VEHICLES EQUIPED WITH 3800 V6 ENGINES. *AK
THE ENGINE EXPLODED UPON STARTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PARK AVENUE WHICH HAD THE SAME ENGINE AS THE BONNEVILLE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE BONNEVILLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *JB
POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE ENGINE PART. PONTIAC 3.8L INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE CAUSING POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE IF ENGINE VAPOR LOCKS AT TIME OF FAILURE WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THIS PART FAILED ON MY VEHICLE AND THE INDEPENDANT REPAIR SHOP I TOOK IT TOO ALREADY HAD NEEDED REPAIR PART ON HAND BECAUSE (AS THEY STATED) THERE ALW…
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POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE ENGINE PART. PONTIAC 3.8L INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE CAUSING POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE IF ENGINE VAPOR LOCKS AT TIME OF FAILURE WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THIS PART FAILED ON MY VEHICLE AND THE INDEPENDANT REPAIR SHOP I TOOK IT TOO ALREADY HAD NEEDED REPAIR PART ON HAND BECAUSE (AS THEY STATED) THERE ALWAYS FIXING THIS ENGINE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I FOUND 1 TSB ON YOUR SITE #01060007A BUT IT WAS 2.5 YEARS AGO. I SPOKE WITH A GM REPRESENTATIVE BUT WAS ADVISED THE COULD NOT COMMENT ON IF THIS WAS A PROBLEM OR NOT.*AK
PAINT IS PEELING AROUND KEY HOLE ON TRUNK - AT THIS TIME APPROXIMATELY A 5 INCH DIAMETER CIRCLE SPOT. THE HOOD IS TURNING MILKY LOOKING. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR CAR WAS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION AND HAD BEEN TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF. WE WERE TURNED DOWN DUE TO BEING OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE ARE …
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PAINT IS PEELING AROUND KEY HOLE ON TRUNK - AT THIS TIME APPROXIMATELY A 5 INCH DIAMETER CIRCLE SPOT. THE HOOD IS TURNING MILKY LOOKING. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR CAR WAS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION AND HAD BEEN TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF. WE WERE TURNED DOWN DUE TO BEING OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON YOUR 1998 BONNEVILLE REGARDING ANY PAINT CONCERNS.
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.