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1998 Pontiac Bonneville

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURES ARE A KNOWN PROBLEM AT GM, AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AT A SPEED OF APX. 65 MPH, ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY, IN THE CENTER LANE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STOP, AND LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING THEN OCCU…

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INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURES ARE A KNOWN PROBLEM AT GM, AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AT A SPEED OF APX. 65 MPH, ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY, IN THE CENTER LANE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STOP, AND LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING THEN OCCURRES. AS SHE PROCEEDED TO TRY TO GET THE CAR OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, SEVERAL CARS SKIDDED TO STOP AS THE CAR SLOWLY MADE IT'S WAY OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF THESE INTAKE MANIFOLDS FAILING, AND THAT IT IS A KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT. THEY SEE A LOT OF 3.8 ENGINES WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT FIXING IT FOR THE CONSUMER. MY REPAIR COST ME A LITTLE OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS. A LOT OF TIMES, THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS DAMAGED BY THE CATASTROPHIC EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE WHEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS FAIL. WE ARE VERY LUCKY THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT SEVERAL CARS LOCKED UP THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID COLLISION WITH THIS DISABLED VEHICLE. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW, AND MAINTAIN IT MORE THAN IS REQUIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THIS INTAKE MANIFOLD DEFECT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED A LONG TIME AGO, AS I HAVE TRACED OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES HAVING THIS PROBLEM SINCE 1996, AND POSSIBLY BEFORE. IF NOTHING IS DONE, THEN SURELY DEATHS WILL OCCUR DUE TO THE SERIES OF CATASTROPHIC EVENTS THAT WILL OCCUR DUE TO THIS DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD, INCLUDING LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, STEERING AND BRAKING. DT

NHTSA ODI #770305

41,000 miles · Nov 26, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE INTAKE PLASTIC MANIFOLD CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED ANTIFREEZE TO RUN INTO THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. TS. *JG *JB

NHTSA ODI #8023398

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING COOLANT FLUID ARE BEING PUMP INTO THE ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

NHTSA ODI #8021553

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MELTED CAUSING OIL TO MIX IN WITH ANTIFREEZE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. TS *YH

NHTSA ODI #8021304

100,000 miles · Oct 15, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE PLASTIC INTAKE HAD CRACKED, WHICH DUMPED THE ENGINE COOLANT INTO THE CHUNDERS AND LOCKED THE ENGINE. MR SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #8020802

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE A WIERD NOISE, VEHICLE STARTED TO LOOSE POWER AND ENGINE DIED. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8019609

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL LINE BROKE, AND STARTED LEAKING ,COULD HAVE STARTED FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #766885

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PULLED OVER AND NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM RADIATOR. UPPER PLENUUM PLASTIC MELTED, ALLOWING WATER TO GET INTO ENGINE, AND ENGINE LOCKED UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8017465

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED OUT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED. THIS WAS A RESULT OF COOLANT FUEL LEAKING.DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8016899

60,000 miles · Aug 18, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE LOST COOLANT - INFORMED BY DEALER THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD WARPED ALLOWING COOLANT TO MIX WITH FUEL AND AIR. DEALER SAID THAT THIS PART WAS A PLASTIC COMPOSITE PART THAT FAILED OFTEN. FAILURE COULD CAUSE ENGINE LOSS OR FIRE. INTAKE MANIFOLDS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO WARP UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. *AK *PH *NLM **DIMSII …

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ENGINE LOST COOLANT - INFORMED BY DEALER THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD WARPED ALLOWING COOLANT TO MIX WITH FUEL AND AIR. DEALER SAID THAT THIS PART WAS A PLASTIC COMPOSITE PART THAT FAILED OFTEN. FAILURE COULD CAUSE ENGINE LOSS OR FIRE. INTAKE MANIFOLDS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO WARP UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. *AK *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**765826

NHTSA ODI #10007342

Official recalls

1

04V090000 · 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

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.