IllustrationCONSUMER STATES THE ENGINE BLEW WHILE DRIVING.*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 reportsENGINE (INTAKE MANIFOLD) IS DEFECTIVE. LEAKING COOLANT INTO ENGINE. THIS IS THE SECOND 1998 BONNEVILLE V-6 WE'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN WITH. THE FIRST ONE THE ENGINE HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED, SINCE IT WAS BURNING COOLANT IN THE ENGINE AND INTO THE SURROUNDING AIR. THIS BONNEVILLE IS CURRENTLY BEING LOOKED AT AND WILL NEED THE…
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ENGINE (INTAKE MANIFOLD) IS DEFECTIVE. LEAKING COOLANT INTO ENGINE. THIS IS THE SECOND 1998 BONNEVILLE V-6 WE'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN WITH. THE FIRST ONE THE ENGINE HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED, SINCE IT WAS BURNING COOLANT IN THE ENGINE AND INTO THE SURROUNDING AIR. THIS BONNEVILLE IS CURRENTLY BEING LOOKED AT AND WILL NEED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED, POSSIBLE THE ENTIRE ENGINE AS WELL. PONTIAC ISSUED TECHNICAL SALES BULLETIN 01-06-01-007 IN JULY 2001 KNOWING THEY HAD THIS PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD RECALL THIS BADLY DESIGNED ENGINE THAT CAN CAUSE ENGINE LOCKUP AND COOLANT SMOG RELEASE INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH, ENGINE WAS HESITATING. CONSUMER NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. DEALER DETERMINED THAT PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A HOLE AND WAS LEAKING FLUID ONTO ENGINE. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *JG
CONSUMER STATED THE UPPER MANIFOLD AND GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED.*JB
ON 8/25/2000 HAD TO HAVE MY WATER PUMP REPLACED($536.91). PICKED UP CAR WENT 11 MILE IT QUIT HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO PERFORMANCE PONTIAC. INFORMED AT THAT TIME THE PLENUM FAILED COST OF THAT JOB INCLUDING TOWING AN RENTAL ($830.80). ON 3/20/2002 CAR QUIT HAD TO BE TOWED IN TO PERFORMANCE PONTIAC AGAIN. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM THE P…
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ON 8/25/2000 HAD TO HAVE MY WATER PUMP REPLACED($536.91). PICKED UP CAR WENT 11 MILE IT QUIT HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO PERFORMANCE PONTIAC. INFORMED AT THAT TIME THE PLENUM FAILED COST OF THAT JOB INCLUDING TOWING AN RENTAL ($830.80). ON 3/20/2002 CAR QUIT HAD TO BE TOWED IN TO PERFORMANCE PONTIAC AGAIN. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM THE PLENUM FAILED AGAIN. WHEN I CALLED GM PONTIAC DIVISION THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE OF THE CAR. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IS THE ISSUE. IT'S A $31000. I TRAVEL FOR A LIVING AND HAVE THE UPMOST RESPECT FOR MY VEHICLE. I HAVE ALL MY RECORDS OF MY MAINTENANCE THAT WOULD AMAZE YOU. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN OVER 3000 BEFORE EACH OIL CHG. TIRES ARE ROTATED EVERY 5000 MILES. TRANSMISSION OIL CHGS HAS BEEN DONE TWICE. BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED TWICE PREMATURELY TO PREVENT SERIOUS DAMAGE TO OTHER PARTS. I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH RECORDS THAT SHOW TO THE PENNY WHAT I'VE SPENT ON GASOLINE FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. I AM CONVINED THAT IT IS NOT A MILEAGE ISSUE AND TOTALLY CONVINCED THAT THIS IS NOT A RESULT OF ANY NEGLIGENCE ON MY PART. I WAS TOTALLY TURNED OFF BY THE ATTITUDE OF PONTIAC CONCERNING THE PROBLEM WITH THIS PART. I CAN ALSO PROVIDE YOU WITH TESTIMONIALS FROM BUSINESSES THAT I USE TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE TO WHAT A FANACTIC I AM ABOUT PREVENTITVE MAINTENANCE. WAITING ANXIOUSLEY FOR YOUR REPLY. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. NICK LEOGRANDE. *AK
HAVE REPLACED PLENUM, HEAD GASKETS AND IS CURRENTLY IN REPAIR FOR RODS. RECOMMENDED NEW ENGINE. WITH NEW ENGINE, REPAIRS TOTAL $6000.00. NLM
WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN REPAIR SHOP UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED UPON STARTING VEHICLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
RIGHT REAR-VIEW MIRROR EXPLODED. EXPLOSION SO LOUD AND FREIGHTENING THAT I THOUGHT A BOMB HAD HIT MY CAR. I WAS 2 BLOCKS FROM MY DRIVEWAY. I STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AS I THOUGHT ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE OF CAR WAS DESTROYED FROM JUST THE SOUND OF THE EXPLOSION. THERE IS NOT A MARK ON MY CAR NOR THE OUTSIDE OF THE MIRROR FRAMING. THE MIR…
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RIGHT REAR-VIEW MIRROR EXPLODED. EXPLOSION SO LOUD AND FREIGHTENING THAT I THOUGHT A BOMB HAD HIT MY CAR. I WAS 2 BLOCKS FROM MY DRIVEWAY. I STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AS I THOUGHT ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE OF CAR WAS DESTROYED FROM JUST THE SOUND OF THE EXPLOSION. THERE IS NOT A MARK ON MY CAR NOR THE OUTSIDE OF THE MIRROR FRAMING. THE MIRROR ITSELF WAS BLOWN TO DUST. THE ENTIRE MIRROR FRAMING, ETC. WAS LEFT HANGING DOWN AND HELD ON BY A SMALL PLUG-IN TYPE RECEPTACLE JUST BARELY HANGING ON TO A BLOWN OUT PLASTIC HOLE FROM THE CAR. I HAVE NO REAR VIEW MIRROR NOW ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I HAVE THE ENTIRE MIRROR MOUNTING IN M BACK SEAT AND 3 MECHANICS HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. IT WAS THE WORST EXPLOSION I'VE EVER HEARD, BUT I'M THANKFUL THE GLASS HURT NO ONE NOR CAUSED ANY DAMAGE. MY CAR LOOKS FINE, EXCEPT THERE'S A BARE SPOT WITH A FEW BLASTED HOLES WHERE ONCE THERE WAS A MIRROR. THANK YOU. *AK
FOR THE THIRD TIME (18K MILES, 79K MILES, 129K MILES) THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAS FAILED AND ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO LIQUID LOCK BY FILLING WITH COOLANT. FIRST INCIDENT COVERED BY WARRANTY, SECOND COST ME $1,000 AND NOW PONTIAC IS WILLING TO SPLIT THE COST OF THE THIRD REPAIR. I CONTEND IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT, AND SHOULD COST ME…
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FOR THE THIRD TIME (18K MILES, 79K MILES, 129K MILES) THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAS FAILED AND ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO LIQUID LOCK BY FILLING WITH COOLANT. FIRST INCIDENT COVERED BY WARRANTY, SECOND COST ME $1,000 AND NOW PONTIAC IS WILLING TO SPLIT THE COST OF THE THIRD REPAIR. I CONTEND IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT, AND SHOULD COST ME NOTHING.*AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, SO I STOPPED THE CAR ADDED ANTIFREEZE, THEN THE CAR WOULDN'T START BACK UP, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE . THE MECHANIC THERE FOUND THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE PLASIC UPPER PLENTIUM AND ANTIFREEZE GOT IN THE MOTOR, SO NOW WE ARE HAVING TO REPLACE THE WHOLE MOTOR.*AK
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.