IllustrationRIGHT REAR AXLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING 45MPH. TIRE CAME OFF, AND VEHICLE STOPPED. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN AS WAS TOLD. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND FOUND PROBLEM HAPPENED THE WAY TOLD BY OWNER.*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
What owners actually said
277 reportsTRAVELING @65 MPH ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. WOULD NOT START UNTIL 3 HOURS LATER THEN IT WAS HARD TO START. PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE GROUND UNDER PASSENGER SEAT. CAR STILL WAS HARD TO START NOW THE DEAL CLAIMS IT IS THE FUEL PUMP REGULATOR. VERY UPSET WITH THIS EXPERIENCE. OTHER PROBLEMS SEEM TO HAVE CROPPED UP DUE TO THIS GROUND…
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TRAVELING @65 MPH ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. WOULD NOT START UNTIL 3 HOURS LATER THEN IT WAS HARD TO START. PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE GROUND UNDER PASSENGER SEAT. CAR STILL WAS HARD TO START NOW THE DEAL CLAIMS IT IS THE FUEL PUMP REGULATOR. VERY UPSET WITH THIS EXPERIENCE. OTHER PROBLEMS SEEM TO HAVE CROPPED UP DUE TO THIS GROUND PROBLEM SUCH AS ALTERNATOR FAILURE, HEADLIGHTS FAILING TO THE ON POSITON, POWER WINDOWS WOULD NOT WORK AND OF COURSE THE FAILURE OF THE FUEL REGULATOR. THIS GROUND SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM AND I AM SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN A RECALL. THE COMMON THREAD CAN BE SEEN IN THE COMPLAINTS LODGED ON YOUR INTERNET SITE.*AK
HORN IS DIFFICULT TO APPLY IN AN EMERGENCY DUE TO AIR BAG ASSEMBLY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
INTAKE MANIFOLD BLEW UP AND A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE, CLAIM 40-2468-798. *SLC
CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE, IT BACK FIRED AND CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE AREA, CONSUMER STATES HE HEARD AN EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, CLAIM 25-5472-210. *SLC
CAR WOULD STALL HARD TO START GROUND PROBLEM BLAMED FOR POOR GAS PRESSURE TO CARB, ALSO COULD OF BEEN PROBLEM THAT FAILED THE STARTER, ENGINE LITE WOULD GO ON THEN OFF, DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTEN UNTIL THE LAST TIME WHEN THE GROUND PROBLEM WAS FOUND. MAJOR EXPENSE TO ME NOT HAPPY IT TOOK THIS LONG TO FIND…
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CAR WOULD STALL HARD TO START GROUND PROBLEM BLAMED FOR POOR GAS PRESSURE TO CARB, ALSO COULD OF BEEN PROBLEM THAT FAILED THE STARTER, ENGINE LITE WOULD GO ON THEN OFF, DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTEN UNTIL THE LAST TIME WHEN THE GROUND PROBLEM WAS FOUND. MAJOR EXPENSE TO ME NOT HAPPY IT TOOK THIS LONG TO FIND PROBLEM. AS OF TODAY CAR SEEMS TO BE OK
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COIL WIRE AND ABOUT 5/6 TIMES ALREADY THE CAR HAS JUST COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT, USUALLY WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN AT A STOP SIGN/SIGNAL OR JUST TAKING OFF FROM ONE.*AK
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE STOPPING AND THEN STARTING, VEHICLE IDLES LOW AND ON SOME OCCASIONS IT STALLS, ESPECIALLY WHILE MAKING LEFT TURNS, DEALER ONCE FOUND A VACUUM LEAK FROM BETWEEN THE THROTTLE BODY AND UPPER PLENUMN, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS POOR ACCELERATION AND LACK OF POWER. BATTERY FAILED. …
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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE STOPPING AND THEN STARTING, VEHICLE IDLES LOW AND ON SOME OCCASIONS IT STALLS, ESPECIALLY WHILE MAKING LEFT TURNS, DEALER ONCE FOUND A VACUUM LEAK FROM BETWEEN THE THROTTLE BODY AND UPPER PLENUMN, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS POOR ACCELERATION AND LACK OF POWER. BATTERY FAILED. *SLC
FROM LOOKING AT THE PARTS, IT APPEARS THAT A ROD CAP BOLT FAILED ALLOWING THE ROD TO COME LOOSE AND BREAKING THE ROD. THE DEALER DESCRIBED IT AS A GRENADE GOING OFF IN THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. A NOISE SUDDENLY RAPIDLY DEVELOPED AND THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATLY STOPPED, BUT THE ENGINE WAS RUINED COSTING $3000 TO REPLA…
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FROM LOOKING AT THE PARTS, IT APPEARS THAT A ROD CAP BOLT FAILED ALLOWING THE ROD TO COME LOOSE AND BREAKING THE ROD. THE DEALER DESCRIBED IT AS A GRENADE GOING OFF IN THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. A NOISE SUDDENLY RAPIDLY DEVELOPED AND THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATLY STOPPED, BUT THE ENGINE WAS RUINED COSTING $3000 TO REPLACE. I AM THANKFUL NO ONE WAS INJURED. I SENT INFORMATION TO PONTIAC, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN SILENT ABOUT IT.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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.