IllustrationWHILE DRIVING IN CITY AT APROX 35MPH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR EMISSION CONTROL. CONTACTED DEALER , WHO SAID THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION, AND IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. BUT VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *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 reportsGOT BACK FROM VACATION HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE REGULARLY SINCE RECEIVING THE CAR BACK.VEHICLE IN GEAR WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES VEHICLE SURGED AND JERKED. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE STALL OUT AND DIES RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WILL START UP IMMEDIATELY AFTER . THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT. MJS
THE TWILIGHT SENTINEL LIGHTING SYSTEM DOES NOT TURN OFF HEADLAMPS.
ABS BREAKS SEEMED TO FAIL WHEN STOPPING ON BUMPY ROAD.
CONSUMER REPORTING A RENTAL VEHICLE FROM HERTZ/ CONCERNING FOLLOWING PROBLEMS, 1) LEFT SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY; 2). FUEL VAPORS LEAKING INTO VEHICLE, AND 3) TRUNK LID WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY,CAUSING EXHAUST VAPOR ENTERNING THE VEHICLE. REPORTED THESE CONDITION TO NHTSA. RENTAL VEHICLE LOCATED IN ST. PAUL, M…
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CONSUMER REPORTING A RENTAL VEHICLE FROM HERTZ/ CONCERNING FOLLOWING PROBLEMS, 1) LEFT SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY; 2). FUEL VAPORS LEAKING INTO VEHICLE, AND 3) TRUNK LID WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY,CAUSING EXHAUST VAPOR ENTERNING THE VEHICLE. REPORTED THESE CONDITION TO NHTSA. RENTAL VEHICLE LOCATED IN ST. PAUL, MN. *AK
TRANSMISSION BUCKS WHEN IN ACCELERATION ON A HILL---BUCKING IS SEVERE--CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE OTHERS IN AREA HAVE EXACTLY SAME PROBLEM---I FEAR TRANSMISSION WILL BECOME NOTICEABLY WORSE AS PROBLEM CONTINUES.
ENGINE STALLLS NORMALLY AT LOW SPEED BUT HAS STALLED AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH. SOMETIMES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. SOMETIMES THE CHECK GAUGE4 LIGHT COMES ON. THE CHIMES SOUND WHEN EVER IT STALLS. IT HAS STALLED APPROXIMATELY 15 TIMES SINCE THE PROBLEM 1ST OCCURRED. I AM AFFRAID THAT I WILL BE REAR ENDED. IT HAS BEEN TO THE…
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ENGINE STALLLS NORMALLY AT LOW SPEED BUT HAS STALLED AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH. SOMETIMES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. SOMETIMES THE CHECK GAUGE4 LIGHT COMES ON. THE CHIMES SOUND WHEN EVER IT STALLS. IT HAS STALLED APPROXIMATELY 15 TIMES SINCE THE PROBLEM 1ST OCCURRED. I AM AFFRAID THAT I WILL BE REAR ENDED. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL BE GOING BACK IN TOMORROW 6/3/1999 FOR THE 4TH TIME. COMPUTER HAS BEEN REPROGRAMMED AND EXCHANGED. DEALER SAID HE CHECKED ALL ASSOCIATED WIRING BUT TO DATE HAS NOT FOUND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE ALTERNATOR AT A STOP CANNOT MAINTAIN POWER FOR MORE THAN AA COUPLE OF MINUTES AND IF YOU HAVE AN ACCESSORIE (I.E.) YOUR HEAT OR DEFOGGER OR THE HEADLIGHTS IT WILL DIM TO THE POINT THAT IF YOU ARE AT A LONG LIGHT IT WILL STALL THE CAR AND IF IT IS DARK IT IS HARD FOR OTHER CARS TO SEE YOU WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT IT WILL STAL…
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THE ALTERNATOR AT A STOP CANNOT MAINTAIN POWER FOR MORE THAN AA COUPLE OF MINUTES AND IF YOU HAVE AN ACCESSORIE (I.E.) YOUR HEAT OR DEFOGGER OR THE HEADLIGHTS IT WILL DIM TO THE POINT THAT IF YOU ARE AT A LONG LIGHT IT WILL STALL THE CAR AND IF IT IS DARK IT IS HARD FOR OTHER CARS TO SEE YOU WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT IT WILL STALL OUT AFTER A MIN. IF YOU HAVE A DEFOGGER ON I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO GO TO PARK WHEN I STOP AT A LIGHT IF I NEED THE DEFOGGER ON SO I CAN SEE AND THE DEALER JUST TOLD ME TO PUT IT IN PARK AT A LONG LIGHT AND THEY HAVE HAD TWO OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT THEY MENTIONED AND TECH SUPPORT TELLS THEM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CHARGEING SYSTEM THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
THIS VEHICLE WAS IN REAREND COLLISION AND WAS TOTALED
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.