IllustrationTHE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED. *PH *NM
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 ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE STALLED. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKED FLUID ONTO THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE SEIZED . *AK *LA
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WAS LEAKING COOLANT ONTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS COULD RESULT IN ENGINE FAILURE. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY HER FRIEND THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON A LIST OF POTENTIAL ENGINE FAILURES FROM COOLANT LEAKING BY GENERAL MOTORS (GM). CONSUMER WENT TO A GM DEALER AS SOON AS SHE LEARNED THE NEWS, AND SHOWED E…
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WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WAS LEAKING COOLANT ONTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS COULD RESULT IN ENGINE FAILURE. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY HER FRIEND THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON A LIST OF POTENTIAL ENGINE FAILURES FROM COOLANT LEAKING BY GENERAL MOTORS (GM). CONSUMER WENT TO A GM DEALER AS SOON AS SHE LEARNED THE NEWS, AND SHOWED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH WAS REPLACED. *LA
VEHICLE BACK FIRED DUE TO MANIFOLD RUPTURING. THE NEXT DAY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT FLASHED. THEN, ENGINE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
REPEATED STALLING IN TRAFFIC. TYPICALLY OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES AFTER START-UP. DURING ONE COLD START THE ENGINE MISS-FIRED AND BACK PRESSURE POPPED OFF THE BRAKE VACUUM LINE, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES. WAS DIAGNOSED FIRST TIME AS MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. PROBLEM RECURRED, DIAGNOSED AS FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. SHORTLY A…
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REPEATED STALLING IN TRAFFIC. TYPICALLY OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES AFTER START-UP. DURING ONE COLD START THE ENGINE MISS-FIRED AND BACK PRESSURE POPPED OFF THE BRAKE VACUUM LINE, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES. WAS DIAGNOSED FIRST TIME AS MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. PROBLEM RECURRED, DIAGNOSED AS FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. SHORTLY AFTER, FLOODING AND SPARKPLUG FOULING OCCURRED DUE TO DAMAGED INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT INTO CYLINDERS. WHILE TWO OF THE COMPONENTS ARE THE SAME AS RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V090000, AND GM RECALL 03054B, GM SAYS THIS VIN [XXX] IS NOT INCLUDED. *AK UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ENGINE HAD 70,000 MILES WHEN SUDDENLY SEIZED WITH NO WARNING. REPAIR SAID INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD WARPED CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO SPILL INTO ENGINE. ENGINE AND STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. REPAIR CENTER SAID IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. REPLACEMENT ENGINE HAD SAME THING HAPPENING AND A KIT IS AVAILABLE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THIS PROBLE…
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ENGINE HAD 70,000 MILES WHEN SUDDENLY SEIZED WITH NO WARNING. REPAIR SAID INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD WARPED CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO SPILL INTO ENGINE. ENGINE AND STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. REPAIR CENTER SAID IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. REPLACEMENT ENGINE HAD SAME THING HAPPENING AND A KIT IS AVAILABLE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THIS PROBLEM-PURCHASED KIT FOR REPLACEMENT ENGINE. TOTAL REPLACEMENT COSTS---$3,223.06. I SEE IN BROWSING THE COMPLAINT PAGES THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. ITS TIME THAT GM MAKES THINGS RIGHT FOR THE CONSUMER.*AK
ENGINE IS IDLING AND RUNNING ROUGH DUE TO ANTI-FREEZE GETTING INTO THE CYLINDER. THIS COULD LOCKED UP THE ENGINE. *AK THE CONSUMER IT WAS A COMMON KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE MANIFOLD WHICH WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND WARPED WHICH ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDER. *JB
CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING ON A BRIDGE AT APPRX 15 - 20 MPH. NO WARNINGS LIGHTS OR GAUGE CONCERNS UNTIL MOMENT OF FAILURE. ENGINE IDLE BECAME EXCEPTIONALLY ROUGH. CAUSE WAS A GASKET FAILURE ALLOWING DEX-COOL TO ENTER ENGINE AND DESTROYED IT.*AK
1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE PLENUM WARPED AND LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE INTO COMBUSTION CYLINDERS. VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE STARTED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. RESULTED IN OVER $900.00 CHARGES OF WHICH $317.64 WAS NOT COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *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.