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2003 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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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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 reports with mileage · 14 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports5 fire reports2 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

6 reports
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75,000 miles · Feb 12, 2016
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MOVING THE VEHICLE FROM ITS PARKED LOCATION, THE CONTACT NOTICED ENGINE OIL LEAKING ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING DIMINISHED ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MOVING THE VEHICLE FROM ITS PARKED LOCATION, THE CONTACT NOTICED ENGINE OIL LEAKING ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING DIMINISHED ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 03/16/16*JB

NHTSA ODI #10825808

90,000 miles · Sep 24, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED AN OVERPOWERING FUEL ODOR AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED AN OVERPOWERING FUEL ODOR AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO EXPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V238000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10357368

98,000 miles · Feb 10, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

LOUD POP, SMOKE, CAR ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE DESTROYED CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308317

18,000 miles · Dec 15, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK AT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD THROTTLE BODY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO INSTALL A KIT IN THE ENGINE AT HIS EXPENSE BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER STOPPED ASSUMING FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN 2005. HE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK AT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD THROTTLE BODY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO INSTALL A KIT IN THE ENGINE AT HIS EXPENSE BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER STOPPED ASSUMING FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN 2005. HE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #10251859

90,000 miles · Jan 31, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A SPUN BEARING AND A BLOWN ROD. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000.…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A SPUN BEARING AND A BLOWN ROD. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF THE VEHICLE HAD A COOLANT LEAK FROM THE INTAKE. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, THE ENGINE BLEW OUT A ROD.

NHTSA ODI #10216591

72,000 miles · Oct 26, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

PLENUM INTAKE VALVE & GASKET REPLACED IN APRIL 2003 AND AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER 2003. NOW ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SERVICE DEPT. TOLD ME THEY STOCK THESE PARTS DUE TO FREQUENT DEMAND FOR THEM. THIS IS MY 2ND PONTIAC AND I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH THE BONNEVILLE. MY 2 PREVIOUS REPAIRS WERE OVER $900 AND NOW I MAY HAVE TO REPLACE A…

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PLENUM INTAKE VALVE & GASKET REPLACED IN APRIL 2003 AND AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER 2003. NOW ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SERVICE DEPT. TOLD ME THEY STOCK THESE PARTS DUE TO FREQUENT DEMAND FOR THEM. THIS IS MY 2ND PONTIAC AND I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH THE BONNEVILLE. MY 2 PREVIOUS REPAIRS WERE OVER $900 AND NOW I MAY HAVE TO REPLACE AN ENGINE. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU COULD PROVIDE TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS AWAITING REPAIR AT DEAN ARBOUR CHEVROLET IN EAST TAWAS, MI. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043585

Official recalls

2

03V238000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Jul 1, 2003

ON CERTAIN CADILLAC DEVILLE AND SEVILLE PASSENGER VEHICLES, FUNERAL COACHES, AND LIMOUSINES EQUIPPED WITH A V8 (4.6L) ENGINE, OLDSMOBILE AURORA PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A V8 (4.0L ) ENGINE, AND PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SSEI PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A SUPERCHARGED V6 (3.8L) ENGINE, THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSORS ARE UNUSUALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO MALFUNCTIONS. IF THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS, EXCESSIVE VACUUM CAN BE APPLIED DURING SELF-DIAGNOSTIC TESTING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS CAN BE DAMAGED AND FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN IT IS REFUELED. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

02V222000 · Air Bags:frontal

Aug 9, 2002

CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.