RoadVitals

1986 Pontiac Bonneville

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Aug 10, 1999
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Oct 24, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
8
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Pontiac Bonneville, most frequently naming the body & structure, exterior lighting and transmission categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 8 NHTSA investigations name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure133.3%
  • Exterior lighting133.3%
  • Transmission133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07E088000

EQUIPMENT

Oct 24, 2007
121,680 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
06E043000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

May 19, 2006
88,303 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
86V056000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

Apr 28, 1986
93,317 units potentially affected
The defect: THE PUSH-PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. NOTE: ALSO, SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 86V131000.
The remedy: REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA90017ClosedEngineering Analysis

BRAKE FAILURE

Opened Mar 26, 1990
Closed Apr 22, 1991

There is no summary currently available

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PE89171ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

BRAKE FAILURE

Opened Sep 26, 1989
Closed Mar 26, 1990

===

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EA89028ClosedEngineering Analysis

REAR BRAKE PIN

Opened Jul 28, 1989
Closed Jul 27, 1990

SUMMARY:THESE VEHICLES HAVE REAR DRUM BRAKES.THE PARKING LEVER PIVOTPIN IS HELD BY AN E RING.WHEN THE RING FAILS, PARTS OF THE RING ANDPIN FALL LOOSE INTO THE DRUM AND MAY JAM THE BRAKE, LOCKING THE WHEEL.A STRONGER E RING IS USED IN 1988 AND NEWER CARS.THIS INVESTIGATIONHAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE GMS C BODY CARS LISTED ABOVE (E RING COMMONTO ALL CARS SHOWN).===

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PE89145ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

PARKING BRAKE CABLE

Opened Jul 21, 1989
Closed Sep 22, 1989

===

PARKING BRAKE

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Transmission
Filed Aug 10, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED GEAR FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY MOVE IN REVERSE. *YC

NHTSA ID
547847
Incident
Jan 21, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 21, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOM OF RECALL IN WHICH THE PUSH-PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS ALLOWING AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT SHORT CIRCUIT CAUSING PANEL TO FLICKER OR GO OFF COMPLETELY. VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL.

NHTSA ID
545132
Body & structure
Filed Jul 16, 1995

CLOTH HEADLINER BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE FOAM LINER ABOVE HEAD, HANGS DOWN, BLOCKING DRIVERS VIEW. *DSH

NHTSA ID
484315
Incident
Jul 16, 1994

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Pontiac Bonneville by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2006000—
2005270037.3
2004280036.5
2003542052.9
2002892255.6
20011290249.3
20002142359.0
19991434462.0
19982772261.6
19971472259.3
19961503260.6
19952441044.4
1994880043.4
19931381151.5
19921133262.7
1991222051.6
1990391046.4
1989282049.5
1988171454.8
1987194862.2
1986Viewing338—
1985113—
1984121—
1983010—
1982110—
1981100—
1979211—
1978320—
1977140—
1976010—
1975030—
1974010—
1972020—
1971020—
1969020—
1966020—
1965010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.