1989 Pontiac Bonneville Owner Complaints

READING ABOUT THE RECENT GM RECALL FOR AUTOMOBILES STALLING OUT WHEN DRIVING, TRIGGERED MY MEMORY OF MY FORMER PONTIAC. ON AT LEAST 3 OCCASIONS, THIS PONTIAC HAD STALLED OUT IN A SIMILAR FASHION. THE FIRST TIME, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 65 TO 70 MPH, AND THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN. I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE AND SCARED TO DEATH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, WAITED AND RESTARTED. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER (FRASIER PONTIAC IN AMESBURY MASS), AND THEY COULD NOT SIMULATE THE PROBLEM; THEY FOUND NOTHING. WHEN IT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME, I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM TO KEEP THE CAR; DRIVE IT AND SEE FOR THEMSELVES. FORTUNATELY, THIS PROBLEM DID HAPPEN TO ONE OF THEIR MECHANICS (HE WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE AT 35 MPH) AND HE LIVED TO TELL ABOUT IT. THEY THEN PROCEEDED TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE PART, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS A FAULTY ELECTRONIC IGNITION CIRCUIT BOARD. I ALSO BELIEVE THEY FOUND A GM SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS ISSUE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER I SOLD THE CAR, NEVER TO BUY A GM PRODUCT AGAIN. (BEFORE THIS PURCHASE, I OWNED A GM DIESEL; ENOUGH SAID). MY HEART GOES OUT TO ANY DRIVER THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME SCARE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10568851

Incident

Mar 10, 1992

Mileage

50,000 mi

I HAVE AN 1989 PONTIAC- BONNIVILLE. THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS STARTED DRAINING MY BATTERY & THEN RUINED MY ALTERNATOR. I REMOVED THE FUSE TO KEEP IT FROM RUINING MY NEW ALTERNATOR & BATTERY,. I WAS MANUALLY OPENING & CLOSING MY DOORS. NOW 3 OF MY 4 DOORS WILL NOT OPEN. THEY WON'T OPEN WITH THE KEY OR BY PUSHING THE DOOR LOCK BUTTON. I AM NOW HAVING TO CLIMB IN AND OUT OF MY CAR BY THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAD A 1988 BONNEVILLE, THAT DID THE EXACT THING. I AM HAVING A TERRIBLE TIME TRYING TO DRIVE MY CAR IN THIS CONDITION. I ALSO CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY A LARGE REPAIR BILL, THIS CAR WAS CHECKED FOR DOOR LOCK PROBLEMS WHEN IT WAS NEW, I STILL HAVE THE PAPER WORK WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN. THE PAPER WORK SAID THAT IT WAS CHECKED, AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. YES THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND IT'S STILL HAVING THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10241752

Incident

Jan 28, 2007

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, AND THE TAIL LIGHTS BUSTED OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10065066

Incident

Mar 21, 2004

Mileage

56,544 mi

WHILE APPLYING HIS BRAKES THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER HAD NO BRAKES WHEN HE APPLY HIS BRAKE PEDAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

10001144

Incident

Dec 9, 2002

AT 65 MPH THE TREAD PEELED AWAY FROM TIRE CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL.THEY TIRE KEPT ITS AIR AND I DROVE ON THE BELTS FOR AID.THERE WAS 50000 MILES ON THE TIRE BUT THEY (THE OTHER REAR WAS THE SAME TYPE)HAD GOOD TREAD ON THEM.I BOUGHT TWO NEW TIRESTHE NEXT DAY.THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SPARCE TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. *AK (TIRESIZE: P20570R15)

NHTSA ID

753212

Incident

Jul 15, 2001

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE BRAKES WENT OUT ON THIS CAR CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CAR THE SECOND TIME OCCURRED ONLY THREE MONTHS AFTER THE BRAKES WERE FIXED. *AK (TIRESIZE: 215/65/15)

NHTSA ID

747973

Incident

Mar 7, 2001

I HAVE HAD TWO BONNEVILLES' AN 1988' AND A 1989' AND HAVE HAD MAJOR BRAKE TROUBLES WITH BOTH VEHICLES. *AK

NHTSA ID

747971

Incident

Jun 4, 2001

WAS GOING AROUND A CORNER AT 45MPH WHEN SUBFRAME SEPARATED. DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE. MANAGED TO PULL OVER. STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME. *AK

NHTSA ID

876177

Incident

Oct 15, 2000

LEFT FRONT TIE ROD BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AT ABOUT 70 MPH. DURING RESULTANT CRASH, SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED TO RESTRAIN DRIVER. INJURY SUSTAINED WAS A BURST FRACTURE OF THE L-1 VERTEBRAE RESULTING IN AN INCOMPLETE SPINAL CORD INJURY.

NHTSA ID

728434

Incident

Apr 6, 1996

BEFORE THE DOORS JAMMED/THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS BEGAN TO MOVE BY THEMSELVES - NOT ONE OF THE DOORS JAMMED, BUT ALL FOUR- ALSO THE ABS HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR- I COULD UNDERSTAND IF IT WAS THE MOTOR THAT CAUSE THE PROBLEM, BUT EACH OF MY DOORS, AND THE UNHEARD OF PRICES THE DEALER WAS CHARGING, BEFORE FINALLY SAYING THEY CAN NOT OPEN THE DOORS AT ALL.

NHTSA ID

722342

Incident

Mar 15, 1999

POWER LOCKS ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY LOCK ON THEIR OWN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, AND SOMETIMES CANNOT BE UNLOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE WITH THE KEY, THIS CAUSED A CHILD TO BE LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE FOR HOURS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

847474

VEHICLE WAS IN STORAGE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, FIRST DRIVE ON THE ROAD THE BRAKES FAILED, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE ANIT-LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGED RETURNING A ROCK HARD PEDAL BUT DID NOT ENGAGE THE BRAKES, AFTER SEVERAL PUMPS, THE PEDAL RELEASED AND THE BRAKES ENGAGED. NLM

NHTSA ID

782568

Incident

Jul 1, 1998

CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. CONSUMER HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKES, AND THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP. KNOCKED OVER A SIGN. MOTOR WAS RACING VERY HIGH, AND FINALLY VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND CAME TO A STOP. *AK

NHTSA ID

837952

Incident

May 6, 1999

SPEEDOMETER FAILED.

NHTSA ID

539951

TEVES ABS KICKS IN UNDER ALL BRAKING CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ID

536401

Incident

Jan 24, 1992

DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING DOOR LOCK TO FAIL.

NHTSA ID

534065

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

LEFT REAR BALL JOINT GAVE WAY, ALLOWING LEFT REAR FORK TO COLLAPSE. FORK THEN JAMMED ITSELF AGAINST THE INSIDE LEFT REAR WHEEL RIM, PREVENTING THE WHEEL FROM ROTATING IN EITHER DIRECTION. PROBLEM--REAR INDEPENDENT STRUT SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENT.

NHTSA ID

532669

CRUISE CONTROL SELF ACTIVATED INTO SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING A COLLISION .

NHTSA ID

528614

Incident

Jul 16, 1997

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BRACKETS SPLIT CAUSING SEAT TO TILT BACK, SEAT BELTS GET STUCK WITH DIFFICULTY IN RELEASING.

NHTSA ID

604589

Incident

Jul 1, 1993

WATER PUMP FAILED.

NHTSA ID

604496

WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED ABS FAILURE; WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW/STOP PEDAL BECOMES HARD, THEN GOES TO FLOOR, ABS WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

809400

Incident

Feb 20, 1997

OWNER HAS ABS BRAKES SHE STATES THAT HER BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THAT SHE HAD WORK DONE ON ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM AND BRAKES STILL MALFUNTIONS

NHTSA ID

808906

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THE CAR RAN VERY HOT AND THE HEATER CORE HAD TO BE REPLACED. HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

802077

Incident

Aug 15, 1996

BRAKES DO NOT STOP VEHICLE WHEN YOU APPLY THEM IN SUDDEN SITUATIONS. THEY DO NOT STOP VEHICLE UNITL ABOUT THIRD TIME. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ID

977495

SEATBELT BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH, REPLACE THE BUCKLE, AFTER REPLACING THE OLD LATCH, NOTICE THAT THE BUCKLE LATCHED BUT DISCONNECT AFTER PULLING ON IT. TT

NHTSA ID

973722

Incident

Oct 1, 1995