1991 Pontiac Bonneville Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1991 Pontiac Bonneville, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes625.0%
- Interior & seats520.8%
- Transmission312.5%
- Engine312.5%
- Driver assistance28.3%
- Electrical14.2%
- Body & structure14.2%
- Fuel system14.2%
- Heating & air conditioning14.2%
- Seat belts14.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER MARKET MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE PLUNGER PIN KEPT BREAKING. THIS CAUSED BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. UNABLE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, FENCO / FENWICK AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS.*AK CONSUMER HAD THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED FOUR TIMES AND THEY HAVE ALL FAILED. THE FIRST FAILED 79 DAYS AFTER INSTALLATION. THE SECOND ONE FAILED IMMEDIATELY WHILE BEING BLEED. THE THIRD ON FAILED WITH LESS THAN 1 MILE AND THE FOURTH ONE FAILED 150 MILES LATER. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THEIR POSITION IS TO TEST THE MASTER CYLINDER FIRST AND THEN THE PIN IF NECESSARY. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *PH *NLM
WHEN DRIVING THE BRAKES ARE MAKING LOUD NOISE AND CONSUMER HAD FRONT BRAKES PUT ON TODAY, AND REAR BRAKES PUT ON LAST WEEK. HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOUR TIMES FOR REPAIRS, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE CHANGED THE DASH AND HAD ALL WIRING CHECKED AND EVERYTHING IS FINE EXCEPT THAT I HAVE NO DASH LIGHTS COULD SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE. *AK
THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE. *MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE SEPARATED AND CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V015000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 190,000.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, GEAR WILL NOT ENGAGE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ROD BEARING FRACTURED ALONG THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSING A FIRE TO ERUPT WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SPREAD THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER MOTOR AND INTO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE. THE POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 10/17/2006 - *NM
WHILE DRIVING 50-60 MPH VEHICLE CUTS OFF, DOES NOT MOVE. IN FIVE MINUTES IT WILL SOMETIMES START AGAIN. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER TUNED VEHICLE AFTER FAST IDLE, FEELS LIKE VIBRATION; CAR STALLS; BUMPING NOISES UNDERNEATH. ALSO, BACKFIRING. ALL OF WHICH HAPPENS WHEN GOING UP HILL OR SITTING STILL AT RED LIGHT, VEHICLE ALWAYS STALLS. *AK
CRUISE CONTROL LOCKED 65 MPH; WOULD NOT RELEASE;ENGINE ACCELERATED;EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO STOP VEHICLE;VERY CAREFULLY BRAKED; RODE BRAKES 6 TO 7 MILES; NO WARNING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE. *MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER DOOR LOCKS HAD CORRORED, PASSENGERS CANNOT GET OUT OF VEHICLE, THE RELEASE BUTTON WILL NOT OPEN, HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FUEL LINE FROM THE GAS TANK TO THE ENGINE RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING THE GASOLINE TO LEAK. THE FUEL LINES ARE BEING REPLACED.AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE REACHES 85 DEGREES TEMPERATURE INSIDE VEHICLE RISES TO 70 DEGREES DUE TO DEFECTIVE CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
FAILURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT, BELT DID NOT LOCK WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .