1993 Pontiac Bonneville Owner Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ENCOUNTERING A SPEED BUMP, HE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. HE OBSERVED THAT THE FRONT FRAME AND ENGINE BOTH DETACHED AND WERE POSITIONED ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE A SHORT DISTANCE TO THE RESIDENCE AT AN EXTREMELY LOW SPEED; AND UPON REACHING THE DESTINATION THE STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED COMPLETELY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10375096

Incident

Dec 31, 2010

Mileage

30 mi

1993 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE (3.8L) REAR ENGINE CRADLE ROTTED AT ALL FOR BOLT POINTS CAUSING REAR OF ENGINE CRADLE TO FALL OUT OF THE CAR CAUSING STEERING ISSUES AND AN EVENTUAL LOSS OF STEERING. 1.) DRIVING DOWN NORMAL PAVED CITY STREET. BEGAN TURNING A CORNER. (EXTREMELY LUCKY THIS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEEDS ON A CITY STREET. IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY SERIOUS INJURY COULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE) 2.) FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE. ANY FAILURE CAUSING STEERING LOSS IS ONE TOO MANY. 3.) NOT YET REPAIRED IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET I SEE THAT GM HAS ISSUED RECALLS FOR THIS EXACT TYPE OF FAILURE ON THE PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, BUT I DO NOT SEE ONE LISTED FOR THE BONNEVILLE. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER REPORTS OF THIS OCCURRING. THIS WAS CRITICAL ENOUGH TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, THEN THIS SHOULD BE SERIOUS ENOUGH TO INCLUDE THE BONNEVILLE AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265058

Incident

Apr 12, 2009

Mileage

147,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE IS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE MANUFACTURER MADE A REPORT; HOWEVER, THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE NOT COMPLETELY SURE IF HIS VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V015000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES). THEY STATED THAT THEY WILL INVESTIGATE AND PROVIDE HIM WITH AN ANSWER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 4/21/08 *CN

NHTSA ID

10223305

Incident

Mar 1, 2008

Mileage

55,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO MIDAS FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. A FEW HOURS LATER, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S OIL WAS BLACK. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE OIL CHANGE WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT COULD POSSIBLY RESULT FROM ENGINE FAILURE. AS A RESULT, MIDAS FAILS TO REIMBURSE THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WOULD START, BUT MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE CONTACT HAS THE RECEIPT AND PAPERWORK FROM THE EVENT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 233,065.

NHTSA ID

10190306

Incident

May 9, 2007

Mileage

233,065 mi

I OWN A 1993 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, VIN [XXX] WITH JUST OVER 160,000 MILES ON IT. ON THE EVENING OF APRIL 6TH, 2006 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THIS CAR NEAR OUR HOME. SHE WAS AT A STOP SIGN ON ORTMAN ROAD AND AS SHE PULLED ONTO CHERRY CREEK ROAD SHE HEARD A LOUD CLUNK. AT THE SAME TIME SHE LOST ALL STEERING ABILITY. WHEN SHE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL IT JUST SPUN IN CIRCLES AS IF IT WERE NO LONGER ATTACHED TO ANYTHING. I WAS CALLED AND WENT TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE I SAW THAT THE SUB FRAME AND MOTOR HAD DROPPED DOWN ABOUT 6 INCHES. THERE ARE FOUR BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE SUB FRAME TO THE BODY OF THESE VEHICLES. THE BOLTS WERE ALL IN PLACE AND IN GOOD SHAPE. EACH BOLT HAS A WASHER, WHICH RETAINS THE SUB FRAME TO THE BODY OF THIS CAR. ON MY CAR THE WASHERS CORRODED AND WORE TO THE POINT THAT THEY WOULD NO LONGER RETAIN THE SUB FRAME. THE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE MOUNTING HOLES OF THE SUB FRAME, THUS ALLOWING THE ENGINE AND ALL RELATED COMPONENTS TO DROP ABOUT 6 INCHES. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE SHAFT FROM THE RACK AND PINION STEERING TO THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED APART, THEREBY LEAVING THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE WITH NO ABILITY TO STEER. ON FRIDAY APRIL 7TH I CALLED PUBLIC SERVICE GARAGE IN MARQUETTE MI. AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS ??NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THAT HE SEES THIS A FEW TIMES A YEAR??. I CALLED AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH PONTIAC ALSO. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS ??VERY UNLIKELY THAT PONTIAC WILL DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THIS ONLY HAPPENS IN THE MIDWEST WHERE THE WINTER ROADS ARE SALTED?? THUS CAUSING HIGH RATES OF CORROSION. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A FIVE-MINUTE FIX IF IT WERE DONE BEFORE THE FAILURE. YOU COULD PULL THE BOLTS OUT ONE AT A TIME AND SIMPLY REMOVE THE OLD WASHER AND REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE. I FEEL THAT THE OWNERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS POSSIBLE PROBLEM. I ALSO BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM EXISTS ON OTHER MAKES AND MODELS OF GM VEHICLES. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012*JS

NHTSA ID

10155493

Incident

Apr 6, 2006

Mileage

160,000 mi

WENT TO THE STORE AND WHEN I CAME OUT MY CAR WOULD NOT START, THE SECURITY LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I READ THE OWNERS MANUAL AND IT SAID TO CLEAN THE KEY AND CHECKS THE FUSES. I DID BOTH OF THESE AND STILL NO START. I CALLED A GM DEALER AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HE SAID THAT THE CAR IS NOT RECOGONING THE KEY AND THAT IS WHY IT WONT START. THE KEY HAS A CHIP ON IT, NOW THIS IS IN NO WAY SOMETHING THAT WAS CAUSED BY NEGLECT, IT IS FROM A DEFECT IN THE KEY, YET GM WILL NOT PAY TO GET THIS FIX AND GET THE CAR BACK ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID

10120922

Incident

May 1, 2005

TIRE DEFECT. GROOVE DEVELOPING ON SIDEWALL APPROXIMATELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE "BRAND" AND "MODEL" LETTERING. LOOKS AS IF THE TIRE HAS BEEN RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING, BUT IS ON OUTSIDE OF TIRE. THIS IS HAPPENING ON TWO TIRES. ONE PASSENGER REAR, THE OTHER, DRIVER FRONT. POSSIBLE BELT SEPARATION?

NHTSA ID

10112283

Incident

Feb 28, 2005

Mileage

162,000 mi

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDER, AND THE MASTER CYLINDER AFTER ONLY 24,000 MILES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR THESE REPAIRS. HOWEVER, AFTER 35,000 MILES THE WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED AGAIN. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP.OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10107098

Incident

Jan 12, 2002

Mileage

24,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH FRONT FRAME DROPPED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10072078

Incident

Mar 4, 2004

INVOLVED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION, MVA. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BEING A DISABLED FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC I AM AN ADVID WEARER OF SEATBELT'S. POST ACCIDENT AS I ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE, I REACHED DOWN TO FIND THE SEATBELT HAD NOT HELD DURING THE ACCIDENT. I AM GOING TO INSPECT THE CAR ON 03/05, THEN RELEASE IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. HOW DO I PROCEED IF IT IS FOUND TO BE FAULTY? *AK

NHTSA ID

10060293

Incident

Feb 25, 2004

Mileage

79,800 mi

THE DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB *JB

NHTSA ID

10055920

Mileage

105,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING COOLANT AND OIL. *LA THERE WERE ALSO BRAKE AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10059104

HAD THE HOOD OPEN AND TRIED TO START CAR. CAR MADE LOUD BOOM AND BLEW OFF PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD AND BALL OF FLAME SHOT UP. MY CHILDREN WERE NEARBY AND PLASTIC PARTS WENT SHOOTING ALL AROUND NEARBY AREA. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054251

Incident

Jan 7, 2004

Mileage

218,000 mi

HEY, HOW YOU DOING. MY NAME IS [XXX]. I TOOK MY MOTHERS ([XXX]) 93 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE INTO THE PONTIAC DEALERSHIP ON 159TH ST IN SOUTHHOLLAND ILLINOIS. I KNOW THAT DEALERSHIPS HAVE CERTIFIED MECHANICS. THE PROBLEM IS, MY MOTHER'S CAR WOULD CRANK BUT WOULDN'T START. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NEED A TURBO GASKET AND A MANIFOLD GASKET. WHEN THE JOB WAS DONE THEY TOLD ME THE BILL CAME TO SIX HUNDRED AND SOMETHING DOLLARS. HOWEVER, MY CAR WAS STILL NOT RUNNING BECAUSE THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME I NEED TO GET A NEW TURBO SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM IS, I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S FAIR FOR THE DEALERSHIPS, CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO BE MAKING GUESSES ON WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR WHEN HE WENT TO SCHOOL TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING I DON'T NEED, THE CAR IS STILL NOT RUNNING, BECAUSE THE MECHANIC DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. ON TOP OF THAT, YOU CAN'T TAKE YOUR CAR TO NO PLACE BETTER THAN THE DEALERSHIP .*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10021164

Incident

May 22, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THE HORN ASSEMBLY DOES NOT FUNCTION BECAUSE AIR BAG HAS SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING HORN NOT TO FUNCTION DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED HOWEVER DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR PROBLEM.*JB

NHTSA ID

8009071

CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAGS HAS SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL RESULTING IN THE HORN NOT TO WORKING.*JB

NHTSA ID

8009070

GMC CONVERTER LOCK-UP PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

760440

Incident

Mar 1, 2002

A LEAK IS INSIDE OF ENGINE COOLANT LINE CAN CAUSE A FIRE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8006312

Incident

Apr 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE SEPARATED, BLOWING TRANSMISSION FLUID ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *TT

NHTSA ID

8006002

Incident

Mar 7, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8004535

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE AT ANY SPEED. PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR ,AND VEHICLE HAS NO BRAKING ACTION. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET. *AK

NHTSA ID

899883

Incident

Nov 29, 2001

TRANMISSION OIL COOLING LINES DEVELOPED A HOLE CAUSED BY RUBBING AGAINST METAL COOLING LINES BRACKET, SPRAYING TRANSMISSION OIL UNDER CAR AND ON CATALITIC CONVERTER.*AK

NHTSA ID

753908

Incident

Oct 5, 2001

AFTER REPLACING FUSE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER DASH NEAR STEERING COLUMN. *AK ESTIMATED PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS $2,000.*YD

NHTSA ID

895439

Incident

Aug 25, 2001

4 ALTERNATOR FAILURES ARE WAY BEYOND WHAT IS NORMAL IN 97000 MILES. OTHER PONTIAC OWNERS INDICATE THAT GM SEEMS TO HAVE A HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM THOUGH THE DEALERS DENY IT. BASED ON THE PROBLEMS WE'VE HAD I DOUBT WE'D BUY ANOTHER GM CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

748468

Incident

Jun 30, 2001

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RELEASE BUCKLE FOR DRIVER'S RESTRAINT BUCKLE WOULD NOT RELEASE. CONSUMER HAD TO CUT BELT IN ORDER TO EXIT VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY LOCKED UP. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

890978

Incident

Jul 20, 2000