1994 Pontiac Bonneville Problems

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT HE DETECTED THE ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING. HE SAW GRAY SMOKE COMING FROM THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING VENTS, AND A YELLOW FLAME CLOSE TO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER AREA. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND DISTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. NO REPAIRS COULD BE MADE DUE TO THE FIRE DAMAGE. *AK

DT: WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF IT OVERHEATED. BEFORE THIS OCCURRED THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THERE ALMOST HAST BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THEY FINALLY DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. THE HAVE DONE OTHER THINGS TO THE VEHICLE TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DID NOT WORK. THEY HAVE FOUND IT TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE GOT SHUT OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT IT IS HARD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM

DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. DRIVER SUFFERED FACIAL INJURIES. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. MR

CONSUMER STATES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKING AT HOME THE PASSEGER AIR BAG DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFROMATION:: MR

WHEN DRIVING UNDER 15MPH BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK

ABS SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PRESSURE MODULATOR VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S COST. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

1994 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. DUE TO CORROSION THE ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS / MOUNTING FAILED AND ENGINE FELL OUT OF CAR. LUCKILY IT WAS WHILE TURNING AROUND IN THE DRIVEWAY, IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON / AT ROAD SPEEDS THERE COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, MULTI CAR INVOLVEMENT, INJURIES, OR LOSS OF LIFE. GM SERVICE OFFERED ZERO HELP ON RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN INFORMATION AND DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECT OR REPAIR. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLT AND RETAINER PULLED THROUGH THE CRADLE. THE REAR CRADLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND THE STEERING SEPARATED. THIS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE ROAD, AND TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT VERBALLY SPOKE WITH AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR MECHANIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHO SUGGESTED THE VEHICLE BE BROUGHT IN FOR INSPECTION. *JB

ACCORDING TO TRANSMISSION SHOP DEFECTIVE SEAL DESIGN CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO NOT ENGAGE WHEN COLD. *AK

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED INTO VEHICLE, IT WAS NOT INSTALLED AT TIME OF ASSEMBLY. *YC

RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE RIPPED OUT OF BELT DURING HEAD ON IMPACT RESULTING IN INTERNAL INJURIES TO THE REAR PASSENGER. *AK

3-POINT SEAT BELT TWISTS AND JAMS, RENDERING THE BELT SYSTEM USELESS. FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE DEALER REPLACED THE BELT SYSTEM UNDER WARRANTY AS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SAME EQUIPMENT WOULD BE USED IN NEXT REPLACEMENT, WHICH WOULD NOT PROHIBIT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN AND AGAIN. NOTE THAT THE REAR SEAT IN THIS VAHICLE HAS BEEN USED VERY LITTLE! I FOUND A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON NHTSA SITE FOR 1997-99 BUICK PARK AVENUE--I WILL CONTACT LOCAL BUICK DEALER TO DETERMINE WHETHER THOSE REPLACEMENT PARTS WOULD FIT MY VEHICLE AS BONNEVILLE AND PARK AVENUE ARE SAME BASIC CAR. HAS NHTSA RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN MY VEHICLE? *AK

FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT USED.

ENGINE FAILS WITHOUT WARNING, CAR STALLS WHILE SITTING WARMING UP OR TRAVELING WITH NO WARNING. WHEN ENGINE STALLS, CAN OCCASIONALLY BE RESTARTED. HAVE HAD A COMPUTER CHIP AND FEUL PUMP REPLACED AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. WATER PUMP IS NOW GETTING VERY NOISY AND ALSO WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED NOW. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, WE EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE TEMPERATURE SEEMED TO BE RISING AND THE CAR NOT OPERATING SMOOTHLY. REASSURED THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS TO BE FOUND.

BENT AND TWISTED FINGERS. WHILE IN FLORIDA VISITING MY UNCLE AND AUNT (BEFORE HE DIED) I HAD NOTICED HIS FINGERS WERE BENT AS MY ARE. HE ALSO HAD A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH LEFT SHOULDER PAIN. WHEN IN FLORIDA THIS PAST JANUARY, I DROVE HIS 1994 BONNEVILLE. THE STEERING WAS TIGHT LIKE TO 2000 IMPALA. THIS ACCOUNTED FOR HIS GOING TO THE DOCTOR FOR SHOTS IN HIS SHOULDER AND AT ONE TIME A VISIT TO THE HOSPITAL ROOM BECAUSE OF THE SHOOTING PAIN WHICH HE BELIEVED WAS FROM A HEART ATTACK. SUBMITTED BY MIKE TOMICH 989-665-2311 BUT DIDN'T MAKE THE CONNECTIION WITH THE HARD STEERING. DT

I WAS DRIVING UP MY DRIVEWAY AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 3 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LITERALLY FELL INTO MY LAP. THE CAR WAS UNSTEERABLE. I HAD JUST MOVED TO NH AND CALLED TH ELOCAL DEALER.....FAIRFIELD IN KEENE. THEY CAME OUT AND FLATBEDDED THE CAR TO THE SHOP. 4 WEEKS LATER AFTER THEY LOCATED THE PARTS I WAS TOLD THAT THE COLLAR THAT HOLDS THE STEERING COLUMN HAD BROKE AND THAT THIS SHOULD NEVER HAD HAPPENED UNLESS I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGHER SPEED. GM SAID IT WAS THE RESPONIBILITY OF ME TO PROVE IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART. I BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD INVESTIGATE IT. I SPOKE TO THE ESIS ..GREG THRASHER.. ON 7/24/2002. PHONE 1-800-888-0164. WHO TOLD ME IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL IF THE PART WAS EVER DEFECTIVE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU.*AK

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED INTO VEHICLE, IT WAS NOT INSTALLED AT TIME OF ASSEMBLY. *YC

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THROUGH A BAD STORM, WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULDN'T MOVE. THE CONSUMER WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSTATE AND WAS BLINDED BY THE RAIN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONCTACTED. *AK

ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON. LATER, NONE OF THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, EVEN WITH A NEW BATTERY. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

THE FIRST PROBLEM STATED WAS THE DOOR LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, I HAVE KEYLESS ENTY BUT IAN UNABLE TO USE THIS BECAUSE MY LOCK IS ALWAYS ON THE LOCK POSITION, THIS MAKES FOR A DIFFCULT TIME EXPECIALLY WHEN THIS WAS A FEATURE I WANTED BECAUSE I WORK 11-7 IAM A WOMEN AND I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO GAIN ACESS INTO MY CAR WITHOUT FUMBLING WTIH KEYS. THE SECOND PROBLEM I NOTED WAS I WAS DRIVING AND THE WHOLE ENTIRE VISOR FELL IT BROKE INSIDE SOMEHOW AND IT IS IN A POSITON THAT IS OBSTRUCTING MY VEIW, THERE FIRE I HAVE USED SAFETY PINS AND RUBBERBANDS TO KEEP IT OUT OF MY VEIW OF THE ROAD.

ON SEP 1ST L997 I WAS DRIVING WITH MY WIFE AT NIGHT AT ABOUT 65MPH. I FLICKED THE HI BEAM LEVER AND HAD A TOTAL BLACKOUT. I SWITCHED BACK TO LO BEAM AND THE LO BEAM CAME ON. I TRIED TWICE MORE AND EACH TIME TOTAL DARKNESS. THE DEALER REPLACED SWITCH # 1995405 ($130.75). ON MARCH 2ND 1999 I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.. HOWEVER, LATER ON THAT TRIP THE HI BEAMS DID GO ON, BUT AFTER A SHORT IME FLICKERED AND AGAIN TOTAL DARKNESS. I SWITCHED TO LO BEAM AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON. THIS TIME THE DEALER REPLACED 2 SWITCHES #L995405 ($152.00) AND #26005936($110.46) (TOTAL BILL ($339.63) A FEW NIGHTS LATER WE EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM - TOTAL DARKNESS WHEN I SWITCHED TO HI BEAMS. THE DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS BUT COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. HE FINALLY GAVE UP. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO PONTIAC WITH A PHONE # GIVEN ME BY THE DEALER. THEY TOOK DOWN THE INFORMATION, BUT I HAVE NEVER HEARD FROM THEM. *AK

IN SEPT OF 1997 WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT I SWITCHED THE LIGHTS FROM LO BEAM TO HI BEAM. THE RESULT WAS TOTAL DARKNESS. I QUICKLY SWITCHED BACK TO LO BEAM. I COULD SEE AGAIN. I TRIED TWO MORE TIMES TO SWITCH TO HI BEAMS, AND EACH TIME TOTAL DARKNESS. THE NEXT DAY I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A SOLUTION. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAD REPLACED A SWITCH(#1995405). THE BILL WASS $234.25. I HAD NO FURTHER SIMILAR PROBLEM UNTIL MARCH L999. WHILE DRIVING LATE A NIGHT I HAD EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM-TOTAL DARKNESS WHEN I SWITHED TO HI BEAM. I REPORTED THIS AGAIN AND WAS ADVISED THAT I SHOULD HAVE A COUPLE OF SWITCHES REPLACED AS THEY WERE NOT SURE WHATA WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. AS IT WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN I CONCURRED. BOTH SWITCHES WERE REPLACED.(#1995405 AND #26005936). THE BILL WAS $409.52. WITHIN THE WEEK I WAS AGAIN RETURNING HOME AT NIGHT AND I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. TOTAL DARKNESS WHEN I SWITCHED TO HI BEAMS. I DROVE HOME ON LO BEAMS AND WHEN I GOT INTO THE DRIVEWAY SWITCHED TO HI BEAM. THEY WENT ON FOR A SECOND OR SO AND GRADUALLY FIZZLED TOTAL DARKNESS. THE NEXT DAY I AGAIN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP FOR SEVERAL DAYS, BUT COOULD OFFER NO SOLUTION. I DID REQUEST A NUMBER OF THE PONTIAC CONSUMER SERVICE OFFICE AND TOLD THE PERSON ABOUOT MY TROUBLES,, BUT HE OFFERED NO HELP. SEVERAL DAYS AGO BY PURE ACCIDENT I CAME ACROSS A COMMENT IN THE AUTO SECTION OF MY COMPUTER PROGRAM. UNDER RECALL HISTORY ON '95 BONNEVELLE WITH TWILIGHT SENTINEL(WHICH I HAVE) IT MENTIONED HEADLIGHTS GOING OUTWITH ENERGY DRAIN. I CALLED THE SAFTEY DIVISION OF PONTIAC AND MENTIONED MY PROBLEM AND THE RECALL COMMENT I HAD NOTED. THEY TOOK THE INFORMATION BUT KNEW NOTHING ABOUT A RECALL HAVING TO DO WITH HEADLIGHT GOING OUT. I'M DRIVING MY CAR BECAUSE I HAVE NO OTHER GOOD CHOICE AND BECAUSE I AM PREPARED TO GO TO LO BEAM. MYCOMPUTER PROGRAMNESS.TOTALROBLEMING LATE AT NIGHT

I HAD JUST PURCHASED THESE TIRES DECEMBER OF 1999 FROM MONTGOMERY WARDS IN SAN ANTONIO TX (THEY HAVE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS, THEREFORE I DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO ASK) THE TIRES STILL HAVE GOOD TREAD ON THEM AND I HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT ON JUNE 21, 2001 ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, NO INJURYS INVOLVED JUST DAMAGE TO MY CAR VALUED AT $1300.00. MY ONLY CONCERN IS IF THESE TIRES MAY ALSO BE DEFECTIVE?? I STILL DRIVE MY CAR WITH THE OTHER 3 BRIDGESTONE TIRES, COULD YOU PLEASE FIND OUT FOR ME? THANK YOU, ELENA LOPEZ. *AK (DOT NUMBER: ENKW TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

RECALL NOTICE (96V015000) FOR CARS MANUFACTURED FROM AUG/91 TO JUL/95 POINTS TO SUCH A PROBLEM. I WAS LEAVING A TRAIL OF IGNITED FLUID ON THE ROADWAY AS I DROVE. I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT ON THE 3RD ATTEMPT AFTER STOPPING. IGNITED LIQUID OF SOME FORM COULD BE SEEN POURING ONTO THE ROAD SURFACE AFTER I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AND RUN BEHIND MY CAR. I TRULY LOVE THIS CAR BUT FEEL I SHOULD ALERT OTHERS TO THE POSSIBLE DANGER. I BARELY MADE IT OUT OF THE CAR DUE TO THE FLAMES. THE PROBLEM MAY BE RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL, SINCE I COULD FEEL THE GAS PEDAL MOVE IN AND OUT WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATED. IT WOULD REV HIGH AT TIMES. I WOULD LOVE TO GET THE SAME CAR BUT NEED TO BE ASSURED ALL IS SAFE. INSPITE OF THE VIN NUMBER FOR MY CAR, WHAT OCCURRED SOUNDS SO MUCH LIKE THE RECALL NOTICE. WHATEVER THE CASE, THE FIRE INCIDENT WAS NOT DUE TO OVERHEATING. IT STARTED BY FLUIDS OF SOME KIND BEING IGNITED BY THE HOT SURFACES. AS I SAID BEFORE, I TRULY LOVED THIS CAR; AND, BECAUSE OF THIS, I MADE SURE REGULAR MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORM ON IT. IT'S A CAR I HAD HOPE WOULD BE WITH ME FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK AND THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT PRESSURE WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

1994 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. DUE TO CORROSION THE ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS / MOUNTING FAILED AND ENGINE FELL OUT OF CAR. LUCKILY IT WAS WHILE TURNING AROUND IN THE DRIVEWAY, IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON / AT ROAD SPEEDS THERE COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, MULTI CAR INVOLVEMENT, INJURIES, OR LOSS OF LIFE. GM SERVICE OFFERED ZERO HELP ON RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN INFORMATION AND DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECT OR REPAIR. *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND BONNEVILLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS LISTED OWNED. SEEMS PONTIAC WOULD INVESTIGATE THESE PROBLEMS A LITTLE MORE. NEVER BUY ANOTHER. AFTER ONE ENGINE REPLACEMENT, WILL JUST REPLACE THE "HEAP" OF A CAR NEXT TIME. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK