1997 Pontiac Bonneville Owner Complaints

DRIVING AN SUDDENLY VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN, SPEED MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.STARTS BACK WITH NO PROBLEM. THIS IS A REGULAR PROBLEM, ALSO HAPPENS WHEN IDLING...MAKES FOR A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. HAS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY SURFACE STREETS, TURNING, ACCELERATING, EVEN WHEN BRAKING.THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN IT WOULDN'T START AND NO DOCUMENTATION OR INVOICES AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE TO TUG ON IGNITION WIRES. POSSIBLE REASON-IGNITION SWITCH UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL SECTION IS BAD. THIS VEHICLE HAS A CONSOLE, PLAN ON GETTING NEW IGNITION SWITCH.

NHTSA ID

10809667

Incident

Nov 23, 2015

Mileage

232,905 mi

THE CAR LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IT WOULD JUST QUIT AND I WOULD HAVE NO BRAKES OR STEERING AND ALL GAUGES WOULD SHUT DOWN. SOMETIMES IT WOULD LOSE POWER AND THEN IT WOULD COME BACK ON WHILE I WAS STILL DRIVING CUTTING IN AND OUT REPEATEDLY. IT HAPPENED A LOT WHEN I WAS IDLING AT A CORNER AND THEN WOULD START THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. IT WOULD QUIT GOING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T START AFTER DRIVING IT A SHORT DISTANCE. AFTER IT SAT FOR A FEW MINUTES, A FEW HOURS OR SOMETIMES OVERNIGHT IT WOULD JUST START LIKE THERE WASN'T ANY PROBLEM WITH IT. IT DIDN'T SPUTTER OR ACT LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING GAS OR ANYTHING, IT JUST WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING AND HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF ALL POWER. WE TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY COULD NEVER REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND DIAGNOSTICS DIDN'T SHOW ANY PROBLEMS THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS ISSUE. I ASKED A COUPLE OF TIMES IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS AND THE SERVICE GARAGE SAID NO. I FINALLY QUIT DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE I WAS TIRED OF BEING STRANDED AND WITH TAKING MY CHANCES WITH IT LOOSING POWER DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR THROUGH INTERSECTIONS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME ISSUE THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY RECALLING SOME GM MODELS FOR BECAUSE OF AN IGNITION SWITCH SPRING BUT BONNEVILLE AREN'T ON THE RECALL LIST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10576488

Incident

Dec 27, 2004

Mileage

118,515 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BATTERY AND CHECK OIL SENSORS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ID

10450042

Incident

Feb 10, 2012

Mileage

107,000 mi

IN EARLY NOVEMBER MY CAR (97 BONNEVILLE SSE) BEGAN EXPERIENCING TROUBLE STARTING. IT RARELY STARTED RIGHT UP BUT REQUIRED SEVERAL TRIES TO START. OCCASIONALLY I COULD SMELL GAS AFTER IT WAS STARTED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE IAC VALVE WAS REPLACED BUT THAT CHANGED NOTHING. AFTER SEVERAL MORE WEEKS OF THE ISSUE GETTING WORSE I SCHEDULED IT FOR SERVICE ON DEC 22. THE SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF DEC 18; THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE DEC 21. ON DEC 22 THE CAR WAS "FIXED". WITHIN 24 HRS I KNEW THE STARTING ISSUE WAS NOT FIXED. I HAD TO START IT MULTIPLE TIMES EVERY TIME & COULD OFTEN SMELL GAS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE GARAGE PAID ATTENTION TO THE REASON THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR SERVICE & INSTEAD FIXED THE IMMEDIATE ISSUE. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE GARAGE DEC 26 BUT HAD TO LEAVE A MESSAGE WITH THE GAS ATTENDANT AS THE SERVICE DEPT WAS CLOSED. ON MON DEC 28 I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR FOR WORK. THE ENGINE CRANKED 1-2 TIMES THEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD "BANG" UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL. SMOKE POURED FROM UNDER THE HOOD ALMOST INSTANTLY. THE SMOKE RAPIDLY INTENSIFIED AND CHANGED COLOR. FIRE COULD THEN BE SEEN BENEATH THE ENGINE & ENGULFED A MAJOR PART OF IT WITHIN 2-3 MINUTES. ALTHOUGH THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED LESS THAN 4 MIN AFTER THE FIRE STARTED, THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10298048

Incident

Dec 28, 2009

Mileage

64,303 mi

I HAD A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY IN MICHIGAN, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS NOT SPEEDING, AND MY CAR WAS PERFECTLY SERVICED AND MAINTAINED. BY THE TIME THE FIRE SERVICE GOT THERE, THE WHOLE CAR BURNT DOWN. IT TOOK LESS THAN 20 MINUTES FOR THE WHOLE CAR TO GET BURNT BEYOND RECOGNITION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10292155

Incident

Nov 7, 2009

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE LEAK. A YEAR AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAN CONNECTED TO THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE INTERMITTENTLY UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE DEFROST AND SUDDENLY, THE FRONT WINDOW CRACKED. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT DOES EXIST. THE HEATER FAN ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 11/10/09 *BF UPDATED 11/13/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10282369

Incident

Mar 1, 2008

Mileage

83,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS PLASTIC INTAKE PARTS, WHICH INCLUDE THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A ROUTINE TUNE-UP, SHE NOTICED ANTIFREEZE ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD BOOMING NOISE SIMILAR TO A BACKFIRE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT COULD SMELL FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AFTER PLACING FUEL INTO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURES DESCRIBED ON THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

NHTSA ID

10260064

Incident

Jan 5, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 EVENFLO INFANT CARRIER, MODEL NUMBER 25800402 (NA). THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN MAY OF 2006. THE CONTACT FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS ON INSTALLING THE CHILD SEAT IN HER 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CHILD SEAT FELL OVER WITH THE CHILD STRAPPED IN THE SEAT. THE CHILD SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED , BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE. THE FAILURE TYPE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10224703

Incident

Apr 15, 2008

Mileage

117,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AND MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR AWHILE THEN OUT OF NO WHERE MY AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND FILLED MY WHOLE CAR WITH SMOKE AND POWDER. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING PRIOR TO THE AIR BAG EXPLODING NOR AFTER. I SUFFER FROM CUTS AND BURNS ON MY RIGHT ARM AND STOMACH. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED IT. I HAVE NOT DROVE THE CAR SINCE THEN BECAUSE I CANNOT DISCONNECT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE CAR WILL NOT START WITHOUT THE FUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10224260

Incident

Apr 10, 2008

Mileage

14,995 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE VEHICLE SPED INTO FULL THROTTLE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO REVERSE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CONTAINED NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WHEN THE MECHANIC STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT WAS STILL AT FULL THROTTLE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *AK

NHTSA ID

10187429

Incident

Mar 19, 2007

Mileage

110,000 mi

CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WHILE DECELERATING AT ANYWHERE FROM 30-55 MPH. SOMETIMES CAN RESTART, SOMETIMES NOT FOR A HALF HOUR OR SO. THE CAR'S ENGINE COOLANT HAS LEAKED OUT ONTO ENGINE. CAR SHUT DOWN, NO POWER, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, THEN THE COOLANT SPILLED OUT EVERYWHERE, ENGINE STARTED SMOKING AND NOW THE ENGINE HAS STOPPED WORKING EVEN AFTER REPLACING HEAD GASKET. CAR HAD BEEN INTO DEALERS NUMEROUS TIMES TO NO AVAIL. NO ONE COULD IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. NOW HAVE A CAR THAT HAD TO BE TOWED AND IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. NUMEROUS FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED IN HOPES OF STOPPING THE STALLING OUT AND SHUTDOWNS, BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED. WAITING FOR A COUPLE OF QUOTES ON WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO TRY AND FIX THE ENGINE OR MOST LIKELY NEED REPLACED. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WAS FAIRLY NEW.

NHTSA ID

10170344

Incident

Oct 6, 2006

Mileage

130,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AT EVERY CONNECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING DUE TO THE CORROSION. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WERE 10-15 OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. UPDATED 9/5/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10165772

Incident

Aug 17, 2006

Mileage

44,000 mi

HEARD A "POPPING" NOISE, THEN LOST POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT. RIGHT TURNS WORK FINE, BUT NO POWER STEERING TO THE LEFT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10165328

Incident

Jul 5, 2006

Mileage

126,000 mi

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING, WOULD NOT ALLOW A LEFT TURN. RIGHT TURNING CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH ONE FINGER, HOWEVER LEFT TURNS REQUIRE TREMENDOUS STRENGTH. RECALL ISSUED FOR GRAND PRIX AND SIMILAR 97 PONTIAC'S, BUT NOT THE BONNEVILLE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10156711

Incident

Apr 27, 2006

Mileage

130,000 mi

DT: CALLER SAID THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD BROKE . THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. CALLER'S WIFE HAD TO GET HELP TO PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD, AND CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. CALLER SAID THERE WAS A RECALL # 04V090000. MANUFACTURER SAID THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10126193

Incident

Aug 23, 2003

Mileage

100,458 mi

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON MY 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 3800 SERIES ENGINE FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO GAIN ACCESS TO INTERNAL ENGINE PARTS. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND BECOME TOTALLY INOPERABLE REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2200.00. THIS FAILURE ALSO HAPPEND IN A PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, THAT I ALSO OWNED, WITH THE SAME SERIES OF ENGINE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR TO THE GRAND PRIX WAS APPROX. $650.00. THE ENGINE IN THE GRAND PRIX DID NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED. LOOKING AT AND READING THE VARIOUS GM MESSAGE BOARDS ON THE INTERNET, THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY PREVALENT WITH THE 3800 SERIES OF ENGINE. GM CONTINUES TO IGNORE THIS WITH NO REGARD TO THE CONSUMER.

NHTSA ID

10118651

Incident

Apr 25, 2005

Mileage

82,000 mi

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 BONNEVILLE WARPED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE WHICH THEN SEIZED THE ENGINE. REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD AND REBUILT BOTH ENGINE HEADS. TOTAL COST WAS $1,525. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE GM 3800 SERIES ENGINES BECAUSE THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD IS PLASTIC. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, A ROD BEARING FAILED. I WAS TOLD IT FAILED PREMATURELY BECAUSE COOLANT HAD ENTERED THE ENGINE. I DO NOT HAVE A REPAIR ESTIMATE YET. I BELIEVE ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO THE DEFECTIVE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10110065

Incident

Jan 20, 2005

Mileage

109,800 mi

G.M. 3800 SERIESII V-6 ENGINE PLASTIC UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENUM & GASKETS. FAILURE OF INFERIOR PARTS IN CONJUCTION WITH DEX COOL (G.M. ANTI-FREEZE/COOLANT). CAUSING DETERIORATION AND FAILURE OF PLENUM FORCING COOLANT INTO ENGINE. ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SEIZES,TRYING TO RESTART WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO STARTER,FLYWHEEL,BATT.,AND ENGINE. REMEDY? TOW TO G.M. SERVICE CENTER REPLACE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENUM,MANIFOLD GSKTS,SPARK PLUGS & WIRES,STARTER,PWR-FLUSH ENG.& COOLING SYS.,REPLACE ALL FLUIDS. G.M. IS AWARE OF PROBLEM THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. SERVICE MNGR. TOLD ME DAMAGES TO VEH.WAS NOT DUE LACK OF MAINTENANCE BUT USE OF PLASTIC PARTS AND COOLANT BY G.M. THIS A MAJOR DEFECT & PROBLEM. COST OF REPAIRS? $1,300.00. *AK

NHTSA ID

10108329

Incident

Jan 23, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

VEHICLE BACK FIRED WHILE DRIVING,THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10107229

Incident

Jan 11, 2005

WHILE LEANING BACK IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT, THE RECLINING PART OF THE SEAT FAILS TO HOLD ME.*AK

NHTSA ID

10095949

Incident

Mar 18, 2004

Mileage

123,000 mi

THE REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK. THE LATCHES ARE MIXED, THEY DO NOT GO TOGETHER. THEY HAVE GM ON THE BELTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10094481

Incident

Aug 18, 2004

Mileage

110,000 mi

WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. CONSUMER HAD TO USE FORCE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE BUT THERE WERE RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME RACK AND PINION. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PRODUCED AT THE PLANT OF THE RECALLED CARS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10081638

Incident

Jun 15, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK-UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10083266

Incident

Jul 4, 2004

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OR THE PLEMIUM WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THE THING WORE OUT AND ALL OF MY ENGINE COOLANT WENT INTO THE FUEL CYLINDERS AND LOCKED MY MOTOR DOWN I WAS HEADED TO MACON GA FROM DOUGLAS,GA GOING TO THE HOSPITAL WERE THEY HAD TRANSFERED MY BROTHER AND HERE I AM IN PERRY,GA BROKE DOWN BECAUSE PONTIAC PUTS A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON A MOTOR I FEEL LIKE PONTIAC SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS PART BEING REPLACED. I ALSO HAVE TROUBLE WITH MY CAR SURGING BETWEEN 35 AND 55 MILES PER HOUR THIS IS THE SORRIEST CAR I HAVE EVER OWED AND I HAVE OWNED 2 GRAND PRIXS BEFORE THIS CAR BUT LIKED THE BODY STYLE OF THE BONNEVILLE AND I RHOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD CAR BUT BOY WAS I WRONG I BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST,2002 AND HAVE SPENT ENOUGH MONEY ON REPAIRS ON IT THAT I COULD PROBABLY DONE PAID FOR ANOTHER GRAND PRIX.AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SIGHT I FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THEM FOR THE TRANSMISSIONS AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS BECAUSE THEY ALL SEEM TO BE RELATED TO ME .PEOPLE PAY A LOT OF MONEY FOR THERE CARS AND STILL HAVE TO PUT MONEY IN REPAIRS ITS JUST NOT FAIR .*AK

NHTSA ID

10067614

Incident

Apr 11, 2004

Mileage

128,123 mi

1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RACK& PINION STEERING THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT ONLY. TURNING RIGHT WAS STILL FUNCTIONING WITH POWER ASSIST. THE PROBLEM INCREASED OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TO WHERE THE CAR WOULDN'T TURN LEFT AT ALL (EVEN MANUALLY). COMPLAINT WAS MADE TO DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS MANUFACTURER WITH ABSOLUTLELY NO RESOLUTION.

NHTSA ID

10065876

Incident

Oct 19, 2002

Mileage

69,845 mi