1997 Pontiac Bonneville Engine Problems

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

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

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: 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

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

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED. *AK THE CRACKED GASKET ALLOWED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDER'S. *NM

NHTSA ID

10053726

Mileage

98,000 mi

1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WITH DEXTROL COOLANT IS CAUSING CONSTANT TROUBLE. THE LATEST IS HAVING TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD TO THE TUNE OF $598.18. WHY IS THIS PIECE PLASTIC, BUT THE PIPE GOING INTO IT IS METAL? THE DEX COOL IS DETERIORATING ALL RUBBER SEALS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10054730

Incident

Jan 14, 2004

Mileage

81,980 mi

I PAID THE STATED AMOUNT TO REPLACE A COMPONENT REFERRED TO ME AS A "PLENNUM". THE SYMPTOM MY CAR WAS HAVING WAS, IT WAS OVERHEATING. IT IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IS MOUNTED ON THE TOP OF THE 3800 ENGINE. LITTLE DID I KNOW, THAT THE DAMAGE HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE. THE FAILED PART HAD LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE. A WEEK AND A HALF AFTER HAVING THE PLENNUM REPLACED, MY CAR BROKE DOWN. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE FROM THE PLENNUM HAD CAUSED PREMATURE FAILURE OF A "ROD BEARING" IN THE ENGINE. THE COOLANT I'M TOLD ATE AWAY THE BEARING LUBRICANT. I AM TOLD MY ONLY OPTION AT THIS POINT IS AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I AM NOT A CAR MECHANIC BY ANY MEANS AND SUSPECTED NOTHING, AND WAS TOLD NOTHING. I UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THE FACT THAT MAN MADE PRODUCTS WEAR OUT AND NEED REPLACING. THIS TO ME SEEMS TO BE A POOR ENGINEERING FLAW THAT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX. I DID NOT INCLUDE THE $2000.00 ENGINE REPLACEMENT IN MY TOTAL REPAIR COST ABOVE. THE PLASTIC PLENNUM PART, BY THE WAY, WAS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER PLASTIC PART. I TOLD THE DRIVER THAT WAS RETURNING ME HOME WHILE THE PLENNUM WAS BEING REPLACED, THAT I WAS INTENDING TO TRADE MY BONNEVILLE IN ON A MONTANA MINIVAN THIS SUMMER. HIS REPLY TO ME WAS THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE MONTANA, AS WELL AS OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE 3800 ENGINE. IT SEMS CLEAR TO ME THAT THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM HERE THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

10069769

Incident

Dec 15, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED DRIVER BEGAN TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. DRIVER PROCEEDED TO DRIVE HOME, AND PARKED VEHICLE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A WHOLE IN THE PLENUM THAT ALLOWED WATER TO LEAK AND WARP THE HEADS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10042052

THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY ALL STATED THE COMPUTER SHOWED NO ERRORS. *JB *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10032511

Incident

Aug 8, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

A BLOCK FROM HOME OUR ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THE UPPER MANIFOLD HAD A HOLE IN IT DUE TO THE MANIFOLD BEING PLASTIC, AND CRYSTALIZING OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. IT COST US $729.00 TO GET IT FIXED. LUCKILY OUR ENGINE WASN'T HOT OR WE WOULD HAVE HAD MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10037097

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

113,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING A 100 MILES FROM HOME THE CAR OVERHEATED & HAD TO BE TOWED. WE FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A HOLE IN THE AIR PLENUM IN THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE OVER 20 SUCH CASES IN OUR SMALL COMMUNITY ALONE. ALL ON 3800 MOTORS IN PONTIAC'S. THIS IS A FOUR HUNDRED DOLLAR REPAIR BILL THAT OCCURRED ONLY BECAUSE PONTIAC DECIDED TO USE PLASTIC IN THEIR PART WHICH IN TURN MELTED & CAUSED OUR MOTOR TO OVERHEAT. I HOPE THAT PONTIAC WILL RECALL THESE PLENUMS & REIMBURSE US FOR THE COST OF REPAIRING & TOWING OUR CAR. IF PONTIAC WOULD CALL THEIR DEALERS THEY WOULD FIND OUT JUST HOW MANY OF THESE PARTS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10023674

Incident

Jun 13, 2003

Mileage

99,548 mi

LOSS OF COOLANT. PLASTIC AIR INTAKE MOUNTED ON TOP OF INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED LEAKING COOLANT UNDER PRESSURE INTO COMBUSTION CHAMBER. TALKED TO SEVERAL LICENSED TECHNICIANS IN THE AREA AND THEY STATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF AIR INTAKE. $275 & LABOR. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10016448

Incident

Apr 21, 2003

Mileage

94,000 mi

NAR 1/29/2003. THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO THE CONSUMER WITH A BENT WATER PUMP AND A BENT WHEEL. THE ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING PUMP, TRANSMISSION AND EGR VALVE WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10006051

Incident

Jan 7, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) FAILED CAUSING A HOLE IN THE MANIFOLD. TS

NHTSA ID

10002284

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE ON 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. COOLANT ENTERED INTO CYLINDER #4 CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR APPROXIMATELY $900. REOCCURING PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE, AND CALLS TO PONTIAC RESULTED IN NO SATISFACTION.

NHTSA ID

10000082

Incident

Sep 20, 2002

Mileage

63,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING COOLANT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS FUMES NOTICED SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW, HOWEVER SOMEWHAT BETTER BUT CAN STILL BE DETECTED. *TT

NHTSA ID

8023682

Incident

Mar 1, 2002

Mileage

75,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. DEALER NOTIFIED.TS

NHTSA ID

8023046

Incident

Nov 3, 2002