RoadVitals

1999 Pontiac Bonneville Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
23
Latest Sep 5, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
16%
of 143 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Pontiac Bonneville submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalFuel systemSteering
Filed Sep 5, 2016

' TAKATA RECALL" DRIVING AND THE CAR CUT OFF..AFTER I STOP THE CAR AND TURN THE KEY OFF. WAS ABLE TO RE START THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPEN A FEW TIMES. THIS IS NOT A SAFE THING WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREE WAYS ....I WAS IN MOTION AND ON THE STREET. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BUT WAS NOT WERE OF IT THIS WAS IN 2009 NOW IT 2016 AND THE PART IN MY CAR IS NOT WORKING?

NHTSA ID
10903615
Incident
Sep 3, 2016
Mileage
136,589 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Jun 20, 2014

UPON ACCELERATING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, AFTER REACHING HIGHWAY SPEED, VEHICLE STALLS AND WOULD NOT START. FLOODING ENGINE, GASOLINE COMING OUT OF EXHAUST, ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER RESEARCH AND REPLACING LEAKING LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD, THIS WAS NOT MY PROBLEM THERE WAS NO LEAK. AFTER MORE RESEARCH I REPLACED MORE SENSORS AND EVENTUALLY CYLINDER GASKETS AND LOWER INTAKE GASKET AGAIN. STILL ENGINE WOULD NOT START. AFTER 2 YEARS OF CAR SITTING I UNPLUGGED MAF SENSOR AND THEN IT STARTED FINALLY. FAULTY MAF SENSOR BUT NO WAY TO FIND OUT UNLESS IT IS UNPLUGGED BECAUSE SENSOR DID NOT GIVE OFF ANY PERTAINING FAULT CODE POINTING TO THE PROBLEM SPECIFICALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10604668
Incident
Jan 8, 2011
Mileage
130,000 mi
Fuel systemExterior lightingOther / unspecified+1 more
Filed Nov 24, 2011

EXTERIOR LIGHTING RECALL FOR 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RECALL ANNOUNCED: APRIL 07 2009 NHTSA REFERENCE: #09E012000 NUMBER AFFECTED: 16,270 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY RECALL FOR 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RECALL ANNOUNCED: FEBRUARY 24 2004 NHTSA REFERENCE: #04V090000 NUMBER AFFECTED: 910,873 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RECALL FOR 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RECALL ANNOUNCED: APRIL 26 1999 NHTSA REFERENCE: #99V089000 NUMBER AFFECTED: 99,333 WHEELS RECALL FOR 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RECALL ANNOUNCED: APRIL 12 1999 NHTSA REFERENCE: #99V072000 NUMBER AFFECTED: 352. *TR

NHTSA ID
10436930
Incident
Mar 16, 2007
Fuel system
Filed Nov 24, 2011

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY RECALL FOR 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RECALL ANNOUNCED: FEBRUARY 24 2004 NHTSA REFERENCE: #04V090000 NUMBER AFFECTED: 910,873 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE. CONSEQUENCE: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE. FIX: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668. FOR DETAILED INFORMATION & SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, SEE THE OFFICIAL NHTSA PAGE CONCERNING RECALL #04V090000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10436929
Incident
Mar 16, 2007
Fuel system
Filed Sep 17, 2010
Fire reported

THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH A GAS LEAKAGE. THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE FITTING AT THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL WAS THE PROBLEM. O-RINGS WERE REPLACED, THINGS SEEMED FINE - NO GAS SMELL OR LEAKAGE. THIS LASTED FOR APPX. 24 HOURS. I DROVE ABOUT 7 MILES TO AND FROM WORK THREE TIMES, A TOTAL OF 21 MILES, STOPPED AT A LIBRARY, CAME OUT, SMELLED GAS, WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME - ONE MILE - WAS GOING TO PARK IT AND GET SOMEONE TO LOOK AT IT. I STOPPED AT THE MAILBOXES AND HEARD A SLIGHT POOF SOUND UNDER THE HOOD.WHEN I LOOKED UP I SAW SMOKE BELLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I GRABBED MY PURSE AND JUMPED OUT. FROM A DISTANCE I SAW 2" BALLS OF FIRE DROPPING FROM THE ENGINE TO THE STREET, CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WATCHED MY CAR GO UP IN FLAMES WHILE WAITING FOR THEM TO SHOW UP - ALL BECAUSE OF ONE SMALL PLASTIC PIECE UNDER THE HOOD. ALSO, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND EVERYONE TO CARRY FULL INSURANCE COVERAGE - A LESSON HARD-LEARNED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10356120
Incident
Sep 16, 2010
Mileage
132,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 25, 2008

G.M RECALL # 040V09000 WAS PERFORMED ON MY 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE ON JULY 2004. FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED, THE PART HAS FAILED AGAIN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I CONTACTED PONTIAC AND ASKED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE PART. PONTIAC HAS INFORMED ME THEY WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF THE PART AS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY WHEN THE PART WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED IN 2004. IS GM ONLY REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE PART ONE TIME? *TR

NHTSA ID
10243472
Incident
Sep 19, 2008
Mileage
40,000 mi
EngineFuel systemVisibility
Filed Jul 21, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. IN 2003, WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A HUGE CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD BLOWN THE GASKET. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ITSELF. IN 2005, THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR SWITCH BLEW OUT AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED IN 2007. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO BLOW DUE TO LEAKAGE OF FUEL INTO THE ENGINE. ALSO, THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER SWITCH WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. HE HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE TO PREVENT IT FROM DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000. UPDATE 09/10/08 *CW UPDATED 09/19/08. *JB

NHTSA ID
10235121
Incident
Jul 10, 2003
Mileage
63,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 15, 2007

WAS GETTING A GASOLINE SMELL AND TOOK CAR IN FOR THE PRESSURE REGULATOR RECALL, DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT THE REGULATOR BUT FUEL LINE. THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD AND THEN BILL WAS $950, ALMOST $100 MORE THAT QUOTE AND DID NOT RECEIVE PARTS BACK SHOWING THE PROBLEM *JB

NHTSA ID
10185256
Incident
Nov 30, 2006
Mileage
105,183 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 30, 2006

NOTICED SMELL OF GAS WHEN AUTO PARKED IN GARAGE..FURTHER INVESTIGATION NOTED THAT FUEL LEAKING FROM FUEL LINE..TOOK AUTO TO DEALER AND DEALER STATED THAT BOTH FUEL LINES HAVE DETERIORATED, CAUSING THE LEAKS..WHILE I HAVE BEEN FAMILIAR WITH FUEL LEAKS FROM LOOSE CONNECTIONS, I CAN NOT IMAGINE HOW FUEL LINES CAN NOT BEEN BUILT TO LAST. *NM

NHTSA ID
10161164
Incident
Jun 10, 2006
Mileage
80,551 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 1, 2005

VEHICLE HAS PERFORMED PERFECTLY SINCE PURCHASE. MY WIFE EXPERIENCED HESITATION UPON ENTERING A BUSY INTERSECTION AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD (PLASTIC) IS WARPED CAUSING A LARGE GAP AT THE INTERFACE TO THE THROTTLE BODY ALLOWING ANTIFREEZE TO ENTER THE ENGINE AND ALSO CAUSING AN INTAKE AIR LEAK WHICH IS DEGRADING THE AIR/FUEL RATIO. *NM

NHTSA ID
10138311
Incident
Sep 30, 2005
Mileage
92,600 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 5, 2004
Fire reported

MY 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE EXPLODED WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION & FIRE SHOT OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF, THE FIRE STOPPED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE A FUEL INJECTER & UPPER INTAKE PLENUM (WHICH WAS IN PIECES FROM THE EXPLOSION). MY BILL WAS $430.63. IN JUNE 2004, I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM GM CORPORATION SAYING THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR DIAPHRAGMS LEAKING. THE LETTER DESCRIBED THE FOLLOWING: "A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IN LOW BATTERY CONDITIONS, IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACK FIRE. THE BACK FIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, CAUSING A LOUD BANG. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. IF THERE IS AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE CAN RESULT." THIS LETTER DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED . THE LIGHTS HAD BEEN LEFT ON IN MY PONTIAC WHICH CAUSED A DEAD BATTERY. A BATTERY CHARGER WAS CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE WHEN THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED. WHEN WE TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN, THE FIRE STARTED AGAIN WHERE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LOCATED. I MADE A REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO GM. MY FILE # IS 1-260698900. I WAS ASKED TO TAKE MY CAR TO A DEALER IN SALISBURY FOR AN INSPECTION. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN ON SEPT. 29, 2004, THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. ACCORDING TO THE RECALL LETTER, AN INSPECTION WILL BE MADE AND, IF NECESSARY, THE REGULATOR WILL BE REPLACED. SO THE RECALL CONDITION WAS FIXED BY THIS REPLACEMENT. GM REFUSES TO REIMBURSE ME FOR MY REPAIR SAYING I HAVE NO PROOF THE RECALL CONDITION CAUSED THE EXPLOSION. I WAS GIVEN NO RECOURSE TO DISPUTE THEIR DECISION. THE CONDITION DESCRIBED IN THE SAFETY RECALL LETTER WAS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY. HELP.*AK

NHTSA ID
10093614
Incident
Feb 18, 2004
Mileage
102,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 30, 2004

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR DAMAGE TO ENGINE FROM A PULLED FUEL INJECTOR.*MR WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT A PULL FUEL INJECTOR FLOODED THE INJECTOR, PISTONS, CYLINDERS, CRANKCASE AND ENGINE WITH GASOLINE WHICH RESULTED IN A BLOWN ENGINE. A 1998 REPLACEMENT ENGINE WAS INSTALLED FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A RECALL (RECALL #03054B). THE CONSUMER FILED A CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10091527
Incident
Dec 11, 2003
Mileage
96,850 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 27, 2004

REGULATOR FAILURE ON VEHICLE HAS CAUSED THE INTAKE GASKETS TO BLOW OUT.*MR THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE TO HAVE THE PLENUM REPLACED DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR MALFUNCTION. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT BOTH TIMES THE REGULATOR FAILED CAUSING A BACKFIRE, BLOWING THE INTAKE GASKETS. THIS IN TURNS CAUSED THE EXHAUST TUBE IN THE PLENUM TO GET TOO HOT THEREFORE BURNING A HOLE IN THE PLENUM. THE CONSUMER FINALLY ECEIVED A RECALL NOT RELATED TO THE PROBLEM AND SUBMITTED PAPERWORK FOR REIMBURSEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER ONLY REIMBURSED THE CONSUMER A PORTION OF WHAT WAS ACTUALLY PAID IN REPAIRS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10090284
Incident
Jan 27, 2004
Mileage
89,658 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jul 19, 2004

I'VE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY 99 BONNEVILLE, COSTING ME OVER $2,400. IT STARTED AT 64,000 MILES (6/26/02) WITH A BACKFIRE CAUSED BY A FAULTY FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, WHICH NOW HAS A SERVICE RECALL (A LITTLE TOO LATE); THAT COST ME $300. A WEEK LATER, THE UPPER MANIFOLD PLENUM LEAKED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FLOOD AND DIE; I SPENT OVER $500 ON THAT LITTLE PROJECT (REPLACING THE MANIFOLD AND CLEANING THE ENGINE). IT NEVER RAN RIGHT AFTER THAT; I HAD EXTREMELY LOW GAS MILEAGE AND LACK OF POWER, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND OFF AND IT STALLED ON MANY OCCASIONS. AFTER ABOUT SIX MONTHS OF THIS, IT DIED AGAIN ON 3/22/03. THIS TIME, IT SPUN THE MAIN BEARING AND THE LOWER HALF WAS RUINED. I WENT TO THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS BEFORE I COULD FIND SOMEONE WILLING TO TOUCH IT, BUT I FOUND A GOOD MECHANIC THAT REBUILT THE LOWER HALF (VERSUS REPLACING THE ENGINE) FOR $1,600. I STILL HAVE THE CAR AND IT SEEMS TO BE PERFORMING WELL, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW. IM GOING TO INCLUDE ALL OF MY REPAIR COSTS FOR REIMBURSEMENT (THROUGH THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR RECALL NOTICE) AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT ALL OF THIS IS RELATED TO THE BACKFIRE AND THE PLENUM LEAK. *JB

NHTSA ID
10082225
Incident
Jun 26, 2002
Mileage
64,008 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 19, 2004

MY 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS WAS FOUND TO HAVE A PIN HOLE LEAK IN THE DIAPHRAM CAUSING FUEL LEAKS AND ENGINE BACKFIRE. THIS IS SIMILAR TO SAFETY RECALL 04V090000, YET PONTAIC SAYS NONE OF THE PONTIAC BONNEVILLE ARE INCLUDED WHY NOT??? SOUNDS LIKE IT IS ALSO A PROBLEM ON THIS CAR ALSO.*AK

NHTSA ID
10066458
Incident
Mar 12, 2004
Mileage
460,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 5, 2003

THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILED WILL DRIVING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD BEFORE STOPPING, LOST POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PART, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED WITHIN 12,000 MILES. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10042331
Incident
Oct 15, 2001
Mileage
12,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 29, 2003

FUEL PUMP. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10023971
Incident
May 27, 2003
Mileage
48,299 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 10, 2003

THE FUEL SENSOR WAS FAULTY, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LEAK GAS.*JB

NHTSA ID
10006877
Incident
Feb 10, 2003
Fuel system
Filed Oct 30, 2002

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FUEL REGULATOR IS LEAKING FUEL , CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE A STRONG FUEL SMELL. THE MECHANICS TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT IF NOT REPLACED RIGHT AWAY, THIS MAY CAUSE A FIRE, THE FUEL REGULATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE SINCE THE CONSUMER OWNED THE VEHICLE. *SCC

NHTSA ID
567993
Fuel system
Filed Oct 7, 2002

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FUEL REGULATOR IS LEAKING FUEL CAUSING THE VEHICLE HAVE A STRONG FUEL SMELL. *MR *SCC

NHTSA ID
8020293
Incident
May 11, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Oct 4, 2002

INTAKE PLENIUM ON VEHICLE IS BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

NHTSA ID
8020260
Fuel system
Filed Mar 4, 2002

COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLDS ON PONTIAC, BUICK, OLDSMOBILE, CHEVROLET WITH 3.8 L ENGINES ARE FAILING AND DUMPING COOLANT INTO ENGINE CAUSING REPAIRS TO COST FROM $400 TO ENGINE REPLACEMENT. GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM ( SEE GM SERVICE BULLETIN 01-06-01-007)

NHTSA ID
758930
Incident
Feb 14, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Dec 12, 2000

GAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY. WHEN FUEL WILL READ FULL UNTIL 150 MILES. ALSO AFTER FILLING UP, WILL SHOW EMPTY FOR A LONG TIME AFTER. DEALER CANNOT CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
876354
Incident
Sep 1, 1999

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.

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Data on this page last refreshed .