2000 Pontiac Bonneville Engine Problems

CAR WONT START

NHTSA ID

11071953

Incident

Feb 9, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER HOWEVER, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CAME TO REVIEW THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10968984

Incident

Mar 27, 2017

Mileage

130,000 mi

VARIABLY THE ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING,RENDERING THE PS BRAKES TO BECOME INOPERABLE, EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR ME AS I AM 78 YEARS OLD.THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED THERE WAS NO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO PULL OFF,LEAVING THE CAR IN WHATEVER LANE IT STALLED IN! IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 5 MIN TO 1/2 HOUR TO RESTART VERY VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS TO OTHER TRAVELERS AND TO ME! SOMETHING DESPERATELY NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10593863

Incident

Apr 14, 2012

Mileage

69,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2000 PONTAIC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10574489

Incident

Jul 9, 2012

Mileage

150,000 mi

WAS GOING TO START MY CAR I TURNED THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION AND HEARD A VERY LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE MOTOR BROKE OUT IN FLAMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10487362

Incident

Dec 4, 2012

Mileage

100,000 mi

THIS 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 3.8L WITH APPROXIMATELY 195K MILES WAS OPERATING NORMALLY OVER THE LAST 72 HOURS. IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES BETWEEN 12/16 AND 12/18 @ 12:50 PM THE DATE OF THE FIRE.THAT COLD MORNING (8 DEGREES F) IT WAS DRIVEN 10 MILES RT @ 9AM, 20 MILES RT BETWEEN 10:30 AND NOON, AND THEN SAT FOR APPROXIMATELY 1/2 HOUR BEFORE IT WAS DRIVEN 5 MILES TO A LOCAL STORE BY MY SON. WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE STORE/GAS STATION HE PARKED NEAR THE PUMPS AND WHEN HE SHUT OFF ENGINE TO GO INTO STORE, SMELLED BURNING SMOKE FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND WAS GREETED BY ACTIVE FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THE FIRE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY EXTINGUISHED AND THE BURNED PART OF THE ENGINE WAS THE TOP AND FRONT LEFT QUARTER (FACING THE VEHICLE). THE ANTI-FREEZE RESERVOIR WAS MELTED THROUGH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10440893

Incident

Dec 18, 2011

Mileage

195,000 mi

AFTER CAR WAS PARKED FOR 5 - 10 MINUTES FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10399458

Incident

May 7, 2011

Mileage

142,000 mi

I SMELLED A BURNING ODOR IN MY BONNEVILLE SSEI. THE LOCAL GM DEALER, ON THE INCIDENT DATE IN THIS FORM, TOLD ME THE CAUSE WAS OIL DRIPPING ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THAT IT WAS A FIRE HAZARD. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND AN EXISTING NHTSA ACTION NUMBER (EA07008) FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM I AM HAVING FOR THE EXACT 3800 SERIES II V6 L67 GM ENGINE. THERE WERE 2 RECALLS FOR CARS WITH THIS ENGINE, BUT MY PONTIAC MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED (EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE EXACT SAME ENGINE). THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALLS ARE 08V118000 & 09V116000. I ESCALATED THIS PROBLEM WITHIN GM AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE GM DEALER FOR ANOTHER INSPECTION. THE GM DEALER VERIFIED THAT MY ENGINE IS THE SAME AS THE RECALLED ENGINE AND THAT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. GM REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE MY VEHICLE'S VIN WASN'T SPECIFICALLY INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS. I STRONGLY BELIEVE MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE EARLIER RECALLS AND NOW SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A NEW RECALL TO ELIMINATE THIS SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

10394914

Incident

Dec 29, 2010

Mileage

54,002 mi

FIRE IGNITED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE PARKED IN A MALL PARKING LOT ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES AFTER LEAVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY DESTROYING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10371389

Incident

Dec 13, 2010

Mileage

74,000 mi

I HAVE A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE W/ A 3.8 V6 3800 SERIES LL ENGINE. I HAVE NOTICED OIL COMING FROM THE INTAKE DRIPPING DOWN ONTO THE MANIFOLD. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SUPER CHARGED 3800 SERIES LL FOR THE REGAL AND GRAND PRIX. I WOULD LIKE TO NO WHY THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS MODEL. SAME PROBLEM, JUST NOT SUPER CHARGED. WHAT HAPPENS IF IT CATCHES FIRE LIKE SOME OF THE OTHERS HAVE? THEN WILL THERE BE A RECALL? I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO IT IS ALL ON ME. *DT

NHTSA ID

10321431

Incident

Feb 28, 2010

I'VE RUN INTO A DEX-COOL PROBLEM WITH MY PONTIAC 2000. THE CAR HAS 65.000 MI AND THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET IS STARTING TO LEAK, EVENTUALLY DESTROYING THE ENGINE. WHAT KIND OF RECOURSE DO I HAVE AFTER THE DEX-COOL CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT IS CLOSED? THE POSTMARK AND ONLINE SUBMISSION DEADLINE TO SUBMIT A CLAIM STATEMENT WAS OCTOBER 27, 2008. I DID NOT HAD ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CLASS ACTION SUIT AND DEADLINE. SINCE THIS IS CLEARLY AN OEM DEFECT INVOLVING THOUSANDS OF CARS AND DRIVERS GM SHOULD HAVE REACTED RESPONSIBLY AND ISSUED A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10277177

Incident

Jul 13, 2009

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND AN OIL LEAK WAS DISCOVERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID

10265879

Incident

Apr 16, 2006

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, OIL LEAKED ONTO THE INTAKE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07035, WHICH STATES THAT DROPS OF ENGINE OIL BEING DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING CAUSES SMOKE THAT CAN IGNITE INTO SMALL FLAMES. ONCE THE HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONING IS ACTIVATED, A BURNT OIL SMELL ENTERS THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10238405

Incident

Aug 14, 2008

Mileage

110,000 mi

WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR MOST OF THE TIMES, MY ENGINE OIL LEAKS ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH CAUSES SMOKE AND A BURNED OIL SMELL. I NOTICED THAT GM HAS HAD A RECALL FOR 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL GS AND 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP WITH 3.8 L V6 SUPERCHARGED ENGINE (VIN1 ? RPO L67). I HAVE THE SAME ENGINE (3.8 L V6 L67 SUPERCHARGED ENGINE) ON MY 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SSEI AND HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER WITHOUT REPAIRED THE UNSAFE DAMAGE. I WILL BE REPAIRING IT MYSELF AND EXPECT PONTIAC TO REIMBURSE ME WITH THE MONEY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR MANY TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238401

Incident

Aug 11, 2008

Mileage

110,000 mi

WE ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT IF ANYONE KNOWS OF PROBLEMS WITH GM PONTIAC BONNEVILLE'S PLASTIC UPPER EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WE OWN A 2000 BONNEVILLE WITH 83K MILEAGE. THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD EXPLODED WHILE TRYING TO START THE CAR. WE ARE TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS WITH GM AT THIS TIME. WE LEARNED THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED BEFORE WITH OTHER YEAR BONNEVILLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222041

Incident

Jan 19, 2008

Mileage

84,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCCASIONALLY THE VEHICLE WOULD START IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT WAS SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY TWENTY FIVE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE MANIFOLD. THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 85,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,700. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN ON 05/30/07 HAD TO BE TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER ON 05/31/07 TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/29/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10190525

Incident

Apr 11, 2007

Mileage

84,700 mi

I HAVE A 1998 & A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES. I HAVE REPLACED 2 INTAKE MANIFOLDS ON THE 98 IN 3 YRS AND 1 ON THE 2K WITH ONLY 30K MILES. EA COST $630 EVERY AUTO MECHANIC KNOWS GM PUT A BAD PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THIS ENGINE AND REFUSES TO RECALL AND REPLACE THEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10180873

Incident

Jan 22, 2007

DURING SUMMER, AFTER DRIVING CAR AND STOPPING FOR 10 MINUTES TO 1-1/2 HOURS, WHEN YOU RESTART THE CAR IT WILL SPIT, SPUTTER, STUMBLE, AND VIBRATE FOR 10 SECONDS OR SO BEFORE THE ENGINE WILL SMOOTH OUT AND RUN NORMALLY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10167645

Incident

Jul 22, 2002

Mileage

18,000 mi

2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SE WITH 56000 MILES. COOLANT LEAK DUE TO DEFECTIVE PLENUM, PONTIAC HAD REPLACED THROTTLE BODY NUTS 3 EACH P/N 011517293, 4 EACH COOLING S, P/N012378254 AND 58 EACH COOLING E, P/N012377963, AT DEALERSHIP 10/27/03 WITH 35499 MILES ON CAR UNDER CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RECALL, NOW AT 56000 MILES PLENUM IS BAD AND REPAIR AT DEALERSHIP IS ESTIMATED AT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS WHICH THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE ABOVE REPAIR DONE 10/27/03 COVERED THE PLENUM PROBLEMS AND STATE THAT CURRENT PROBLEM NOT COVERED. AFTER SOME RESEARCH FOUND THAT A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND THAT THE SERVICE DONE 2003 WAS NOT A PROPER REPAIR BECAUSE SOME OF THE PARTS USED TO REPAIR THE LEAKING COOLANT WAS TO ADD STOP LEAK PELLETS TO THE COOLING SYSTEM TO PATCH PARTS THAT ARE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10154992

Incident

Mar 28, 2006

Mileage

56,454 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A HESITATION, AN ODOR OF FUEL, AND A CLICKING NOISE UNDER THE SEAT WHERE THE BATTERY WAS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE GOT HARDER TO START, UNTIL THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER START IN OCTOBER 2005. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC FOR THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, WHILE TURNING, THERE WAS A CRACKLING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT COMPLETE TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES. THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AND NO FURTHER REPAIRS WERE ATTEMPTED.

NHTSA ID

10152002

Incident

Mar 6, 2006

Mileage

87,388 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT SERVICED ON FEBRUARY 14, 2003. AT THAT TIME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND FLUSHED THE MOTOR. ON OCTOBER 7, 2004 THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. THEY FOUND ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON DECEMBER 22, 2005 HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE SERVICED. AGAIN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE REPAIRS WERE MADE.*AK THE WINDOW MOTOR AND REGULATOR WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10146290

Incident

Feb 14, 2003

ALLOW ME TO STATE MY CASE. I PURCHASED A HIGHLY TOUTED 2000 BONNEVILLE [XXX]. THIS CAR WAS A GM MASTER ASE CERTIFIED MECHANICS INSPECTED VEHICLE. IT WAS ADVERTISED AS "GM QUALITY CERTIFIED TROUBLE FREE", "NO WORRY VEHICLE". I DROVE 400 MILES TO PICK IT UP AND WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO A LONG PLEASANT OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE. THE GM 3800 ENGINE HAS BEEN CALLED "BULLETPROOF", "ONE OF THE BEST ENGINES OF THE 21ST CENTURY". AFTER APPROXIMATELY 4000 MILES OF USE, THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A CATASTROPHIC INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE. THE PONTIAC DEALER INSPECTED MY VEHICLE AND I WAS INFORMED IT WAS GOING TO NEED A NEW CRANKSHAFT! THE MAIN #3 JOURNAL BEARING HAD SPUN AND IT WAS GOING TO NEED A NEW CRANKSHAFT AT A COST OF $3500. MY OTHER OPTION WAS TO INSTALL A NEW GM 3800 ENGINE, WITH A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY, FOR $5500. THIS BREAKDOWN HAD TO BE AN INHERENT DEFECT IN THE CRANKSHAFT OR BEARING FOR THIS TO HAVE HAPPENED. IF YOU ARE WILLING TO GUARANTY YOUR ENGINE FOR 100,000 MILES, WHY IS IT UNREASONABLE FOR ME TO EXPECT AT LEAST THAT MUCH SERVICE OUT OF MY ENGINE?? I HAVE OWNED A BONNEVILLE BEFORE AND IT WAS FINE, MY FATHER OWNS A MONTANA, MY BROTHER OWNS A GRAND PRIX. WE HAVE ALWAYS CONSIDERED GM TO BE THE NAME TO BEAT!! I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE RIGHT THING FOR GM TO DO WOULD BE TO, AT LEAST, ABSORB PART OF THIS EXPENSE. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NEVER HAVE SUSTAINED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IN IT'S YOUNG LIFE. EVEN HYUNDAI AND KIA, KOREAN MANUFACTURED CHEAP VEHICLES, CARRY A 100,000 MILE ENGINE GUARANTY! CHRYSLER HAS A 70,000 MILE ENGINE GUARANTY. WHY MUST THE BIGGEST US MANUFACTURER NOT BE WILLING TO STANDBY IT'S PRODUCT? UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10133989

Incident

Aug 20, 2005

Mileage

50,330 mi

CONSUMER PARKED HIS VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 15 MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. HALF OF CONSUMER'S HOME WAS DESTROYED. THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR ALERTED THE CONSUMER THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE GARAGE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10119057

Incident

Mar 22, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

ONE NUT AND BOLT ON EACH SIDE OF INNER PANEL UNDER THE HOOD IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT WERE LOOSE. I TIGHTENED ABOUT 4 TO 5 TURNS ON NUT (USED 18MM OPEN END WRENCH). AFTER THIS TOOK IT TO DEALER-SHIP TO KNOW WHAT THIS TWO BOLT DOES ? DEALER-SHIP TECHNICIAN SAID THOSE ARE THE BOLTS FOR FRONT MOTOR MOUNT AND REAR TRANSMISSION MOUNT. MY CONCERN IS THAT THOSE BOLTS MIGHT BE STARTED TO DAMAGE IN 4 YEAR OF VEHICLE LIFE(POSSIBLE SHEAR AT THE INNER PANEL IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT). DEALER AGREED TO ORDER THIS PART BUT WAITING FOR ANSWER FROM PONTIAC. THERE MIGHT BE MORE CONSUMER OUT THERE WHO MIGHT HAVE SAME PROBLEM, BECAUSE IT IS NOT VISIBLE UNTIL YOU CHECK REAL CLOSE. I CALLED PONTIAC CONSUMER CENTER BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND I HAVE TO PAID FOR THE PARTS. WHY CONSUMER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECT LEFT FROM MANUFACTURER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100413

Incident

Nov 20, 2004

Mileage

53,001 mi

DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10099039

Incident

Sep 22, 2004

Mileage

136,000 mi