2000 Pontiac Bonneville Steering Problems

WHILE DRIVING THE BONNEVILLE THE CAR WILL JUST SHUT DOWN, LOOSES ALL POWER. IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND ALSO JUST ON LOCAL CITY DRIVING. YOU CAN BE GOING 30 MPH OR 65 MPH. CAR WILL JUST SHUT DOWN (WHICH IS VERY SCARY GOING 65 MPH) AND SOMEONE ON YOUR BUMPER. LOOSES POWER STEERING SO ITS HARD TO MOVE OVER LANES ON THE EXPRESSWAY, WE HAVE FOUND YOU NEED TO IMMEDIATELY PUT ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS, SHIFT CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY. SOMETIMES IT WILL START ON THE FIRST TURN OF THE KEY BUT SOMETIMES IT TAKES MULTIPLE TIMES OF TURNING THE KEY, ALL THIS WHILE COASTING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WITH PEOPLE BUZZING ALL AROUND YOU. THE ONE TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS RIGHT BY THE GARAGE WE HAVE BEEN TAKING IT TO, TOOK IT OVER, THEY RAN A CHECK ON THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND NOTHING CAME UP. THEY ARE AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO WITHOUT JUST START RANDOMLY CHANGING PARTS THEY THINK IT MIGHT PERTAIN TO? ANY SUGGESTIONS, THIS ISN'T SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN IT DOES THIS, AND ITS JUST RANDOM WHEN IT DOES DO IT, NO WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10700689

Incident

Mar 18, 2015

Mileage

98,000 mi

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF SHAKING IN THE FRONT END. IT GETS VERY BAD BETWEEN 50-60 MPH. I HAVE HAD ALL THE TIRES REPLACED BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ALIGNMENT, AND I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT SHOPS AND ALL 3 HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING THE SHAKING. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT RODS, THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES, THE SHOCKS AND THE TIRES ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE ISSUE. BECAUSE OF THE SHAKING IT CONSTANTLY DESTROYS MY FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES WHICH I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. IT ALSO MAKES IT EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS ONE OF THE SHOPS TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT ASSEMBLIES WERE SO DESTROYED FROM THE SHAKING THAT I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT THE TIRES DID NOT FOLD UNDER THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I HAVE TRIED FOR 3 YEARS TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND NO ONE HAS A REMEDY. I HAVE ALSO READ ON CONSUMER REVIEW THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR BONNEVILLE IN THE SAME YEAR (2000) AND AGAIN, NO SHOPS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE REASON BEHIND THE SHAKING. I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH THIS ISSUE AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NO RECALL IN PLACE TO FIX THIS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10496393

Incident

Mar 19, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF SHAKING IN THE FRONT END. IT GETS VERY BAD BETWEEN 50-60 MPH. I HAVE HAD ALL THE TIRES REPLACED BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ALIGNMENT, AND I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT SHOPS AND ALL 3 HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING THE SHAKING. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT RODS, THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES, THE SHOCKS AND THE TIRES ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE ISSUE. BECAUSE OF THE SHAKING IT CONSTANTLY DESTROYS MY FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES WHICH I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. IT ALSO MAKES IT EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS ONE OF THE SHOPS TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT ASSEMBLIES WERE SO DESTROYED FROM THE SHAKING THAT I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT THE TIRES DID NOT FOLD UNDER THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I HAVE TRIED FOR 3 YEARS TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND NO ONE HAS A REMEDY. I HAVE ALSO READ ON CONSUMER REVIEW THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR BONNEVILLE IN THE SAME YEAR (2000) AND AGAIN, NO SHOPS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE REASON BEHIND THE SHAKING. I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH THIS ISSUE AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NO RECALL IN PLACE TO FIX THIS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10496390

Incident

Mar 19, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT GOING BAD MAKING THE CAR FRONT END SHIMMY BETWEEN 65-70 MPH. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES MAKING SURE THE TIRES WERE BALANCED TWICE. AND OF ALL THE THREADS I HAVE BEEN READING THE PROBLEM IS IN THIS SHAFT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10203596

Incident

Sep 20, 2007

Mileage

134,000 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH IN HIS 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE (FAILURE MILEAGE 112000 ) SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO IN REVERSE AND HEARD A LOUD POP. SHE TRIED TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN WITH THE TIRE. THE PONTIAC DEALERSHIP STATED THAT SOMETHING HIT THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS NOT BEEN IN A CRASH NOR HAS SHE STRUCK ANYTHING FOR THE RACK AND PINION STEERING TO HAVE FAILED. *NM UPDATED 2/27/2007 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10178803

Incident

Jan 11, 2007

Mileage

112,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION, THERE WAS A HOLLOW POUNDING SOUND. ALSO, THE SOUND OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED OR TRAVELING FASTER THAN 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHERE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED. SIX MONTHS LATER, THE PART FAILED AGAIN. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT MORE THAN 7 TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 3/25/08 *CN

NHTSA ID

10173585

Incident

Nov 13, 2006

Mileage

130,000 mi

TRUNK AREA LEAKS AND WATER BUILDS UP IN THE SPARE TIRE STORAGE. CLANKING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN WHILE TURNING EITHER DIRECTION DURING COLDER WEATHER. FRONT DRIVERS SEAT HEATER WORKED THEN QUIT FOR NO REASON, PUSH BUTTON ON & LIGHT COMES ON BUT DOESN'T STAY ON. WIPERS WHILE IN INTERMITTENT WILL STOP DURING A SWEEP ACROSS WINDSHIELD, WHEN TURNED ON OR OFF ALSO TURNS ON/OFF THE DASH LIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME, AND WHILE IN INTERMITTENT IF BLINKER IS USED THE WIPER WILL STOP DURING A SWEEP ACROSS WINDSHIELD. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171169

Incident

Oct 17, 2006

Mileage

105,000 mi

INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND LUBRICATED TWICE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. CONTINUES TO CLUNK WHEN TURNING THE CAR. GENERAL MOTORS WAS CONTACTED AND ADMITTED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING AND SAID THEY ARE WORKING ON A FIX. RIGHT NOW THE FIX IS ONLY TEMPORARY AND CAN BE COSTLY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10168840

Incident

Sep 3, 2002

Mileage

12,943 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER SIDE, THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE SHAFT WAS GREASED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED. UPDATED 9/15/2006 - THE NOISE COULD ALSO BE HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK IDLING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10166329

Incident

Aug 16, 2006

Mileage

48,600 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

I HAVE A 2000 PONTIAC BONNIVILLE AND WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE LEFT THERE IS A CLUNKING OR GRINDING NOISE. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED LEFT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10138175

Incident

Sep 22, 2005

CLUNKING NOISE WHEN STEERING(INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT). *AK

NHTSA ID

10114045

Incident

Dec 6, 2004

Mileage

70,000 mi

OWNER OF 200 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, REQUESTING A DEFECT AND RECENT RECALL INVESTIGATION. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE FRONT AND REAR TRANSMISSION MOUNTS WERE BROKEN AND THE LEFT TIE ROD WAS SEVERELY WORN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10108707

Incident

Dec 21, 2004

THE CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING, STOPPING AND APPLYING THE BRAKE. *NM *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10109752

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

EQUIPMENT FAILURE OF STEERING PART CALLED INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10103039

Incident

Aug 1, 2004

Mileage

49,100 mi

I HAVE A 2000 BONNEVILE WHICH I BOUGHT NEW, AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH POPPING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK SEVERAL TIMES WITH THIS COMPLAINT AND ALL THEY EVER DO IS PUT LUBRICATION IN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE MECHANIC WHERE I GET MY OIL CHANGED SAYS THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS LEAKING LUBRICATION AND NEEDS REPLACING. THE LAST TIME I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP HERE IN FRANKLIN, TN BACK IN THE SPRING OF THIS YEAR, THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO TO MAKE THE POPPING GO AWAY AND THAT I WOULD JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT SINCE IT WAS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD. THEY WOULD NOT CONTINUE LUBRICATING THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WITHOUT CHARGING FOR THIS SERVICE. I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE I CAN DO TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED WITHOUT A SERVICE CHARGE SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM ALL ALONG. THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. JOHNNY DONEGAN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10100007

Incident

Apr 7, 2004

Mileage

24,000 mi

I FEEL THE RIGHT STEERING WHEEL CONTROL ARM IS TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL, ON MY 2000 BONNEVILLE. IT IS CLOSER AND LONGER THAT THE TURN SIGNAL ARM ON THE LEFT. I REPORTED TO PONTIAC THAT ANY TIME I RAPIDLY STEER TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, I HIT THIS ARM BEFORE THE WHEEL. THIS SLOWS MY RESPONSE AND STARTS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. I FIND THIS IS VERY BAD AT SUCH A TIME, HITTING THE ARM SLOWS MY RESPONSE AND THE DISTRACTION FROM THE WIPERS JUST ADDS TO THE PROBLEM. I SUGGEST THE ARM BE SHORTENED ABOUT 3/4 INCH, WITHDRAWING IT FROM THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD A MINOR ACCIDENT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AND I HIT THE ARM. I CAN'T SAY I WOULD HAVE AVOIDED THE ACCIDENT WITHOUT HITTING THE ARM. BUT I DISTINCTLY FEEL, HITTING IT SLOW MY ABILITY TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT, AND YES, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE GOING WHEN THE CAR STOPPED. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO PONTIAC, BUT EACH YEAR SINCE, THE ARM IS THE SAME. DO YOU HAVE STATISTICS OF HOW MANY TIMES WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ENGAGED AFTER AN ACCIDENT? HAS ANYONE EVER TESTED IF THERE IS A CORRELATION OF IMPROPERLY PLACED CONTROL ARMS OR DEVICES, CAUSING OR MAKING ACCIDENTS MORE SEVERE? I CAN'T BELIEVE, I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO'S NOTICED THIS SAFETY FLAW, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT OTHER VEHICLES. BUT, I HIT THAT DANG WIPER ARM EVERY TIME IT'S TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT. AND IT'S THE WORSE TIME TO HIT IT. IF YOU'D LIKE TO TEST MY DRIVING ABILITIES, I SUSPECT YOU'D FIND MY SKILLS ABOVE AVERAGE AT THE LEAST. AND IF I HIT IT, I DOUBT I'M ALONE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10093461

Incident

Sep 13, 2004

INCIDENT DATE IS AN ESTIMATE. I HAD A CLUNKING SOUND IN MY STEERING AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO INVESTIGATE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THE NOISE WAS BECAUSE OF THE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING COLUMN, THE TWO PIECES ARE CLUNKING TOGETHER. MADE THAT WAS IN CASE OF A CRASH. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD TAKE IT APART, GREASE IT AND THAT IT MIGHT NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT DONE. I TOLD THEM THAT BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SIMPLY THE TWO PIECES CLUNKING TOGETHER AND THAT IT WOULD NOT HURT ANYTHING I DID NOT GET THE LUBRICATION. NOW 8-30-2004 MY STEERING HOWLS SOMETIMES. I HAD MY BROTHER-IN-LAW CHECK THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND IT WAS LOW. HE IS A MECHANIC OF OVER 25 YEARS AND STATES THAT POWER STEERING FLUID DOES NOT EVAPORATE AND MUST BE LEAKING AND MOST LIKELY INDICATE A GREATER PROBLEM. THERE ARE NO VISIBLE LEAKS ON THE GROUND. I READ THE OTHERS COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE AND THE STEERING SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. MY HOPE IN WRITING IS THAT PONTIAC WILL STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10088833

Incident

Jun 2, 2003

Mileage

30,000 mi

HERE AND FEEL A SLIGHT CLUNKING WHILE TURNING. I AM TOLD BY MY FATHER WHO REPLACED THE RACK ON HIS 2000 BONNEVILLE THAT IT IS THE RACK STARTING TO GO ON MY 2000 BONNEVILLE. I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE $700(+) FOR PARTS ONLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10083083

Incident

Jul 31, 2004

WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION STEERING PRODUCED A GRINDING NOISE. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING RACK AND PINION MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10083656

Incident

Jul 15, 2004

Mileage

22,000 mi

COMPLAINED TO PONTIAC DEALERSHIP ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THAT STEERING IS BINDING WHILE TURNING. COMPLAINTS WERE AT 19,539, 29,736 AND 43,686 MILES. AT 19,539 MILES, DEALERSHIP FOUND BULLETIN # 99-02-32-007A AND REMOVED/REPLACED POWER STEERING HYDRAULIC RETURN OUTLET AND PRESSURE INLET HOSE. AT 29,736 MILE, STEERING SHAFT WAS LUBRICATED. AT 43,686 MILES STEERING SHAFT REMOVED AND LUBRICATED. AT 50,000 THE BINDING IS HAPPENING AGAIN. I WILL BE TAKING TO THE SHOP AGAIN THIS WEEK. IT SEEMS THE DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER IS DOING "NICKLE & DIME" FIXES UNDER WARRANTY, AND NOT FIXING THE REAL PROBLEM. I'M CONCERNED THERE'S A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10073021

Incident

Dec 12, 2001

Mileage

19,539 mi

SINCE I OWNED THE CAR I HAVE HAD THESE THINGS FIXED: 1 WINDOW REGULATOR, 1 POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED, POWER STEERING WORK (AFTER THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED) HOOD REPAINTED AND IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. NOW I NEED TO HAVE 2 WINDOW REGULATORS REPLACED AT $400 A PIECE. I'M HAVING SOME LOAD HUMMING NOISE WHEN USING BRAKES BUT I HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE TRUNK LEAKS SO I CAN NOT USE IT BECAUSE EVERYTHING GETS WET. *AK

NHTSA ID

10068035

Incident

Jan 5, 2004

Mileage

65,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNKY NOISE FROM THE POWER STEERING WHEEL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE POWER STEERING PUMP SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP. A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP WAS INSTALLED. THE CLUNKING NOISE WAS FOUND TO BE COMING FROM THE STEERING SHAFT IN WHICH THE STEERING KNUCKLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A NEW STEERING SHAFT COUPLER WAS INSTALLED. THE CLUNKING NOISE REMAINED AND CURRENTLY THE RACK AND PINION IS SUSPECT. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10040338

Incident

Sep 23, 2003

Mileage

58,000 mi

POWER STEERING PUMP

NHTSA ID

10039530

Incident

Sep 23, 2003

Mileage

62,000 mi

BONNEVILLE WITH 37,000 MILES. NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WORST BEING UPON ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN CAR KEEPS GOING STRAIGHT THEN A CLUNK IS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR AND THE CAR FINALLY GOES RIGHT. THIS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. DEALER WAS ALSO ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER FINDS SOME TYPE OF METAL LODGED IN BETWEEN THE LINKS ON THE RACK. RACK IS REPLACE UNDER PREFERRED WARRANTY. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 14 DAYS FOR A REAR WINDOW SEAL LEAK, AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR A CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM. *PH

NHTSA ID

10030512

Incident

Jul 13, 2003

Mileage

37,600 mi