Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Pontiac Bonneville submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE BACK IN JANUARY 2020 UNDER THE HOOD ON MY WAY TO WORK THE FIRE STARTED BEHIND THE VALE COVER GASKETS AND NOW OIL IS LEAKING ON THE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND GAS IS MIXING WITH THE OIL AND I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR ANYMORE HELP ME PLEASE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND REPAIRED. THE TYPE OF REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 11/12/14*LJ
CAR JUST SHUTS OFF WHEN SITTING AT A STOPLIGHT AND WILL NOT RESTART. HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALER ONLY TO FIND AFTER SITTING IT FIRES RIGHT UP AND THE COMPUTER SHOWS NO PROBLEM. IT HAS ON 1 OCCASION SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD, BUT AFTER PULLING IN NEUTRAL IT DID RESTART. IT IS STILL SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY DRIVE IT SHUTS OFF THEY GET IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND IT RESTARTS AND IS FINE PER COMPUTER. *TR
WE HAD A LOT OF SNOW AND I LIVE ON A SLIGHT HILL. WENT TO START THE CAR THAT WAS COVERED IN SNOW TO MOVE THE CAR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET FACING DOWN HILL. I TURNED THE KEY TO START THE CAR AND HEARD IT POP OR BACKFIRE WHICH IT HAD NEVER DONE BEFORE. I TRIED AGAIN TO START THE CAR AND NOW IT SOUNDED LIKE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD (WHICH I KNEW IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN). THE NEXT THING I KNEW, A NEIGHBOR RIPPED OPEN MY DRIVER DOOR AND WAS PULLING ME OUT OF THE CAR SAYING "YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE". MY NEIGHBORS CALLED 911 FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT BUT THE CAR WAS TOTALED! I AM FORTUNATE THAT THE NEIGHBORS HEARD THE POP, CAME OUTSIDE, SAW THE FLAMES UNDER THE CAR, AND I WAS NOT HURT. THIS HAPPENED WITH THE CAR PARKED RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE! STILL UNBELIEVABLE AND VERY FRIGHTENING! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION FROM UNDER TO HOOD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT A FIRE HAD ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ORIGIN OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
ON OCTOBER 27,2011 I CAME ON FROM WORK AROUND 7:00 PM TURN MY CAR OF AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE. I HEARD SOME ONE BAMMING ON THE BACK DOOR , I OPEN THE DOOR AND A GUY SAID THAT YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE HE ASKED IF I HAD ANY ON ELSE IN THE HOUSE I TOLD HIM YES SO I GO INSIDE TO GET MY CHILDREN OUT THE HOUSE. THAT IS WHEN I SAW THE SAME GUY WHO WAS KNOCK ON THE DOOR USE MY HOSE PIPE SPRAYING WATER ON THE CAR. AT THAT TIME I CALLED THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT THEY ADVISE ME THAT THE PLAQUEMINE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ON THERE WAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE REST OF THE FIRE OUT. ONE OF THE FIRE FIGHTER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *TR
MY 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE HAS STARTED SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THEN WHEN YOU GET IN THE CAR SOMETIMES IT STARTS SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T YOU MAY HAVE TO SIT THERE OVER FIVE MINUTES TURNING KEY ON AND OFF AND FINALLY IT WILL START SOMETIMES TAKING UP TO 10 TRIES BEFORE IT STARTS OTHER TIMES IT WILL START AFTER 2 I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HIGHWAYS AND SUDDENLY THE CAR WILL JUST TURN OFF IT WILL EVENTUALLY START AGAIN HOWEVER DOING THIS AT THE WRONG TIME AND CERTAIN DISASTER WILL ARRIVE EITHER ANOTHER CAR HITTING ME WHILE I AM SITTING STILL OR MANY WRECKS BEING CAUSED BY THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, PROCEEDING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THE "BATTERY" WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, FOLLOWED BY AN ENGINE STALL. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED OPERATION; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRENCES CONTINUED AND THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
ALL WINDOWS EXCEPT DRIVERS STOPPED WORKING, ALL DOOR LOCKS EXCEPT DRIVERS STOPPED WORKING. CAR WAS STORED FOR PART OF WINTER. I PUT IN A NEW BATTERY AND NOW I HAVE NO CLIMATE CONTROL. DRIVERS SIDE IS HOT, PASS IS COLD. PASS HEATED SEAT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. SUN ROOF JUST BROKE! STEERING IS MAKING LOTS OF NOISE, TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING. WTF WHY NO RECALL. HOW CAN YOU PURCHASE A CAR FOR 35,000 & IT IS ?!@#$% BEFORE IT HITS 100,000? MY FORD HAS 196,000 NO PROBLEM, MY HONDA HAS 235,000 BARELY A PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED 4 PONTIACS AND NOW IM PAYING THOUSANDS TO FIX THE PIECE OF ?!@#$%! WHY IN THE ?!@#$% DO MY WINDOWS NOT WORK!! ALL OF THEM IN ONE DAY? NO DOOR LOCKS, AT ALL? SAME DAY! NOW WITH A NEW BATTERY, I HAVE 90 DEG AIR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE & 60 DEG AIR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. YOU TRY TO DRIVE THIS PIECE OF ?!@#$%!! NOW MY BACK PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW JUST FELL DOWN!! I HAVE TO USE A MAGIC MARKER TO PRY & HOLD IT UP!! WE NEED A MAJOR RECALL ON THESE FAULTY VEHICLES. IM A PONTIAC FAN, BUT ILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE IF YOU CANT TRY AND FIX THIS ?!@#$%. MY CAR LOOKS LIKE NEW BUT WORKS LIKE IT WAS BUILT BY A BUNCH OF IDIOTS!! I AM EMBARRASSED TO DRIVE THIS CAR. IT LOOKS BETTER THAN MOST 525 B-MIRS BUT I HAVE TO TELL ALL MY FRIENDS THAT I HAVE NO DOOR LOCKS, NO AIR, NO WINDOWS OR ANYTHING. NOTHING LIKE SITTING INSIDE A 135 DEGREE LEATHER BOUND FLAGSHIP SWEATING YOUR ?!@#$% OFF!! BY THE TIME I GET TO WORK IM A BIG BALL OF SWEAT!! PLEASE STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT. IM SERIOUSLY LOOKING TO SPEND SOME OF MY MONEY TO PROMOTE A CAMPAIGN TO DO NOTHING BUT TALK ?!@#$%ABOUT YOUR PRODUCTS. GET ON LINE FOR A MINUTE AND SEE HOW MANY BONNEVILLE OWNERS ARE REALLY HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THE ISSUES I HAVE LISTED ABOVE! THERE ARE THOUSANDS!! TIME FOR A RECALL! DON'T U THINK? GET YOUR ?!@#$% STRAIGHT GM! MY FAMILY WORKS FOR YOU! WE BUY YOU PLEASE HELP! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRANGE ODOR SIMILAR TO BURNING OIL OR SOMETHING ELECTRICAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,500.
DAD: 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE IGNITION SWITCH IS COMPUTERIZED AND WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN DRIVING THE SWITCH FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THE KEY AND SHUTS THE ENGINE OFF. THIS HAPPENED THREE OR FOUR MONTHS. VEHICLE STALLED WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2005 AND HAD THE SWITCH CHANGED AND THE KEY REPROGRAMMED. HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS. THERE WERE SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETINS AND THE DOCUMENTS; 686736 AND 760683 FOR NOVEMBER 2, 2000. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL, AND IT COST *AK $550 TO BE FIXED. *AK
DT: VEHICLE HAD A BATTERY LEAKAGE PROBLEM . IT WAS LEAKING FOR SOMETIME. THE BATTERY IS LOCATED UNDER THE BACK SEAT AROUND THE POSITIVE POST. THE BATTERY ACID LEAKED AND ATE THROUGH THE FLOOR PAN. THE EXHAUST IS RIGHT UNDER THE BATTERY. NOTICED THIS ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2005. WENT OUT TO START THE VEHICLE AND THAT HOW NOTICED IT. *AK THE CONSUMER EXPLAINED THAT THE BATTERY IN THIS CAR SITS DIRECTLY ON THE FLOOR PAN NOT ON A BATTERY TRAY. *NM
I HAVE HAD REPEATED TROUBLE WITH MY 2001 BONNEVILLE,,HAVE HAD 3 WINDOW MOTORS GO OUT,,,3 BATTERIES GO BAD,,,AIR COMPRESSOR GO BAK,,,MOON ROOF WORKED ON 3 TIMES,,,3RD TIME,,,HAD 3 INCHES OF WATER IN FLOOR,,,,,THE PROBLEM NOW IS THE STEERING,,,YOU TURN WHEEL,,IT MAKES POPPING, CLUCKING NOISE,,& FEELS LIKE THE FRONT END IS GOING TO FALL OFF.. THE DEALER SAID ALL IT NEEDED WAS GREASE,,WHICH THEY DID LAST YEAR,,,NOW ITS DOING IT AGAIN,,& NOW THEY SAY ITS A STEERING SHAFT PROBLEM...I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER 3 WEEKS FOR THE PART TO COME IN,,,REPEATED CALLS,,& I AM TOLD THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE PART WILL COME IN,,,THEY SAID DRIVE IT,,,IT WON'T FALL OUT????? THEY ALSO SAID THE REASON FOR THE DELAY IS ITS A COUNTRY WIDE BACK LOG???? WHAT DOES THAT MEAD,,,,I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR...& GM SERVICE DOES NOT KNOW EITHER...*JB
ALTERNATOR FAILED - COULD NOT OPEN DOORS OR ROLL WINDOWS DOWN-TRAPPED IN CAR!*AK
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT BLEWOUT TAIL LIGHTS WHICH HAD BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES BY DEALER, AND DEFECT COULD NOT BE FOUND. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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