Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 31 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.
The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words
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. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL OUT OF THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND THE SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINER CAUSING A MISFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT FAILED TO PROPERLY ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE FUMES INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED EYE IRRITATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TPMS, CHECK ENGINE, SERVICE ENGINE, SEAT BELT, AND AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, AFTER REFUELING, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO PROVIDE AN ACCURATE FUEL READING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPARK PLUG RETAINER AND VALVE COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V238000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 264,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE MADE AN ABNORMAL BANGING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND PRODUCED A THICK CLOUD OF SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
VALVE COVER GASKETS LEAKING OIL CAN GET ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING AN ENGINE FIRE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND EXPLODED WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS INSERTED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
I HAD LEFT MY LIGHTS ON AND BATTERY WENT DEAD. WENT TO JUMP THE VEHICLE AND CHARGE THE BATTERY. CABLES CONNECTED CORRECTLY. WHEN I WENT TO START THE VEHICLE, I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION NOISE LIKE A BACK FIRE BUT SAW A FLAME THEN SMOKE OUT OF ENGINE. THE ENGINE HOOD WAS CLOSED SINCE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED UNDER THE BACK SEAT OR THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL OR A SERIOUS INJURY. THE FLAME MUST HAVE BEEN EXTINGUISHED BY THE FLUIDS? WHEN WE OPENED THE HOOD AFTER A SHORT PERIOD, WE FOUND THAT THEIR WAS SOME TYPE OF EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND IN MY DRIVEWAY
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN FIRST STARTED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND ASSISTED WITH EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, FUEL INJECTORS, FUEL LINE, MASTER CYLINDER, ALTERNATOR, ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, COOLANT RESERVOIR, ACCELERATOR CABLE, AND SEVERAL OTHER COMPONENTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,700.
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
WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR IT SHUTS DOWN ON ME WHILE DRIVING AND I HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 20 MINS BEFORE IT STARTS BACK UP AND SOMETIMES IT SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WOULD TAKE IN THE EXHAUST FUMES FROM THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND OTHER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A FIRE DEPARTMENT DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF CARBON MONOXIDE ENTERING THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THEIR MACHINES DID NOT DETECT ANY CARBON MONOXIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COLDER THE WEATHER, THE WORSE THE ODOR WOULD BECOME. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT AND ANYONE WHO ENTERED THE VEHICLE TO SUFFER FROM HEADACHES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000.
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
BATTERY DEAD, CHARGED THE CAR, STARTED IT UP...THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE(PLENUM). INS AGENT SAID IT WAS THE PLENUM AND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. GM IS LUCKY NO ONE WAS HURT!!!! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE INTAKE GASKET, VALVE COVER GASKET, OIL PAN, AND SEVERAL PIPING COMPONENTS AT THE COST OF $1,400. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LEAK COOLANT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD NOT BE CONCERNED. THE CONTACT LATER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND THEY FOUND THAT A COOLANT ELBOW PIPE HAD BEEN KNOCKED OUT OF PLACE, WHICH CAUSED THE LEAK. THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE FOR THE SECOND TIME AT THE COST OF $10, DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE INITIAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,767 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 105,000. UPDATED 07/08/09 *BF THE FRONT PASSENGER ELECTRIC WINDOW MOTOR FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR A SECOND TIME. UPDATED 07/08/09.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. A LEAKING VALVE COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED AND THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON 3.8 V6 GM ENGINES. AT THE TIME, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 ONLY APPLIED TO PONTIAC GRAND PRIX'S, NOT BONNEVILLES. THE CONTACT WANTS THE MANUFACTURER TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR COST SINCE THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. SHE FEELS THAT IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,821. UPDATED 05/19/09 *BF UPDATED 05/20/09.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, SHE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, SHE NOTICED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS RUPTURED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VIN WAS EXLCUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000. UPDATED 5/7/09 *CN UPDATED 05/08/09.*JB
DROVE VEHICLE FOR 25 MILES FROM WORK TO DAY-CARE FACILITY TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER. DROVE UNDER VARIOUS SPEEDS. PARKED CAR AND WENT INTO PICK UP DAUGHTER CAME BACK OUT AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM BENEATH THE HOOD. OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS A FIRE NEAR THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND VALVE COVER AREA. FIRE WAS SPREADING TO PLUG WIRES, PLASTIC ENGINE COVER AND THE WIRING HARNESS NEAR THE THROTTLE BODY. *TR
2001 BONNEVILLE SSEI 3.8L SUPERCHARGED V-6 ENGINE IDENTICAL TO ENGINES IN RECALL NUMBER EA07008. STRONG BURNING SMELL. VALVE COVER GASKET, OIL PAN GASKET, INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ALL LEAKING! OIL IS LEAKING INTO AND CONTAMINATING ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM! WHY ISN'T THIS MODEL INCLUDED IN EA07008 RECALL? YOUR WEBSITE DOESN'T EVEN LIST BONNEVILLES FOR 2001. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND RESPOND!!! *TR
REF NHTSA INVESTIGATION EA07008, WHY DOESN'T IT INCLUDE 2001 BONNEVILLE SSEI ,I DO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE GRAND PRIX AND THE REGAL GS. *TR
I HAD GONE TO A STORE, THE CAR RAN NORMAL. I WAS ON MY WAY BACK WHEN I MET A MAN FLASHING HIS LIGHTS AND WAVING HIS ARMS COMING TOWARD ME. I STOPPED AND HE TOLD ME THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER MY MOTOR. I GOT OUT AND WITHIN 2 MINUTES THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED AND TOTALLED. *TR
I ATTEMPTED TO START MY 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. IT WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. A LOAD EXPLOSION FROM UNDER THE HOOD FOLLOWED BY FLAMES. I OPENED THE HOOD AND PUT OUT THE FLAMES WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS SPLIT WIDE OPEN. *TR
JUMPED VEHICLE DUE TO DEAD BATTERY,WHEN KEY WAS TURNED ENGINE BACKFIRE SOUND AND BLEW UP. INTAKE EXPLODED PARTS OF ENGINE THROWN EVERY WHERE. ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR
I HAVE HAD A STEERING PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2001 BONNEVILLE SE. I HAVE A DOCUMENT ID #01-02-32-001A THAT STATES 2000-2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE HAS A CLUNK NOISE FROM FRONT OF STEERING WHEEL ROTATION (LUBRICATE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT). AFTER MONTHS OF GETTING A RUN-AROUND DUKE PONTIAC IN SUFFOLK VA FINALLY DIAGNOSED MY PROBLEM AND LUBRICATED THE SHAFT ON 03/01/02. THE NOISE STOPPED FOR ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AND HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE. IT NOW FEELS LIKE THE CAR HAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO CONTROL AT LOW OR HIGHER SPEEDS. I WAS ADVISED BY PERRY BUICK -PONTIAC 10/05/06 THAT THE NOISE I'M HEARING IS FROM THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. I ALSO EXPERIENCED LOW FLUID LEVELS THAT WAS DETECTED ON 8-16-05 WHEN I GOT AN OIL CHANGE FROM TUNE UP PLUS. I THEN WENT TO PERRY BUICK-PONTIAC AND WAS CHARGED $376.62 TO REPLACE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE WORK ORDER WAS NOTED THAT THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. AFTER INVESTIGATING I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A NOTICE IN 2003 THAT PERTAINS TO ENGINE COOLANT LEAK AT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD TO THROTTLE BOBY GASKET. IT STATES THAT THE CONDITION COULD RESULT IN LOW ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL AND HIGHER ENGINE TEMPERATURE. I FEEL THAT GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BECAUSE I STILL OWN THE CAR AND AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I FEEL IS A THREAT TO MY SAFETY AND TO THOSE WHO RIDE WITH ME. I ALSO FEEL THAT GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD REIMBURSED ME THE $376.62 THAT I PAID 8-18-05 TO HAVE THE MANIFOLD REPLACED. I ALSO HAD A FUEL LEAK OCT 5,20005 AND AM NOT SURE IF THAT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE PROBLEM AFOREMENTIONED. *JB
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, AIRBAG SENSOR FRONT, STEERING NOISE 4TH TIME, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER NOISY. *JB
WE OWN A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. IT HAS HAD TO HAVE A NEW FAN MOTOR, NEW MANIFOLD. AND IN DEC 2003 WE HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION, IN DEC 2004 WE HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION. AND NOW IT IS MAKING THE SAME NOISE AGAIN. IN READING ON THE INTERNET I SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS WITH PONTIAC OVER THE RACK AND PINION ISSUE. THEY NEED TO MAKE CHANGES TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *JB
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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