Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. 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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
STEERING SHAFT ON MY 2001 BONNEVILLE SSEI MAKING GRINDING AND CLUNKING NOISE. THE SOUND IS MORE NOTICEABLE AT LOWER SPEEDS BELOW 20 MPH. I HAVE HEAD FROM OTHER BONNEVILLE OWNERS THIS IS AN ONGOING EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. THE DESIGN OF THE STEERING SHAFT SEEMS TO BE FLAWED. *TR
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 DRIVING 15 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AT 52,000 MILES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY PULLED OUT AND LUBRICATED THE STEERING COLUMN, WHICH TEMPORARILY CORRECTED THE FAILURE. AT 67,000 MILES, THE GRINDING NOISE RECURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. AT 78,000 MILES, THE FAILURE RECURRED. CURRENTLY, THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO MAKE ANY MORE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
RECURRING ISSUE WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ON MY 2001 BONNEVILLE: JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT MY BONNEVILLE FROM WITH THIS ISSUE. I HAVE A 2001 BONNIE AND THIS ISSUE SHOWED UP IN 2005 AT ONLY 28000 MILES ( REPAIRED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY ). THIS ISSUE APPEARED AGAIN AT 41,500 MILES. I HAD JUST PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER IT. THEY SAID THEY WOULD ONLY REMOVE THE SHAFT AND REGREASE IT . I ASKED IF THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT IS WAS NOT. MY QUESTION IS WHY THIS IS NOT A RECALL ISSUE AND AM I IN ANY DANGER DRIVING THIS CAR? *JB
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, AIRBAG SENSOR FRONT, STEERING NOISE 4TH TIME, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER NOISY. *JB
I HAVE A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SSEI. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE "CHECK STABILITY SYSTEM" WARNING AND A "CLUNKING" NOISE IN THE LEFT FRONT AREA. IT MAKES NOISE PRIMARILY IN A TURN OR GOING OVER A BUMP. I HAVE HAD THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING/ASSEMBLY REPLACED AS WELL. THE LAST MECHANIC WAS PUZZLED AND FRUSTRATED AT THE FACT THAT HE CANNOT FIGURE OUR WHAT IS MAKING THE NOISE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT AND GM SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM FOR THE CONSUMER. GM WONDERS WHY THEIR SALES A SLACKING....MAYBE THEY SHOULD TAKE BETTER CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. MAKES ME THINK I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A TOYOTA..... *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED TWO YEARS AGO THE STEERING BEGAN TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAD FAILED WHICH INTERFERED WITH THE STEERING. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SHAFT, AND EXPLAINED IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR THIS PART TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. TWO YEARS AFTER THE REPLACEMENT THE SAME PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. UPDATED 05/30/2006. *AK
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
OCT. 6,2002 WAS FIRST TRIP TO DEALER REPORTING CLUNK IN STEERING WHEN TURNING, MILEAGE 22,346. DIAG. NOISE FROM STEERING SHAFT R & R AND LUBBED SHAFT. NOV. 14, 2003 SECOND TRIP TO DEALER FOR NOISE IN STEERING, MILEAGE 35,423. NOISEY SLIP JOINT R&R INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND LUBE AS PER BULLETIN #1-02-32-001C E7700A 1.2. THESE WERE BOTH COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. JUNE 2, 2005 RETURNED FOR A THIRD TIME TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF CLUNKING IN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING. WARRANTY HAS NOW EXPIRED AT 57,632 MILES. I WAS TOLD WHEN I SET THE APPT. THIS WOULD BE AT NO COST TO LUBE AGAIN, BECAUSE OF MY TWO OTHER OCCURRENCES. AFTER SPENDING AN HOUR AT THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD I COULD EITHER HAVE THE SHAFT LUBED AGAIN AT A COST TO ME OF $120.00 OR I COULD HAVE IT REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $260.00. THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE EXPENSE BECAUSE THEY SAID IT HAD BEEN SO LONG SINCE THE LAST OCCURRENCE. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER TO SEE WHAT THEY WILL OFFER.
ON DECEMBER 30, 2002 I TOOK MY 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVELLE SLE IN UNDER WARRANTY TO PEORIA PONTIAC GMC TO INVESTIGATE VIBRATION AND A CLUNK NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LUBED BY PEORIA PONTIAC GMC PER GM'S STEERING SHAFT BULLETIN. MILEAGE WAS 19,814. IN DECEMBER OF 2004, THE NOISE RETURNED AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO PEORIA PONTIAC GMC ON 12/04/2004 AND WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE STEERING SHAFT FOR GREASED FOR APPROXIMATELY $125.00 BY MY SERVICE ADVISOR. ON 12/6/2004 I PHONED PONTIAC. THEY ADVISED ME TO CONTACT MY DEALER TO ORDER A NEW STEERING SHAFT. THE PONTIAC SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE PROMISED TO REIMBURSE ME AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE. ON 2/8/2005 I CONTACTED PONTIAC BECAUSE THE PART IS STILL NOT IN AT THE DEALER. I WAS ADVISED GM HAS REDESIGNED THE PART AND THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A DELIVERY DATE. I DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE TO DRIVE WHILE WAITING FOR THE PART AND AM CONCERNED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE LOST STEERING ABILITY. VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. *AK
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
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED STEERING PRODUCED A LOUD THUMPING NOISE. DEALER STATED THAT INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK...IT WOULD COST $300.00 TO REPLACE AND LUBRICATE IT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AND UPON MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURNS STEERING WHEEL MADE A POPPING SOUND. TWO KNUCKLES RUBBED TOGETHER WHICH NEEDED TO BE TAKEN OUT AND GREASED. *AK *TC
VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR OIL CHANGE NOVEMBER 21,2004. REQUESTED STEERING CHECK BECAUSE OF POPPING NOISE IN COLUMN. VEHICLE HAD BEEN CHECKED AND REPAIRS MADE ON JAN. 25, 2002 FOR SIMILAR CONDITION PURSUANT TO FACTORY TSB. MANNER OF REPAIR HAS BEEN UPDATED, TSB 04-02-35-004, ISSUED MAR.,04. THIS IS THE THIRD TSB ISSUED REGARDING STEERING SYSTEM. WE FEEL "REPAIR" IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THINK RECALL BE ISSUED BY SIMPLE NATURE OF SYSTEM INVOLED.*AK
TIE ROD ENDS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ABOUT 15K MILES, AGAIN AT ABOUT 25K MILES. CAR NOW HAS 64K MILES AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. ALSO, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING SHAFT LUBRICATED AND/OR REPLACED 4 TIMES DUE TO THE CLICKING/GRINDING NOISE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE SHAFTS. *AK
TSB #100004353/STEERING COLUMN TO INSTRUMENT PANEL FASTENER REMOVAL: THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE IN MARCH 2002. THERE WAS NOISE IN THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIMMY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55-60 MPH. THE DEALER REFUSED TO MAKE ANOTHER REPAIR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. *JB
CAR HAS A GRINDING FEELING WHEN TURNING WHEEL.MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS.ALSO HAS CLUNKING SOUNDS AS DRIVING ALONG FELT THRU STEERING WHEEL.PROBLEM FIRST NOTICED WHEN VEHICLE HAD APPROX 5,000 MI. /AT 19,000 MILES PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.DEALER HAS IN PAST 2 YEARS REPLACED HOSES,RACK & PINION ASS'Y,PUMP "O" RINGS,AND STEERING COLUMN SHAFT TWICE.ALL DONE BEFORE FIRST 24 MONTHS WITH LESS THAN 18,000 MILES ON VEH./PONTIAC CUST SATISFACTION CONVINCED ME TO LET THEM REPAIR CAR ONCE MORE BACK IN FEBRUARY 2003.PROBLEM STILL PRESENT. JUST BROUGHT CAR BACK TO DEALER AGAIN ON NOV 2003. PROBLEM STILL THERE. TWICE DEALER CLAIMED DEFECT COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED,YET, AFTER SOME COMPLAINING TO DO A ROAD TEST WITH ME IN THE CAR, THE DEFECT WAS CONFIRMED BY BOTH TECHNICIANS AND THE SERVICE DEPT GENERAL MANAGER. CAR IS A LEASE. I OFFERED TWICE IN PAST TO BE ALLOWED TO TERMINATE LEASE WITHOUT ANY PENALTY FEES AND NO FURTHER ACTION ON MY PART WOULD BE PURSUED (LEMON LAW FILING). PONTIAC CUSTOMER SATISFACTION DEP'T. AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT AGREE. TWICE -AFTER REPAIRS -THE STEERING WHEEL WAS PUT BACK INCORRECTLY(CROOKED).CURRENTLY STEERING WHEEL IS STILL IN CROOKED POSITION AND GRINDING/CLUNKING STILL PRESENT.DEALER OFFERED ON NOV.19,2003 TO LET ME WALK AWAY FROM LEASE IF I START A NEW LEASE ON A NEW 2003 CAR.(HE" DOESNT HAVE ANY 2004 MODELS TO OFFER ME "-HE SAYS) ANYHOW THAT OFFER IS AVAILABLE TO ANY CONSUMER,THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT BY GM/PONTIAC/OR DEALER TO SATISFY ME. THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED COMPLAINTS REGARDING STEERING DEFECT FROM 2000-2002 THAT I HAVE SEEN POSTED SO FAR. I'M SURE THOUSANDS EXIST .I BELIEVE PONTIAC SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THIS PROBLEM.THEY DON'T.*AK
AFTER THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED IN FEB 2003, THE INTERMITTENT CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING RESUMED IN APRIL, 2003. DEALER UNABLE TO VERIFY UNTIL SEPTEMBER, 2003. DEALER REPLACED LEFT OUTER TIE ROD (PART 26067288 - ROD KIT 6.233). THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND ON OCT 7, 2003 THE DEALER REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT (PART 26100571 - SHAFT 6.526). AS OF OCT 7, 2003, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT TWICE AND THE POWER STEERING RACK TWICE IN AN ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. *LA
NOTICED INTERMITTENT CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. DEALER UNABLE TO VERIFY UNTIL FEBRUARY, 3, 2003. REPLACED THE POWER STEERING RACK (PART 26099978 - GEAR KIT 6.508), LUBRICATED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT (PART 26098237 - LUBRICANT 8.800) AND REPLACED POWER STEERING HOSES (PARTS 26079289 & 25727230). *LA
NOTICED CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AND FELT KNOCKING THROUGH FLOOR BOARDS. DISREGARD COMPLAINT 10047407 OF 11/13/2001 AS YEAR AND MILEAGE INCORRECT. DEALER REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT (PART 26100571 - SHAFT 6.526) AND LUBRICATED THE SHAFT (PART 26098237 - LUBRICANT 8.800). *LA
NOTICED CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND FELT A KNOCKING THROUGH THE FLOOR BOARDS. DEALER REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT (PART 26100571 - SHAFT 6.526) AND LUBRICATED SHAFT (PART 26098237 - LUBRICANT 8.800). *LA
NOTICED INTERMITTENT CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT LEFT ENGINE AREA WHEN TURNING. DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY UNTIL 11/12/01. REPLACED STEERING RACK (PART 26098782 - GEAR KIT 6.508). *LA
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION ENGINE STARTED SLIPPING AND JERKING. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK FIRST THE TRANSMISSION WAS RECONDITIONED THEN THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHIFT SOLENOIDS. BREAKS SQUEAKED AND MADE A RUBBING AND MOANING NOISE. THE JOINT ON THE STEERING SHAFT WAS BINDING. THE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED. . *TS
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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