FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
2002 Pontiac Bonneville
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 89 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Pontiac Bonneville, most frequently naming the steering, engine and visibility categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 409 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 5 |
| Nov 2002 | 2 | 7 |
| Mar 2003 | 2 | 9 |
| Jul 2003 | 1 | 10 |
| Aug 2003 | 1 | 11 |
| Sep 2003 | 1 | 12 |
| Dec 2003 | 1 | 13 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 14 |
| Feb 2004 | 2 | 16 |
| Mar 2004 | 2 | 18 |
| Apr 2004 | 1 | 19 |
| May 2004 | 2 | 21 |
| Jul 2004 | 4 | 25 |
| Aug 2004 | 3 | 28 |
| Sep 2004 | 1 | 29 |
| Oct 2004 | 2 | 31 |
| Nov 2004 | 1 | 32 |
| Dec 2004 | 2 | 34 |
| Jan 2005 | 1 | 35 |
| Apr 2005 | 1 | 36 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 37 |
| Aug 2005 | 3 | 40 |
| Sep 2005 | 1 | 41 |
| Oct 2005 | 1 | 42 |
| Nov 2005 | 3 | 45 |
| May 2006 | 1 | 46 |
| Jul 2006 | 1 | 47 |
| Sep 2006 | 1 | 48 |
| Oct 2006 | 2 | 50 |
| Dec 2006 | 1 | 51 |
| Jan 2007 | 3 | 54 |
| Mar 2007 | 1 | 55 |
| Apr 2007 | 2 | 57 |
| May 2007 | 2 | 59 |
| Jun 2007 | 1 | 60 |
| Aug 2007 | 3 | 63 |
| Dec 2007 | 1 | 64 |
| Jun 2008 | 2 | 66 |
| Sep 2008 | 1 | 67 |
| Feb 2009 | 1 | 68 |
| Apr 2009 | 1 | 69 |
| Sep 2009 | 1 | 70 |
| Feb 2010 | 1 | 71 |
| Apr 2010 | 1 | 72 |
| Jul 2010 | 1 | 73 |
| May 2011 | 1 | 74 |
| Nov 2011 | 1 | 75 |
| Jun 2013 | 1 | 76 |
| Mar 2014 | 1 | 77 |
| Jun 2014 | 1 | 78 |
| Jul 2014 | 2 | 80 |
| Aug 2014 | 1 | 81 |
| Sep 2014 | 1 | 82 |
| Oct 2014 | 1 | 83 |
| Nov 2014 | 1 | 84 |
| Jun 2015 | 1 | 85 |
| Apr 2016 | 1 | 86 |
| May 2016 | 1 | 87 |
| Feb 2019 | 1 | 88 |
| Jul 2026 | 1 | 89 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Steering1917.9%
- Engine1413.2%
- Visibility1312.3%
- Electrical109.4%
- Airbags65.7%
- Fuel system65.7%
- Suspension65.7%
- Body & structure54.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
2 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
BY LETTER DATED MARCH 12, 2008, GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM) HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 08V-118) TO ADDRESS A DEFECT IN APPROXIMATELY 207,542 MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL GS AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE L67 SUPERCHARGED VERSION OF GM'S 3800 SERIES II V6 ENGINE.THE RECALLED REGAL GS VEHICLES WERE BUILT FROM AUGUST 1996 TO JUNE 2003 AND THE GRAND PRIX GTP FROM MARCH 1996 THROUGH JANUARY 2003.ACCORDING TO GM, OIL MAY ESCAPE PAST THE VALVE COVER GASKET ON THE FRONT CYLINDER BANK (CYLINDERS 1-3-5) AND DEPOSIT ONTO HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM COMPONENTS.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THIS OIL TO IGNITE A SMALL PILOT FLAME, WHICH MAY SPREAD TO THE ADJACENT PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL, THE SPARK PLUG WIRES THEMSELVES, THE PLASTIC ENGINE COVER, AND OTHER UNDER HOOD COMPONENTS.REPORTS INDICATE THIS MOST OFTEN OCCURS ON HIGHER-MILEAGE VEHICLES SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND THEN PARKED.TYPICALLY, THE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED WITHIN 5 TO 15 MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.DURING THIS TIME WINDOW, UNDER HOOD TEMPERATURES MAY BECOME ELEVATED.SUCH ELEVATED TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH A LACK OF AIRFLOW THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY PERMIT A SMALL PILOT FLAME TO PROPAGATE AND IGNITE OTHER FUEL SOURCES.TO CORRECT THE SAFETY DEFECT, GM WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED DESIGN FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET AND SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINER.THIS REMEDY WILL BE SUPPLIEDFREE OF CHARGE FOR ALL RECALLED VEHICLES.UNTIL SUFFICIENT PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE TO REPAIR ALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, GM STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT OWNERS OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS: (1) THEY STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT OWNERS DO NOT PARK THEIR VEHICLE IN A GARAGE, CARPORT, OR OTHER STRUCTURE; (2) IF OWNERS NOTICE A BURNING ODOR, THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE - THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CHARGE; AND (3) USE PREMIUM FUEL (91 OCTANE OR HIGHER) IN THE VEHICLE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE VEHICLE'S OWNER MANUAL.THE ACTION TAKEN BY GM IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE SUBJECT FIRE INCIDENT RATE ON THE C-, G-, AND H-PLATFORM SUBJECT VEHICLES IS LOW.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS ISSUE AND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
The airbags did not deploy all the way my [XXX] is in the car as well and the driver side and passenger airbags did not deploy 100% it did cause me to end up having a cut on my face and abruzz eye I have pictures but I did not go to the ER but my [XXX] did cuz she had two cuts on her head it also shattered my windshield and something was leaking INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- NHTSA ID
- 11749235
- Incident
- Jul 1, 2026
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 187,000. .*BF CONSUMER OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR A YEAR AN AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON.*JB
- NHTSA ID
- 11181996
- Incident
- Nov 1, 2018
- Mileage
- 187,000 mi
CAR WILL RE-START ON ITS OWN AFTER KEY IS REMOVED. AFTER PARKING AND SHUTTING OFF THE CAR, THEN REMOVING THE KEY AND OPENING THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO EXIT: IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY PRESS THE UPPER PART OF THE LOCK BUTTON ON THE DOOR (THE UNLOCK FUNCTION) INSTEAD OF PRESSING THE LOWER PART OF THE LOCK BUTTON (THE LOCK FUNCTION), THE CAR WILL RE-START ITSELF. IT THEN CANNOT BE TURNED OFF BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS ALREADY IN THE OFF POSITION. THE ONLY WAY TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IS TO JIGGLE THE SHIFTER.
- NHTSA ID
- 10864729
- Incident
- May 9, 2016
- Mileage
- 96,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GASKETS AND VALVE COVER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10855555
- Incident
- Jun 16, 2015
- Mileage
- 100,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED, BUT IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,529.
- NHTSA ID
- 10725928
- Incident
- Jun 11, 2015
- Mileage
- 80,529 mi
IGNITION SWITCH, ENGINE CONTROL MODULE & SECURITY/THEFT MODULE WERE ALL REPLACED BECAUSE AUTO WAS INOPERABLE DUE TO THEIR FAILURE. THE MOBILE MECHANIC CHARGED $616.22 FOR PARTS, $1215.00 FOR LABOR & $13.08 FOR A HAZARDOUS WASTE FEE, TOTAL REPAIR WAS $1844.30. PLEASE SEND EMAIL SO I CAN SCAN DETAILED INVOICE OF REPAIR.
- NHTSA ID
- 10734186
- Incident
- Nov 2, 2013
- Mileage
- 48,502 mi
I HAVE HAD A AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON MY DASH FOR SOME TIME NOW (NOT SURE HOW LONG BUT A COUPLE OF YEARS OR MORE) AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS DASH INDICATOR WITH THE RECENT AIRBAG RECALLS. MY VIN DOESN'T MATCH ANY SUCH RECALL NOTICES, HOWEVER SOME NEWS WEBSITES (LIKE CBS) INITIALLY INDICTED 2002 -2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE'S WERE INCLUDED IN THIS AIRBAG RECALL? THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT VEHICLES NEAR HIGHER HUMIDITY AREAS WERE THE VEHICLES BEING RECALLED, SO THAT CONCERNED ME TOO, SINCE I LIVE ABOUT 8 MILES FROM THE PACIFIC OCEAN. I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING INHERENTLY WRONG WITH MY AIRBAGS AND I'D LIKE THE GM/THE DEALER TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT REPAIR, BEFORE ANY HARMFUL INCIDENTS OCCUR IN MY VEHICLE! *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10649511
- Incident
- Aug 1, 2010
- Mileage
- 160,000 mi
MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND O2 SENSOR FAILURE CONSTANT. 10/2013 SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY WHILE IN MOTION12/2013 LEAKS IN LOWER GASKET VALVE...ENGINE IS EXTREMELY HOT MOST OF THE TIME 04/2014 SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON DUE TO O2 SENSOR FAILURE EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT 7/2014 INTERIOR LIGHTS CAUGHT FIRE 05/2014. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10633472
- Incident
- Oct 12, 2013
- Mileage
- 188,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 37.3 |
| 2004 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 36.5 |
| 2003 | 54 | 2 | 0 | 52.9 |
| 2002Viewing | 89 | 2 | 2 | 55.6 |
| 2001 | 129 | 0 | 2 | 49.3 |
| 2000 | 214 | 2 | 3 | 59.0 |
| 1999 | 143 | 4 | 4 | 62.0 |
| 1998 | 277 | 2 | 2 | 61.6 |
| 1997 | 147 | 2 | 2 | 59.3 |
| 1996 | 150 | 3 | 2 | 60.6 |
| 1995 | 244 | 1 | 0 | 44.4 |
| 1994 | 88 | 0 | 0 | 43.4 |
| 1993 | 138 | 1 | 1 | 51.5 |
| 1992 | 113 | 3 | 2 | 62.7 |
| 1991 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 51.6 |
| 1990 | 39 | 1 | 0 | 46.4 |
| 1989 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 49.5 |
| 1988 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 54.8 |
| 1987 | 19 | 4 | 8 | 62.2 |
| 1986 | 3 | 3 | 8 | — |
| 1985 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — |
| 1984 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1978 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1966 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.