2002 Pontiac Bonneville Owner Complaints

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 10/02/14*LJ UPDATED 3/6/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10619244

Incident

Jun 13, 2011

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE EXTREMELY ROUGH AS IF IT COULD HAVE STALLED WHEN THERE WAS A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL OR LESS. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V238000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10611278

Incident

Apr 26, 2014

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 295 IN NJ MY VEHICLE STALLED. THE STALLED AND ALMOST CAUSED A NEAR FATAL ACCIDENT WITH A SEMI. THE VEHICLE AFTER 20 MINUTES AND NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP AND I DECIDED TO TRY AND MAKE IT HOME BY TAKING BACK ROADS AWAY FROM THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE STALLED 4 MORE TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET IT HOME. I WAS VISIBLY SHAKEN UPSET AND SCARED OUT OF MY MIND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10607729

Incident

Apr 8, 2014

Mileage

145,000 mi

I PUT MY CAR INTO PARK AND MY KEY WOULD NOT GO TO OFF OR START. IT WAS STUCK ON ACC AND ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10597791

Incident

Jun 11, 2014

Mileage

138,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH OUT WARNINGS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,019 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,119.

NHTSA ID

10569043

Incident

Feb 10, 2014

Mileage

113,019 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING, SMELLED WIRE BURNING AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER AT THE HEADLINER THEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS SHUT OFF, TRUNK RELEASE SWITCH INOP. I PULLED OVER ON THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED KEY OFF. THEN NOTICED TWO WEEKS AGO THAT THERE IS NO POWER TO THE OBD-II. HAVE ABLE TO REPAIR THE DAMAGES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10520327

Incident

May 10, 2013

Mileage

215,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MAKING A CLUNKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ID

10435604

Incident

Nov 1, 2011

Mileage

109,000 mi

2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SE 2 DEFECTS 1) "CLUNKING" OF STEERING SHAFT - HAS BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE 2) GAS GAUGE STOP WORKING AFTER 4 YEAR (2006). *TR

NHTSA ID

10398570

Incident

Jan 10, 2006

Mileage

25,000 mi

I HAVE TWO GM VEHICLES THAT EXHIBIT THE SAME DANGEROUS CONDITION OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THIS CONDITION OCCURS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. UPON RE-START OF THE VEHICLE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL (AND /OR THROTTLE ASSEMBLY) IS STUCK AND IT REQUIRES A LARGE AMOUNT OF FORCE TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL, CAUSING A RAPID CHANGE IN VEHICLE SPEED FROM A STOPPED CONDITION TO A VERY QUICKLY ACCELERATING VEHICLE. AFTER YOU "BREAK THROUGH" THIS FIRST "STICKING" OF THE PEDAL, THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY FUNCTIONS FINE, UNTIL YOU TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART AGAIN. VEHICLES AFFECTED ARE 1999 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN AND 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10344489

Incident

Jul 21, 2010

Mileage

85,000 mi

BOUGHT A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 3 MONTHS AGO. WITHIN THE MONTH HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT & RIGHT REAR TRAILING ARMS AT 700.00. CAR SEEMS TO HAVE A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM BECAUSE IT DOESN'T ALWAYS START-UP FEELS LIKE IT IS CHOCKING. LASTLY THIS PAST WEEK AS I TURN LEFT AND SOMETIMES RIGHT THERE IS A POPPING NOISE LIKE FRONT BEARINGS OR TIE RODS. IS THERE A RECALL ON ANY INFORMATION STATED ABOVE I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10328257

Incident

Apr 15, 2010

STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NOISE. LOCATED ON STEERING COLUMN. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BE ADDRESSED. IT A FAILURE ON MORE THAN ONE MODEL OF GM CARS. ITS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE 2001 UP TO THIS DATE. SEEMS NHTSA HAS NOT NOTICED OR DONE ANYTHING TO MAKE GM CORRECT PROBLEM. GM HAS GONE ON ITS MERRY WAY COLLECTING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS PROBABLY MILLIONS IN REPAIR FEES. LOOKS AS IF GM OR NHTSA TURN AWAY FROM HELPING THE CUSTOMERS WHO FOOT THE BILL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310889

Incident

Jan 2, 2004

Mileage

19,964 mi

MY 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE HAS A BANGING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. I AM TOLD THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUE BUT I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282503

Incident

Aug 1, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING MOTOR OIL COMING FROM THE ENGINE. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE DEALER DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. HE WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THEIR DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V118000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,290 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,300.

NHTSA ID

10265299

Incident

Apr 10, 2008

Mileage

38,290 mi

WATER PROBLEMS: 1) WATER DRAINING FROM WINDOWS INTO INTERIOR SOAKING FLOORBOARDS. THIS IS DUE TO THE RUBBER CAULKING THAT ATTACHES A PLASTIC SHEET ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOORS THAT DIVERTS THE WATER DOWN THE DOOR PANEL. THE CAULKING ULTIMATELY FAILS. OUT OF WARRANTY, I TOOK OFF THE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL AND RE-CAULKED THE PLASTIC SHEETING WITH SILICONE. IT HAS SOLVED THIS PROBLEM, AT LEAST FOR NOW. 2) TRUNK. STILL LEAKS. HAVE UNPLUGGED THE WEEP HOLES IN THE TRUNK LID, WHICH HAS LESSENED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258929

Incident

May 1, 2008

2002 BONNEVILLE: ALL 4 DOORS/WINDOWS HAVE BEEN RE-SEALED MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE RAIN WATER FLOWS DOWN THE OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOWS, THEN FLOWS INSIDE THE DOOR, AND THEN FLOWS INTO THE CAR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR DOOR, CAUSING SOAKED CARPETING (PUDDLES) AND MOLD. SUN-ROOF MECHANICAL LINKAGE HAS CRACKED AND BROKEN OFF IN PLACES. I BET I USED THE SUN-ROOF ONLY 10 TIMES BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. SUNROOF NOW CLOSES CROOKED. DEALER COST ESTIMATE TO FIX = $1200. ALL 4 POWER WINDOW UNITS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND NOW DOORS RATTLE; RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR TRIM FALLS OFF ROUTINELY. WIPER FLUID MOTOR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. CRUNCHING SOUND WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. ALL OF THESE ISSUES STARTED OCCURRING SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244034

Incident

Apr 20, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, OIL LEAKS ONTO THE VALVE COVER MANIFOLD. SMOKE APPEARS UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CONTACT SMELLS BURNING OIL. WHEN THE HOOD IS LIFTED, HE CAN SEE THE OIL ON THE VALVE COVER MANIFOLD. THE CONTACT MUST CHECK THE OIL LEVEL MONTHLY. HIS NEIGHBOR INFORMED HIM THAT THERE MAY BE A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO COLANDREA PONTIAC IN NEW YORK AND THEY STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL, AND WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $300- $500 TO REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,895.

NHTSA ID

10230951

Incident

Apr 28, 2008

Mileage

92,000 mi

WARNING LIGHTS FOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, BRAKES, AND TRACTION CONTROL COME ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FEATURE IS DISABLED WHEN LIGHT IS ON. BRAKE PERFORMANCE IS GREATLY REDUCED SOMETIMES WHILE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON. TRACTION CONTROL DOES NOT FUNCTION WHEN LIGHT IS ON. DEALER SAID GM HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR CORROSION IN A WIRING HARNESS PLUG LEADING TO THE WHEEL ROTATION SENSOR. DEALER STATED REPLACEMENT WIRING HARNESS WAS $500. DEALER TRIED CLEANING CONTACTS ON PLUG AND APPLYING CONDUCTIVE CORROSION PREVENTING. DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ANTI-LOCK FEATURE IS DEACTIVATED, TRACTION CONTROL DEACTIVATED, AND BRAKE PERFORMANCE IS REDUCED. DEVELOPED PROBLEM IN DECEMBER 2006. *TR

NHTSA ID

10229926

Incident

Dec 10, 2006

Mileage

67,000 mi