RoadVitals

2002 Pontiac Bonneville Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest May 13, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
16%
of 89 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

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 2002 Pontiac Bonneville submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngine
Filed May 13, 2016

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
Engine
Filed Apr 14, 2016
Fire reported

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
EngineFuel system
Filed Jul 17, 2014

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
Engine
Filed Jul 2, 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
Engine
Filed Mar 13, 2014

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
Engine
Filed Apr 14, 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
Engine
Filed Jun 13, 2008

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
Engine
Filed Aug 22, 2007

3/13/2007 COOLANT LEAK IN LOWER AND UPPER GASKETS AT 65,600 MILES. REQUIRED REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF LOWER AND UPPER GASKETS AND UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. EVIDENTLY A GM PROBLEM WITH GASKETS. $700 REPAIR ON CAR THAT HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF BY ORIGINAL OWNER AND ONLY DRIVER OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10200415
Incident
Mar 13, 2007
Mileage
65,600 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 5, 2007

THE TIP OF A SPARK PLUG BROKE OFF INTO THE PISTON CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. GM HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR MY REPLACEMENT ENGINE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10187127
Incident
Nov 19, 2006
Mileage
92,123 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 29, 2007

COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE PLENIUM GASKET, CRACKED MANIFOLD. *AK

NHTSA ID
10186440
Incident
Mar 28, 2007
Mileage
51,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 21, 2006

TL*- THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE ENGINE COOLANT IS LEAKING AT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY CAMPAIGN REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE HE HAS WITH HIS VEHICLE AND THAT HE WASN'T AWARE ABOUT THE ISSUE UNTIL HE WAS DOING RESEARCH ONLINE. BY THE TIME THE CONTACT FOUND OUT ABOUT THE SAFETY CAMPAIGN THE TIME FOR THE CAMPAIGN HAD EXPIRED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED BECAUSE WHEN HE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WITH HIS VEHICLE IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH VARIOUS 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.

NHTSA ID
10176733
Incident
Dec 21, 2006
Mileage
60,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 9, 2005

I RECEIVED A RECALL REPAIR FOR MY 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE-CAMPAIGN #03034. IF I HAD REPLACED THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, THROTTLE BODY NUTS, OR THROTTLE BODY GASKET BEFORE AUGUST 8, 2003, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. SINCE I ONLY HAD OWNED THE CAR FOR 1 YEAR AT THAT TIME AND HAD NOT REPLACED THESE ITEMS, I HAD A RECALL REPAIR DONE ON 11-10-03. I MENTIONED AT THE TIME THAT WHEN I COME INTO MY GARAGE, I COULD SMELL HOT COOLANT. THE SHOP FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE RECALL REPAIR TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY NUTS AND ADDED SOMETHING SIMILAR TO A "STOP LEAK". WE TRIED AT THAT TIME TO GET A BETTER "FIX" TO PROPERLY REPAIR POSSIBLE PROBLEM, BUT THIS IS ALL SHOP WOULD DO. NOW, AFTER MY WARRANTY IS OVER, I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED TO REPLACE MY UPPER INTAKE GASKET KIT SINCE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS LEAKING COOLANT EXTERNALLY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10142329
Incident
Nov 10, 2003
Body & structureEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Jan 24, 2005

THE CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSE FOR THE POWER STEERING ASSIST ERUPTED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED SINCE A SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED BEFORE. *AK THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED, BOTH FRONT WINDOW LIFT MOTORS WERE REPLACED, WATER LEAKED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, THERE WAS AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF ENGINE NOISE AS WELL AS HEAT AND EXHAUST ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THERE WAS TWO INCHES OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, THE STEERING LOCKED UP, THERE WAS A LACK OF POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR, HIGH PRESSURE HOSE FLUID LEAKED ALL OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE, THE UPPER NUT AND THE BOLT THAT HELD THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT TO THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS EXTREMELY LOOSE. *SC

NHTSA ID
10103751
Incident
Nov 10, 2004
Mileage
18,500 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 15, 2004

CAR WAS BROUGHT INTO OTTO OLDSMOBILE DEALERSHIP WITH 64K FOR A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT OF A WATERPUMP AND FOR A SQUEALING NOISE. WAS TOLD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING AND THE ESTIMATED REPAIR WAS 600, WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT AND THE WATERPUMP LABOR TOTAL REPAIR WAS 1100. CAR WAS DRIVEN TWICE AFTER REPAIR, LESS THAN 200 MILES WHEN SQUEALING RETURNED AND ENGINE SEIZED FROM COOLANT ENTERING CYLINDER NUMBER FOUR AS A RESULT OF THE MANIFOLD LEAK. CAR SAT IN DEALERSHIP FOR THREE MONTHS WHILE WE HAGGLED WITH THEM AND GM FOR REPLACEMENT COSTS. GM DENIES RESPONSIBILITY AND CAR HAD AN ENGINE INSTALLED FROM A JUNKYARD AT A TOTAL COST OF 350. CAR IS CURRENTLY STILL SQUEALING.

NHTSA ID
10069787
Incident
Dec 15, 2002

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .