RoadVitals

2004 Pontiac Bonneville Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
28
Latest Jul 10, 2015
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Dec 22, 2004

What this page shows

Our database holds 28 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Pontiac Bonneville. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 28 · page 1 of 2

Electrical
Filed Jul 10, 2015

TROUBLE WITH WINDOW REGULATORS GOING BAD. RIGHT NOW MY RIGHT REAR WINDOW AND DOOR LOCK WILL NOT WORK. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE WINDOWS..

NHTSA ID
10733293
Incident
Jul 11, 2013
Mileage
150,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 21, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS OF TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ID
10660075
Incident
Aug 21, 2014
Mileage
56,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 8, 2014
Fire reported

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, WE (WIDE AND I) NOTICED A SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. SINCE WE WERE IN A FARMING AREA WE DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH OF IT. ABOUT 20 MILES LATER THE SMELL LINGERED AND WE NOTICED SMOKE BEGAN FILLING CAR. PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND MY WIFE NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM BACK SEAT. I TOOK THE SEAT OFF AND DISCOVERED THERE WAS A FIRE GOING ON IN THERE. PULLED BACK SEAT OUT ONTO GROUND AND PUT THAT FIRE OUT. UPON INSPECTION WE FOUND THE FUSE BOX TO BE BURNED AND MELTED. OBVIOUSLY THE CARE DOESN'T RUN ANY LONGER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10653652
Incident
Oct 18, 2014
Mileage
135,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 29, 2014

WHEN THE CAR WOULD GO OVER A BUMP THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD SLIDE TO THE OFF POSITION AND ALL SYSTEMS FAIL INCLUDING THE POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. WE HAVE USED 1 SINGLE KEY WITHOUT A KEY RING SINCE THE INCIDENTS BUT STILL FEEL UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10594735
Incident
May 23, 2007
Mileage
35,900 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 28, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY EXHIBIT A CLUNKING SOUND. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE FOR A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY RESUMING NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,550.

NHTSA ID
10575424
Incident
Jun 20, 2012
Mileage
42,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 3, 2013

STEEL BRAKE LINE STARTED LEAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10554581
Incident
Nov 1, 2013
Mileage
100,500 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 17, 2012

IN JAN 2009 @ 72K MILES ON THE CAR SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND SHORTLY AFTER THE TRANS. WOULD BANG INTO GEAR. PER GM DEALER IT HAD CODES P0756 AND P2763 CALLING FOR REPLACEMENT OF SHIFT SOLENOID. IN SEPT. 2010 @ 108K MILES THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AND CODE, REPLACED THE SAME PART. NOW IN FEB 2012 @137K MILES AGAIN THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AND CODES, BUT THIS TIME THEY ARE SAYING TO REPLACE THE TRANS. THE FIRST 2 TIMES I WENT TO THE SAME DEALER, THIS TIME I WENT TO ANOTHER. ISSUE I HAVE IS IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT 72K WHILE UNDER AN EXTENDED 5 YEAR, 100K MILE WARRANTY. GM IS UNWILLING TO ADMIT ANY FAULT OR DEFECT. I FEEL THAT THIS PART FAILING 3X WITHIN 65K MILES IS AN ISSUE AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. ALSO LOOKING THRU SOME OF THE HISTORY I SEE THIS SAME TYPE OF ISSUE IN THE 2003 CARS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10448284
Incident
Jan 15, 2009
Mileage
72,000 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 16, 2012

STEERING WHEEL CLUNKED & FELT DETACHED---CAR TAKEN TO GM DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE QUOTE A "BROKEN STEERING COLUMN." STEERING COLUMN PART WAS REPLACED, PART #26087952 COLUMN AS 6,518. COST WAS $1516.58. CAR WAS DELIVERED ON 3/15/05 AND HAS ONLY 40,662 + MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10448228
Incident
Jan 25, 2012
Mileage
40,662 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 12, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE WARNING AND INDICATOR GAUGES FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY AND WOULD ALL PROVIDE A READING OF ZERO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A CLUSTER GAUGE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10419170
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Mileage
97,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 24, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC BONEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEFAULT WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ID
10402552
Incident
May 17, 2011
Mileage
82,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 20, 2010

THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE WAS WITH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, THEN THE TACHOMETER. MOST RECENTLY THE VOLTMETER AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE STARTED TO FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10331486
Incident
May 17, 2010
Mileage
40,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsOther / unspecified+1 more
Filed Feb 18, 2010

HAVE A 2004 BONNEVILLE GXP AROUND THE 24,000 MILE MARK THE CAR SEEMED TO FALL APART. THE PASSENGER WINDOW STICKS, THE TRUNK STAYS FULL OF WATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PAN FILLS UP WITH WATER ONCE EVERY 4 MONTHS, THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE STOPPED WORKING, THE TACHOMETER STOPPED WORKING, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, AND MOST CONCERNING THE STEERING JOINT IN THE STEERING COLUMN IS BAD. WE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER AT THE TIME AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY THREE CHILDREN AROUND IN THIS CAR. A FORTY THOUSAND DOLLAR CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE MANY PROBLEMS WITH SO LITTLE MILEAGE. I JUST FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED THIS VEHICLE. I AM DISGUSTED WITH GENERAL MOTORS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10311692
Incident
Jan 1, 2008
Mileage
24,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 10, 2009

A MASSACHUSETTES VEHICLE INSPECTION ON MY 2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE HAS RESULTED IN A SAFETY REJECTION OF THE VEHICLE FOR A WORN STEERING STUB SHAFT BEARING. PONTIAC IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN 04-02-32-001D MAR 09 (STEERING - STEERING GEAR STUB SHAFT BEARING KIT). THE FACT THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED SUBSTANTIATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY CONCERN. THE CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE IS LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279889
Incident
Jun 10, 2009
Mileage
132,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 24, 2008

2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE AND TEMP GAUGE HAVE ALL MALFUNCTIONED. WEB RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON PROBLEM IN GM VEHICLES, BUT GM DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10249725
Incident
Nov 19, 2008
Mileage
53,932 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 14, 2008

CAR STARTED SHIFTING HARD FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR-- TOOK IT IN TO A PONTIAC DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE PRESSURE REGULATOR SOLENOID WHICH IS THE SAME ISSUE THEY WERE HAVING WITH THE 2003 MODELS THAT HAD NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS ON. I CALLED GM AND THEY AGREED TO COVER THE CHARGES TO FIX IT; HOWEVER, WHEN I HAD IT FIXED AND $1,100 LATER-- THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T GOING TO COVER IT BECAUSE IT WASN'T A 2003 MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10245344
Incident
Sep 27, 2007
Mileage
73,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 1, 2008

I HAVE A 2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILE SE WITH 64,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID, WHICH ENDS UP CAUSING HARD SHIFTS AND CAN CAUSE TRANSMISSION DAMAGE, HAS FAILED, AND THE TRANSMISSION EITHER NEEDS TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED ALTOGETHER. IT IS A RATHER PRICEY FIX BETWEEN $800(REBUILT) TO $2000(REPLACED). *TR

NHTSA ID
10244142
Incident
Aug 20, 2008
Mileage
64,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 30, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. AFTER STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE TIE ROD FAILED AND THE TWO FRONT WHEELS WERE FACING EACH OTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIE ROD WAS A FOREIGN PART. UPDATED 10-29-08 *BF UPDATED 10/30/08. *JB

NHTSA ID
10243980
Incident
Jul 20, 2008
Mileage
38,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Sep 3, 2008

I PURCHASED A 2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILE USED. I WAS THE 2ND OWNER OF THE CAR AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER KEPT THE CAR IN TOP NOTCH SHAPE! I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MAY 2007. AUGUST OF 2008 I STARTED NOTICING MY CHROME PLATED WHEELS PEELING, MEANING THE FINISH ON THE WHEELS ARE COMING OFF IN CHUNKS. THE WHEELS IN WHICH THE CHROME PLATE IS PEELING OFF ARE BECOMING RUSTY NOW. NOT ONLY ARE MY WHEELS RUSTY, THE PIECES PEELING OFF ARE ACCUMULATING NEAR MY BRAKES AND BECOMING LODGED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10240818
Incident
Aug 1, 2008
Steering
Filed May 14, 2008

POPPING IN STEERING - THE STEERING GETS HARD TO TURN AND THERE IS A POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING. I WAS TOLD BY THE FIRST DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS A FAULTY PART BUT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER ANY RECALLS. WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER DAYS OF ARGUMENTS. WAS TOLD IT IS NOW A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM THAT WILL COST ABOUT $175.00 EACH TIME IT IS REPAIRED WITH A GREASING KIT - NO REPLACED AS DEFECTIVE - ABOUT TWICE A YEAR SO FAR. I FEEL IT SHOULD STATE IT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL AS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE IG THAT IS WHAT IT IS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10227794
Incident
Nov 10, 2006
Mileage
32,300 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 27, 2007

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER / GAUGES ARE FAILING. FIRST THE TEMP GAUGE QUIT, THEN THE VOLT GAUGE, AND NOW THE TACHOMETER. CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10212952
Incident
Jun 1, 2007
Mileage
40,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 15, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AND DANGLED WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE IN THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED MOVING, JUMPED A CURB, AND LANDED IN HER NEIGHBOR'S YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS A FAILED PEDAL ASSEMBLY RETAINER CLIP, WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,078 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,023. UPDATED 11/29/07.

NHTSA ID
10209006
Incident
Nov 11, 2007
Mileage
40,023 mi
Seat belts
Filed Aug 15, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT SEAT BELTS FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN HE STOPPED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT FASHION. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS ENGAGED WHEN THEY DROVE THE VEHICLE AT 10 MPH. THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 08/28/07. *JB

NHTSA ID
10199696
Incident
May 1, 2004
Mileage
3,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 8, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BATTERY EXPLODED RIGHT AFTER TURNING ON THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT FIND THE REASON WHY THE BATTERY EXPLODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR THE INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
10175551
Incident
Nov 12, 2006
Mileage
24,200 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Dec 3, 2006

COMPONENT FAILURE-GAUGE CLUSTER PANEL-2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SE 1. FAILURE - TEMP GAUGE FAILURES PROMPTED A COMPUTER CHECK ENGINE READING THAT STATED THE TEMP SENDING UNIT WAS PROBABLE CAUSE. DEALER "EWING BUICK-PONTIAC" DID NOT HAVE PART, REFERRED TO RELIABLE CHEVROLET WHO SOLD US THE PART AS SPECIFIED IN TECH PUB BUT WAS NOT THE CORRECT SENDING UNIT. COMPARED THE OLD ONE TO ANOTHER YEAR MODEL AND LOCATED AN IDENTICAL SENDING UNIT WITHIN 48 HOURS BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE TEMP GAUGE. THE CAR NEVER HAS OVERHEATED BUT THE GAUGE WOULD READ A DIFFERENT TEMP DAILY UNTIL IT FINALLY RARELY EVER READ A DEGREE. DEALER SAID WOULD NEED TO PULL CLUSTER PANEL AND SEND OUT. ONLY THE WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED 5,000 MILES AND DEALER QUOTED $650.00 TO PULL THE UNIT OUT AND SEND OUT TO HAVE DIAGNOSED AND WOULD TAKE ABOUT A WEEK. SERVICE WRITER SUGGESTED I WAIT UNTIL WARNING LIGHTS INDICATE A PROBLEM. NEXT DAY THE TACHOMETER GAUGE BEGAN FAILING. YOU COULD START THE CAR OVER 4 OR 5 TIMES AND GET BOTH TEMP AND TACH TO READ SOMETHING AND SOMETIMES THOUGHT IT WAS ACCURATE BUT WITHIN ANOTHER MONTH THE GAUGES RARELY REGISTERED ANYTHING AND THEN THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AS PRE-OWNED GM CERTIFIED VEHICLE AND WARRANTY WAS UNTIL 39000 MILES AND AT 45000 THE GAUGES BEGAN FAILING OF COURSE THE TEMP SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED AT 43000 MILES BECAUSE OF A CHECK ENGINE WARNING CODE. I HAVE ONLY OWNED 2 PONTIACS IN MY DRIVING HISTORY BUT MOST VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED WERE GM PRODUCTS AND I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE WITH MORE FAULTS, WHICH STARTED WITH THE TEST DRIVE AND A POPPING IN THE STEERING AND BRAKE PROBLEMS AT 28000 MILES BUT DEALER CONVINCED TO PURCHASE AS THE ITEMS WERE COVERED UNDER MANF WARRANTY AND THEY GAVE ME ANOTHER CAR TO DRIVE FOR A WEEK WHILE REPAIRS WERE MADE TO MY BONNEVILLE PURCHASED JAN 2005. THIS CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE ENOUGH MILES ON IT YET TO BE REQUIRING COSTLY MAJOR COMPONENT FAILURES WHICH ARE A SAFETY CONCERN. *JB

NHTSA ID
10175020
Incident
Apr 14, 2006
Mileage
43,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 30, 2006
1 injury reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT, WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE BATTERY, LOCATED BEHIND THE BACK SEAT, EXPLODED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BACK HALF OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN.

NHTSA ID
10174761
Incident
Nov 12, 2006
Mileage
24,000 mi

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.

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