1998 Pontiac Bonneville problems
The 1998 Pontiac Bonneville has 359 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (53%) concerns engine. After that come exhaust system (14%) and fuel system (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 359 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 53% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 12 and 40
- Injuries and deaths
- 8 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 70,000 miles 148 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 3 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 3 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 34 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 60 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 20 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 19 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 148 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 70,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 71,000 miles (87 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 12 complaints mention a crash; 40 complaints mention a fire; 8 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 16 model years of the Pontiac Bonneville with enough data (231 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Vehicle was being jumped started with an external battery pack, when cranked there was an internal engine explosion, blew manifold cover off and injectors out. Claim number 35-w429-786.
General motors recall program denial of payment for recall item repaired nd paid for at a general motors pontiac dealership. Second recall notice recieved on my 1998 pontiac bonneville, NHTSA id# 04v090000, compontent is the fuel system, gasoline delivery. My 1998 bonneville was at the dealership many times and over a period of 2 years until the problem was resolved. Rental vehicles, costly not-needed repairs were done in an effort to find the problem, down time, etc.
Paint is peeling around key hole on trunk - at this time approximately a 5 inch diameter circle spot. The hood is turning milky looking. We took it to a local dealership where we were told that our car was in very good condition and had been taken very good care of. We were turned down due to being out of warranty and there are no recalls on your 1998 bonneville regarding any paint concerns.
No events lead up to the failure, it was immediate. Car stopped dead in its tracks, started one more time before it died in 1/8th of a mile. I was informed that the intake manifold was the problem coolant leaked into the engine. Replaced intake manifold,gasket,oil filter, oil, coolant & spark plugs.cleaned out coolant from intake and cylinders. Change oil and filter.