2003 Pontiac Bonneville problems
The 2003 Pontiac Bonneville has 67 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (21%) concerns engine. After that come electrical system (15%) and steering (15%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 67 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 21% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 4 and 6
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 81,000 miles 48 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 | 6 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 6 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 5 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 6 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 11 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 5 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Among the 48 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 80,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 90,000 miles (12 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 4 complaints mention a crash; 6 complaints mention a fire; 3 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 13th most-complained-about out of 16 model years of the Pontiac Bonneville with enough data (24 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
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 involved in a head on collision while driving at 45 MPH on an icy road. Upon impact the child in the middle rear seat with seat belt on flew forward and hit the plastic console between both front seats and split open the forehead. Consumer felt that due to the location of the console it posed a serious safety hazard to the occupant in the middle rear seat in an accident.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 pontiac bonneville. While approaching a traffic stop at 25 MPH, the contact failed to stop the vehicle and crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact's seat belt failed to properly restrain her and did not retract. The front driver's side air bag did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the chest, head, and back. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer did not provide a reason for the air bag and seat belt failure. The failure and the current mileages were 72,000.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving slowly on a side street the vehicle became hard to steer and a noise came from the rack and pinion area. There were no warning indicators prior to the difficult steering or noise. The contact inspected the vehicle, and determined power steering fluid seeping from the rack and pinion. The vehicle was immediately taken to the service dealer for inspections. The dealer determined the seepage was normal.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 pontiac bonneville. While driving 15 MPH or turning the vehicle left or right, the contact heard a clunking sound coming from the steering column. He can also felt the steering wheel vibrate once the noise began. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic, who stated that other consumers with the same type of vehicle experienced identical failures in the past. The contact believes that a recall should be issued because it appears to be a manufacturer defect.