1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE Complaints

VEHICLE'S PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF DAMAGING THE FRONT FENDER AND DOOR.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE TO CAME OFF DUE TO BROKEN STUDS. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FENDER AND DOOR (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

VEHICLE FAILED TO START. UPON OPENING HOOD CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY TERMINAL POST CAME OFF, AND ACID WAS LEAKING OUT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED DRIVER BEGAN TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. DRIVER PROCEEDED TO DRIVE HOME, AND PARKED VEHICLE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A WHOLE IN THE PLENUM THAT ALLOWED WATER TO LEAK AND WARP THE HEADS. *AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY ALL STATED THE COMPUTER SHOWED NO ERRORS. *JB *SCC *JB

A BLOCK FROM HOME OUR ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THE UPPER MANIFOLD HAD A HOLE IN IT DUE TO THE MANIFOLD BEING PLASTIC, AND CRYSTALIZING OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. IT COST US $729.00 TO GET IT FIXED. LUCKILY OUR ENGINE WASN'T HOT OR WE WOULD HAVE HAD MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS.*AK

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 25 MPH SUDDENLY ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DIED. NO BRAKES/ NO POWER STEERING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER POPPED HOOD, AND NOTICED BATTERY ACID ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND BATTERY CABLES WERE LOOSE. DEALER REPLACED CABLES, AND PUT JELLY AROUND THEM. FIVE DAYS LATER, CABLES WERE LOOSE AGAIN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. THE CABLE HAS LOOSEN AGAIN AND VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER. CONSUMER WAS LEFT STRANDED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING A 100 MILES FROM HOME THE CAR OVERHEATED & HAD TO BE TOWED. WE FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A HOLE IN THE AIR PLENUM IN THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE OVER 20 SUCH CASES IN OUR SMALL COMMUNITY ALONE. ALL ON 3800 MOTORS IN PONTIAC'S. THIS IS A FOUR HUNDRED DOLLAR REPAIR BILL THAT OCCURRED ONLY BECAUSE PONTIAC DECIDED TO USE PLASTIC IN THEIR PART WHICH IN TURN MELTED & CAUSED OUR MOTOR TO OVERHEAT. I HOPE THAT PONTIAC WILL RECALL THESE PLENUMS & REIMBURSE US FOR THE COST OF REPAIRING & TOWING OUR CAR. IF PONTIAC WOULD CALL THEIR DEALERS THEY WOULD FIND OUT JUST HOW MANY OF THESE PARTS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. *JB

WHILE ROTATING MY TIRES, I NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE STABILIZER BAR WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE LINK BOLT AND BUSHING WERE MISSING. I PURCHASED A NEW ASSEMBLY FROM PONTIAC DEALER AND INSTALLED. *TT

TRANSMISSION BUMPS AND JERKS AT SPEEDS OVER 30 MPH. USUALLY WHEN CLIMBING A HILL. SOLUTION...LET OFF THE GAS FOR A SECOND AND RE APPLY TO STOP THE BUCKING TEMPORARILY. ALSO HAPPENED TO MY 92 BONNEVILLE WHICH HAD THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION THAT NEVER FAILED WITH OVER 180,000 MILES ON IT, BESIDES THE BUCKING. *NLM

LOSS OF COOLANT. PLASTIC AIR INTAKE MOUNTED ON TOP OF INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED LEAKING COOLANT UNDER PRESSURE INTO COMBUSTION CHAMBER. TALKED TO SEVERAL LICENSED TECHNICIANS IN THE AREA AND THEY STATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF AIR INTAKE. $275 & LABOR. *NLM