1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE Complaints

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE AND EXPLOSION IN A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SE 3800 (3.8L NON-SUPERCHARGED ENGINE) DUE TO A BACKFIRE UPON START-UP.

I HAVE A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WITH POWER SEATS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ONLY. I RECENTLY HAD THE SEAT RUNAWAY BYGOING FWD AND BACK AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT. I FINALLY HAD TO FORCE THE SWITCH TO THE BACK POSITION UNTIL IT ALL STOPPED. THE MOTOR GOT HOT AND QUIT. NOW IT NO LONGER DRIVES FWD OR BACK. I COULD HAVE HAD A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I HAD BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD.

NAR 1/29/2003. THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO THE CONSUMER WITH A BENT WATER PUMP AND A BENT WHEEL. THE ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING PUMP, TRANSMISSION AND EGR VALVE WERE REPLACED. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) FAILED CAUSING A HOLE IN THE MANIFOLD. TS

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE ON 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. COOLANT ENTERED INTO CYLINDER #4 CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR APPROXIMATELY $900. REOCCURING PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE, AND CALLS TO PONTIAC RESULTED IN NO SATISFACTION.

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING COOLANT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS FUMES NOTICED SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW, HOWEVER SOMEWHAT BETTER BUT CAN STILL BE DETECTED. *TT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. DEALER NOTIFIED.TS

WAS DRIVING AND SMELLED STRONG GASOLINE ODOR THE LONGER DRIVEN. LUCKILY NOT ON HIGHWAY, WAS ABLE TO STOP AND INVESTIGATE, SAW DRIPPING LINE ONTO ENGINE BLOCK. PROCEEDED TO LOCAL DEALER A FEW BLOCKS AWAY. (SULLIVAN PONTIAC) THEY REPLACED THE LINE. SAID THIS IS WHY BONNEVILLE'S MOSTLY HAVE FIRES. I WAS LUCKY WASN'T ON HIGHWAY, AND PULLED OVER WHEN I DID,,COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE/EXPLOSION DESTROYING MY AUTO, OTHERS AND CAUSED INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF AND / OR OTHERS. LEAK WAS IN LOCATION PROTECTED BY SHROUD. HOW DID LEAK OCCUR? DEFECTIVE FUEL LINE? DEALER DID NOT SAVE THE DEFECTIVE LINE FOR LATER EXAMINATION. PAID $299.85 FOR LABOR, $40 FOR SHIPPING NEW FUEL LINE, AND $87.57 FOR THE NEW FUEL LINE= $427.42. WORRIED ABOUT IS THIS SAFE FOR OTHERS!? NLM

SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WOULD BUCK AT 30-40 MPH. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ON JULY 22, 2002 DEALER STATED THAT VALVE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WITH FLUID DRIPPING IN FRONT OF PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. FOUND POSITIVE BATTERY POST (SIDE) SEPARATED FROM BATTERY CASE WITH BATTERY ACID LEAKING OUT. BATTERY TERMINAL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM CABLES AND THERE WAS SLIGHT CORROSION DAMAGE TO BATTERY TRAY AREA.*AK