Model year record

1991 Pontiac Bonneville recalls & problems

The 1991 Pontiac Bonneville has 2 safety recalls and 22 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (6 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints22filed by owners

Crashes · fires3 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Fuel system, gasolineMay 19, 2006

Fuel system, gasoline

Recall 06E04300088,303 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

Power trainNov 14, 1991

Automatic transmission

Recall 91V1980006,866 vehicles

Problem: THE CONSOLE MOUNTED SHIFT LEVER MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE BRACKET CAUSING LOSS OF GEAR INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT SELECTOR OPERATION.
Risk: THE DRIVER CAN PLACE THE GEAR SHIFTER IN THE PARKPOSITION WITHOUT SETTING THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE TRANSAXLE MAY NOT ACTUALLY BEIN PARK, RESULTING IN UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT IF THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED ON AGRADE. ALSO, THE DRIVER CAN PLACE THE GEAR SELECTOR IN DRIVE OR REVERSE WITHOUTTURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND THE TRANSAXLE MAY NOT BE IN THE POSITION INDICATED,CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MOVE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. BOTH CONDITIONS CANRESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Fix: INSTALL TWO TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIPS.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1991 Pontiac Bonneville 2-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Bonneville

20mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	6	1	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission	3	0	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	3	0	1	0	—
Electrical system12v/24v/48v battery; Alternator/generator/regulator	3	0	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	2	0	0	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Webbing	2	2	0	2	—
Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch; Hood › Latch	2	0	0	0	—
EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner	1	0	0	0	—
StructureBody › Door	1	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	0	0	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	1	1	0	1	—
Interior lighting	1	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Power train › Automatic transmission
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE SEPARATED AND CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V015000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 190,000.
Dec 3, 2008 · 190,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling › EngineFire
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ROD BEARING FRACTURED ALONG THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSING A FIRE TO ERUPT WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SPREAD THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER MOTOR AND INTO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE. THE POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 10/17/2006 - *NM
Jul 7, 2006 · 38,000 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER MARKET MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE PLUNGER PIN KEPT BREAKING. THIS CAUSED BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. UNABLE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, FENCO / FENWICK AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS.*AK CONSUMER HAD THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED FOUR TIMES AND THEY HAVE ALL FAILED. THE FIRST FAILED 79 DAYS AFTER INSTALLATION. THE SECOND ONE FAILED IMMEDIATELY WHILE BEING BLEED. THE THIRD ON FAILED WITH LESS THAN 1 MILE AND THE FOURTH ONE FAILED 150 MILES LATER. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THEIR POSITION IS TO TEST THE MASTER CYLINDER FIRST AND THEN THE PIN IF NECESSARY.…
Jul 3, 2003
Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
I HAVE CHANGED THE DASH AND HAD ALL WIRING CHECKED AND EVERYTHING IS FINE EXCEPT THAT I HAVE NO DASH LIGHTS COULD SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE. *AK
Feb 1, 2002
Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery
THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE. *MJS
Jun 1, 2000
Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
METAL HOLDING THE CATCH PIN ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HOOD IS PRONE TO STRESS CRACKS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE 55 MPH, THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THE HOOD TO FLY OPEN. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
Oct 27, 1999
Seats › Front assembly › ReclinerCrash1 injury
WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY I WAS STRUCK BY A DRUNK DRIVER GOING APPROX. 70-75MPH. I WAS HIT IN THE LEFT REAR OF THE CAR AND I WAS IMMEDIATELY THROWN BACK.AFTER PULLING OVER I FOUND OUT THAT THE SEAT BACK HAD BROKEN AND WAS IN THE FULLY RECLINED POSITION. I WAS UNABLE TO PULL THE SEAR BACK TO IT'S UPRIGHT POSITION, IT ONLY WENT HALF OF THAT DISTANCE.
Feb 21, 1999
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
WHILE DRIVING 50-60 MPH VEHICLE CUTS OFF, DOES NOT MOVE. IN FIVE MINUTES IT WILL SOMETIMES START AGAIN. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Feb 1, 1998

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.