Model year record

1995 Pontiac Bonneville recalls & problems

The 1995 Pontiac Bonneville has 1 safety recall and 244 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (57 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints244filed by owners

Crashes · fires12 · 4reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths16 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingOct 4, 1994

Headlights

Recall 94V1900001,997 vehicles

Problem: THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH LIGHTING CONTROL MODULES WHICH CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT LEAKAGE DUE TO DAMAGED SURFACE MOUNTING CAPACITORS. THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF HEAD LAMPS AND PARKING LAMPS.
Risk: SUDDEN LOSS OF HEADLAMPS CAN CAUSE REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. ALSO, THE HEAD LAMPS CANNOT BE TURNED OFF, OR THEY MAY TURN ON WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BATTERY CHARGE AND INABILITY TO RESTART THE CAR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP MODULE.

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

1995 Pontiac Bonneville SSE 4-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

Bonneville

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/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*
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	57	0	2	2	109,644 mi
Electrical systemIgnition; Wiring › Interior/under dash	44	0	2	2	98,000 mi
Air bagsFrontal; Side/window	36	7	0	13	131,000 mi
Exterior lightingHeadlights; Tail lights	35	0	0	0	122,000 mi
SteeringHydraulic power assist system; Hydraulic power assist › Pump	28	0	0	0	147,852 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Drum › Wheel cylinders	25	4	0	3	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)	18	1	0	0	80,724 mi
StructureBody; Body › Door	17	1	0	0	65,000 mi
Unknown or other	12	1	0	0	82,449 mi
EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner; Mechanical › Accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift	8	0	0	0	—
Interior lighting	8	0	0	0	100,000 mi
VisibilityPower window devices and controls; Glass, side/rear	7	0	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Structure › BodyCrash
I WAS GOING ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN THE TRUCK AHEAD OF ME STOPPED. I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD AND THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMED HARD AS IF IT WASN'T MOVING AND MY CAR JUST KEPT MOVING FORWARD RESULTING IN REAR ENDING THE TRUCK AHEAD OF ME. I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED HOME AND THE FLUID LEVEL LOOKED OKAY MAYBE DOWN A LITTLE. HAVE NEVER CHANGED OUT THE BRAKE FLUID AND HAD THE BRAKES RECENTLY CHECKED BY LEW SCWAB TIRES BRAKES NEW BRAKE SHOES FRONT AND REAR BRAKES OKAY
Feb 23, 2021 · 168,445 miles
Structure › Body
THE HOOD RELEASE CABLE BROKE INTERNALLY IN THE CABLE GUIDE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN THE HOOD. NOT JUST FOR REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE, BUT EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. THE CABLE IS ROUTED BETWEEN THE RADIATOR AND THE CORE SUPPORT. TYE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE HOOD IS TO PRY IT UP DAMAGING THE HOOD, THE UPPER CORE SUPPORT, AND POSSIBLY THE CONDENSOR.
Oct 6, 2017 · 187,000 miles
Steering
1995 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE MY STSERING WHEEL WAS MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE THEN WHEN DRIVING HOME I TURNED THE CORNER GOING RIGHT MY LOWER SUB FRAME DROPPED OUT FROM RUSTED BOLTS AND LOST ALL CONTROL! NO STEERING AT ALL. STILL SHAKING.CAN'T BELIEVE THERES A RECALL FOR HEADLIGHTS RECALL BUT NO STEERING URECALL .I CALLED PONTIAC AND REGISTERED A COMPLAINT . FOR NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS BUT WHAT IF WAS MY LIFE AND NOT MONEY I LOST.THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. THE POLICE HAD TO COME AND DIRECT TRAFFIC AROUND MY CAR WHILE I SAT THERE SHAKING.
Aug 16, 2016 · 152,000 miles
Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 03/30/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING IN OCTOBER OF 2005. MANY ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BUT, NONE WERE SUCCESSFUL. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL MORE FREQUENTLY. UPDATED 10/21/2015 *JS
Mar 1, 2007
Air bags
CRUISING ON THE MASS. TURNPIKE AT 68MPH ON A RAINY NIGHT, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG EXPLODED FOR NO REASON. THE BAG SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD, BLEW THE MOONROOF UP AND BENT THE RAILS. WHEN SHRAPNEL AND DUST SETTLED, THE DRIVER BAG WENT OFF. I'VE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 17 YEARS AND WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN ABOUT FOR SOME TIME. *TR
Oct 4, 2014 · 130,700 miles
Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE WINDSHIELD BECAME CRACKED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000. UPDATED 12/17/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A CORRODED SWITCH IN THE FLOOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER CONSIDERED THE FAILURE POOR MAINTENANCE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RUG WAS WET BECAUSE THE MOONROOF MALFUNCTIONED. UPDATED 9/29/2015 *JS
Oct 4, 2014 · 131,000 miles
Steering
I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN AND WENT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK I HAD TO PUT IT IN PARK THEN REVERSE TO MAKE THE TURN WENT DOWN A WAYS CAME TO A STOP SIGN AS I PROCEEDED IT SOUNDED A S THOUGH I HIT SOMETHING AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME FLIMSY I COULDN'T STEER AT ALL IT JUST KEPT GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES SO I STOPPED THE CAR A POLICE OFFICER CAME I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK LONG STORY SHORT THE BUSHING MUST HAVE FELL OFF BECAUSE IT WAS SO ROTTED WHICH IN TURN THE K FRAME BROKE AND THE MOTOR DROPPED DOWN. *TR
May 3, 2013 · 137,845 miles
Air bags1 injury
DRIVING 1995 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT CRASH, VIOLENT EXPLOSION, DASH CAME APART, BREAKING AND BOWING OUT PASSENGER SIDE OF WINDSHIELD. PREGNANT PASSENGER WAS INJURED BY AIR BAG. *TR
Mar 9, 2013 · 134,000 miles

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