Model year record

1999 Pontiac Bonneville recalls & problems

The 1999 Pontiac Bonneville has 4 safety recalls and 143 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (59 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints143filed by owners

Crashes · fires5 · 9reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths6 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingApr 7, 2009

Exterior lighting

Recall 09E01200016,270 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Fuel system, gasolineFeb 24, 2004

Delivery

Recall 04V090000910,873 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.
Risk: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Power trainApr 26, 1999

Automatic transmission

Recall 99V08900099,333 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4T65E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE." A RETAINING CLIP, WHICH SECURES THE MANUAL VALVE TO THE LINKAGE OF THE TRANSMISSION DETENT LEVER, CAN BECOME LOOSE UNDER A COMBINATION OF POSSIBLE DRIVER SHIFTING MANEUVERS AND ALLOW THE LINK TO BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE MANUAL VALVE.
Risk: IF THE LINK DISCONNECTS, THE DRIVER'S INDICATED PRNDL STATE MAY DIFFER FROM THE HYDRAULIC STATE OF THE TRANSMISSION. IF THE DRIVER SELECTS 'DRIVE' AND THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTUALLY IN 'REVERSE', A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL VALVE/LINK ASSEMBLY WITH A REPLACEMENT MANUAL VALVE/LINK KIT, FEATURING A SPRING-TYPE FASTENER.

WheelsApr 12, 1999

Wheels

Recall 99V072000352 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CHROME PLATED ALUMINUM WHEELS. SOME OF THESE WHEELS HAVE A MOUNTING SURFACE THAT WAS NOT MACHINED CORRECTLY, CAUSING THE WHEEL STUDS TO BREAK.
Risk: THE TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WHEELS AND REPLACE ALL WHEELS WITH DATE CODES INDICATING THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MACHINED CORRECTLY. THE WHEEL MOUNTING STUDS AT ANY LOCATION WHERE A SUSPECT WHEEL WAS INSTALLED WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.

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

1999 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 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

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

Bonneville

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/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*
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	59	1	5	0	64,008 mi
Electrical systemIgnition; Alternator/generator/regulator	23	1	1	0	130,000 mi
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery; Fuel injection system	20	0	2	0	91,129 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components	11	2	0	0	113,000 mi
Air bagsFrontal	8	1	1	5	114,292 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch	8	2	0	0	53,519 mi
VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer; Defroster/defogger/hvac system	6	0	0	0	—
TiresTread/belt; Valve	5	0	0	0	—
StructureFrame and members; Body › Door	4	0	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	4	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	4	0	0	0	—
SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar; Linkages › Tie rod assembly	4	0	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system
' TAKATA RECALL" DRIVING AND THE CAR CUT OFF..AFTER I STOP THE CAR AND TURN THE KEY OFF. WAS ABLE TO RE START THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPEN A FEW TIMES. THIS IS NOT A SAFE THING WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREE WAYS ....I WAS IN MOTION AND ON THE STREET. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BUT WAS NOT WERE OF IT THIS WAS IN 2009 NOW IT 2016 AND THE PART IN MY CAR IS NOT WORKING?
Sep 3, 2016 · 136,589 miles
Engine
UPON ACCELERATING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, AFTER REACHING HIGHWAY SPEED, VEHICLE STALLS AND WOULD NOT START. FLOODING ENGINE, GASOLINE COMING OUT OF EXHAUST, ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER RESEARCH AND REPLACING LEAKING LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD, THIS WAS NOT MY PROBLEM THERE WAS NO LEAK. AFTER MORE RESEARCH I REPLACED MORE SENSORS AND EVENTUALLY CYLINDER GASKETS AND LOWER INTAKE GASKET AGAIN. STILL ENGINE WOULD NOT START. AFTER 2 YEARS OF CAR SITTING I UNPLUGGED MAF SENSOR AND THEN IT STARTED FINALLY. FAULTY MAF SENSOR BUT NO WAY TO FIND OUT UNLESS IT IS UNPLUGGED BECAUSE SENSOR DID NOT GIVE OFF ANY PERTAINING FAULT CODE POINTING TO THE PROBLEM SPECIFICALLY. *TR
Jan 8, 2011 · 130,000 miles
Air bags
WHILE STOPPED ON A SIDE STREET (25 MPH ZONE), THE AIR BAGS INVOLUNTARILY DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER WAS SEVERELY BRUISED AND SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT & PERMANENT HEARING LOSS. THERE ARE 7 OTHER INCIDENT REPORTS FILED WITH THE NHTSA FOR THE SAME EVENT INVOLVING A 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR A RECALL? *TR
Apr 22, 2014
Seat belts
I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW THAT HER MOTHER DOES NOT BUCKLE HER AND HER SISTER UP. SHE ALSO ALLOWS THEM TO RIDE ON THE FRONT SEAT. MIND YOU THE TWO GIRLS ARE ONLY 4 AND 5 YEARS OF AGE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO SOCIAL SERVICES ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS . ALSO THE MOTHER DRIVES WITHOUT A LICENSE AND NO INSURANCE. SHE LIVES IN MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN AND IT SEEMS THAT NO ONE CARES ABOUT KIDS THERE. ALSO THE SHE BOUGHT IT AT HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET IT BACK SINCE SHE HASN'T PAID ON THE NOTE SINCE APRIL. THE GRANDMOTHER HAS CALLED SOCIAL SERVICES ABOUT THIS AS WELL AND AGAIN WE FEEL NO ONE CARES. SHE HAS DONE THIS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND I'M REALLY CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY! *JS
Mar 7, 2013
Exterior lighting
EXTERIOR LIGHTING RECALL FOR 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RECALL ANNOUNCED: APRIL 07 2009 NHTSA REFERENCE: #09E012000 NUMBER AFFECTED: 16,270 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY RECALL FOR 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RECALL ANNOUNCED: FEBRUARY 24 2004 NHTSA REFERENCE: #04V090000 NUMBER AFFECTED: 910,873 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RECALL FOR 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RECALL ANNOUNCED: APRIL 26 1999 NHTSA REFERENCE: #99V089000 NUMBER AFFECTED: 99,333 WHEELS RECALL FOR 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RECALL ANNOUNCED: APRIL 12 1999 NHTSA REFERENCE: #99V072000 NUMBER AFFECTED: 352. *TR
Mar 16, 2007
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY RECALL FOR 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RECALL ANNOUNCED: FEBRUARY 24 2004 NHTSA REFERENCE: #04V090000 NUMBER AFFECTED: 910,873 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE. CONSEQUENCE: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND…
Mar 16, 2007
Unknown or other
THE FUEL GAUGE OF THE VEHICLE GOES ALL WAY DOWN TO "E" THEN CAN SPIKE BACK UP TO "FULL" ESPECIALLY AFTER FILLING THE TANK COMPLETELY. THE GAUGE ALSO WILL RANDOMLY DROP AND STAY ON "E" WHEN THERE IS ABOUT 1/4 TANK OF GAS LEFT.
Jan 12, 2010 · 100,000 miles
Air bags1 injury
TL*THE DRIVER OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INVOLUNTARILY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED WATER WAS FOUND WITHIN ONE OF THE AIR BAG MODULES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF
May 14, 2011 · 96,000 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIREClosedLed to recall 08V118000
BY LETTER DATED MARCH 12, 2008, GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM) HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 08V-118) TO ADDRESS A DEFECT IN APPROXIMATELY 207,542 MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL GS AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE L67 SUPERCHARGED VERSION OF GM'S 3800 SERIES II V6 ENGINE.THE RECALLED REGAL GS VEHICLES WERE BUILT FROM AUGUST 1996 TO JUNE 2003 AND THE GRAND PRIX GTP FROM MARCH 1996 THROUGH JANUARY 2003.ACCORDING TO GM, OIL MAY ESCAPE PAST THE VALVE COVER GASKET ON THE FRONT CYLINDER BANK (CYLINDERS 1-3-5) AND DEPOSIT ONTO HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM COMPONENTS.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THIS OIL TO IGNITE A SMALL PILOT FLAME, WHICH MAY SPREAD TO THE ADJACENT PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL, THE SPARK PLUG WIRES THEMSELVES, THE PLASTIC ENGINE COVER, AND OTHER UNDER HOOD COMPONENTS.REPORTS…
EA07008 · opened Jun 12, 2007 · closed May 1, 2008
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESClosedLed to recall 04V090000
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
EA02030 · opened Oct 22, 2002 · closed Mar 9, 2004
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESClosed
PE02050 · opened Jun 13, 2002 · closed Oct 22, 2002
TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCEClosedLed to recall 99V089000
RQ99007 · opened May 26, 1999 · closed Feb 8, 2002