1994 Pontiac BONNEVILLE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
56 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
127,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 56 complaints (12.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 9 | 16.1% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 10.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 10.7% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 8.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 7 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 7; Structure:Frame And Members: 7; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Air Bags: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 4
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 45 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 10 |
| 1996 | 9 |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
1995: 10; 1996: 9; 2000: 9; 2001: 7; 2002: 7; 2003: 3; 2004: 4; 2005: 5; 2006: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10073175 · 2004-05-26 (May 26, 2004)
I WAS EXITING OFF ROUTE 82 AND HEADING EAST ON RT. 422 GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. EST. WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG SOUND. THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES WENT OUT AND THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR CAME TO REST ABOUT 50 FT. AFTER THE CAR HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER. OHIO HIGHWAY STATE PATROL MADE A CRASH REPORT AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO GREENWOOD AUTOBODY DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS BROKE OUT THE FRAME. ALLOWING THE ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN TO DROP ON THE ROAD. DAMAGE IS BEING ESTIMATED BY THE AUTOBODY SHOP AND INSURANCE COMPANY. CAR HAS NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 127,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073175 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086943 · 2004-08-16 (August 16, 2004)
1. NOISE FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE 2. BOLTS HOLDING MOTOR TO K FRAME SNAPPED DROPPING MOTOR TO THE GROUND - LOST CONTROL OF STEERING - CAR HAS NEVER HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS.*AK 3. TOWED FOR SERVICE - COURSE OF ACTION PENDING.
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086943 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 486659 · 1995-05-29 (May 29, 1995)
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED TWICE, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133973 · 2005-08-23 (August 23, 2005)
DT: WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF IT OVERHEATED. BEFORE THIS OCCURRED THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THERE ALMOST HAST BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THEY FINALLY DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. THE HAVE DONE OTHER THINGS TO THE VEHICLE TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DID NOT WORK. THEY HAVE FOUND IT TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143532 · 2005-11-23 (November 23, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT HE DETECTED THE ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING. HE SAW GRAY SMOKE COMING FROM THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING VENTS, AND A YELLOW FLAME CLOSE TO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER AREA. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND DISTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. NO REPAIRS COULD BE MADE DUE TO THE FIRE DAMAGE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 146,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 737612 · 2000-12-10 (December 10, 2000)
ENGINE FAILS WITHOUT WARNING, CAR STALLS WHILE SITTING WARMING UP OR TRAVELING WITH NO WARNING. WHEN ENGINE STALLS, CAN OCCASIONALLY BE RESTARTED. HAVE HAD A COMPUTER CHIP AND FEUL PUMP REPLACED AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. WATER PUMP IS NOW GETTING VERY NOISY AND ALSO WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED NOW. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, WE EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE TEMPERATURE SEEMED TO BE RISING AND THE CAR NOT OPERATING SMOOTHLY. REASSURED THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS TO BE FOUND.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 737612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 745382 · 2001-05-15 (May 15, 2001)
STEERING FAILED, ENGINE STALLED, CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. SAME THING HAPPENED TO A 1992 BONNEVILLE TWO YEARS AGO. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 745382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137249 · 2005-09-21 (September 21, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE ENGINE FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2005 WHILE SLOWLY PULLING OUT FROM A STOP LIGHT. HE HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND LOST STEERING CONTROL AND THE CAR DRIFTED TO THE CURB AND STOPPED. THE GM MANUFACTURER WANTED TO KNOW HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER FOUND OUT THAT THEY DONE ALMOST ALL THE MAINTENANCE THEY TOLD HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TEN YEARS OLD. SHE UNDERSTOOD THIS, BUT SHE STILL FELT THAT AN ENGINE SHOULD NOT JUST FALL OUT OF A VEHICLE. HER PRIMARY CONCERN WAS TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,525 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 968330 · 1995-07-06 (July 6, 1995)
BOUGHT THE CAR A YEAR AGO AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AT HIGH SPEED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 968330 at NHTSA ↗