1995 Pontiac BONNEVILLE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
178 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
120,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 67 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 178 complaints (7.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 25 | 14.0% |
| Steering behavior | 25 | 14.0% |
| Engine operation | 16 | 9.0% |
| Braking behavior | 15 | 8.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 13 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 9 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Interior Lighting | 7 |
Air Bags: 13; Air Bags:Frontal: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 9; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 8; Unknown Or Other: 8; Interior Lighting: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 32 |
| 150,000 and above | 14 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 32; 150,000 and above: 14
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (32). 111 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 | 13 |
| 1996 | 11 |
| 2000 | 30 |
| 2001 | 19 |
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2003 | 19 |
| 2004 | 27 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
1995: 13; 1996: 11; 2000: 30; 2001: 19; 2002: 15; 2003: 19; 2004: 27; 2005: 5; 2006: 12; 2007: 4; 2008: 6; 2009: 4; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 25 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 16 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 10010373 · 2003-03-13 (March 13, 2003)
MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I HAD TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY. I SAW ON THE INTERNET THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY HEADLIGHTS . MY HUSBAND CALLED PONTIAC AND AGRESTA, THE DEALER, AND THEY BOTH SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. COULD YOU LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME. ALL I WANT IS THE DEALER(SERVICE) TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMP MODULE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014647 · 2004-07-07 (July 7, 2004)
THE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE. *JB THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY WIRE HARNESS BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL FROM THE LIGHT CONTROL SWITCH. THE ENTIRE SWITCH WAS MELTED, ESPECIALLY THE WIRE HARNESS PLUG HAT CONNECTED TO THE WIRING HARNESS DIRECTLY TO THE SWITCH. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 104,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014647 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044888 · 2003-10-28 (October 28, 2003)
CONSUMER PULLED OUT FROM A STOP AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE DRIVER HAD NO STEERING ABILITY, AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO MECHANIC.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025956 · 2003-07-12 (July 12, 2003)
GM TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 01-06-01-007A IDENTIFIES AN INHERENT DESIGN FLAW ON THE 3.8 L ENGINE (VIN K - RPO L36) AVAILABLE IN THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES:995-1997 BUICK RIVIERA995-1998 BUICK LESABRE, PARK AVENUE. *AK 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO 1995-1996 OLDSMOBILE NINETY-EIGHT 1995-1998 OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY-EIGHT 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE 1995-1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GM MINIMIZES THE IMPACT OF THE PROBLEM BY IDENTIFYING ONE OF THE SYMPTOMS AS OWNER COMPLAINING OF A SMALL COOLANT L…
Owner-reported narrative. 109,644 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025956 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049303 · 2003-12-06 (December 6, 2003)
AUTO ENGINE CUTS OUT WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND RESTARTS WITH NO PROBLEM. HOWEVER, LOSS OF POWER CUTS OUT POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, ETC. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 127,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049303 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062493 · 2004-03-18 (March 18, 2004)
AUTOMOBILE STOPS WITH NO WARNING LEAVING ME WITH NO BRAKES OR STEERING. SOMETIMES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED. GENERAL MOTORS DEALERSHIP MECHANICS COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE LOOKED ON OTHER SITES AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT WITH THIS MODEL. HOPEFULLY NO ONE HAS TO GET INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062493 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043662 · 2003-10-27 (October 27, 2003)
TRACTION CONTROL TURNS OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. RANDOMLY OCCURS AFTER TRAVELING SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET. HIGHER INCIDENCE AT TIME OF AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. CAN NOT BE RESET BY TRACTION CONTROL SWITCH - MUST COME TO FULL STOP AND TURN OFF ENGINE. WITH RAPID ACCELERATION AND MAINTAINING SPEED AT 55 MPH OR ABOVE "TRACTION CONTROL OFF" LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON. DROP DOWN TO ~50 MPH AND LIGHT COMES ON. GM DEALER CLAIMS NPF BUT PROBLEM OCCURS ALMOST EACH TIME OUT FOR ME. ANOTHER DEALER CLAIMS REPLACEMENT OF TC MODULE NECESSARY …
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043662 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070481 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT ~76,000 MILES. REPLACED AT GM DEALER WITH A REMANUFACTURED GM UNIT. 06/23/2001. BRAKE FAILURE - WARNING LIGHT AT 81,728 MILES. REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS. ANTILOCK BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS BEHAVED STRANGELY AT TIMES BUT HAVE NEVER FAILED TO STOP THE CAR IN A REASONABLE DISTANCE. 09/22/2001. ENGINE FAILURE AT 82,449 MILES. REPLACEMENT ENGINE INSTALLED AT INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR $1400.00. . REPAIR LEAKING GENUINE GM REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. SIDE COVER LEAKS SEVERELY, DEALER ADVISES OUT OF WARRAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 82,449 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070481 at NHTSA ↗