1997 Pontiac BONNEVILLE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
107 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
98,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 107 complaints (12.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 21 | 19.6% |
| Braking behavior | 15 | 14.0% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 10.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 8.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 7.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
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 | 13 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 8 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 6 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 13; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 8; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 6; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 70 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 28 |
| 2001 | 14 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2000: 28; 2001: 14; 2002: 21; 2003: 14; 2004: 11; 2005: 5; 2006: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 11 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 10006051 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
NAR 1/29/2003. THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO THE CONSUMER WITH A BENT WATER PUMP AND A BENT WHEEL. THE ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING PUMP, TRANSMISSION AND EGR VALVE WERE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006051 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033603 · 2003-09-02 (September 2, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 25 MPH SUDDENLY ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DIED. NO BRAKES/ NO POWER STEERING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER POPPED HOOD, AND NOTICED BATTERY ACID ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND BATTERY CABLES WERE LOOSE. DEALER REPLACED CABLES, AND PUT JELLY AROUND THEM. FIVE DAYS LATER, CABLES WERE LOOSE AGAIN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. THE CABLE HAS LOOSEN AGAIN AND VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER. CONSUMER WAS LEFT STRANDED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033603 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165772 · 2006-08-17 (August 17, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AT EVERY CONNECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING DUE TO THE CORROSION. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WERE 10-15 OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. UPDATED 9/5/2006 - *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165772 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032511 · 2003-09-15 (September 15, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY ALL STATED THE COMPUTER SHOWED NO ERRORS. *JB *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032511 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046178 · 2003-11-03 (November 3, 2003)
VEHICLE FAILED TO START. UPON OPENING HOOD CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY TERMINAL POST CAME OFF, AND ACID WAS LEAKING OUT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016644 · 2003-04-28 (April 28, 2003)
TRANSMISSION BUMPS AND JERKS AT SPEEDS OVER 30 MPH. USUALLY WHEN CLIMBING A HILL. SOLUTION...LET OFF THE GAS FOR A SECOND AND RE APPLY TO STOP THE BUCKING TEMPORARILY. ALSO HAPPENED TO MY 92 BONNEVILLE WHICH HAD THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION THAT NEVER FAILED WITH OVER 180,000 MILES ON IT, BESIDES THE BUCKING. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 866328 · 2000-07-31 (July 31, 2000)
WHEN DRIVING OR IDLING VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY DIE ,AND WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL AFTER 10-15 MINUTES LATER . DEALER HAS REPLACED ALTERNATOR, BUT DEFECT HAS REOCURRED, DEALER CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE WITHOUT DUPLICATING DEFECT. *AK AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER IDENFIFIED THE PROBLEM TO BE A FAILED FUEL PUMP AND WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WANTS REIMBERSMENT FOR THE COST OF REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR THAT WAS NOT THE CAUSE. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 866328 at NHTSA ↗