1998 Pontiac BONNEVILLE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
250 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
71,725 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 117 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 250 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 31 | 12.4% |
| Steering behavior | 18 | 7.2% |
| Braking behavior | 17 | 6.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 2.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.2% |
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:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 47 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 44 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 33 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 32 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 25 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 16 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 10 |
| Engine | 6 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 47; Engine And Engine Cooling: 44; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 33; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 32; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 25; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 16; Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System: 10; Engine: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 50 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 29 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 50; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (50). 133 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 | 15 |
| 2001 | 17 |
| 2002 | 45 |
| 2003 | 64 |
| 2004 | 63 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 2 |
2000: 15; 2001: 17; 2002: 45; 2003: 64; 2004: 63; 2005: 18; 2006: 6; 2007: 2; 2008: 5; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 5; 2015: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 31 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 17 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 10008457 · 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)
PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. $1500 REPAIR DUE TO POOR DESIGN. ENGINE STALLED DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING ONTO ENGINE CYLINDERS. HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH INCLUDING WEB SITES LIKE CARREVIEW.COM WHERE OVER 10% OF ALL COMMENTS ON THIS CAR (GOOD OR BAD) COMPLAINED ABOUT INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEMS. RECALL SEEMS IN ORDER.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008457 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020201 · 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED OIL MIXED WITH THE ANTI-FREEZE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000770 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
MY COMPLAINT IS: I WAS DRIVING DOWN ILLINOIS INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 55 AT 70 MPH WHEN MY ENGINE DIED, BECAUSE MY MANIFOLD KEEPS CRACKING, THIS IS THE 4TH TIME!! BECAUSE MY ENGINE DIED, IT KEPT BLOWING AND FORCING ANTIFREEZE DOWN MY INTAKE AND FILLING MY CYLINDERS WITH WATER AND ANTIFREEZE, CAUSING A VAPOR LOCK!!! I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR IN NEUTRAL GOING 70 MPH, WITH 20-25 CARS AROUND ME AND 3-5 SEMI TRUCKS, BUT THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP!!!! I LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR!!! I HAD NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES, NO CONTROL TO BE ABLE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000770 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023922 · 2003-06-28 (June 28, 2003)
I OWN A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE MANIFOLD COVERS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND EVENTUALLY CRACK CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO ENTER THE ENGINE CAUSING VAPOR LOCK. THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF LEAVING THE DRIVER WITH NO POWER STEERING OR START UP CAPABILITIES BECAUSE THE STARTER CONE ON THIS INCIDENT WAS BLOWN OFF DUE TO INTENSE PRESSURE. MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME AND I'M THANKFUL THAT SHE WAS IN TOWN TRAVELING ONLY AROUND 25 MPH. I DREAD THE THOUGHT WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I HAVE HEARD OF AND READ OF SEVERAL CASES THAT ARE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023922 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030633 · 2003-08-02 (August 2, 2003)
1998 PONTAIC BONNEVILLE SE, STANDARD V6 ENGINE, WHILE STOPPED WITH THE BRAKE ENGAGED THE ENGINE WILL SURGE AND LEAP FORWARD . CAR ENGINE WILL QUIT WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LOSS OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES SHIFTS UP AND DOWN WITHOUT ANY REASON, EVEN AT SPEED CAUSING CONTROL PROBLEMS. SUPOSEDLY RELATED TO THE DESIGN OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ( PLASTIC CRACKS CAUSING VACUM PROBLEMS AND SOMETINES LOSS OF WATER). ALSO EXTERIOR PAINT STARTED TO PEAL OFF AT 70.000 MILES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030633 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036858 · 2003-08-29 (August 29, 2003)
THIS CAR HAS HAD VERY GOOD CARE/MAINTENANCE, HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN HARD, AND HAS ONLY 67,000 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET, APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER. I PULLED IN TO A PARKING LOT AND SHUT THE CAR OFF SO THAT I COULD LOOK AT THE SPARK PLUG WIRES. I HAD A SPARK PLUG WIRE LOOSE WHEN THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE. I HAD NO OVER TEMP, I HAD NORMAL OIL PRESSURE AND THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I DID NOT FIND A NOTICEABLE PROBLEM, BUT I COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE TO START AGAIN. I HAD IT TOWED HOME. I CHAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,109 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049381 · 2003-12-07 (December 7, 2003)
ON NOVEMBER 4, 2003 MY WIFE CONTACTED ME AT LUNCH TIME TO INFORM ME HER CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER CHECKING THE BATTERY AND STARTER IT WAS DETERMINED THE MOTOR HAD LOCKED UP. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER I FOUND THAT I STILL HAD 1 YEAR LEFT ON MY EXTENDED WARRANTY ALTHOUGH AT 88,000 MILES I WAS 500 MILES OVER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY INFORMED ME THIS WAS CLASSIC SIGNS OF THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD. I PROCEEDED TO REPAIR THE CAR MYSELF. AFTER TAKING THE AIR PLENIUM OFF THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD I FOUND THE TOP OF THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD FILLED WITH…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,160 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050974 · 2003-12-22 (December 22, 2003)
CONSUMER BOUGHT THE BONNEVILLE IN AUGUST, SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP 7 TIMES. THE FIRST FOUR TIMES WERE FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THEY REPLACED THE PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE AND THROTTLE BODY. THE REMAINING VISITS WERE FOR 4 FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILURES, INJECTOR COIL FAILURES MELTED 4 SPARK PLUG WIRES. ALSO, WATER PUMP STARTED LEAKING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 49,170 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050974 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 6900522 · 2000-05-05 (May 5, 2000)
VEHICLE WAS BEING JUMP STARTED WITH AN EXTERNAL BATTERY PACK, AND WHEN CRANKED THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ENGINE EXPLOSION, THE MANIFOLD COVER BLEW OFF AND INJECTOR OUT, CLAIM 35-W429-786. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 6900522 at NHTSA ↗