2001 Pontiac BONNEVILLE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
129 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
67,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 91 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 129 complaints (10.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 30 | 23.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 11.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 11.6% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 8.5% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 4.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.6% |
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 | 13 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 12 |
| Steering | 12 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 9 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 13; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12; Steering: 12; Electrical System: 9; Engine: 9; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 9; Fuel System, Gasoline: 8; Air Bags: 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 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 19 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 9
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 38 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 29 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
2001: 7; 2002: 8; 2003: 29; 2004: 14; 2005: 15; 2006: 6; 2007: 8; 2008: 11; 2009: 5; 2010: 5; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 6; 2015: 4; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 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 10000492 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
I BOUGHT A NEW BONNEVILLE SSEI LAST YEAR AND HAVE HAD CONSTANT BRAKE PROBLEMS SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH THE FRONT END WHICH INCLUDED THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES. I'VE HAD THREE STEERING SENSORS AND ONE POWER STEERING BOX REPLACED AND IT IS STILL CLUNKING. I HAVE HAD ALL FOUR ROTORS CUT, ALL FOUR ROTORS REPLACED AND TWO COMPLETE SETS OF BRAKES PUT ON THE CAR AND I HAD MY CAR INSPECTED TODAY AND I WAS TOLD I NEED ANOTHER SET OF NEW BRAKES. ALL IN LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. IF YOU LOOK AT THE SERVICE RECORD ON THIS CAR I HAVE HAD NOTHIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011385 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK. *JB THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED BEFORE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIE ROD EADS. THERE WAS PLAY IN T HE TIE ROD EADS, WHICH ALLOWED THE FRONT WHEELS TO MOVE FREELY WITHOUT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 30,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028613 · 2003-07-19 (July 19, 2003)
MY HUSBAND PURCHASED A USED 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE FROM MCDONALD PONTIAC IN SAGINAW, MICHIGAN. WE HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE TRANSMISSION, FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR, AND NOW THE PAINT IS BUBBLING ON THE HOOD. WE BELIEVE OUR CAR SHOULD BE DECLARED A LEMON AND ANOTHER VEHICLE BE SUPPLIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10028613 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037575 · 2003-09-10 (September 10, 2003)
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY WOULD NOT ENGAGE OR TRIES TO ENGAGE ON INITIAL TAKE-OFF. SERIOUS CONCERN WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, LET ALONE BEING STRANDED. TRANSMISSION PAN WAS DROPPED REVEALED METAL SHAVINGS AND GEAR TEETH ON THE MAGNETS AND IN THE FILTER. THE CAR HAS 48,400 MILES ON IT AND DID NOT EVEN MAKE IT TO GM'S RECOMMENDED 50,000 MILE FLUID AND FILTER CHANGE. GM REFUSES TO PAY 100% FOR THEIR FAILURE OF THE 'SUN GEAR/CARRIER ASSEMBLY' THAT SELF DESTRUCTS. THIS MODEL TRANSMISSION IS A 4T65E, AND IS USED IN BUICK'S, CHEVROLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037575 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136896 · 2005-10-05 (October 5, 2005)
DT: VEHICLE HAD A BATTERY LEAKAGE PROBLEM . IT WAS LEAKING FOR SOMETIME. THE BATTERY IS LOCATED UNDER THE BACK SEAT AROUND THE POSITIVE POST. THE BATTERY ACID LEAKED AND ATE THROUGH THE FLOOR PAN. THE EXHAUST IS RIGHT UNDER THE BATTERY. NOTICED THIS ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2005. WENT OUT TO START THE VEHICLE AND THAT HOW NOTICED IT. *AK THE CONSUMER EXPLAINED THAT THE BATTERY IN THIS CAR SITS DIRECTLY ON THE FLOOR PAN NOT ON A BATTERY TRAY. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 85,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10136896 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10195160 · 2007-07-02 (July 2, 2007)
2001 PONTIAC BACKFIRED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS CLEANING MY CAR WITH RADIO ON THAT KILLED MY BATTERY. I HAVE ONSTAR SO I CALLED FOR JUMP. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CAME OUT TO JUMP MY CAR. HE JUMPED PROPERLY. WHEN HE TURNED THE KEY VEHICLE BACKFIRED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. ENGINE NEVER STARTED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10195160 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082664 · 2004-07-26 (July 26, 2004)
I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED 1 YEAR AGO. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER AGREED TO FIX A SHAKING IN THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED. IN THE LAST WEEK I HAVE NOTICED THAT I AM AGAIN GETTING THAT SHAKING IN THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. AT 35 MILES PER HOUR THE STEERING WHEEL ABOUT JUMPS OUT OF YOUR HAND WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT A REASONABLE PRESSURE WHEN SLOWING. IF I WERE TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY WHERE FAST BRAKING WERE NEEDED I DO NOT KNOW IF I COULD HOLD THE CAR ON THE ROAD THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 76,592 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082664 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097658 · 2004-10-25 (October 25, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED WHEN GETTING READY TO STOP OR MAKE A TURN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139436 · 2005-10-12 (October 12, 2005)
DAD: 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE IGNITION SWITCH IS COMPUTERIZED AND WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN DRIVING THE SWITCH FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THE KEY AND SHUTS THE ENGINE OFF. THIS HAPPENED THREE OR FOUR MONTHS. VEHICLE STALLED WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2005 AND HAD THE SWITCH CHANGED AND THE KEY REPROGRAMMED. HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS. THERE WERE SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETINS AND THE DOCUMENTS; 686736 AND 760683 FOR NOVEMBER 2, 2000. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10139436 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182041 · 2007-02-08 (February 8, 2007)
I HAVE HAD A STEERING PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2001 BONNEVILLE SE. I HAVE A DOCUMENT ID #01-02-32-001A THAT STATES 2000-2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE HAS A CLUNK NOISE FROM FRONT OF STEERING WHEEL ROTATION (LUBRICATE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT). AFTER MONTHS OF GETTING A RUN-AROUND DUKE PONTIAC IN SUFFOLK VA FINALLY DIAGNOSED MY PROBLEM AND LUBRICATED THE SHAFT ON 03/01/02. THE NOISE STOPPED FOR ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AND HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE. IT NOW FEELS LIKE THE CAR HAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO CONTROL AT LOW OR HIGHER SPEEDS. I WAS ADVI…
Owner-reported narrative. 31 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10236382 · 2008-07-30 (July 30, 2008)
1. RAW SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE CAR INTERMITTENTLY. 2. GASOLINE LEAKING FROM PLASTIC LINE NEAR FUEL TANK ACCESS PORT ON TOP OF FUEL TANK. 3. NOT YET REPAIRED. TRYING TO FIND HOW TO REPAIR MYSELF. NO KNOWN ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE HISTORY ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236382 at NHTSA ↗