2004 Pontiac BONNEVILLE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
28 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
42,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 28 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 7 | 25.0% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 17.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 7.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
Steering: 7; Electrical System: 6; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 3; Air Bags: 2; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 1; Equipment: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 4; 2007: 3; 2008: 6; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 10175020 · 2006-12-03 (December 3, 2006)
COMPONENT FAILURE-GAUGE CLUSTER PANEL-2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SE 1. FAILURE - TEMP GAUGE FAILURES PROMPTED A COMPUTER CHECK ENGINE READING THAT STATED THE TEMP SENDING UNIT WAS PROBABLE CAUSE. DEALER "EWING BUICK-PONTIAC" DID NOT HAVE PART, REFERRED TO RELIABLE CHEVROLET WHO SOLD US THE PART AS SPECIFIED IN TECH PUB BUT WAS NOT THE CORRECT SENDING UNIT. COMPARED THE OLD ONE TO ANOTHER YEAR MODEL AND LOCATED AN IDENTICAL SENDING UNIT WITHIN 48 HOURS BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE TEMP GAUGE. THE CAR NEVER HAS OVERHEATED BUT THE GAUGE WOULD READ A D…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175020 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10227794 · 2008-05-14 (May 14, 2008)
POPPING IN STEERING - THE STEERING GETS HARD TO TURN AND THERE IS A POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING. I WAS TOLD BY THE FIRST DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS A FAULTY PART BUT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER ANY RECALLS. WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER DAYS OF ARGUMENTS. WAS TOLD IT IS NOW A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM THAT WILL COST ABOUT $175.00 EACH TIME IT IS REPAIRED WITH A GREASING KIT - NO REPLACED AS DEFECTIVE - ABOUT TWICE A YEAR SO FAR. I FEEL IT SHOULD STATE IT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL AS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE IG THAT IS WHAT IT IS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 32,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10209006 · 2007-11-15 (November 15, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AND DANGLED WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE IN THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED MOVING, JUMPED A CURB, AND LANDED IN HER NEIGHBOR'S YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS A FAILED PEDAL ASSEMBLY RETAINER CLIP, WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,078 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,023. UPDATED 11/29/07.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,023 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209006 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10244142 · 2008-10-01 (October 1, 2008)
I HAVE A 2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILE SE WITH 64,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID, WHICH ENDS UP CAUSING HARD SHIFTS AND CAN CAUSE TRANSMISSION DAMAGE, HAS FAILED, AND THE TRANSMISSION EITHER NEEDS TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED ALTOGETHER. IT IS A RATHER PRICEY FIX BETWEEN $800(REBUILT) TO $2000(REPLACED). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10244142 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10245344 · 2008-10-14 (October 14, 2008)
CAR STARTED SHIFTING HARD FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR-- TOOK IT IN TO A PONTIAC DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE PRESSURE REGULATOR SOLENOID WHICH IS THE SAME ISSUE THEY WERE HAVING WITH THE 2003 MODELS THAT HAD NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS ON. I CALLED GM AND THEY AGREED TO COVER THE CHARGES TO FIX IT; HOWEVER, WHEN I HAD IT FIXED AND $1,100 LATER-- THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T GOING TO COVER IT BECAUSE IT WASN'T A 2003 MODEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245344 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174761 · 2006-11-30 (November 30, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT, WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE BATTERY, LOCATED BEHIND THE BACK SEAT, EXPLODED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BACK HALF OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN.
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174761 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175551 · 2006-12-08 (December 8, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BATTERY EXPLODED RIGHT AFTER TURNING ON THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT FIND THE REASON WHY THE BATTERY EXPLODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR THE INCIDENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 24,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175551 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105245 · 2004-12-22 (December 22, 2004)
THE 3.3L ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. IT ALSO HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE AS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASION, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105245 at NHTSA ↗