U.S. public vehicle records

2005 Pontiac BONNEVILLE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

27 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

119,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 27 complaints (44.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	5	18.5%
Engine operation	3	11.1%
Braking behavior	3	11.1%
Electrical and battery issues	2	7.4%
Transmission and shifting	1	3.7%

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.

Air Bags

Electrical System

Engine

Steering

Unknown Or Other

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

Engine And Engine Cooling

Power Train

Air Bags: 12; Electrical System: 8; Engine: 4; Steering: 4; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Power Train: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 4

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 1 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.

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2012

2014

2015

2016

2017

2019

2021

2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2012: 1; 2014: 6; 2015: 5; 2016: 3; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2021: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 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 10167856 · 2006-09-11 (September 11, 2006)

MAGNASTEER ISSUE: EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS (BELOW 15 MPH) WHEN VEHICLE IS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE. SUMMER TIME CONDITIONS ENHANCE THIS PROBLEM. WHEN THE STEERING FLUID HEATS UP, THE STEERING BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE. THE MAGNASTEER RACK HAS BEEN REPLACED 1 TIME. THIS CURED THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY (1000 MILES). THE DEALERSHIP HAS WORKED FEVERISHLY AND EXTREMELY WELL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM UNRESOLVED SO FAR. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167856 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10235749 · 2008-07-25 (July 25, 2008)

WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL PASSES THROUGH STANDING WATER MOISTURE IS DEFLECTED ONTO THE SERPENTINE BELT. THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHICH RENDERS THE VEHICLE NOT ABLE STEER UNTIL THE SERPENTINE BELT STOPS SLIPPING. MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235749 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10366758 · 2010-11-18 (November 18, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND SMOKE STARTED WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE DUE TO THE SENSORS MELTING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,635.

Owner-reported narrative. 63,635 miles reported. Look up ODI 10366758 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10269439 · 2009-05-19 (May 19, 2009)

DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER SHOWS LOW BRAKE FLUID AND LOW TIRE PRESSURE, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OF THE TIRES. I CAN'T CHANGE ANY SETTINGS FOR THE DIC. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN COMBINATION OR ANOTHER. I AM CONSTANTLY CHECKING THESE SYSTEMS EVERY TIME I USE THE CAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269439 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10863650 · 2016-05-06 (May 6, 2016)

ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY PANEL MALFUNCTIONING MY FUEL GAUGE IS MALFUNCTIONING THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CHECK TIRE PRESSURE CHECK OIL ALL THE LIGHTS STAY ON AND I CAN'T RESET THE PANEL I'M ALSO HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR STOPPING WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE IT TURNS OFF

Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10863650 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10618817 · 2014-08-04 (August 4, 2014)

AIR BAGS LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND HAD THE IGNITION KEY CHANGED IN 2010 AT A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10618817 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10746030 · 2015-08-04 (August 4, 2015)

STARTED UP MY CAR AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND WON'T GO OFF. ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL LIGHTS IN THE DASH. PART OF THE LIGHTS FOR THE SPEEDOMETER/AIR-CONDITIONER BUTTONS ARE ONLY 1/2 WORKING AND PART OF THE LIGHTS ON THE RADIO DON'T LIGHT UP EITHER. AFTER READING SEVERAL OF THESE IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A BIG ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF CAR.

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10746030 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10245159 · 2008-10-11 (October 11, 2008)

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS HARD SHIFTING AND SLIPPING IN TRANSMISSION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245159 at NHTSA ↗