1987 Pontiac BONNEVILLE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 11 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 2 | 18.2% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 9.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 11 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 7 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
1995: 7; 2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2003: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10018373 · 2003-05-07 (May 7, 2003)
THE CAR WILL MOMENTARILY HESITATE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. IT IS PERIODIC AND NOT CONSISTENT, THEREFORE, HARD TO DUPLICATE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. I ASKED GM TO E-MAIL SOME OF THEIR NATIONWIDE PONTIAC DEALERSHIPS AND ASK FOR THEIR INPUT ON THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSED. THIS CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN ENTERING MOVING TRAFFIC. SO MUCH FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WILL REMEMBER THAT WHEN I PURCHASE MY NEXT VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480771 · 1995-01-23 (January 23, 1995)
ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480771 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481495 · 1995-01-11 (January 11, 1995)
RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BROKE FREE FROM VEHICLE, OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT. *TW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 486423 · 1995-05-15 (May 15, 1995)
ENGINE PROBLEMS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486423 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 727578 · 2000-08-11 (August 11, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING, DOORS LOCKED DOWN AND INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON. WHEN TRYING TO TURN OFF INERIOR LIGHTS, CONTROL SWITCH SUNK/MELTED INTO DASH. DASH ABLAZE WITHIN 2 TO 3 MINUTES, ENTIRE VEHICLE ENGULFED 3 TO 4 MINUTES LATER. ESCAPED THROUGH OPEN WINDOW. VERY UNSAFE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 727578 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 860002 · 2000-04-10 (April 10, 2000)
WHENEVER IN DRIVE AND SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF. IF ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS BEHIND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IT WOULD REAR ENDED IT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 860002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 887853 · 2001-05-09 (May 9, 2001)
WHILE SITTING IN SEAT AND LEANING BACK PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SEATS FELL BACK, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT SEAT BACK UP, BUT IF CONTINUING TO LEAN IT WOULD COME BACK DOWN. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY UNSAFE IN AN ANCIDENT.*AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 887853 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 965682 · 1995-05-23 (May 23, 1995)
SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK UP. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 965682 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
87V103000 · Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
Reported: 1987-07-10 (July 10, 1987)
THE HEADLAMP CIRCUIT BREAKER MAY OVERHEAT AT LOW BEAM CAUSING AN INTERMITTENT HEADLAMP CIRCUIT.
Consequence: HEADLAMP AND FOGLAMPS WOULD GO OUT SUDDENLY REDUCINGDRIVER VISIBILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: REVISE FOGLAMP CIRCUIT TO PREVENT OVERHEATING OF HEADLAMP CIRCUIT.
NHTSA campaign record ↗87V135000 · Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
Reported: 1987-09-01 (September 1, 1987)
AN IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK MAY MELT DOWN AND CAUSE A FIRE.
Consequence: THE IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK LOCATED IN THE AREA OF THEPLASTIC WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET MAY, UNDER A HIGH RESISTANCE LOAD,MELT DOWN AND IGNITE THE WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET RESULTING IN AN ENGINECOMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: THE WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗88V080000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
Reported: 1988-05-16 (May 16, 1988)
EXCESSIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE FRICTION MAY RESTRICT THE CABLES FREE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE BODY.
Consequence: THIS COULD PREVENT THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO CLOSED(IDLE) POSITION WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED; THUS, ENGINE SPEED WOULDNOT DECREASE, AND LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE ACCELERATOR CABLE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗