1988 Pontiac BONNEVILLE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 13 complaints (30.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 15.4% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 7.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 7.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 7.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 1 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 1 |
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 1; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 1; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 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. 13 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 | 6 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2003 | 1 |
1995: 6; 1996: 2; 2000: 1; 2001: 3; 2003: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 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 10029667 · 2003-07-18 (July 18, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALL OF THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT CLICK IN OR HOLD THROUGH THE RETRACTOR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 486054 · 1995-05-10 (May 10, 1995)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON/OFF.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 505032 · 1996-05-29 (May 29, 1996)
PLASTIC DEFROSTER GRILLE ON DASHBOARD HARDENS WITH AGE WHEN EXPOSED TO UV RAYS, CAUSING GRILLE TO DEFORM/ POOR DEFROSTING/POOR VISIBILITY. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722974 · 2000-05-21 (May 21, 2000)
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722974 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 747975 · 2001-07-06 (July 6, 2001)
THIS WAS MY FIRST BONNEVILLE THE BRAKES WENT OUT SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING ON BOTH CARS. THIS 1988 BONNEVILLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS BECAUSE DAMAGES ADDED UP TO MORE THAN THE CAR WAS WORTH. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 747975 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 748439 · 2001-07-14 (July 14, 2001)
PRIOR ALTERNATOR LASTED LEST THAN 15K MILES. I GET STRANDED EVERY TIME THE ALTERNATOR FAILS (NOW FOR THE FIFTH TIME). THIS IS DANGEROUS AND COULD LEAD TO MY INJURY OR EVEN DEATH, DEPENDING ON WHERE I AM THE NEXT TIME THE ALTERNATOR FAILS, INCLUDING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 748439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 748501 · 2001-07-15 (July 15, 2001)
THE ALTERNATOR ON MY 1988 BONNEVILLE SSE HAS FAILED FIVE TIMES SINCE NEW, THE LAST TIME AFTER ONLY LESS THAN 18K MILES AND LESS THAN 2 YEARS, EACH TIME STRANDING ME. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ALL BONNEVILLES FROM 1987 THROUGH MID-1992 MODEL YEAR HAVE VERY HIGH FAILURE RATES ON ALTNERNATORS, PERHAPS BECAUSE THE ALTERNATORS WERE TOO SMALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL LOAD ON THE BONNEVILLE. THIS REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE OWNERS OF THESE BONNEVILLES, INCLUDING ME, BECAUSE WHEN THE ALTERNATOR FAILS, IT STRANDS THE OWNER. A RECALL IS CLE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 748501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 958701 · 1995-01-13 (January 13, 1995)
UNABLE TO OPEN LEFT REAR DOOR, DEALER CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO PART IN THE U.S. OR CANADA TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958701 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.