1991 Pontiac BONNEVILLE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
114,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 13 complaints (23.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 30.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 23.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 2; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 1; Interior Lighting: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 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 | 6 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
1995: 6; 1996: 2; 2000: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2006: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10041965 · 2003-09-30 (September 30, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER MARKET MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE PLUNGER PIN KEPT BREAKING. THIS CAUSED BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. UNABLE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, FENCO / FENWICK AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS.*AK CONSUMER HAD THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED FOUR TIMES AND THEY HAVE ALL FAILED. THE FIRST FAILED 79 DAYS AFTER INSTALLATION. THE SECOND ONE FAILED IMMEDIATELY WHILE BEING BLEED. THE THIRD ON FAILED WITH LESS THAN 1 MILE AND THE FOURTH ONE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165522 · 2006-08-15 (August 15, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ROD BEARING FRACTURED ALONG THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSING A FIRE TO ERUPT WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SPREAD THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER MOTOR AND INTO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE. THE POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250651 · 2008-12-03 (December 3, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE SEPARATED AND CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V015000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 190,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 190,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250651 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482017 · 1995-03-14 (March 14, 1995)
WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE REACHES 85 DEGREES TEMPERATURE INSIDE VEHICLE RISES TO 70 DEGREES DUE TO DEFECTIVE CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482017 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 507196 · 1996-08-07 (August 7, 1996)
DOOR LOCKS STICK NOT ALLOWING DRIVER TO EXIT. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 507196 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 558113 · 2000-12-12 (December 12, 2000)
THE INDICATOR WARNING LIGHTS ARE CONTINUALLY GOING ON AND OFF CONTINUALLY, DEALERSHIP IS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE PROBLEM WITHOUT TAKING THE UNIT OUT FOR $500 TO $600. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558113 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 757637 · 2002-02-01 (February 1, 2002)
I HAVE CHANGED THE DASH AND HAD ALL WIRING CHECKED AND EVERYTHING IS FINE EXCEPT THAT I HAVE NO DASH LIGHTS COULD SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 757637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 958637 · 1995-01-12 (January 12, 1995)
AUTO TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958637 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
91V198000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 1991-11-14 (November 14, 1991)
THE CONSOLE MOUNTED SHIFT LEVER MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE BRACKET CAUSING LOSS OF GEAR INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT SELECTOR OPERATION.
Consequence: THE DRIVER CAN PLACE THE GEAR SHIFTER IN THE PARKPOSITION WITHOUT SETTING THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE TRANSAXLE MAY NOT ACTUALLY BEIN PARK, RESULTING IN UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT IF THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED ON AGRADE. ALSO, THE DRIVER CAN PLACE THE GEAR SELECTOR IN DRIVE OR REVERSE WITHOUTTURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND THE TRANSAXLE MAY NOT BE IN THE POSITION INDICATED,CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MOVE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. BOTH CONDITIONS CANRESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: INSTALL TWO TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIPS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗