1995 Pontiac BONNEVILLE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
178 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
120,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 67 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 178 complaints (7.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 25 | 14.0% |
| Steering behavior | 25 | 14.0% |
| Engine operation | 16 | 9.0% |
| Braking behavior | 15 | 8.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 13 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 9 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Interior Lighting | 7 |
Air Bags: 13; Air Bags:Frontal: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 9; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 8; Unknown Or Other: 8; Interior Lighting: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 32 |
| 150,000 and above | 14 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 32; 150,000 and above: 14
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (32). 111 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 | 13 |
| 1996 | 11 |
| 2000 | 30 |
| 2001 | 19 |
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2003 | 19 |
| 2004 | 27 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
1995: 13; 1996: 11; 2000: 30; 2001: 19; 2002: 15; 2003: 19; 2004: 27; 2005: 5; 2006: 12; 2007: 4; 2008: 6; 2009: 4; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 25 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 16 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 10004618 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUGHT ON FIRE CAUSING A EXPLOSION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS REFERENCED IN EA02-030
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006359 · 2001-01-24 (January 24, 2001)
HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH DEFECTIVE CAUSING DASH BOARD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS NOT TO FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE MALFUNCTION SWITCH CAUSED AN ELECTRIC MELTDOWN OF THE PIG TAIL CONNECTOR GOING INTO THE SWITCH. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH THE SWITCH AND PIGTAIL CONNECTORS. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT A FEW OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN REPORTED. MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND HAD TO PAY THE COST OF THE INSTALLATION OF THE SWITCH. THERE SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS DEFECTED PART COULD CAUS…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006359 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010373 · 2003-03-13 (March 13, 2003)
MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I HAD TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY. I SAW ON THE INTERNET THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY HEADLIGHTS . MY HUSBAND CALLED PONTIAC AND AGRESTA, THE DEALER, AND THEY BOTH SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. COULD YOU LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME. ALL I WANT IS THE DEALER(SERVICE) TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMP MODULE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014204 · 2003-04-09 (April 9, 2003)
ENGINE FAILURE CYLINDERS FILLING WITH COOLANT. TALKED WITH SEVERAL INDEPENDENT GARAGES AND THEY SAY IT'S A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE 3800 V6. SPOKE WITH PONTIAC DEALER IN GAINESVILLE GA. ACCORDING TO PARTS/SERVICE DEPARTMENT THERE ARE NO TECH BULLETINS RELEASED FROM GM. WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS RE: 1995 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE'S 3800 V6'S. ACCORDING TO INDEPENDENT GARAGE THE INTAKE GASKET AND HEAD GASKETS FAILURES. THE CAR ALSO HAS A WATER LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN AND TRUNK AS WELL, APPEARS TO LEAKED SINCE IT WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014204 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014647 · 2004-07-07 (July 7, 2004)
THE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE. *JB THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY WIRE HARNESS BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL FROM THE LIGHT CONTROL SWITCH. THE ENTIRE SWITCH WAS MELTED, ESPECIALLY THE WIRE HARNESS PLUG HAT CONNECTED TO THE WIRING HARNESS DIRECTLY TO THE SWITCH. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 104,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014647 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017048 · 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)
VEHICLE LOOSING COOLANT FLUID, HAVING TO REPLACE FLUID ON A DAILY BASIS, GOING TO TAKE IN FOR REPAIRS AND SEEN A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. NO VISIBLE LEAKAGE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017048 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018256 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL #95 V 204 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, AND CONSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB *SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019918 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING DID NOT GO OFF AT VARIOUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO TOOK THE FUSES OUT TO GET THE LIGHTS OFF. *NLM *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019918 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.
94V190000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 1994-10-04 (October 4, 1994)
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH LIGHTING CONTROL MODULES WHICH CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT LEAKAGE DUE TO DAMAGED SURFACE MOUNTING CAPACITORS. THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF HEAD LAMPS AND PARKING LAMPS.
Consequence: SUDDEN LOSS OF HEADLAMPS CAN CAUSE REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. ALSO, THE HEAD LAMPS CANNOT BE TURNED OFF, OR THEY MAY TURN ON WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BATTERY CHARGE AND INABILITY TO RESTART THE CAR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP MODULE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗