1996 Pontiac BONNEVILLE: complaints, problems and recalls

FAILURE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKET ON MY AUTOMOBILE. ALLOWED ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDERS OF THE ENGINE. CAR: 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WITH 3.8L V-6 ENGINE, USING THE DEX-COOL GM COOLANT. REPAIRS REQUIRED A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF INTAKE MANIFOLD AND ALL ENGINE GASKETS. REPAIRS COSTS EXCEED $1400.

Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000920 at NHTSA ↗

1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 3800 K ENGINE . UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AT 63000 MILES CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK.

Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003336 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS A FUEL LEAK DIRECTLY ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM FROM ATOP. THE GAS TANK RUSTED THROUGH LINES FROM FUEL PUMP TO GAS LINES TO THE ENGINE. GAS LEAKS DIRECTLY ONTO THE TOP OF EXHAUST. FIRE HAZARD. -----DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS----------------769751. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 124,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008563 at NHTSA ↗

THE ENGINE FAILED.*DT *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009545 at NHTSA ↗

THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A COOLANT LEAK. *AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010012 at NHTSA ↗

COOLING SYSTEM LEAKAGE-THE BLACK PLASTIC COVER ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS COOLANT/WATER. IT LEAKS WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, IT DOES THIS WHEN EVER PARKED AND THE CAR IS ALLOWED TO SIT AND GET COLD. THERE IS CLEAR EVIDENCE IT IS LEAKING AROUND THE BASE OF THE PLASTIC COVER WHERE IT SEALS AGAINST THE ALUMINUM INTAKE MANIFOLD. IT HAS DONE THIS EVERY WINTER FOR THE PAST FOUR WINTERS. IT IS GETTING WORSE, AND FROM THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ IT IS COMMON TO THE 3.8 L ENGINE. IT DOES NOT LEAK AT ALL IN THE SUMMER OR FALL, ONLY IN THE WINTER BELOW 35…

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010908 at NHTSA ↗

THE ENGINE ON THIS CAR FAILED. IT HAS 115,000 MILES. IT WAS MAINTAINED FROM THE START. WE PURCHASED IT NEW. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AND LEAKED ANTIFREEZE THROUGHOUT THE MOTOR. WE HAD THE MANIFOLDS, OXYGEN SENSORS, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. WE FOUND OUT THERE WAS A TSB ISSUED ON THIS VEHICLE REGARDING THE MANIFOLD PROBLEM. PONTIAC AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE CONTACTED. THEY BOTH TOLD US IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT THEY'LL DO NOTHING. I'D UNDERSTAND GIVEN THE MILEAGE THAT THIS IS NOT A NEW CAR, HOWEVER, KNOWING THERE'S A TSB ISSUED…

Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011028 at NHTSA ↗

THE ENGINE LEAKED COOLANT.*TS *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011637 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1995-10-23 (October 23, 1995)

THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE THAT CAN CONTAIN A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. IF THE CAPACITOR IS DAMAGED, THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" WARNING CHIME AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WARNING CHIME AND INDICATOR LAMP MAY NOT WORK. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION" AND FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." IN ADDITION, OTHER CHIME REMINDER FUNCTIONS, INTERIOR LIGHTING CONTROLS, AND POWER DOOR LOCKING FEATURES ARE ALSO AFFECTED.

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE; THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE KEY WAS LEFT IN THE IGNITION OR THAT THE SAFETY BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACE THE MALL MODULE.

Reported: 1996-07-01 (July 1, 1996)

A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A NO-START CONDITION AND POSSIBLY AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING. UNTIL THE CAMPAIGN REPAIR IS MADE, THE VEHICLE HOOD SHOULD BE SHUT WHENEVER STARTING THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF PERSONAL INJURY.