1998 Pontiac BONNEVILLE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
250 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
71,725 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 117 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 250 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 31 | 12.4% |
| Steering behavior | 18 | 7.2% |
| Braking behavior | 17 | 6.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 2.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 47 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 44 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 33 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 32 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 25 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 16 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 10 |
| Engine | 6 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 47; Engine And Engine Cooling: 44; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 33; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 32; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 25; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 16; Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System: 10; Engine: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 50 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 29 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 50; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (50). 133 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001 | 17 |
| 2002 | 45 |
| 2003 | 64 |
| 2004 | 63 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 2 |
2000: 15; 2001: 17; 2002: 45; 2003: 64; 2004: 63; 2005: 18; 2006: 6; 2007: 2; 2008: 5; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 5; 2015: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 31 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 17 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 10000303 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)
PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED COMPLAINT
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000303 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000384 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN MISSING AND RUNNING VERY ROUGH. DROVE ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE & CAR STOPPED RUNNING. THE DEALER SAID THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENNUIM NEEDED REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE PLUGS REMOVED & CLEANED. ALSO NEEDED OIL, FILER & COLLANT CHANGED. COST OVER $750 TO REPAIR & MANIFOLD WAS ABOUT THE ONLY ENGINE COMPONENT TO NOT BE INCLUDED UNDER THE ADD'L SERVICE CONTRACT WE HAD PURCHASED.
Owner-reported narrative. 47,719 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000541 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)
1998 PONTIAC BONNIVILLE THEY USE A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD COVER OF SCHROWED.WITHIN THIS COVER THEY HAVE HOLE FOR THE EGR VALVE WHICH GETS VERY VERY HOT,AND TO COOL THIS THEY RUN COOLANT AROUND THIS WITHIN THE PLASTIC. DON'T THEY REALIZE THAT THE PLASTIC WILL CRACK FROM EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION AND COOLANT WILL INFILTRATE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE ENTIRE COMBUSTION CHAMBER,EXHAUST. THIS HAPPENED TO MY 98 BONNIVILLE AND I WANT THIS TO BE INVESTIGATED.
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000541 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000770 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
MY COMPLAINT IS: I WAS DRIVING DOWN ILLINOIS INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 55 AT 70 MPH WHEN MY ENGINE DIED, BECAUSE MY MANIFOLD KEEPS CRACKING, THIS IS THE 4TH TIME!! BECAUSE MY ENGINE DIED, IT KEPT BLOWING AND FORCING ANTIFREEZE DOWN MY INTAKE AND FILLING MY CYLINDERS WITH WATER AND ANTIFREEZE, CAUSING A VAPOR LOCK!!! I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR IN NEUTRAL GOING 70 MPH, WITH 20-25 CARS AROUND ME AND 3-5 SEMI TRUCKS, BUT THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP!!!! I LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR!!! I HAD NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES, NO CONTROL TO BE ABLE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000770 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001343 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING ENGINE TO HYDROLOCK AND BENDING 5 PUSH RODS. THIS ALLOWING COOLANT TO ENTER ENGINE CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001343 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002167 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE LENS ON THE LEFT HEAD LIGHT FELL OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITION INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002167 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002585 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO A DESIGN PROBLEM OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE TOP OF INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS PLASTIC AND HAD A METAL TUBE THAT RAN THROUGH PLASTIC. OVER TIME THE PLASTIC ALSO DEGRADED AND CRACKED WHICH RESULTED IN THE COOLANT ENTERING THE ENGINE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 81,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002727 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)
I HAVE A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WHICH WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR DUE TO NOT HAVING ANY HEAT IN THE CAR. I EXPECTED A FAULTY THERMOSTAT OR SOME OTHER MINOR PROBLEM. IT TURNED OUT THAT ENGINE COOLANT LEAKED OUT FROM THE PLENUM, WATER PUMP AND GASKETS REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE WATER PUMP, WATER PUMP BELT, AND MANIFOLD (WITH THE VARIOUS GASKETS) MANIFOLD WAS ACTUALLY ROTTING FROM THE INSIDE DUE TO COOLANT LEAK INTO IT. THIS REPAIR COST OVER $1,000. UPON TALKING TO THE DEALER AND MY OWN INTERNET RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002727 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.
04V090000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
Reported: 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.
Consequence: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
NHTSA campaign record ↗