Problems · NHTSA complaints

1996 Pontiac Bonneville problems

Owners filed 150 complaints about the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville with NHTSA between Mar 1996 and Feb 2016. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (43).

Complaints
150
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling43
  2. Air bags27
  3. Electrical system21
  4. Fuel system, gasoline19
  5. Structure10
  6. Power train8
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic7
  8. Steering7
  9. Visibility5
  10. Fuel system, other4
  11. Vehicle speed control4
  12. Exterior lighting3
  13. Tires3
  14. Equipment3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19963
199718
19988
19998
20006
20016
200214
200324
200421
200512
20065
20073
20085
20093
20104
20113
20122
20130
20143
20151
20161

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

43 reports5 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS HAD TO BE MADE BEFORE SUCCEEDING IN STARTING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND OXYGEN SENSOR. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAP WAS MELTING AND CAUSING OIL TO SPILL. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE WAS PRODUCING WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE AS TO THE EXACT REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILED AND WOULD ALERT THE CONTACT THAT THE DOORS WERE OPENED, AND THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT SECURED ERRONEOUSLY. THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE FUEL INJECTOR, AND ADDING FUEL CLEANER. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM) AND 95V204000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 28, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 10463433

Air bags

27 reports4 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,474.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 3, 2016Air bagsODI 10823959

Electrical system

21 reports1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE ANTI-THEFT AND AN UNKNOWN SECURITY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE REQUIRED MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AND A NEW KEY MADE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HORN AND CHIME SOUNDED UNCONTROLLABLY. IN ADDITION, THE RADIO FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE INTERIOR LIGHTING CONTROLS AND THE POWER DOOR LOCKING FEATURES FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 95V204000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 14, 2015Electrical systemODI 10810090

Fuel system, gasoline

19 reports4 fires1 related recall
“NO INCIDENTS BUT THERE IS DAMAGE DONE TO THE FUEL , EMISSION AND BRAKE LINE THE FUEL AND EMISSION LINES FROM THE FUEL TANK USE A PLASTIC QUICK CONNECT COUPLING JUST UNDERNEATH NEAR THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE . THE COUPLING BECOMES LOSE AND SPRAYS THE FUEL LINES AND BRAKE HOSES WITH FUEL THIS WASHES OFF THE PROTECTIVE LAYER OF THE HOSES WHICH THEN CORRODE AND LEAK FUEL AND BRAKE FLUID , THIS HAPPENED ON MY 1996 BONNEVILLE CAN ANYONE EMAIL ME IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS ON THIS CAR FOR THAT REASON OR IF I AM ENTITLED TO REPAIRS BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2009Fuel system, gasolineODI 10282441

Structure

10 reports
“PROBLEMS REGARDING 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.*MR THE OVERHEAD HAND STRAP BROKE WHILE AN ELDERLY PASSENGER WAS USING IT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE STRAP WAS SECURE TO THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE WITH PLASTIC NOT METAL. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 30, 2004StructureODI 10092785

Power train

8 reports
“I BOUGHT MY 1996 BONNEVILLE NEW IN THAT YEAR. AROUND 20,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. AT 145,000 MILES I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND A SMELL OF BURNT FLUID. TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER. THEY FLUSHED AND REPLACED THE TRANS FLUID STATING THE FLUID WAS BURNT (MEANING NOT USEFUL ANY MORE). I HAD THE FLUID CHANGED A COUPLE OF TIMES DURING THE LIFE OF THE CAR AS I ALSO INSURE ALL MAINTENANCE IS DONE. THAT FLUSHING LASTED ABOUT 1,000 MILES BEFORE THE TRANS BEGAN SLIPPING AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE RESULT WAS MY 3RD TRANSMISSION AT A COST TO ME OF $2,500. I REALIZE I HAVE A LOT OF MILES ON THE CAR/ENGINE/TRANS BUT WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE, AS I'VE DONE, I WOULD EXPECT A LONGER LIFE FROM THE TRANSMISSION! *LA”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2004Power train, EquipmentODI 10054808
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.