Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Pontiac Bonneville problems
Owners filed 152 complaints about the 1999 Pontiac Bonneville with NHTSA between Jan 1999 and Sep 2016. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (62).
Complaints
152
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
9
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling62
- Electrical system26
- Fuel system, gasoline19
- Service brakes, hydraulic10
- Air bags9
- Power train8
- Visibility8
- Tires5
- Structure4
- Equipment4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Steering3
- Seat belts3
- Wheels3
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
14
21
17
15
21
26
11
8
4
3
3
1
4
0
1
2
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 14 |
| 2000 | 21 |
| 2001 | 17 |
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2003 | 21 |
| 2004 | 26 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
62 reports1 crash5 fires
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. IN 2003, WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A HUGE CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD BLOWN THE GASKET. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ITSELF. IN 2005, THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR SWITCH BLEW OUT AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED IN 2007. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO BLOW DUE TO LEAKAGE OF FUEL INTO THE ENGINE. ALSO, THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER SWITCH WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. HE HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE TO PREVENT IT FROM DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000. UPDATE 09/10/08 *CW UPDATED 09/19/08. *JB”
Electrical system
26 reports1 crash1 fire
“' TAKATA RECALL" DRIVING AND THE CAR CUT OFF..AFTER I STOP THE CAR AND TURN THE KEY OFF. WAS ABLE TO RE START THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPEN A FEW TIMES. THIS IS NOT A SAFE THING WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREE WAYS ....I WAS IN MOTION AND ON THE STREET. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BUT WAS NOT WERE OF IT THIS WAS IN 2009 NOW IT 2016 AND THE PART IN MY CAR IS NOT WORKING?”
Fuel system, gasoline
19 reports2 fires1 related recall
“FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY RECALL FOR 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RECALL ANNOUNCED: FEBRUARY 24 2004 NHTSA REFERENCE: #04V090000 NUMBER AFFECTED: 910,873 SUMMARY: 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. FIX: 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. FOR DETAILED INFORMATION & SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, SEE THE OFFICIAL NHTSA PAGE CONCERNING RECALL #04V090000. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
10 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH SHE ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED. SHE COASTED THE VEHICLE UP-HILL TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND A MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE BRAKE LINE FAILED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Air bags
9 reports1 crash1 fire
“WHILE STOPPED ON A SIDE STREET (25 MPH ZONE), THE AIR BAGS INVOLUNTARILY DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER WAS SEVERELY BRUISED AND SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT & PERMANENT HEARING LOSS. THERE ARE 7 OTHER INCIDENT REPORTS FILED WITH THE NHTSA FOR THE SAME EVENT INVOLVING A 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR A RECALL? *TR”
Power train
8 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“EXTERIOR LIGHTING RECALL FOR 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RECALL ANNOUNCED: APRIL 07 2009 NHTSA REFERENCE: #09E012000 NUMBER AFFECTED: 16,270 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY RECALL FOR 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RECALL ANNOUNCED: FEBRUARY 24 2004 NHTSA REFERENCE: #04V090000 NUMBER AFFECTED: 910,873 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RECALL FOR 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RECALL ANNOUNCED: APRIL 26 1999 NHTSA REFERENCE: #99V089000 NUMBER AFFECTED: 99,333 WHEELS RECALL FOR 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE RECALL ANNOUNCED: APRIL 12 1999 NHTSA REFERENCE: #99V072000 NUMBER AFFECTED: 352. *TR”
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.