Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Pontiac Bonneville problems
Owners filed 27 complaints about the 2005 Pontiac Bonneville with NHTSA between Sep 2006 and Jul 2021. The most-cited component is air bags (12).
Complaints
27
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags12
- Electrical system8
- Steering5
- Engine4
- Power train2
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Tires1
- Suspension1
- Other / unknown2
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
1
1
2
2
3
0
1
0
6
5
3
1
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 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
Air bags
12 reports2 crashes
“THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD THE AIRBAG WILL NOW ONLY WORK IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS STRAIGHT. IF IT IS TURNED AND I GET HIT, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY.”
Electrical system
8 reports
“"TAKATA RECALL" UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISE CAR WON'T BRAKE FUMES COMING INSIDE THE CAR. CAR SHAKING AND VIBRATING LOW OIL PRESSURE EVEN WHEN I GOT A OIL CHANGE. AFTER OIL CHANGE CAR WOULDN'T GO NO MORE THAN 16 MILES PER HOUR. CAR WILL NOT CRANK IF IT'S 47 DEGREES OR LOWER TEMPERATURE. IN MOTION IN CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY”
Steering
5 reports
“TRYING TO MAKE HARD TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT MOSTLY WHILE PARKING THE POWER STEERING LOCKS OR GETS REALLY TIGHT. PUT POWER STEERING FLUID IN. DOES NOTHING AT ALL. WHAT CAN I DO. LOOKING AT OTHER POST...OBVIOUSLY NOTHING. *TR”
Engine
4 reports1 crash
“ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY PANEL MALFUNCTIONING MY FUEL GAUGE IS MALFUNCTIONING THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CHECK TIRE PRESSURE CHECK OIL ALL THE LIGHTS STAY ON AND I CAN'T RESET THE PANEL I'M ALSO HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR STOPPING WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE IT TURNS OFF”
Power train
2 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSS POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND WAS HOSPITALIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED BUT THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000.”
Electronic stability control (esc)
1 report1 crash
“CAR SHUT OFF WHILE SITTING AT YIELD SIGN ,WAS REAR ENDED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *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.