Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling50
- Electrical system28
- Power train16
- Steering14
- Service brakes, hydraulic11
- Fuel system, gasoline9
- Vehicle speed control9
- Air bags4
- Seats3
- Fuel system, other3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 9 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 1997 Bonneville vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville failed the safety check 1.58% of the time — 1% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 116,865 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 11.7–12.6 L/100 km (about 19–20 mpg US), CO₂ 269–290 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 13.9 | 8.9 | 11.7 |
| Bonneville # · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 14.9 | 9.8 | 12.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville.
| 1996162 8 Oct 1996 | Other THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 302 - FLAMMABILITY. VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A SEAT COVER TRIM MATERIAL THAT DOES NOT MEET FLAMMABILITY REQU… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
THE SEAT COVER TRIM MATERIAL DOES NOT MEET THE FLAMMABILITY REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 302, "FLAMMABILITY OF INTERIOR MATERIALS."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Pontiac told its dealers about the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635006 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING 4T65-E TRANSAXLE SPACER PLATE AND GASKETS FOR VARIOUS MODELS FROM 1997 THROUGH 2002. *TT |
| 634997 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING 4T65E TRANSAXLE SPACER PLATE AND GASKETS. *TT |
| 634985 | CONCERNS WITH SLIPS, HARSH UPSHIFT OR GARAGE SHIFTS, LAUNCH SHUDDERS, FLARES, ERRATIC SHIFTS AND INTERMITTENT CONCERNS, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1811 OR P0748 SET. *TT |
| 634813 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A REPEAT ENGINE OIL PAN LEAK. *TT |
| 628928 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK. *TT UPDATED *EH |
| 620835 | EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE ENGINE COOLANT CONSUMPTION, OR AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK NEAR OR UNDER THE THROTTLE BODY AREA OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TT |
| 619370 | OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN STANDING IN PARK ON A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE NOT APPLIED. *TT |
| 619177 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A REPEAT ENGINE OIL PAN LEAK. *TT |
| 619176 | ENGINE COOLANT CONSUMPTION OR COOLANT LEAK (INSPECT FOR MATERIAL DEGRADATION/REPLACE INTAKE MANIFOLDS) *TT UPDATED 11/02/07 *NJ |
| 6089996 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60 OR 4T60-E TRANSXALES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN IN PARK ON INCLINE. *TT |
| 603085 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THERE IS CORROSION ( RUST ) APPEARING ON THE LEFT AND /OR RIGHT ROCKER PANEL(S). *YC |
| 602997 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE VEHICLE SURGING AT 72 TO 89 KM/H ( 45 TO 55 MPH ). *YC |
| 602983 | CONCERNS OF DOOR HANDLES ON WHITE PAINTED VEHICLES TRUNING YELLOW. *YC |
| 602979 | SOME COMMENTS ON VEHICLE SURGE. *YC |
| 602759 | REAR COMPARTMENT LID DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. *YC |
| 602751 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE VEHICLE |
| 601905 | COMMENT THAT THE VEHICLE'S COMPASS DISPLAY IS TOO DIM, HAS AN UNEVEN DISPLAY OR NO DISPLAY. *YC |
| 601052 | EXPERIENCING A TRANSAXLE GEAR WHINE NOISE ON COAST DOWN OR LIGHT ACCELERATION BETWEEN 20 AND 40 MPH. *YC |
| 600209 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN THAT THE FUEL GAUGE REMAINS ON "FULL" TOO LONG. *TT |
| 54421 | EXPERIENCE A TRANSAXLE GEAR WHINE NOISE ON COAST DOWN OR LIGHT ACCELERATION. *YC |
| 54344 | VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HARSH GARAGE SHIFT REVERSE TO DRIVE. *YC |
| 54327 | COMMENTS OF AN ENGINE OIL LEAK THAT APPEARS TO ORIGINATE TOWARD THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE; REAR OF ENGINE. *YC |
| 54285 | EXPERIENCING A TRANSAXLE GEAR WHINE NOISE ON COAST DOWN OR LIGHT ACCELERATION. *YC |
| 54205 | CONDITION WITH OUTER REAR SEAT BELTS ARE DIFFICULT TO FASTEN. *YC |
| 54065 | COMMENTS ON INOPERATIVE POWER DOOR LOCKS (FRONT AND/OR REAR DOORS). |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation