NHTSA — Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine Problems

2.4

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
64,292 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1996 Pontiac Bonneville engine problems

engine problem

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1996 Pontiac Bonneville Owner Comments

problem #8

Jan 012008

Bonneville

  • 170,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Around Jan 2008 while driving a plastic water hose burst. I replaced it and had no other problem until around Aug 2008. This time the water pump started leaking. I replaced that and the thermostat and radiator cap, but I still kept loosing coolant. Then I found a crack in the radiator which I replace around the end of Aug 2008. I still kept having to top off the coolant reservoir ever two days. About June 2008 I started having trouble with the veh starting, it would seem like it wasn't getting enough gas or flooding. It would be running but barley and it would not accelerate when you press the gas pedal. Finally it would start. It doesn't do it all the time but it's doing it more often now. I've fuel system and injection cleaners with no change. Then I went to NHTSA and found a recall 96V-116 that seems to be the cause of my problem. I went to the local Pontiac dealers and they said that my VIN was not part of the recall and that there was nothing they do. I told them that I would bring back to get a diagnostic test.

- Valdosta, GA, USA

problem #7

Jun 142004

Bonneville 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,820 miles
Coolant from upper intake plenum found to cause mis-fire cylinder. Replaced upper intake plenum twice once at 54,820 miles and again at 107,181 miles.

- Dousman, WI, USA

problem #6

Apr 012004

(reported on)

Bonneville 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The plastic intake manifold melted causing coolant to leak into the engine. Egr valve is stuck at 67% open position at idle, which in turn heated the egr pipe connection at the plastic air plenum and led to the leaking of coolant into the engine. Dealer replaced plastic air plenum which has much thicker walls at the egr entrance. Vehicle also doesn't run well at highway speeds and gas mileage dropped. In addition, consumer also noticed loss of oil pressure, no one knows when the leak on the motor started.

- Clarksdale, MS, USA

problem #5

Nov 232003

Bonneville 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 174,517 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Air intake plenum on the Bonneville 3.8 liter engine failed allowing coolant to enter the engine. The engine immediately locked up when the water entered the piston area. This failure caused damage to the pistons and the valves. Engine is damaged beyond repair and must be replaced.

- Brighton, TN, USA

problem #4

Feb 152003

Bonneville 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,000 miles
The engine on this car failed. It has 115,000 miles. It was maintained from the start. We purchased it new. The intake manifold failed and leaked antifreeze throughout the motor. We had the manifolds, oxygen sensors, and catalytic converter replaced. We found out there was a tsb issued on this vehicle regarding the manifold problem. Pontiac and the dealership were contacted. They both told us it's a common problem, but they'll do nothing. I'd understand given the mileage that this is not a new car, however, knowing there's a tsb issued on it, it seems they are failing to provide a good product to their customers.

- Mechanicsburg, PA, USA

problem #3

Nov 192002

Bonneville

  • miles
The engine failed.

- Cutchogue, NY, USA

problem #2

Jan 061999

Bonneville

  • miles
Engine:gaskets:oil pan replaced, vehicle has a repeated engine oil pan leak. Engine leaks oil at other locations. Concerned about engine fire.

- Bel Air Maryland, MD, USA

problem #1

Jul 242000

Bonneville

  • miles
Oil had been leaking frequently from the engine rear seal. Technician could not find out what caused the problem.

- Canton, OH, USA

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