While driving the Bonneville the car will just shut down, looses all power. It has happened on the expressway and also just on local city driving. You can be going 30 mph or 65 mph. Car will just shut down (which is very scary going 65 mph) and someone on your bumper. Looses power steering so its hard to move over lanes on the expressway, we have found you need to immediately put on emergency flashers, shift car into neutral and turn the key. Sometimes it will start on the first turn of the key but sometimes it takes multiple times of turning the key, all this while coasting on the expressway with people buzzing all around you. The one time it happened I was right by the garage we have been taking it to, took it over, they ran a check on the computer system and nothing came up. They are at a loss as to what to do without just start randomly changing parts they think it might pertain to? any suggestions, this isn't safe to drive when it does this, and its just random when it does do it, no warning.

- Munster, IN, USA

When the vehicle is accelerating there is a substantial amount of shaking in the front end. It gets very bad between 50-60 mph. I have had all the tires replaced because I thought it was the alignment, and I have brought the car to at least 3 different shops and all 3 have no idea what is causing the shaking. I have replaced the front rods, the front hub assemblies, the shocks and the tires all in an attempt to fix the issue. Because of the shaking it constantly destroys my front hub assemblies which I have had to replace 2 times in the past 2 years. It also makes it extremely unsafe to drive as one of the shops told me that the front assemblies were so destroyed from the shaking that I am extremely lucky that the tires did not fold under the vehicle and cause a major accident. I have tried for 3 years to fix this issue and no one has a remedy. I have also read on consumer review that many other people have experienced the same issue with their Bonneville in the same year (2000) and again, no shops have been able to find the reason behind the shaking. I do not think that this vehicle should be allowed to have been manufactured with this issue and I do not understand why there is no recall in place to fix this life threatening defect.

- Williamstown, NJ, USA

When the vehicle is accelerating there is a substantial amount of shaking in the front end. It gets very bad between 50-60 mph. I have had all the tires replaced because I thought it was the alignment, and I have brought the car to at least 3 different shops and all 3 have no idea what is causing the shaking. I have replaced the front rods, the front hub assemblies, the shocks and the tires all in an attempt to fix the issue. Because of the shaking it constantly destroys my front hub assemblies which I have had to replace 2 times in the past 2 years. It also makes it extremely unsafe to drive as one of the shops told me that the front assemblies were so destroyed from the shaking that I am extremely lucky that the tires did not fold under the vehicle and cause a major accident. I have tried for 3 years to fix this issue and no one has a remedy. I have also read on consumer review that many other people have experienced the same issue with their Bonneville in the same year (2000) and again, no shops have been able to find the reason behind the shaking. I do not think that this vehicle should be allowed to have been manufactured with this issue and I do not understand why there is no recall in place to fix this life threatening defect.

- Williamstown, NJ, USA

Intermediate steering shaft going bad making the car front end shimmy between 65-70 mph. I have replaced the tires making sure the tires were balanced twice. And of all the threads I have been reading the problem is in this shaft.

- Monroe, MI, USA

: the contact stated when the engine was running and the steering wheel was turned in either direction, there was a hollow pounding sound. Also, the sound occurred when the vehicle was stopped or traveling faster than 5 mph. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer where the intermediate steering shaft was replaced. Six months later, the part failed again. The problem continued and required replacement more than 7 times. The manufacturer was notified. Updated 3/25/08

- Lawtey, FL, USA

Trunk area leaks and water builds up in the spare tire storage. Clanking noise in steering column while turning either direction during colder weather. Front drivers seat heater worked then quit for no reason, push button on & light comes on but doesn't stay on. Wipers while in intermittent will stop during a sweep across windshield, when turned on or off also turns on/off the dash lights at the same time, and while in intermittent if blinker is used the wiper will stop during a sweep across windshield.

- Seward, NE, USA

Intermediate steering shaft has been replaced twice and lubricated twice in the last four years. Continues to clunk when turning the car. General Motors was contacted and admitted there is a problem with the steering and said they are working on a fix. Right now the fix is only temporary and can be costly.

- Manhattan, KS, USA

I have a 2000 Pontiac bonniville and when the wheel is turned to the left there is a clunking or grinding noise. This only happens when the wheel is turned left.

- West Des Moines, IA, USA

Clunking noise when steering(intermediate steering shaft).

- Hendersonville, TN, USA

The consumer heard a clunking noise in the steering wheel when turning, stopping and applying the brake.

- Stilwell, KS, USA

I feel the right steering wheel control arm is too close to the steering wheel, on my 2000 Bonneville. It is closer and longer that the turn signal arm on the left. I reported to Pontiac that any time I rapidly steer to avoid an accident, I hit this arm before the wheel. This slows my response and starts the windshield wipers. I find this is very bad at such a time, hitting the arm slows my response and the distraction from the wipers just adds to the problem. I suggest the arm be shortened about 3/4 inch, withdrawing it from the immediate area of the steering wheel. I had a minor accident a couple weeks ago, and I hit the arm. I can't say I would have avoided the accident without hitting the arm. But I distinctly feel, hitting it slow my ability to avoid the accident, and yes, my windshield wipers were going when the car stopped. I have reported this to Pontiac, but each year since, the arm is the same. Do you have statistics of how many times windshield wipers were engaged after an accident" has anyone ever tested if there is a correlation of improperly placed control arms or devices, causing or making accidents more severe" I can't believe, I'm the only one who's noticed this safety flaw, and I don't know about other vehicles. But, I hit that dang wiper arm every time it's too close for comfort. And it's the worse time to hit it. If you'd like to test my driving abilities, I suspect you'd find my skills above average at the least. And if I hit it, I doubt I'm alone.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

Incident date is an estimate. I had a clunking sound in my steering and took it to the dealer to investigate. They told me it was a known problem and the noise was because of the collapsible steering column, the two pieces are clunking together. Made that was in case of a crash. They said that they could take it apart, grease it and that it might not make any difference and that I would have to pay to have it done. I told them that because they told me it was simply the two pieces clunking together and that it would not hurt anything I did not get the lubrication. Now 8-30-2004 my steering howls sometimes. I had my brother-in-law check the power steering fluid and it was low. He is a mechanic of over 25 years and states that power steering fluid does not evaporate and must be leaking and most likely indicate a greater problem. There are no visible leaks on the ground. I read the others complaints on this site and the steering seems to be a common problem. My hope in writing is that Pontiac will step up and take care of the problem before someone gets injured.

- Plattsmouth, NE, USA

Complained to Pontiac dealership on 3 separate occasions that steering is binding while turning. Complaints were at 19,539, 29,736 and 43,686 miles. At 19,539 miles, dealership found bulletin # 99-02-32-007A and removed/replaced power steering hydraulic return outlet and pressure inlet hose. At 29,736 mile, steering shaft was lubricated. At 43,686 miles steering shaft removed and lubricated. At 50,000 the binding is happening again. I will be taking to the shop again this week. It seems the dealership/manufacturer is doing "nickle & dime" fixes under warranty, and not fixing the real problem. I'm concerned there's a real safety issue.

- Webster, NY, USA

The vehicles steering was defective which caused noise. The consumer had to pay for the repairs although the manufacturer was aware of the defect.

- Coal Center, PA, USA

Steering makes pops and grinding noises when turning. This is the second occurrence. First time at 37,000 miles I was told the steering shaft was bad. It was replaced, but I had to pay some labor. The problem is worse when the weather is cold.

- West Chester, OH, USA

Steering column noise.

- Clive, IA, USA

The brake rotors were replaced three times for excessive warping which caused vibrations and a soft brake pedal. Each time the pads were replaced the rotors had to be replaced. The engine belt cracked once and was glazed once, both failures caused noise. The steering wheel makes noise when turning, the dealer replaced the steering shaft. The right rear brake light bulb was blown.

- Sterling, NY, USA

Steering wheel would vibrate with possible cause of a broken tie rod. The dealership did replace some hoses and also stated to the consumer that the driveshaft needs replacement.

- Sterling, NY, USA

There is a grinding in the steering assembly. The tie rods were removed and the rack was adjusted, but this is a reoccuring problem. The power steering hose was replaced. Also the power steering pump failed. Consumer would like reimbursement or replacement.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

Upon purchasing vehicle in the year of 2000 rack and pinion has been replaced three times. Coolant leaks, also starter and fuel pump have been replaced. Transmission was leaking fluid due to torque converter seal failure. Consumer states vehicle has a noise coming from steering column on turns. Transmission does not shift correctly due to shift solenoid failure. Vehicle makes a popping noise from front end due to steering gear failure.

- Lakewood, CO, USA