2001 Pontiac Bonneville: problems, recalls and reliability
0 recalls and 129 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is steering (22% of complaints); the 2003 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly
0
recalls
129
owner complaints
20
fire reports
70,000
typical failure mileage, mi
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
No recall campaignsWeak spot: steering (22%)20 fire reports
Common problems
Computed from 129 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
Steering (steering wheel, rack, power assist)22% · 28 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling (engine, radiator, overheating)15% · 19 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)11% · 14 complaints
Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)9% · 11 complaints
Visibility (windshield, wipers, defroster, mirrors)8% · 10 complaints
Air Bags (airbags and crash sensors)7% · 9 complaints
“My car caught on fire back in january 2020 under the hood on my way to work the fire started behind the vale cover gaskets and now oil is leaking on the manifold gaskets and gas is mixing with the oil and I can't drive my car anymore help me please.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jan 2020
“Tl* the contact owned a 2001 pontiac bonneville. While driving out of the driveway, the engine made an abnormal banging sound and the vehicle caught fire. The engine blew up and produced a thick cloud of smoke. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was totaled. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2019
“I had left my lights on and battery went dead. Went to jump the vehicle and charge the battery. Cables connected correctly. When I went to start the vehicle, I heard a loud explosion noise like a back fire but saw a flame then smoke out of engine. The engine hood was closed since the battery is located under the back seat or this could have been fatal or a serious injury. The flame must have been extinguished by the fluids? When we opened the hood after a short period, we found that their was some type of explosion in the engine. The vehicle was stationary and in my driveway”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2015
Show 7 more owner reports
“I just currently bought this vehicle in march when I got no lights or anything was on a couple days later my engine light came on and the brake lights came on saying that my track is off also when I try to go over 50 miles per hour the car shakes really bad I took it back to the dealership and they told me they did not have a mechanic to look at it and it happen to me 3 times when I took it there.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Mar 2015
“Tl* the contact owned a 2001 pontiac bonneville. The contact stated that the vehicle caught fire and exploded when the ignition key was inserted. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.”Owner report · Engine · Nov 2014
“Car just shuts off when sitting at a stoplight and will not restart. Have had the car towed to dealer only to find after sitting it fires right up and the computer shows no problem. It has on 1 occasion shut off while driving on the road, but after pulling in neutral it did restart. It is still sitting at the dealership because they drive it shuts off they get it back to dealership and it restarts and is fine per computer. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 pontiac bonneville. The contact stated that he attempted to start the vehicle but when the key was turned in the ignition, there was an explosion from under to hood. The contact exited the vehicle and noticed that a fire had erupted from under the hood. The contact was not injured. The contact stated that the fire department extinguished the fire but was unable to determine the origin of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2014
“When I drive my car it shuts down on me while driving and I have to wait at least 20 mins before it starts back up and sometimes it smells like something is burning. *tr”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Oct 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 pontiac bonneville. While driving 25 mph making a right turn, the steering wheel made an abnormal noise. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed, but not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 114,000.”Owner report · Steering · Sep 2013
“My son was the passenger in a head on collision with airbag deployment and his eyeball was severed by the airbag. My son received his prosthetic eye for his 18th birthday. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2012
When filing, owners marked a crash in 6 of these complaints and injuries in 9 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
How other years compare
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Is the 2001 Pontiac Bonneville reliable?
NHTSA has 129 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record for the 2001 Pontiac Bonneville. The most complained-about area is steering (22% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2001 Pontiac Bonneville problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 70,000 miles or less.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.