Most common 1997 Pontiac Bonneville problems
Share of the 147 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Pontiac Bonneville complaints by model year
Best Bonneville years: 2005, 2004, 2003. Years to avoid: 1998, 1995, 2000. Compare all years →
1997 Pontiac Bonneville recalls (1)
Seats
The seat cover trim material does not meet the flammability requirements of FMVSS no. 302, "flammability of interior materials."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the covers on the front seat backs, rear seat cushion and rear seat back assemblies.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville:
Engine compartment fires
Engine compartment fires
Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with GM?s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a…
What 1997 Pontiac Bonneville owners say
Engine & cooling all 51 →
Car completely shuts down while decelerating at anywhere from 30-55 MPH. Sometimes can restart, sometimes not for a half hour or so. The car's engine coolant has leaked out onto engine. Car shut down, no power, no steering, no brakes, then the coolant spilled out everywhere, engine started smoking and now the engine has stopped working even after replacing head gasket. Car had been into dealers numerous times to no avail. No one could identify the problem. Now have a car that had to be towed and is no longer functioning. Numerous fuel injectors were replaced in hopes of stopping the stalling out and shutdowns, but nothing has worked. Waiting for a couple of quotes on what it will take to try and fix the engine or most likely need replaced. This has been happening since the car was fairly new.
I had a 1997 Pontiac Bonneville. While I was driving down a highway in michigan, the engine compartment suddenly caught on fire. I was not speeding, and my car was perfectly serviced and maintained. By the time the fire service got there, the whole car burnt down. It took less than 20 minutes for the whole car to get burnt beyond recognition.
Electrical system all 28 →
Driving an suddenly vehicle shuts down, speed makes no difference.starts back with no problem. This is a regular problem, also happens when idling...makes for a very hazardous situation. Has happened on the freeway surface streets, turning, accelerating, even when braking.there have been times when it wouldn't start and no documentation or invoices available at this time. We have to tug on ignition wires. Possible reason-ignition switch under the steering wheel section is bad. This vehicle has a console, plan on getting new ignition switch.
On date mentioned the cars firewall and engine compartment caught fire which cause the lose of the use of the brakes and power steering. I was decending a steep hill at the time . I was lucky to keep control of the vehicle and managed to get the fire out before the fire department got there. This could have been a fatal accident if I had not keep my head. We also had to replace the alternator in this vehicle which should have not worn out as the car only had 3500 mile on it at that time. The police report stated that it was a manufacturer defect that caused the fire. I have called the place of purchase to inform them of this and they gave me a phone number of the Pontiac co. To call and the number will not go threw. I have searched the web to see if there was a place in their web site to send them an email about the fire and no luck there either. …
Transmission & drivetrain
The intake manifold or the plemium whatever you want to call the thing wore out and all of my engine coolant went into the fuel cylinders and locked my motor down I was headed to macon ga from douglas,ga going to the hospital were they had transfered my brother and here I am in perry,ga broke down because Pontiac puts a plastic intake manifold on a motor I feel like Pontiac should have to pay for this part being replaced. I also have trouble with my car surging between 35 and 55 miles per hour this is the sorriest car I have ever owed and I have owned 2 grand prixs before this car but liked the body style of the Bonneville and I rhought that it would be a good car but boy was I wrong I bought the car in August,2002 and have spent enough money on repairs on it that I could probably done paid for another grand prix.after reading all the complaints on this sight I feel they should have a …
Tl contact owns a 1997 Pontiac Bonneville. While driving at 55 MPH the accelerator pedal became stuck and the vehicle sped into full throttle. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but was unable to stop the vehicle. The contact had to shift the gear into reverse in order to stop the vehicle. The failure contained no warning indicators. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop and when the mechanic started the vehicle, it was still at full throttle. The mechanic replaced the transmission. The passenger sustained minor injuries. The current and failure mileage was 110,000.
1997 Pontiac Bonneville engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl supercharged | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 26 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville a good car?
Based on 147 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Bonneville rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Bonneville at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville?
The engine & cooling — 51 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the electrical system (28) and transmission & drivetrain (16).
How many recalls does the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville have?
There is 1 recall for the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville, the most recent from October 8, 1996 (seats). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Pontiac Bonneville?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2004 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1998, 1995 and 2000. See the full Pontiac Bonneville years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Pontiac Bonneville problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 98,000 miles; 14% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.