Most common 1999 Pontiac Bonneville problems
Share of the 143 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 →
1999 Pontiac Bonneville recalls (3)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 3800 v6 (l36) engines and certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, the regulators have a much higher than usual rate of fuel leaks. A leak can allow fuel to enter the intake manifold through a vacuum line.
Remedy: Dealers will install new fuel pressure regulators with improved diaphragms. The recall will be conducted in phased mailings. Phase 1 began on June 30, 2004, and phase 2 began on September 30, 2004.
Power train › Automatic transmission
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 4t65e automatic transmissions. These vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of FMVSS no. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence." a retaining clip, which secures the manual valve to the linkage of the transmission detent lever, can become loose under a combination of…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the manual valve/link assembly with a replacement manual valve/link kit, featuring a spring-type fastener.
Wheels
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with chrome plated aluminum wheels. Some of these wheels have a mounting surface that was not machined correctly, causing the wheel studs to break.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wheels and replace all wheels with date codes indicating that they May not have been machined correctly.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 1999 Pontiac Bonneville:
Transmission shift lever sequence
Engine compartment fires
Engine compartment fire
By letter dated March 12, 2008, general motors corp. (GM) has notified the agency that it will conduct a safety recall (identified by NHTSA recall number 08v-118) to address a defect in approximately 207,542 model year (my) 1997-2003 Buick regal gs and Pontiac grand prix gtp vehicles equipped with the l67 supercharged version of GM's 3800 series ii v6 engine.the recalled regal gs vehicles were built from August 1996…
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 1999 Pontiac Bonneville owners say
Engine & cooling all 60 →
While running, vehicle experienced a back fire causing the manifold to crack which caused a fire. Dealer notified. Ts when backfire occurred engine died and there was smoke from under the hood. Consumer was able to control the fire with snow. Referenced in ea02-030
1999 Bonneville; 58,000 miles; it had been stalling intermittently for several weeks -- especially during turns. Before I could take it to the dealer, the car loses power on hwy 63; fortunately, I was able to pull over. The mechanic reports engine has locked up because coolant has leaked into the engine due to a known problem by GM of coolant leaking into engine and thus destroying the engine. Total costs to replace the engine, the manifold and damaged the starter amounted to a repair bill of $5300 after a 10% existing customer discount plus state taxes. I checked the odi databases for '99 Bonneville's and almost a 1/3 of the 111 complaints relate to the same problems I had before my car engine was damaged and similar problems of coolant leaks into the engine. Does there have to be a injury before the NHTSA will act? …
Fuel & propulsion system all 23 →
There has been a problem with a gas leakage. The fuel supply line fitting at the fuel injector rail was the problem. O-rings were replaced, things seemed fine - no gas smell or leakage. This lasted for appx. 24 hours. I drove about 7 miles to and from work three times, a total of 21 miles, stopped at a library, came out, smelled gas, was driving the car home - one mile - was going to park it and get someone to look at it. I stopped at the mailboxes and heard a slight poof sound under the hood.when I looked up I saw smoke bellowing out from under the hood. I grabbed my purse and jumped out. From a distance I saw 2" balls of fire dropping from the engine to the street, called the fire department and watched my car go up in flames while waiting for them to show up - all because of one small plastic piece under the hood. …
' Takata recall" driving and the car cut off..after I stop the car and turn the key off. Was able to re start the car. This has happen a few times. This is not a safe thing when driving on the free ways ....I was in motion and on the street. There was a recall on this but was not were of it this was in 2009 now it 2016 and the part in my car is not working?
Electrical system all 22 →
' Takata recall" driving and the car cut off..after I stop the car and turn the key off. Was able to re start the car. This has happen a few times. This is not a safe thing when driving on the free ways ....I was in motion and on the street. There was a recall on this but was not were of it this was in 2009 now it 2016 and the part in my car is not working?
Upon accelerating onto the highway, after reaching highway speed, vehicle stalls and would not start. Flooding engine, gasoline coming out of exhaust, engine would not restart. After research and replacing leaking lower intake manifold, this was not my problem there was no leak. After more research I replaced more sensors and eventually cylinder gaskets and lower intake gasket again. Still engine would not start. After 2 years of car sitting I unplugged maf sensor and then it started finally. Faulty maf sensor but no way to find out unless it is unplugged because sensor did not give off any pertaining fault code pointing to the problem specifically.
1999 Pontiac Bonneville engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl supercharged | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Pontiac Bonneville a good car?
Based on 143 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 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 1999 Pontiac Bonneville?
The engine & cooling — 60 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (23) and electrical system (22).
How many recalls does the 1999 Pontiac Bonneville have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1999 Pontiac Bonneville, the most recent from February 24, 2004 (delivery). 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 1999 Pontiac Bonneville problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 70,000 miles; 23% 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.