Most common 2001 Pontiac Bonneville problems
Share of the 129 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 →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2001 Pontiac Bonneville:
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 2001 Pontiac Bonneville owners say
Engine & cooling all 31 →
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
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.
Steering all 31 →
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.
On December 30, 2002 I took my 2001 Pontiac bonnevelle sle in under warranty to peoria Pontiac GMC to investigate vibration and a clunk noise in the steering column. The steering column was lubed by peoria Pontiac GMC per GM's steering shaft bulletin. Mileage was 19,814. In December of 2004, the noise returned at approximately 50,000 miles. I took the vehicle in to peoria Pontiac GMC on 12/04/2004 and was advised to have the steering shaft for greased for approximately $125.00 by my service advisor. On 12/6/2004 I phoned Pontiac. They advised me to contact my dealer to order a new steering shaft. The Pontiac service representative promised to reimburse me after the repair was made. On 2/8/2005 I contacted Pontiac because the part is still not in at the dealer. I was advised GM has redesigned the part and that they do not have a delivery date. …
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Pontiac Bonneville. The contact stated that the vehicle leaked oil out of the valve cover gasket and the spark plug wire retainer causing a misfire. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was restarted but failed to properly accelerate while driving. The contact stated that there were fumes inside of the vehicle which caused eye irritation. The contact stated that the TPMS, check engine, service engine, seat belt, and air bags warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, after refueling, the fuel gauge failed to provide an accurate fuel reading. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed that the spark plug retainer and valve cover gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. …
The automatic transmission intermittently would not engage or tries to engage on initial take-off. Serious concern when pulling into traffic, let alone being stranded. Transmission pan was dropped revealed metal shavings and gear teeth on the magnets and in the filter. The car has 48,400 miles on it and did not even make it to GM's recommended 50,000 mile fluid and filter change. GM refuses to pay 100% for their failure of the 'sun gear/carrier assembly' that self destructs. This model transmission is a 4t65e, and is used in Buick's, Chevrolet's, Oldsmobile's and Pontiac's. GM has issued a service bulletin on this exact situation. TSB #03-07-30-017 issued May 7, 2003.
2001 Pontiac Bonneville engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 27 / 20 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl supercharged | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 26 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Pontiac Bonneville a good car?
Based on 129 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Bonneville rates average: 14% fewer complaints than 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 2001 Pontiac Bonneville?
The engine & cooling — 31 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cooling system. Next are the steering (31) and transmission & drivetrain (17).
How many recalls does the 2001 Pontiac Bonneville have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2001 Pontiac Bonneville. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 2001 Pontiac Bonneville problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 40% 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.