Most common 2003 Pontiac Bonneville problems
Share of the 54 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 →
2003 Pontiac Bonneville recalls (2)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
On certain Cadillac deville and seville passenger vehicles, funeral coaches, and limousines equipped with a v8 (4.6l) engine, Oldsmobile aurora passenger vehicles equipped with a v8 (4.0l ) engine, and Pontiac bonneville ssei passenger vehicles equipped with a supercharged v6 (3.8l) engine, the fuel tank pressure sensors are…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tank pressure sensor. Owner notification began on October 17, 2003. Owners should contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339; Oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537; or Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.
Air bags › Frontal
Certain passenger, Mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began August 15, 2002.
What 2003 Pontiac Bonneville owners say
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Pontiac Bonneville. While the vehicle was stopped at a stop sign, smoke emerged from underneath the hood without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The contact called a local dealer (wheelers Chevrolet of medford, 704 n 8th st, medford, wi 54461) and was referred to the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 113,600.
Look at the car the car is located [redacted] first of all you start off as a passcode 2 system and then it says passcode 3 system on the thing and I just don't want to deal with this because you have the cut off switch you have the fuel cut off switch but you still have current going through the switch or the fuel they fuel I'll probably leaking into the tank it doesn't start but still sending fuel the oil has excessive amount of liquid in it so does transmission I bought it used the guy goes you know I lost the key go in and remove it I started without the key you know or something like that and I said well here's I got the chamber and I will get it anyway I don't want to deal with this take your car around it took that he sold a mindful but it took the Kelly converter around he didn't tell me about it he asked who did it well he was the city I guess a city bought this car now they're …
Electrical system
Look at the car the car is located [redacted] first of all you start off as a passcode 2 system and then it says passcode 3 system on the thing and I just don't want to deal with this because you have the cut off switch you have the fuel cut off switch but you still have current going through the switch or the fuel they fuel I'll probably leaking into the tank it doesn't start but still sending fuel the oil has excessive amount of liquid in it so does transmission I bought it used the guy goes you know I lost the key go in and remove it I started without the key you know or something like that and I said well here's I got the chamber and I will get it anyway I don't want to deal with this take your car around it took that he sold a mindful but it took the Kelly converter around he didn't tell me about it he asked who did it well he was the city I guess a city bought this car now they're …
My car shuts off while driving. I notice it because power steering is hard to use and RPM's go down to zero and car has shut off. It started up again. This has been a real problem. Dealer tested car and said it was a crankshaft sensor. I replaced the crankshaft sensor and the problem continues. Cam sensor replaced too. This is a safety issue. No one knows why the car shuts off when it wants to. Now the car still shuts off while driving, but also it takes 2 to 3 times to restart. Still trying to figure this out. It is August 2015 and I need this car. Is this a recall issue?
Steering
Tl contact owns a 2003 Pontiac Bonneville. While driving 15 MPH or turning the vehicle left or right, the contact heard a clunking sound coming from the steering column. He can also felt the steering wheel vibrate once the noise began. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic, who stated that other consumers with the same type of vehicle experienced identical failures in the past. The contact believes that a recall should be issued because it appears to be a manufacturer defect. The failure has been occurring for quite some time. The vehicle has not yet been repaired. The current and failure mileages were 35,000. Updated 05/15/09 updated 05/18/09.
2003 Pontiac Bonneville ssei when turning the steering wheel, left or right from a stopping position a loud clunking noise appears. It is felt through the steering wheel and column. While driving the noise happens rarely. I have read numerous accounts of this but no recall as of yet. I am worried this is a safety concern while driving on the highways at high speeds especially. Is something loose and/or getting rubbed to cause damage and loss of steering in the future? GM dealer defect?
2003 Pontiac Bonneville engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 27 / 21 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl supercharged | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Pontiac Bonneville a good car?
Based on 54 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Bonneville rates better than average: 72% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Bonneville at the same age. It is one of the best Bonneville years by this measure. 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 2003 Pontiac Bonneville?
The engine & cooling — 15 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the electrical system (10) and steering (10).
How many recalls does the 2003 Pontiac Bonneville have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2003 Pontiac Bonneville, the most recent from July 1, 2003 (tank assembly). 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 2003 Pontiac Bonneville problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 78,000 miles; 33% 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.