Most common 2004 Pontiac Bonneville problems
Share of the 28 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 →
What 2004 Pontiac Bonneville owners say
Electrical system
Driving on highway, we (wide and I) noticed a smell of something burning. Since we were in a farming area we didn't think too much of it. About 20 miles later the smell lingered and we noticed smoke began filling car. Pulled over to see what was going on and my wife noticed smoke coming out from back seat. I took the seat off and discovered there was a fire going on in there. Pulled back seat out onto ground and put that fire out. Upon inspection we found the fuse box to be burned and melted. Obviously the care doesn't run any longer.
Have a 2004 Bonneville gxp around the 24,000 mile mark the car seemed to fall apart. The passenger window sticks, the trunk stays full of water, the passenger side floor pan fills up with water once every 4 months, the coolant temperature gauge stopped working, the tachometer stopped working, the speedometer stopped working, and most concerning the steering joint in the steering column is bad. We contacted the local dealer at the time and they said there were no recalls. I do not feel safe driving my three children around in this car. A forty thousand dollar car should not have these many problems with so little mileage. I just find it hard to believe they have not recalled this vehicle. I am disgusted with general motors.
Steering
Have a 2004 Bonneville gxp around the 24,000 mile mark the car seemed to fall apart. The passenger window sticks, the trunk stays full of water, the passenger side floor pan fills up with water once every 4 months, the coolant temperature gauge stopped working, the tachometer stopped working, the speedometer stopped working, and most concerning the steering joint in the steering column is bad. We contacted the local dealer at the time and they said there were no recalls. I do not feel safe driving my three children around in this car. A forty thousand dollar car should not have these many problems with so little mileage. I just find it hard to believe they have not recalled this vehicle. I am disgusted with general motors.
Popping in steering - the steering gets hard to turn and there is a popping noise when turning. I was told by the first dealership that it was a faulty part but would not be covered under any recalls. Was replaced under warranty after days of arguments. Was told it is now a maintenance problem that will cost about $175.00 each time it is repaired with a greasing kit - no replaced as defective - about twice a year so far. I feel it should state it in the owners manual as a maintenance issue ig that is what it is.
Brakes
Tl contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Bonneville. While backing out of the driveway at 5 MPH, the brake pedal extended to the floor and dangled when it was depressed. There was no resistance in the brakes. The vehicle continued moving, jumped a curb, and landed in her neighbor's yard. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic. The cause of the failure was a failed pedal assembly retainer clip, which was replaced. The current mileage was 40,078 and failure mileage was 40,023. Updated 11/29/07.
Component failure-gauge cluster panel-2004 Pontiac Bonneville se 1. Failure - temp gauge failures prompted a computer check engine reading that stated the temp sending unit was probable cause. Dealer "ewing Buick-Pontiac" did not have part, referred to reliable Chevrolet who sold us the part as specified in tech pub but was not the correct sending unit. Compared the old one to another year model and located an identical sending unit within 48 hours but this did not fix the temp gauge. The car never has overheated but the gauge would read a different temp daily until it finally rarely ever read a degree. Dealer said would need to pull cluster panel and send out. Only the warranty had just expired 5,000 miles and dealer quoted $650.00 to pull the unit out and send out to have diagnosed and would take about a week. Service writer suggested I wait until warning lights indicate a problem. …
2004 Pontiac Bonneville engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl supercharged | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 26 / 20 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Pontiac Bonneville a good car?
Based on 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Bonneville rates better than average: 81% 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 2004 Pontiac Bonneville?
The electrical system — 11 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the steering (8) and brakes (3).
How many recalls does the 2004 Pontiac Bonneville have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2004 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 2004 Pontiac Bonneville problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 42,000 miles; 56% 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.