Electrical complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 8 | 30% | 130,000 miles |
| 2004 | 11 | 39% | 40,000 miles |
| 2003 | 10 | 19% | 81,000 miles |
| 2002 | 10 | 11% | 96,000 miles |
| 2001 | 16 | 12% | 87,000 miles |
| 2000 | 32 | 15% | 80,000 miles |
| 1999 | 22 | 15% | 130,000 miles |
| 1998 | 28 | 10% | 100,000 miles |
| 1997 | 28 | 19% | 80,000 miles |
| 1996 | 21 | 14% | 105,000 miles |
| 1995 | 40 | 16% | 100,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Started up my car and the air bag light went on and won't go off. Also having problems with electrical lights in the dash. Part of the lights for the speedometer/air-conditioner buttons are only 1/2 working and part of the lights on the radio don't light up either. After reading several of these it sounds like this is a big issue with this model of car.
"Takata recall" unusual engine noise car won't brake fumes coming inside the car. Car shaking and vibrating low oil pressure even when I got a oil change. After oil change car wouldn't go no more than 16 miles per hour. Car will not crank if it's 47 degrees or lower temperature. In motion in city street and highway
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.
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?
Car will re-start on its own after key is removed. After parking and shutting off the car, then removing the key and opening the driver's door to exit: if you accidentally press the upper part of the lock button on the door (the unlock function) instead of pressing the lower part of the lock button (the lock function), the car will re-start itself. It then cannot be turned off because the ignition switch is already in the off position. The only way to shut off the engine is to jiggle the shifter.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Pontiac Bonneville. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start without warning. The vehicle was able to be started, but it took several attempts. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 80,529.
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module
These vehicles were assembled with a malfunction alarm, lighting and locking (mall) module that can contain a damaged capacitor. If the capacitor is damaged, the "key in the ignition" warning chime and the driver seat belt unbuckled warning chime and indicator lamp May not work. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS no.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the mall module.
Frequently asked questions
Which Pontiac Bonneville years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (40), 2000 (32), 1997 (28), 1998 (28) and 1999 (22) model years. Electrical complaints make up 16% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Pontiac Bonneville electrical problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 95V-204 (control module, Oct 23, 1995). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Pontiac Bonneville electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 91,000 miles; 20% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the ignition (28 mentions), followed by the 12v/24v/48v battery (24).
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.