1996 Pontiac Bonneville Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Bonneville years
- About as many complaints as other years 4th of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 150 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville. That ranks 4th out of 11 Bonneville model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (43 complaints, 29%), typically at around 105,000 miles. Complaints mention 6 crashes, 7 fires, 15 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
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- 150owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 6complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Pontiac Bonneville problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 43 | 29% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 27 | 18% | 126,564 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 21 | 14% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 19 | 13% | 127,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 10 | 7% | 95,842 | — | — |
| Power Train | 8 | 5% | 144,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | 5% | 98,418 | — | — |
| Steering | 7 | 5% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 5 | 3% | 97,842 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 4 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 2% | 153,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 2% | 128,075 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 1% | 121,200 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 1% | 97,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 1% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Pontiac Bonneville recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system
Problem: A backfire during engine starting can cause breakage of the upper intake manifold.
Risk: This condition can cause a no-start condition and possibly an engine compartment fire.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module programming. Until the campaign repair is made, the vehicle hood should be shut whenever starting the vehicle to reduce the chance of personal injury.
Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module
Problem: 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. 114, "theft protection" and fmvss no. 208, "occupant crash protection." in addition, other chime reminder functions, interior lighting controls, and power door locking features are also affected.
Risk: Consequence of non-compliance; the driver may not be aware that the key was left in the ignition or that the safety belt was not buckled.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the mall module.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Engine compartment fires (EA02030) — opened Oct 22, 2002, closed Mar 9, 2004, led to recall 04V090000.
- Engine compartment fires (PE02050) — opened Jun 13, 2002, closed Oct 22, 2002.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 pontiac bonneville. While driving 35 mph, the driver and passenger side air bags deployed inadvertently without warning. The vehicle was not involved in a crash. Due to the failure, the windshield shattered. A police report was not filed and no injuries were reported…
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 pontiac bonneville. The contact stated that while parked, the anti-theft and an unknown security warning lights illuminated and the vehicle required multiple attempts to start. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the ignition lock cylinder was replaced…
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 pontiac bonneville. When the contact started the vehicle, the driver and passenger side air bags deployed inadvertently. The impact of the passenger side air bag caused the windshield to shatter. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of…
Interior lighting system malfunction. Light's staying on when car is running and senors chimming for doors. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 pontiac bonneville. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle chimed before stalling. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for inspection or repairs. The manufacture was not made aware of the failure. The failure…
Other Pontiac Bonneville years
← 1995 Bonneville · 1997 Bonneville →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Bonneville | 27 | 0 |
| 2004 Bonneville | 28 | 0 |
| 2003 Bonneville | 54 | 2 |
| 2002 Bonneville | 89 | 2 |
| 2001 Bonneville | 129 | 0 |
| 2000 Bonneville | 214 | 2 |
| 1999 Bonneville | 143 | 3 |
| 1998 Bonneville | 277 | 1 |
| 1997 Bonneville | 147 | 1 |
| 1996 | 150 | 2 |
| 1995 Bonneville | 244 | 1 |
See all Pontiac Bonneville problems by year, every Pontiac model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Pontiac models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, air bags, electrical system problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 43 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Bonneville model years, the 1996 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.