Pontiac Bonneville Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the Pontiac Bonneville across 11 model years. The 1995 model year has the most (35). The words owners use most often: “air bag” (53% of reports).
- 117air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 26mention a crash
- 36mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Air bag: mentioned in 62 of 117 complaints (53%)
- Bags deployed: mentioned in 13 of 117 complaints (11%)
- Side airbag: mentioned in 8 of 117 complaints (7%)
- Later passenger: mentioned in 6 of 117 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 72 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 117 complaints, 26 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 36 an injury.
Pontiac Bonneville air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Bonneville | 12 | 44% | 136,000 |
| 2004 Bonneville | 2 | 7% | 69,000 |
| 2003 Bonneville | 3 | 6% | 72,000 |
| 2002 Bonneville | 6 | 7% | 160,000 |
| 2001 Bonneville | 11 | 9% | 63,145 |
| 2000 Bonneville | 5 | 2% | 171,000 |
| 1999 Bonneville | 8 | 6% | 114,293 |
| 1998 Bonneville | 4 | 1% | 100,000 |
| 1997 Bonneville | 4 | 3% | 14,995 |
| 1996 Bonneville | 27 | 18% | 126,564 |
| 1995 Bonneville | 35 | 14% | 131,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 2002, 2003
Problem: 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.
Risk: Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began august 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The airbags did not deploy all the way my [XXX] is in the car as well and the driver side and passenger airbags did not deploy 100% it did cause me to end up having a cut on my face and abruzz eye I have pictures but I did not go to the ER but my [XXX] did cuz she had two cuts on her head it also…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 pontiac bonneville. When the vehicle was started, the air bag indicator illuminated. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 187,000. .*bf consumer owned the vehicle for a year an…
My son was in a car accident and his airbags didn't deploy.
Airbag light came on while driving; repair shop says sensor needs to be replaced
The airbag light came on. I was told the airbag will now only work if the steering wheel is straight. If it is turned and i get hit, the airbag will not deploy.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Pontiac Bonnevilles have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 117 owner complaints about air bags for the Pontiac Bonneville. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Pontiac Bonneville air bags?
Yes: 1 safety recall list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the Pontiac Bonneville?
The most frequent phrase is “air bag”, in 62 of 117 complaints, followed by “bags deployed” (13).
Other Pontiac Bonneville problems
See all Pontiac Bonneville problems.