2003 Pontiac Bonneville
The Verdict
The 2003 Pontiac Bonneville has 66 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (24 complaints) and body (21 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 83/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Pontiac Bonneville, consider the 2005 model year which has 59% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2005 has 59% fewer complaints
View the 2005 Pontiac Bonneville dashboard →
Klunk Score: Smooth Ride
This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
PASSENGER CONTROL ARM IS BAD
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.
WITH THE KEY TURNED TO ACC YOU CAN PULL THE CAR OUT OF PARK WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. WITH THE KEY TURNED TO RUN YOU MUST DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PULL IT OUT OF PARK. CAR IS NOT RUNNING. ALSO CHECKED 3 OTHER PONTIAC BONNEVILLE'S. ONE IS A 2002 VIN # [XXX]. THEY ALL SHOWED THE SAME OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE 2003, HAVE HAD 5 DIFFERENT SERVICE TECHS, INCLUDING DEALER LOOK FOR THE PROBLEM, NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIX OR FIND THE PROBLEM.
BURNT SMELL AFTER RUNNING CAR. SERVICEMAN CHECKED AND OIL WAS LEAKING. NEED NEW VALVE COVER GASKETS AS LEAKING ON MANIFOLD WILL CAUSE A FIRE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MOVING THE VEHICLE FROM ITS PARKED LOCATION, THE CONTACT NOTICED ENGINE OIL LEAKING ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING DIMINISHED ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 03/16/16*JB
LEAKING OIL, SAME ENGINE AS OTHER CARS IN RECENT RECALL.
THE CAR I DRIVE (3.8 LITER SIX CYLINDER) HAS AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE LEFT VALVE COVER. AFTER I COME TO A STOP OR MAKE A LEFT TURN, I SMELL OIL FUMES AND CAN SEE A LIGHT SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT THE CURRENT RECALL FOR CARS MADE BEFORE AND AFTER MY CAR. HOW DO I GET MY CAR ON LIST OF RECALLS FOR REPAIR?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, A FUEL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING AND THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V238000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATE 01/15/16 MA
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?
PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 2003, CAR WOULD JUST TURN OFF WHILE WE WERE DRIVING. WE DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS TURNING OFF AT FIRST, WE JUST THOUGHT THE STEERING AND BRAKES WERE BECOMING HARD TO WORK. WE WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON. *JS *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF FAILED TO OPERATE, BOTH SIDE MIRRORS WOULD OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED A WHISTLING NOISE ACTIVATED THAT WOULD LAST FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED UNKNOWN PARTS. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
THE FUEL INJECTOR STARTED HAVING ISSUES, AND THE CAR HAS A WHISTLING SOUND WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON. THE SMELL OF GAS IS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN OFF SINCE WE GOT THE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER OF 2013, THE MIRRORS MOVE BY THEMSELVES AND THE SUNROOF NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION LOCKED AND PREVENTED THE KEY FROM TURNING TO START THE VEHICLE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE KEY, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE SECURITY SENSOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN SECURITY MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,875.
THE CAR WILL FROM TIME TO TIME ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. ON ONE OCCASION I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AFTER IT HAD BEEN DOING FOR ABOUT A WEEK, HOWEVER ON THE DAY I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP IT WAS NOT DOING IT AND THE SHOP COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. RECENTLY IT HAD BEEN DOING IT FOR A COUPLE DAYS AND THE MORNING I WAS TAKING IT TO THE SHOP, IT WOULD NOT DO IT SO I DID NOT TAKE IT BECAUSE, AS BEFORE, AT THE TIME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. IT SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRONIC OR VACUUM CONTROL PROBLEM. WHEN IT STARTS ACCELERATING, I CAN PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND IT WILL INCREASE RPM'S BRIEFLY THEN IDLE DOWN. IT IS UNPREDICTABLE WHEN IT WILL START DOING. ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, IT WILL GET UP TO ABOUT 55 MPH WITH MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND CRUISE CONTROL OFF. IF IT STARTS DOING AGAIN, I WILL TAKE IT TO A SHOP RIGHT AWAY. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE LOST POWER. I SHIFTED VEHICLE TO NEUTRAL AND ATTEMPTED RESTART. ENGINE RESTARTED. CONTINUED DRIVING WHEN DRIVE OVER BUMPS, BUCKLES IN PAYMENT ENGINE LOOSES POWER. ALL NEEDLE INDICATORS DROP TO OFF POSITION, CAR STARTS TO SLOW DOWN, STEERING LOOSES POWER, ALL LIGHTS GO OUT AS WELL. THIS IS A CONDITION THAT HAS BECOME INCREASING MORE DANGEROUS AS SPEEDS INCREASES. I HAD VEHICLE CHECKED OUT AND MECHANICS ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSIS. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE AS WELL WHICH DID THE SAME WHEN DRIVEN OVER BUMPS, OR IMPERFECTIONS IN THE ROAD. THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT, AND I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING. I PREVIOUSLY STATED I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO RECALL GM HAS RECENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED FOR SOME CARS. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY HAVE INCLUDED ALL VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN THIS PROBLEM. MY PREVIOUS ODI (YOUR CONFIRMATION NUMBER (ODI NUMBER) IS: 10564622 )THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE NOTED, AND INCLUDED WITH SAFETY RECALL BY GM AND NHTSA. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY ENGINE LOST POWER COMPLETELY. I HAD WENT OVER BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. I PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, AND ABLE TO RESTART AND CONTINUE DRIVING. HIT BUMP IN ROAD AGAIN AND ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER. RESTARTED ENGINE AND RETURNED HOME. HAD REPAIR SHOP CHECK VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE ISSUE. NEITHER WAS GM DEALER. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN EVERYTIME I GO OVER BUMP IN ROAD, USUALLY AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MILES PER HOUR. I HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH 2001 BONNEVILLE. I SAW GM RECALLING 2005 G5 WITH SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE MY PROBLEM IS RELATED ISSUE AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED SIMILARLY BY GM. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS LIMITED TO G5 AND COBALT. AS I STATED 2001 AND 2003 BONNEVILLES HAVE SAME ISSUE. *TR
ON 8/1/11 WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE I HAD BEEN HIT BY SOMETHING SO I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT MY LEFT REAR WINDOW HAD DROPPED DOWN BY ITSELF AND I COULD NOT RAISE IT BY ACTIVATING THE SWITCH. GM REPLACED THE OPERATOR. ON 12/13/13 MY RIGHT FRONT WINDOW OPERATOR FAILED AND I SHARED THE COST OF THE REPAIR WITH GM. NOW ON 1/19/14 MY RIGHT REAR WINDOW OPERATOR HAS FAILED. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 7300 MILES ON IT AND IN MY ESTIMATION SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. GM SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
ACTED LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS, LOSS OF POWER AND SPEED. ONLY 50MPH WHEN A BOOM IN THE ENGINE, PULLED OVER POPPED THE HOOD LATCH, SAW SMOKE, EXITED CAR AS FLAMES CAME OUT OF THE HOOD. CALLED 911.. CAR BURNT TO THE GROUND. WITNESS STOPPED AND TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH FAULTY FUEL LINES . *TR
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