Engine
3.8L 6-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 70 of 88 complaints with a usable failure date.
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Electrical system
22 complaint records4 fire reports
"CAR STALLED & SHIM RING FOR ANY REASON, LOSS POWER STERRING AND BRAKING WHEN DURING NORMAL CONDITION. THREE OCCURENCES IN 3 MONTHS...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse electrical system parts in the directory →
Engine & cooling
18 complaint records2 fire reports
"STEERING FAILED, ENGINE STALLED, CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. SAME THING HAPPENED TO A 1992 BONNEVILLE TWO YEARS AGO. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse engine & cooling parts in the directory →
Air bags
15 complaint records8 crash reports
"DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. DRIVER SUFFERED FACIAL INJURIES. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. MR..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse air bags parts in the directory →
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19NA273 Dec 2019 | Equipment | This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to Unlock Delco Radio with Theftlock. | |
| PIC4696E Nov 2019 | Equipment | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. | |
| PIC4696D Sep 2019 | Equipment | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. | |
| PIC4696C May 2018 | Equipment | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. | |
| 130089009 Sep 2013 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules |
Show 24 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 990730030A Apr 2001 | Power Train | OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN STANDING IN PARK ON A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE NOT APPLIED. *TT | |
| 990730030 Dec 1999 | Power Train | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60 OR 4T60-E TRANSXALES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN IN PARK ON INCLINE. *TT | |
| 832006 Dec 1998 | Structure | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THERE IS CORROSION ( RUST ) APPEARING ON THE LEFT AND /OR RIGHT ROCKER PANEL(S). *YC | |
| 98833005 Oct 1998 | Suspension | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE VEHICLE | |
| 831704 Oct 1998 | Structure | CONCERNS OF DOOR HANDLES ON WHITE PAINTED VEHICLES TRUNING YELLOW. *YC | |
| 971101631041 Nov 1997 | Structure | COMMENTS ON INOPERATIVE POWER DOOR LOCKS (FRONT AND/OR REAR DOORS). | |
| 9709013202B Sep 1997 | Steering | EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT STEERING COLUMN SNAP OR CLICK NOISE WHEN TURNING. *YC | |
| 731608 Jun 1997 | Visibility | EXCESSIVE VIBRATION OF ELECTROCHROMIC INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR. *TW | |
| 536506A Jun 1997 | Electrical System | DRIVELINE VIBRATION OVER 37 MPH (REPLACE PROM). *TW | |
| 970501776515 May 1997 | Engine And Engine Cooling | INFORMATION BASED ON ENGINE IDLE SURGE, OR MIL (MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP) ILLUMINATED WITH DTC (DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE) P0131, P0171 OR 44 SET. *YC | |
| 549001A Mar 1997 | Equipment | CLN INDICATOR APPEARS ON RADIO DISPLAY AND DOES NOT TURN OFF (RESET CLN INDICATOR WITH THE EJECT BUTTON ON TAPE). *TW | |
| 577106A Feb 1997 | Power Train | COLD START RATTLE NOISE (DIAGNOSIS/SERVICE PROCEDURE). *TW | |
| 108150A Dec 1996 | Power Train | SOME VEHICLES MAY DISPLAY A CONDITION AT 70 MPH WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER READS ABOUT 4 MPH FASTER OR SLOWER THAN HUD. *TW | |
| 577106A Dec 1996 | Power Train | COLD START RATTLE NOISE. *TW | |
| 535014 Sep 1995 | Service Brakes | ABS ADN TRACTION OFF INDICATOR LAMPS COME ON. *SD | |
| 438314 Aug 1995 | Power Train | LOW ILLUMINATION OF CONSOLE PRNDL INDICATOR IN LOWER OR ALL GEAR POSITIONS. *SD | |
| 9573T4001 Aug 1995 | Power Train | GRINDING AND/OR GROWLING NOISE IN PARK ON INCLINE.*SD | |
| 576113 May 1995 | Engine And Engine Cooling | UNKNOWN | |
| 576104 May 1995 | Vehicle Speed Control | UNKNOWN | |
| 536401 Mar 1995 | Electrical System | DIM HEADLAMPS, SLOW WINDSHIELD WIPERS, ETC RESULTING FROM LOW/NO GENERATOR OUTPUT. *TW | |
| 538203 Feb 1995 | Visibility | WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE CHATTER. *TW | |
| 577106 Feb 1995 | Power Train | COLD START RATTLE NOISE. *TW | |
| 108150 Jan 1995 | Electrical System | HEADS UP DISPLAY AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SPEED DIFFERENCES. *TW | |
| 436302 Nov 1994 | Fuel System | FAINT BUZZING NOISE FROM FRONT OF DASH AREA. *TW |
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Sit in it with the engine off and test everything that has a switch.Windows, locks, lights, the cluster, the radio. Electrical faults are this vehicle's story and the hardest to see on a drive: an intermittent no-start waits for the second week of ownership. Ask for the battery's age and whether any control module has been replaced.
- Cold-start it yourself and listen for the first thirty seconds.Knocking, ticking that fades as it warms, or blue or white smoke on startup are the sounds of this vehicle's engine cluster. Check the oil level and the coolant color, and ask whether the engine or its head gaskets have ever been out.
- Watch the airbag warning light through a full key cycle.It should light on start and go out within seconds. A light that stays on, or never lights at all, means the system needs attention. Run the VIN for inflator recalls specifically.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Pontiac Bonneville →