crashtest

1992 / Pontiac

1992 Pontiac Bonneville

Safety ratings

1992 Pontiac Bonneville SSE 4-DR.

Not ratedOverall
Not ratedFrontal crash
Not ratedSide crash
Not ratedSide pole
Not ratedRollover
Frontal, driver: 5★Frontal, passenger: 3★Rollover risk: 0.0%
  • Lane departure warningNo
  • Forward collision warningNo
  • Electronic stability controlNo

Crash test videos & photos

Crash test #1NHTSA test 1702

Full test report (PDF) ↗

Recalls (3)

  • PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICALCampaign 91V167000 · 23/09/1991

    WHEN APPLIED, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY MAY RELEASE ONE OR MORE TEETH, REDUCING THE CABLE LOAD TO THE REAR BRAKES.

    Risk: DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE LEVER RELEASE AND ROADLEVEL. THE PARKING BRAKE MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, ALLOWING IT TO ROLL, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 105.

    Fix: REPLACE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY.

  • POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINESCampaign 96V015000 · 23/01/1996

    VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.

    Risk: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.

    Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.

  • POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONCampaign 91V131000 · 05/08/1991

    TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE MAY DISENGAGE FROM SHIFT CONTROL CABLE BRACKET, CAUSING LOSS OF GEAR INDICATOR REFERENCE, AND SHIFT SELECTOR OPERATION.

    Risk: THE DISENGAGED CABLE COULD FALSELY INDICATE TRANSMISSIONGEAR POSITION, AND THE VEHICLE MIGHT BE LEFT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE WHEN THE DRIVERMOVED THE GEAR SELECTOR TO PARK OR THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. A VEHICLE LEFT ON ANINCLINE WITHOUT PARKING BRAKES WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR IS PLACED IN PARK COULDMOVE. EITHER CASE RESULTS IN UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNINGAND COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

    Fix: INSTALL A TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP ON THE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE BRACKET ON TOP OF TRANSAXLE.

Owner complaints

118
Complaints
13
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
12
Injuries
0
Deaths

Most-reported areas

  • SERVICE BRAKES48
  • HYDRAULIC46
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM16
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING9
  • POWER TRAIN9
  • AIR BAGS6
  • FUEL SYSTEM5
  • GASOLINE5
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

  • 12/21/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    BRAKE SPRING AND SCREW BROKE OFF.

  • 12/17/1994· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

  • 12/16/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKES. *AK

  • 12/16/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    WHILE DRIVING PRESSED ON THE ABS BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE DID'T SLOW DOWN. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE BRAKE. *AK

  • 12/14/1995· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEFire

    WHILE PICKING UP DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. CAR WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

  • 12/09/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    SERPENTINE BELT FAILED.

  • 12/04/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    ABS BRAKES; WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES CONTINUOUSLY DUE TO VALVE FAILING IN SYSTEM. JIM HOFFPAUIR INC. LAMPASAS TX., PART IS ON BACK ORDER. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

  • 12/03/1994· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    REAR BRAKE RETENTION SPRING BROKE INTO AND GROUNDED UP IN THE DRUM, RESULTING IN NOISY LEFT REAR BRAKE. *AK

  • 12/02/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

    CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

  • 11/30/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    ENGINE STALLS WITH NO WARNING, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENEDTHREE TIMES. VEHICLE HAS TO SIT FOR A WHILE IN ORDER TO START AGAIN. DEALER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. PROBLEM RESOLVED. *AK

  • 11/28/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    THE ABS BRAKES WENT OUT. THE CAR ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. TT FIRST, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE ABS HAD FAILED. ALSO ACCORDING TO THE DEALER SEVERAL VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THE PROBLEM, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES. *YH

  • 11/24/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    DASH CLUSTER CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL. *DSH

  • 11/24/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    REAR BRAKE SPRING BROKE. *TT

  • 11/22/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

    NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS DURING HEAD ON COLLISION.

  • 11/20/1995· SUSPENSION

    STUD SNAP OF THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BALL JOINT, ALLOWED THE WHEEL TO FALL DOWN. TT

  • 11/16/2016· SERVICE BRAKES

    THERE R NO BRAKES PUT BRAKES ON WILL GO ALL THE WAY TOO FLOOR U GOT TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE VERY DANGERS HEARD THERE IS A RECALL ON BRAKE BOOSTER

  • 11/13/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED.

  • 11/09/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    SPRING BROKE IN THE BRAKING MECHANISM ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL, RESULTING IN LOCKUP, REPLACED BRAKE DRUM AND THE SPRING. TT

  • 10/29/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    CONSUMER PUT SOME ITEMS INTO THE TRUNK, AND ANOTHER CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRUNK. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE DID'NT PUT ANYTHING INTO THE TRUNK WHICH WAS FLAMMABLE.

  • 10/27/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    THERE IS A STRESS CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THAT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A LOUD MUFFLED SOUND WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR. DEALER SAYS IT NEEDS A NEW MANIFOLD. *AK

  • 10/22/1997· SUSPENSION,WHEELS

    MUCPHERSON STRUT FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE INSTABILITY. ALSO WHEEL HUB FELL OFF. *AK

  • 10/21/1996· POWER TRAIN

    RECALL NO 96V015002 WAS FIXED ON MAY OF 1996, ANOTHER LINE IS NOW LEAKING, MFR. WILL NOT REPLACE THE LINE. *AK

  • 10/19/1995· SEAT BELTS

    REAR LEFT AND RIGHT SEATBELT RETRACTOR LOCKED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF PULLING OUT, AND WILL NOT GO BACK IN, REPLACED RETRACTORS. TT

  • 10/17/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

    BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURY.

  • 10/14/1997· STRUCTURE

    FRONT DOOR SEAL (LEFT SIDE) FAILED.

  • 10/14/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    ALTERNATOR FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

  • 10/06/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

    BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *SD

  • 10/05/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    EXPERIENCED TWO BRAKE FAILURES, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAIL. TT

  • 10/02/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THERE WAS SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NLM

  • 09/30/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

    REAR CALIPERS MANUFATURED POORLY DAMAGING ROTORS, PADS AND RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE FRONT BRAKE WEAR AND UNEVEN WEAR ON TIRES.

  • 09/15/1995· STEERINGCrash

    BURR HOLDING TIE ROD TO WHEEL WAS LOOSE, CAUSING TIE ROD TO VIBRATE, THREADS TO WEAR DOWN, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *DSH

  • 09/14/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

    WHILE STOPPED THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND FORCED THE VEHICLE FORWARD INTO THE BACK BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT. *MJS

  • 09/11/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

    CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS PULLING OUT FROM PARKING LOT INTO THE INTERSECTION WHEN BRAKES FAILED TO STOP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CONTINUE ON, CRASHING INTO OTHER VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

  • 09/10/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF, LOSING ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER DUE TO THE LISTED PROBLEM. *AK

  • 09/08/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

  • 09/02/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    WARNING LIGHT COMES ON CONTINUOUSLY, HAD FIXED TEN TIMES. REPLACED SENSOR AND MODULATOR VALVE. TT

  • 08/26/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    VOLTAGE FALLS AND MOTOR QUITS IN HEAT. BATTERY IS DEAD. REPLACING ALT & BATT DOES NOT HELP. VOLTAGE GETS LOWER AS HEAT BUILDS UNTIL BATTERY DIES. ENGINE FALTERS AND QUITS. HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED (DIDN'T HAPPEN BEFORE). SSEI DOES NOT HAVE A VOLTMETER AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE BATTERY LIGHT COME ON IN ANY OF THE EVENTS (THOUGHT IT IS WEAK AND HARD TO SEE SO WE CAN'T BE SURE). DEALER KNOWS NOTHING. WE HAVE NOT FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM. I INSTALLED THE 130 AMPERE OPTION ALTERNATOR (FOR CARS WITH ELECTRICALLY HEATED WINDSHIELDS) THE LAST TIME AND HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE VOLTAGE. THE VOLTAGE DROPS STEADILY AS HEAT BUILDS, BUT SEEMS TO STOP AT ABOUT 13 VOLTS (I DIDN'T ADD VOLTMETER BEFORE GOING TO THE LARGER ALTERNATOR SO I DON'T KNOW HOW LOW VOLTAGE WENT IN EARLIER EVENTS .. THOUGH I DID EXPERIEMENT WITH SEMI-DEAD BETTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR DISCONNETED AND THE ENGINE QUITS AT ABOUT 10 VOLTS). I SEE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM ON YOUR WEB SITE AND I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHER SSEI OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL HAVE REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND/OR BATTERY TO NO AVAIL.

  • 08/23/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    ABS: BRAKE ADJUSTMENT BROKE OFF, CAUSED BRAKE PADS TO TEAR UP WHOLE BRAKE SYSTEM; MADE LOUD NOISE LIKE A BLOWOUT; ENTIRE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED AT 41,000 MILES.

  • 08/16/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

    AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSED VEHICLE TO CATCH AN FIRE UNDER THE DASH. *AK

  • 08/16/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    THE ABS SYSTEM IS FAILING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR BEFORE IT WILL STOP THE CAR. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

  • 08/15/1996· POWER TRAINFire

    COOLING UNIT HOSE LEAK DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND CAUSING A FIRE PRIOR TO RCALL (96V-015.002). *AK

  • 08/14/2003· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

    CAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GOES ON AND OFF WHENEVER A/C IS ON.VERY DIM LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUT WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON.*AK

  • 08/14/1996· WHEELS

    DEFECTIVE LUG NUTS CAUSED WHEEL TO COME OFF/ CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.

  • 08/10/1998· POWER TRAIN

    WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING IN THE PARK GEAR, THE VEHICLE SHIFTS OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

  • 08/06/2010· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE MOTOR CARRIAGE HAD FRACTURED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 128,000.

  • 08/04/1998· EQUIPMENT

    WHILE DRIVING SMOKE WAS NOTICED FROM THE BACK SEAT IN VEHICLE. POSSIBLE CAUSE LOCATION OF CIGARETTE LIGHTER WHICH CAN EASILY BE DEPRESSED BY ACCIDENT. POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW. OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY.

  • 08/01/1997· POWER TRAIN

    VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION COOLING HOSE DISCONNECTED FROM THE RADIATOR, AND SPRAYED HYDRAULIC FLUID OVER THE HOT ENGINE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK THE PROBLEM HAD OCCURED TWICE. THERE WAS A RECALL BY NHTSA #96V015002 REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT DID NOT APPLY TO THIS CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. *YH

  • 07/31/1998· AIR BAGS

    NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG IN ACCIDENT.

  • 07/29/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    ENGINE STALLS/COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, ANY SPEED, NEARLY CAUSED CRASH. DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR/BATTERY THREE TIMES. *AK

  • 07/23/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    WHEN TRAVELING AND UPON MAKING A NORMAL STOP ON WET PAVEMENT, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE/BRAKES FADED AWAY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE WHEEL SENSOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK