1998 Pontiac Bonneville

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

• 12/27/2013· ENGINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,506.

• 12/26/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN MISSING AND RUNNING VERY ROUGH. DROVE ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE & CAR STOPPED RUNNING. THE DEALER SAID THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENNUIM NEEDED REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE PLUGS REMOVED & CLEANED. ALSO NEEDED OIL, FILER & COLLANT CHANGED. COST OVER $750 TO REPAIR & MANIFOLD WAS ABOUT THE ONLY ENGINE COMPONENT TO NOT BE INCLUDED UNDER THE ADD'L SERVICE CONTRACT WE HAD PURCHASED.

• 12/22/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE OVERHEATED. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER AND THEN WOULD PICK UP ABRUPTLY AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD WATER WAS COMING OUT OF THE PLUG HOLES. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT WHERE HE WAS THEN TOLD THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THE MECHANIC STATED THE MANIFOLD HAD A LEAK AT THE THROTTLE BODY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED AGAIN 4 YEARS LATER. *JB

• 12/22/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CONSUMER BOUGHT THE BONNEVILLE IN AUGUST, SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP 7 TIMES. THE FIRST FOUR TIMES WERE FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THEY REPLACED THE PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE AND THROTTLE BODY. THE REMAINING VISITS WERE FOR 4 FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILURES, INJECTOR COIL FAILURES MELTED 4 SPARK PLUG WIRES. ALSO, WATER PUMP STARTED LEAKING. *AK

• 12/21/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING.

• 12/20/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER STATES THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING ENGINE TO HYDROLOCK AND BENDING 5 PUSH RODS. THIS ALLOWING COOLANT TO ENTER ENGINE CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE. TS

• 12/20/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED COMPLAINT

• 12/17/2008· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  98 BONNEVILLE WITH 3800 SERIES ENGINE. NOTICED COOLANT WAS LOW SO I ADDED COOLANT, THEN REPLACED THERMOSTAT BECAUSE HEATER WAS PUTTING OUT COLD AIR. SAW BIG CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECT INVOLVING A PLASTIC MANIFOLD AND EGR VALVE THAT THE COOLANT HAD MIXED WITH THE OIL DUE TO HOLES CAUSED BY THE DEFECT IN THE UPPER AND LOWER MANIFOLDS. CALLED PONTIAC DIRECTLY AND THEY SAID SORRY ABOUT YOUR SITUATION BUT NO RECALL. CONTACTED PREVIOUS OWNER AND HE SAID THE SAME THING HAPPENED 3 YEARS AGO AND HE HAD THE SAME THING FIXED. LONG STORY SHORT, I'M SPENDING $1400 FOR A PROBLEM THAT THE ENGINEERS OF THIS ENGINE KNEW WAS A PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING OF PRODUCTION. *TR

• 12/15/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE

  CAR WOULD STALL HARD TO START GROUND PROBLEM BLAMED FOR POOR GAS PRESSURE TO CARB, ALSO COULD OF BEEN PROBLEM THAT FAILED THE STARTER, ENGINE LITE WOULD GO ON THEN OFF, DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTEN UNTIL THE LAST TIME WHEN THE GROUND PROBLEM WAS FOUND. MAJOR EXPENSE TO ME NOT HAPPY IT TOOK THIS LONG TO FIND PROBLEM. AS OF TODAY CAR SEEMS TO BE OK

• 12/14/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  DEXCOOL COOLANT CORRODED AN UPPER PLENUM INTAKE COSTING ME $1,1185.00. THIS PONTIAC BONNEVILLE ONLY HAS 69000 MILES ON IT. MY MECHANIC SAYS GMC IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT.*AK

• 12/13/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PLEASE BE SURE TO FILE YOUR COMPLAINT AT WWW.AUTOSAFETY.ORG AND SIGN UP FOR THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST GMC. I KNOW THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THE SAME ENGINE COOLANT AND PLASTIC MANIFOLD PROBLEM THAT HAVE HAD TO REPLACE OR REBUILD THE ENGINE IN THE 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. *JB

• 12/13/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THERE ARE 313 COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE AS OF TODAY CONCERNING THE 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. OUT OF THOSE 313 REPORTS, AT LEAST 132 ARE 100 PERCENT RELATED TO THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD FAILURE WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT TO CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE ON MY VEHICLE TWICE WITHIN 4 YEARS. GMC IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND IT IS A SHAME THAT THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN INTEGRITY,HONOR AND PEOPLE'S LIVES. WHAT HAPPENED TO PRIDE IN WHAT YOU MANUFACTURE?SHAME ON GMC!!! *JB

• 12/09/2002· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND NO WARNING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BLEW CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE NON DRIVABLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH

• 12/08/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. IT WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED WITHIN TWO YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. *AK *NM

• 12/07/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ON NOVEMBER 4, 2003 MY WIFE CONTACTED ME AT LUNCH TIME TO INFORM ME HER CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER CHECKING THE BATTERY AND STARTER IT WAS DETERMINED THE MOTOR HAD LOCKED UP. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER I FOUND THAT I STILL HAD 1 YEAR LEFT ON MY EXTENDED WARRANTY ALTHOUGH AT 88,000 MILES I WAS 500 MILES OVER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY INFORMED ME THIS WAS CLASSIC SIGNS OF THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD. I PROCEEDED TO REPAIR THE CAR MYSELF. AFTER TAKING THE AIR PLENIUM OFF THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD I FOUND THE TOP OF THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD FILLED WITH ANTI-FREEZE. APPARENTLY, THE AIR PLENIUM HAD DEVELOPED A CRACK AND ALLOWED THE ANTI-FREEZE INTO THE AIR INTAKE. THIS PERMITTED ANTI-FREEZE TO FILL NUMBER 1 CYLINDER WITH ANTI-FREEZE AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE PISTON TO TRAVEL TO THE TOP OF THE CYLINDER. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT BECAME APPARENT I WAS VERY LUCKY. THERE WERE SEVERAL CASES REPORTED ON LINE WHERE THIS HAPPENED WHILE PEOPLE WERE DRIVING AND CAUSED MAJOR LOWER ENGINE REPAIR SUCH AS SHATTERED RODS AND CRANKSHAFTS. I ALSO NOTICED THERE APPEARS TO BE A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEB SITE ON THIS ISSUE. I SENT AN EMAIL TO GENERAL MOTORS VIA THEIR WEB SITE ON THIS ISSUE. IT AMAZES ME THAT THIS PART IS MADE OF A PLASTIC COMPOSITE MATERIAL AND IS MOUNTED TO THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. WITH THE HEATING AND COOLING CYCLES THE ENGINE GOES THROUGH, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS PRODUCT WOULD FAIL. FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET AND TALKING TO VARIOUS PART CLERKS IT IS BETWEEN 80,000 MILES AND 100,000 MILES WHEN THIS PRODUCT FAILS. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS DESIGNED INTENT BY GM, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE NOT CHANGED THIS DESIGN THROUGH THE 2003 MODELS. NEEDLESS TO SAY I DID NOT GET A RESPONSE BACK FOR GM. I FELT WITH THIS TYPE OF DEFECT AND THE SAFETY PROBLEM THIS COULD CAUSE IF THIS WERE TO HAVE HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS. SINCERELY, WILLIAM J. FITZGERALD. *LA

• 12/06/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NO SUMMARY. DT

• 12/05/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  UPPER INTAKE CRACK WHICH CAUSED COOLANT LEAK INTO INTAKE AND FUEL SYSTEM. DT

• 12/05/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER ADVISED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE. VEHICLE STALLE OH HIGHWAY. TS

• 12/02/2002· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURES ARE A KNOWN PROBLEM AT GM, AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AT A SPEED OF APX. 65 MPH, ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY, IN THE CENTER LANE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STOP, AND LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING THEN OCCURRES. AS SHE PROCEEDED TO TRY TO GET THE CAR OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, SEVERAL CARS SKIDDED TO STOP AS THE CAR SLOWLY MADE IT'S WAY OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF THESE INTAKE MANIFOLDS FAILING, AND THAT IT IS A KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT. THEY SEE A LOT OF 3.8 ENGINES WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT FIXING IT FOR THE CONSUMER. MY REPAIR COST ME A LITTLE OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS. A LOT OF TIMES, THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS DAMAGED BY THE CATASTROPHIC EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE WHEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS FAIL. WE ARE VERY LUCKY THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT SEVERAL CARS LOCKED UP THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID COLLISION WITH THIS DISABLED VEHICLE. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW, AND MAINTAIN IT MORE THAN IS REQUIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THIS INTAKE MANIFOLD DEFECT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED A LONG TIME AGO, AS I HAVE TRACED OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES HAVING THIS PROBLEM SINCE 1996, AND POSSIBLY BEFORE. IF NOTHING IS DONE, THEN SURELY DEATHS WILL OCCUR DUE TO THE SERIES OF CATASTROPHIC EVENTS THAT WILL OCCUR DUE TO THIS DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD, INCLUDING LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, STEERING AND BRAKING. DT

• 12/01/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  CONSUMER WENT TO START VEHICLE, THERE WAS A LOUD POP NOISE AND VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING, FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 13-7560-177. *SLC

• 12/01/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COIL WIRE AND ABOUT 5/6 TIMES ALREADY THE CAR HAS JUST COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT, USUALLY WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN AT A STOP SIGN/SIGNAL OR JUST TAKING OFF FROM ONE.*AK

• 11/26/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE ENGINE INTAKE PLASTIC MANIFOLD CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED ANTIFREEZE TO RUN INTO THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. TS. *JG *JB

• 11/25/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  DASH AND REAR LIGHT SWITCH HAVE BLOWN FOR 2 YEARS IN A ROW AFTER AROUND THANKSGIVING/CHRISTMAS TIME FORCING ME TO DRIVE HOME WITH NO DASH OR REAR TAILLIGHTS. $150.00 REPAIR. *JB

• 11/25/1998· POWER TRAIN

  STEERING WHEEL FROZEN AND GEAR SELECTOR LOCKED UP DUE TO "TORQUE LOCK" WHICH IS A DESIGN FEATURE IN THE TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY, THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

• 11/24/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 10 MPH AND SOMETIMES HIGHER SPEEDS, ACCORDING TO CONSUMER, THE VEHICLE JUST SHUTS OFF, LOSING POWER AND STEERING POWER. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON WHEN ENGINE STOPS. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TWICE THEY SAID: THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE FUEL PUMP THAT'S WHY THE ENGINE WAS NOT WORKING. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEM. *SLC

• 11/21/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  IT IS VERY OBVIOUS THAT GMC IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE APPARENT DEFECTS WITH THE PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. MY ENGINE LOCKED UP IN JULY 2001 WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THE MECHANIC THAT REPAIRED THE CAR TOLD ME THAT WATER AND RADIATOR FLUID WAS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AND THE CHEAP PLASTIC PLENTUM HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW,THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ONCE AGAIN ON 11/07/2005. THE CAR WAS ONLY GOING 35 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE OVER-HEATED AND THIS TIME IT IS COSTING ME 2,321.00! I FEEL SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BY GMC OR RESEARCH SHOULD BE DONE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. IT IS EXTREMELY APPARENT THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN ALL 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLES AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR NOR CAN I AFFORD TO RE-BUILD OR RE-PLACE MY ENGINE EVERY 3-4 YEARS. *JB

• 11/21/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT

  THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY ENGINE LOCKED UP AND RADIATOR FLUID WAS COMING OUT OF THE HEAD GASKETS ON THE ENGINE WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WITHIN 4 YEARS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS CAR. *JB

• 11/15/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK INTO CYLINDERS. ON STARTUP, THE ENGINE HYDROLOCKED. WHEN ENGINE HYDROLOCKED, THE STARTER WAS DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND SPARK PLUGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND ALL MANIFOLDS WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL.*AK

• 11/15/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE STALLS NORMALLY WHEN DECELERATING WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. DEALER IS UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING TURNS ACROSS ON COMING TRAFFIC AS IT HAS STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS. VEHICLE HAS TO BE SHUT OFF AND PUT IN NUETRAL BEFORE IT CAN BE RESTARTED AND ON TWO OCCASIONS STALLED AGAIN AFTER RESTARTING. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO BE ON PUBLIC ROADS AND GM SAYS THERE IS NOTHING MORE THAT CAN BE DONE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT COURTESY PONTIAC THREE TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF 17 DAYS OF THE LAST 36 DAYS AND STILL HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.

• 11/14/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NOTICED SLOW LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT (NO OBVIOUS LEAKS) OVER THE MONTH PRIOR TO INCIDENT DATE. ON INCIDENT DATE, ENGINE POPPED, BANGED, AND RAN EXTREMELY ROUGH ON START-UP. I HAD READ ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8 LITER V-6 GM ENGINE, AND BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER FOUND WARPED/CRACKED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $700. PONTIAC/GM WOULD NOT CONSIDER ANY COST SHARING ON THE REPAIR. FAILURE WAS IN AREA OF MANIFOLD/PLENUM WHERE THROTTLE BODY/EGR VALVE MOUNT, AND IS DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD-UP OVER TIME. THIS PROBLEM IS A DESIGN DEFECT (USE OF PLASTIC MANIFOLD VS. METAL IN HIGH TEMPERATURE APPLICATION) ON THIS AND SEVERAL OTHER GM V6 ENGINE TYPES FROM 1995 TO AT LEAST 2002. GM INSTALLS THESE ENGINES IN VARIOUS MODELS OF PONTIACS, BUICKS, OLDSMOBILES, AND I BELIEVE SOME CHEVROLETS. I ESTIMATE THAT GM HAS WELL OVER 1,000,000 OF THESE PROBLEM ENGINES IN VEHICLES, AND THEIR POTENTIAL COST LIABILITY IS IN THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. I DON'T EXPECT THEM TO INITIATE A RECALL WITHOUT GOVERNMENT MANDATE. IN OTHER CASES I HAVE RESEARCHED, THIS PROBLEM HAS APPARENTLY LED TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE, AND IN SOME CASES, ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. *LA

• 11/10/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY STALLING. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THE PROBLEMS CAN NOT BE FOUND OR THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

• 11/09/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING IN CITY AT APROX 35MPH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR EMISSION CONTROL. CONTACTED DEALER , WHO SAID THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION, AND IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. BUT VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK

• 11/08/2001· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  IT WOULD SEEM THAT AN INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK SO SUDDEN & SEVERE THAT IT KILLS THE ENGINE AT SPEED COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A PERSON TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. NO ADVANCE WARNING, OTHER THAN STARTING TO RUN ROUGH, THEN FILLING THE ENGINE SO FULL OF COOLANT THAT IT KILLED THE MOTOR & LOCKED IT UP, PREVENTING THE STARTER FROM CRANKING THE ENGINE OVER.*AK

• 11/03/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  VEHICLE'S WARNING SIGNAL STARTS UP AND THE VEHICLE HESITATES OR STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING.*MR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS ALSO DAMAGED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE AND OVER HEAT. *CB

• 10/24/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING COOLANT FLUID ARE BEING PUMP INTO THE ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

• 10/22/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE TO ENTER THE ENGINE, OIL RESULTING IN COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AT 75 MPH. *AK ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC REPLACED ENGINE, INTAKE MANIFOLD AND PERIPHERALS FOR OVER $5000. HAVE POSSESSION OF ORIGINAL FACTORY INTAKE MANIFOLD SHOWING HOLE IN EGR AREA THAT FAILED. RUINED ENGINE HAD TO BE RETURNED FOR CORE FEE. CAR RECENTLY OFF EXTENDED WARRANTY. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE UNCOOPERATIVE AND CLAIMS THAT TSB 010601007A (NHTSA ITEM #620835) NOT PUBLISHED BY GM. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE CLAIMS CAR HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED, DID NOT CARE TO HAVE DETAILS OF OIL CHANGES (EVERY 3000 MILES) OR OTHER SERVICE PERFORMED AS RECOMMENDED IN OWNER'S MANUAL. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS PRODUCT FAILURE AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AT HIGWAY SPEEDS! WHEN ENGINE LOCKED UP, LOST ALL POWER AND HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ONTO THE SHOULDER. VERY THANKFUL MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND NOT ME, AS I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE TREMENDOUS STRENGTH REQUIRED TO PERFORM THAT TASK WHEN THERE IS NO POWER STEERING! RECENTLY RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL FROM GM FOR THE GASOLINE PRESSURE REGULATOR THAT MUST HAVE A NUMBER OF VARIABLES HAPPEN ALL AT THE SAME TIME TO BECOME AN ISSUE. WHY IS GM NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS SERIOUS INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM THAT APPEARS TO BE LYING IN WAIT FOR THE UNSUSPECTING CONSUMER?

• 10/22/2004· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL 04V09000. HE WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OFF. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BLEW UP APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE YEARS AGO. HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER DAYS AGO, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WORK SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE 2 OR 3 YEARS AGO. CONTACTED PONTIAC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PLENUM WAS THE DEFECTIVE PART ON THE VEHICLE. WHICH HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. HOWEVER, HIS CLAIM WAS DENIED. *AK

• 10/21/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MELTED CAUSING OIL TO MIX IN WITH ANTIFREEZE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. TS *YH

• 10/21/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE STOPPING AND THEN STARTING, VEHICLE IDLES LOW AND ON SOME OCCASIONS IT STALLS, ESPECIALLY WHILE MAKING LEFT TURNS, DEALER ONCE FOUND A VACUUM LEAK FROM BETWEEN THE THROTTLE BODY AND UPPER PLENUMN, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS POOR ACCELERATION AND LACK OF POWER. BATTERY FAILED. *SLC

• 10/20/2004· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  INTAKE MANIFOLD AND FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILURE. *BF THE RECALLED COMPONENT FAILED PRIOR TO NOTIFICATION. THE CONSUEMR PAID TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS ONLY OFFERED A PARTIAL REFUND. *NM

• 10/16/2004· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEFire

  1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. EXPLOSION UNDER HOOD. $900.00 DAMAGE. SUMMER 2004 WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. IF ALREADY OCCURRED, SEND BILLS FOR REIMBURSEMENT. WE RECEIVED A CHECK FOR ONLY $82! GENERAL MOTORS IS AT FAULT FOR A DEFECTIVE PART. YET THEY ONLY PAID FOR THE PART, NOT THE DAMAGE IT CAUSED.*JB

• 10/16/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HIGH. CONSUMER DROVE CAR TO A NEAR BY MECHANIC, AND THEY POURED ANTIFREEZE INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO COOL VEHICLE DOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATED, WHILE HE STARTED THE ENGINE, WHITE SMOKE POURED FROM THE EXHAUST, TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, DEALER REPLACED ENGINE BUT WHILE TESTING THE ENGINE, THE SAME PROBLEM APPEARED, DEALER AWARE OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN, THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED, WHICH CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *YD

• 10/15/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE PLASTIC INTAKE HAD CRACKED, WHICH DUMPED THE ENGINE COOLANT INTO THE CHUNDERS AND LOCKED THE ENGINE. MR SCC *JB

• 10/15/1999· POWER TRAIN

  GOT BACK FROM VACATION HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE REGULARLY SINCE RECEIVING THE CAR BACK.VEHICLE IN GEAR WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES VEHICLE SURGED AND JERKED. *AK

• 10/13/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE 3800 ENGINE IN MY PONTIAC HAS IN THE PAST TWO YEARS FOR SOME REASON HAS HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE IT HAS CRACKED. I AM TRYING TO OUT IF THERE IS A RECALL OR SOME SORT OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE OR OTHER 3800 SERIES ENGINES? *NM

• 10/08/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, 3.8 LITER V6, 65K MILES WHEN ITS INTAKE MANIFOLD "PLASTIC" GASKET WARPED UNDER NORMAL USE. COOLANT DAMAGED IT WHEN DRAINED INTO ENGINE. GM HAS SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS OUT THERE REGARDING THEIR 3.8-LITER V6 AND THIS PROBLEM. THEY KNOW IT'S DEFECTIVE IN THEIR DESIGN, BUT REFUSED TO COVER ANY PERCENTAGE OF REPAIR COST. LUCKILY, THE CAR WAS NOT TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND NO ONE GOT HURT FROM A LOCKED UP OR DESTROYED ENGINE. GM SHOULD RECALL OR OFFER A REPAIR COPY ON THEIR DEFECTIVE DESIGN. SERVICE BULLETIN REPLACES "PLASTIC" PART WITH REDESIGNED ALUMINUM ONE. THEY KNOW ITS A PROBLEM, IT'S TIME THEY MAKE IT RIGHT. *LA

• 10/07/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ON SEPTEMBER 19,2003, MY 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WITH 3800 V6 OVERHEATED(CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND HIGH TEMP ON GAUGES), WOULD NOT RESTART AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER BY STARTER MOTOR. HAD TO TOW INTO SHOP AND HAD COOLING SYSTEM CHECKED. PRESSURE LEAKS WERE DETECTED. THE SHOP MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE UPPER PLENUM FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH IS MADE OF PLASTIC, HAD BECOME WARPED WHERE THE EGR VALVE CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS ALLOWED ANTIFREEZE TO FILL UP THE ENGINE CYLINDERS. THE SMALL REPAIR SHOP WHERE MY CAR WAS REPAIRED STATED THAT THEY HAD REPLACED MANY OF THIS PARTICULAR UPPER INTAKE PLENUM FOR THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS EVEN BEFORE I TOLD HIM THE ENTIRE PROBLEM. *JB

• 10/06/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT

  1998-BONNEVILLE 70,000 MILES. STARTED STALLING INTERMITTENTLY ON ONE OCCASION, GOT CAR TO MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THAT THE UPPER PLENUM HAD A HOLE BURNED RIGHT THROUGH IT. HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER MANIFOLD BECAUSE OF COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. $910.00 LATER IT IS FIXED. DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND KNOW OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. WONDERING WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO CALL FOR A RECALL??????*AK

• 10/05/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, AND WAS TOWED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE.*AK

• 10/05/2004· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEMS. *BF THERE WAS AN EGR PASSAGE THROUGH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. OVER TIME, HOT GASES FROM THE EGR SYSTEM PASSED BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE PASSAGE WAY WALLS INTO THE SURROUNDING WATER JACKET. RECALL# 04V090000. *SC *JB