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2002 Pontiac Bonneville Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 89 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Pontiac Bonneville, most often about the steering (21% of complaints, typically around 21,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Bonneville model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2002 Pontiac Bonneville problems
Steering
19 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 21,000 miles. Parts named most often: column, gear box, rack and pinion.
While driving consumer heard a loud clunking noise coming from the steering column. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
The steering wheel has a clunking sound & feel as you turn the car. The local dealer has replaced the shaft 3 or 4 time in 58,000 miles, and it is very bad again. In the past they did not charge to repair, but now want to. This is like several other complaints in the system for this problem.
Engine
14 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 92,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Pontiac Bonneville. While driving downhill at various speeds, oil leaks onto the valve cover manifold. Smoke appears under the hood and the contact smells burning oil. When the hood is lifted, he can see the oil on the valve cover manifold. The contact must check the oil level monthly. His…
The tip of a spark plug broke off into the piston causing me to have to replace the engine. Gm has refused to reimburse me for my replacement engine.
Visibility and wipers
13 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles. Parts named most often: power window devices and controls, rearview mirrors/devices, windshield wiper/washer.
2002 Bonneville: all 4 doors/windows have been re-sealed multiple times because rain water flows down the outside of the windows, then flows inside the door, and then flows into the car at the bottom of the car door, causing soaked carpeting (puddles) and mold. Sun-roof mechanical linkage has cracked and broken off in…
Problems with window regulator design. 3/30/2005 33,212 miles, driver's side window shudders and stopped working, would not open. Window replaced under warranty. 3/13/2007 65,600 miles, rt front passenger window, would not open, required replacement, cost to repair $500 8/20/2007 drivers window again barely working…
Electrical
10 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 89,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery.
The contact owns a 2002 Pontiac Bonneville. While driving various speeds, the vehicle would stall without warning. An independent mechanic stated that the failure was caused by the electrical system. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000. Updated 10/02/14 updated 3/6/2015
Car will re-start on its own after key is removed. After parking and shutting off the car, then removing the key and opening the driver's door to exit: if you accidentally press the upper part of the lock button on the door (the unlock function) instead of pressing the lower part of the lock button (the lock…
Transmission
7 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
For a short 2-3 wk period I noticed my transmission not performing normally. I observed 4-5 occurences of slow gear shifting in this 3 wk period and promptly scheduled a test of the transmission. The computer test identified an error that was explained as "inaccurate gear ratio", which means the computer told the…
Suspension
6 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: front.
Clunk from the front, some place in the steering wheel assembly when turning. How do I fix it, or is it anything to be concerned with? Front seats are so very uncomfortable. We have added seat cushions in an attempt to have better support, yet they continue to be horrible.
12/10/2002 1,840 miles knocking sound from lt front wheel; replaced bearing strut 7/22/2004 24,414 miles clunking noise from steering shaft; lubricated intermediate shaft 10/25/2004 28,000 miles complained of steering noise, dealet did nothing 2/7/2005 31,584 miles clunking noise when turing car left or right…
Air bags
6 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
After starting my Pontiac Bonneville 2002 the 'air bag' light lit and stayed on. Driving normally down the highway at normal speeds, suddenly the passenger side air bag deployed with no warning. Car continued to operate normally. Dealer has never encountered such a problem where air bag would suddenly deploy under…
I have had a airbag light illuminated on my dash for some time now (not sure how long but a couple of years or more) and was concerned about this dash indicator with the recent airbag recalls. My VIN doesn't match any such recall notices, however some news websites (like cbs) initially indicted 2002 -2003 Pontiac…
Fuel system
6 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 43,500 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
When involved in an accident, the fuel safety shut off in my wife's Bonneville didn't work. She was struck just behind the passenger side rear door and then pushed into a traffic light hard enough to set off the air bags. After both impacts the car was still running and had to be shut off by the ignition key.…
There's a metallic popping noise from the rear end of the vehicle. Upon inspection of the noise the consumer noticed that the plastic fuel tank was coming in contact with the floor pan and rubbing. The area where the components were rubbing began to rust. The manufacturer has been contacted. Please provided any…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 Pontiac Bonneville recalls
Fuel system: tank assembly
Risk: Fuel system components can be damaged and fuel can leak from the vehicle when it is refueled. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank pressure sensor. Owner notification began on october 17, 2003. Owners should contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339; oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537; or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.
Full defect summary
On certain cadillac deville and seville passenger vehicles, funeral coaches, and limousines equipped with a v8 (4.6l) engine, oldsmobile aurora passenger vehicles equipped with a v8 (4.0l ) engine, and pontiac bonneville ssei passenger vehicles equipped with a supercharged v6 (3.8l) engine, the fuel tank pressure sensors are unusually susceptible to malfunctions. If the sensor malfunctions, excessive vacuum can be applied during self-diagnostic testing.
Air bags: frontal
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Engine compartment fire
Summary
By letter dated march 12, 2008, general motors corp. (gm) has notified the agency that it will conduct a safety recall (identified by NHTSA recall number 08v-118) to address a defect in approximately 207,542 model year (my) 1997-2003 buick regal gs and pontiac grand prix gtp vehicles equipped with the l67 supercharged version of gm's 3800 series II v6 engine.the recalled regal gs vehicles were built from august 1996 to june 2003 and the grand prix gtp from march 1996 through january 2003.according to gm, oil may escape past the valve cover gasket on the front cylinder bank (cylinders 1-3-5) and deposit onto hot exhaust system components.under certain conditions, it is possible for this oil t
Engine compartment fires
Summary
Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with gm?s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a source of fuel to produce a combustible air-fuel mixture in the manifold.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by odi that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in gm?s recalls.odi will continue to monitor the incidence of manifold rupt
Questions about the 2002 Pontiac Bonneville
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Pontiac Bonneville?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (19 complaints, typically around 21,000 miles); engine (14 complaints, typically around 92,000 miles); visibility and wipers (13 complaints, typically around 40,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Pontiac Bonneville have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 1, 2003 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Pontiac Bonneville?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Bonneville model year since 2000, with 89 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.