1987 Pontiac Bonneville
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Pontiac › Bonneville › 1987
These records cover every 1987 Pontiac Bonneville. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
4 recalls name the 1987 Pontiac Bonneville. Newest first.
Certain replacement fuel filters, fram brand name p/n g3727, with date codes x52911 through x60801 sequentially or x600141 and a mexico country or origin marking on the fuel filter housing manufactured from october 18, 2005, through march 21, 2006, sold for use on the vehicles listed above and on certain school buses. (to see the school bus engine sizes…
Risk and remedy
Risk
This condition may cause an inadequate seal at the connection, potentially leading to a fuel leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur.
Remedy
Honeywell will notify owners and replace the fuel filters free of charge. the recall began on october 18, 2006. owners may contact fram customer service at 1-800-890-2075 (option 1).
Excessive accelerator cable friction may restrict the cables free movement between the accelerator pedal and the throttle body.
Risk and remedy
Risk
This could prevent throttle from returning to closed(idle) position when accelerator pedal IS released; thus, engine speed wouldnot decrease, and loss of accelerator control could result in an accident.
Remedy
Replace accelerator cable.
An in line fusible link may melt down and cause a fire.
Risk and remedy
Risk
The in line fusible link located in the area of theplastic windshield washer bottle bracket may, under a high resistance load,melt down and ignite the washer bottle bracket resulting in an enginecompartment fire.
Remedy
The windshield washer bottle bracket will be replaced.
The headlamp circuit breaker may overheat at low beam causing an intermittent headlamp circuit.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Headlamp and foglamps would go out suddenly reducingdriver visibility, which could result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Revise foglamp circuit to prevent overheating of headlamp circuit.
Owner complaints
19 complaints1 involved a crash1 involved a fire
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
The car will momentarily hesitate when attempting to accelerate from a stopped position. It IS periodic and not consistent, therefore, hard to duplicate according to the dealer. I asked gm to e-mail some of their nationwide pontiac dealerships and ask for their input on this type of problem but…
The car will momentarily hesitate when attempting to accelerate from a stopped position. It IS periodic and not consistent, therefore, hard to duplicate according to the dealer. I asked gm to e-mail some of their nationwide pontiac dealerships and ask for their input on this type of problem but they refused. This can be a very dangerous situation when entering moving traffic. So much for customer service. I will remember that when I purchase my next vehicle. *Jb
- Seats · Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
While sitting in seat and leaning back passenger's and driver's seats fell back, consumer was able to put seat back up, but if continuing to lean it would come back down. consumer feels this IS very unsafe in an ancident.*ak *jb
- Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
While driving, doors locked down and interior lights came on. when trying to turn off inerior lights, control switch sunk/melted into dash. dash ablaze within 2 to 3 minutes, entire vehicle engulfed 3 to 4 minutes later. escaped through open window. Very unsafe.
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Whenever in drive and slowing down vehicle would cut off. if another vehicle was behind consumer's vehicle it would rear ended it. *Ak
- Unknown or other
Paint on car IS peeling terribly. no safety defect. *Ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Module
While driving vehicle engine dies out, causing no brake power also no steering. Electronic control module has been replaced which temporary corrected the probelm. cause unknown. *ak
- Steering › Rack and pinion
Cold steering. Power steering dies, does not work until engine warms up whenever outside temperature IS bellow 40 degrees. *ak
- Steering › Rack and pinion
Steering rack failed.manufacturer refused to repair it.
- Steering › Rack and pinion
Cold power steering.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle stalls intermittently (since new) and dealer cannot determine cause or resolve problem.
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
When making an emergency stop, vehicle will stop. This IS a intermittent problem which can result in an accident. *ak
- Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery
Battery leaks, causing corrosion.
- Steering · Steering › Rack and pinion
Purchase car used the rack and pinion needs to be replaced . tt consumer states the steering IS cold in the am and pm even when the vehicle warms up the wheel IS hard to steer until it loosens up, and then when the steering wheel IS turned left or right it locks momentarily.*jb
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Drivers side seat belt buckle malfunctions. tt
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline · Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner · Power train › Automatic transmission · Suspension › Front
Transmission problems. *aw
- Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
The vehicle stalls without warning, usually when the vehicle IS started for the first time on a paticular day. tt
- Steering › Linkages
Right front wheel broke free from vehicle, ohio state police report. *tw
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Seat belts do not lock up. tt
- Electrical system › Ignition › Module
Electronic control module failed, causing vehicle to stall. *ak
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Brake failure
There is no summary currently available
- Brake failure
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- Rear brake pin
Summary:these vehicles have rear drum brakes.the parking lever pivotpin IS held by an e ring.when the ring fails, parts of the ring andpin fall loose into the drum and may jam the brake, locking the wheel.a stronger e ring IS used in 1988 and newer cars.this investigationhas been expanded to include gms c body cars listed above (e ring commonto all cars shown).===
- Parking brake cable
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- Rear brake pin
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- Anti lock brakes
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- Stalling
Summary:the complaints allege that stalling IS due to various faultycomponents of the fuel injection and/or ignition system. The followingmodels are involved:buick electra, lesabre, rivera, century; olds cutlassciera, 88, 98, toronado; pontiac bonneville.status:this investigation IS ongoing.we are continuing to…
Summary:the complaints allege that stalling IS due to various faultycomponents of the fuel injection and/or ignition system. The followingmodels are involved:buick electra, lesabre, rivera, century; olds cutlassciera, 88, 98, toronado; pontiac bonneville.status:this investigation IS ongoing.we are continuing to analyzeinformation provided by gm and are preparing an additional informationrequest to gm to clarify certain technical items.===
- Throttle system failure
Summary of information from manufacturer:gm reported knowledge of 137owner complaints, 317 field reports, and 2 lawsuits, in addition to thereports received directly by the nhtsa.the reports received by gm citethe occurrence of 263 accidents,including 77 injury accidents, 100 injuriesand 1 fatality.several possible…
Summary of information from manufacturer:gm reported knowledge of 137owner complaints, 317 field reports, and 2 lawsuits, in addition to thereports received directly by the nhtsa.the reports received by gm citethe occurrence of 263 accidents,including 77 injury accidents, 100 injuriesand 1 fatality.several possible modes of throttle control system failure or malfunctionare under consideration in this pe, including self-actuation, failure todeactivate upon driver command, and throttle system sticking or binding.having evaluated the 456reports received directly and the 36 consumercomplaints submitted by nhtsa, gm indicated that no meaningful frequencyor mode of malfunction could be identified to suggest the existence of adefect which relates to motor vehicle safety.several design/manufacturing changes were identified as relevant to thesubject of this pe; however, no service bulletins or recall notificationshave been issued on throttle control system problems.analysis:during gm's compilation and evaluation of information requiredto respond to the nhtsa's request, indications were given to odi that thenumber of consumer and other reports clearly suggested the existence of asafety problem and that corrective action by the manufacturer were inorder.gm's formal letter response, however, retreated from this position.notwithstanding the incomplete analysis of information submitted to thenhtsa, the numbers of owner and field reports, together with clear datato show that throttle system failures have resulted in significant numbersof accidents and injuries, indicate that a more rigorous evaluation of thismatter IS in order.===
Every Pontiac Bonneville model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.