1997 Pontiac Bonneville Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville.

19961998
Complaints
188
Crashes
3
Fires
25
Injuries
10
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0

Worst 1997 Pontiac Bonneville Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#124 complaints

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Fires:12
#214 complaints

Automatic Transmission

Avg mileage:83,374 mi
#312 complaints

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Avg mileage:72,910 mi
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
24
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
12
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
83,374
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
72,910
Electrical System:Horn
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
83,660
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
80,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
109,876
Steering:Rack And Pinion
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
106,461
Unintended Acceleration
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wiring & Fuses
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Interior Lighting
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brake Master Cylinder
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Stabilizer Bar
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Pontiac Bonneville Years

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1997 Pontiac Bonneville — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 1997 Pontiac Bonneville has 188 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline with 24 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville?
Top reported problems: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (24 complaints); Automatic Transmission (14 complaints, avg 83,374 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (12 complaints, avg 72,910 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 86,336 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville include 3 crash-related reports, 25 fire reports, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1997 Pontiac Bonneville?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Pontiac Bonneville reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 1997 Pontiac Bonneville

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