10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,761 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #12

May 292008

Bonneville

  • miles
I was driving home one night and my airbag light came on, and about ten seconds later the passenger side air bag deployed. I had hit nothing, and was driving on a newly paved road. The airbag deployed and in the process broke the windshield and the dash. Pontiac has been called and they said they would get back to me in two days.

- Fairfield, ME, USA

problem #11

Oct 132005

Bonneville 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 163,570 miles
On the evening this happen I was traveling home from work. About one minute before the drivers airbag deployed the airbag light came on for about 10 seconds. Then went out... then the airbag deployed in my face as I was driving on the highway at about 60 mph. I was able to slow the car down and pull off to the side of the road... after clearing the smoke from the deployment I checked the car and all seemed ok. I started again for home which at this time was about 5 miles. The airbag light did the same thing again and before I could stop the car the passenger side deployed.. smashing the windshield and dash. At this time I have to replace the windshield and dash at my own expense..which will have to be done over a little time.. I researched this on the internet and found at least 10 others having the same problem.

- Gloversville, NY, USA

problem #10

Apr 072005

Bonneville 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While in park position ignition key turned on and passenger side air bag deployed with cause. Windshield had to be replaced immediately. General Motors has now had the car in testing for two days without being able to conduct the actual test. They have transferred out file to their legal department. Cost of the air bag is approximately $850. Controls $870 plus damage to the dashboard. Cost to emergency replacement the windshield was approximately $400. We apparently should hear from the legal department in two days. Time to order the airbag is 3-5 days. No established time to actually do the repairs.

- Whitby, 00, USA

problem #9

Dec 082004

Bonneville

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving 55 mph with the cruise control on the front passenger air bag inadvertently deployed. Consumer pulled over, and had the vehicle towed. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

- Mancelona, MI, USA

problem #8

Sep 182004

Bonneville 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 127,562 miles
Both frontal air bags inadvertently deployed while coming to a stop and rolling down the power window on driver's side. Dealer not notified.

- Parish, NY, USA

problem #7

Feb 022004

(reported on)

Bonneville

  • 150,000 miles
The front passenger side air bag deployed while the vehicle was parked and idling.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #6

Jun 202003

Bonneville

  • miles
While driving about 45 mph air bags deployed. The vehicle did not hit anything.

- Lake Luzerne, NY, USA

problem #5

Jul 032002

Bonneville

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Passenger air bag deployed involuntarily while vehicle was going 55mph. Airbag warning light did not illuminate on dashboard. Dealer was notified.

- Boying City, MI, USA

problem #4

Mar 081999

(reported on)

Bonneville

  • miles
Consumer was involved in a 15 mph low impact collision in which the air bags deployed, causing damages to the windshield and the dash area.

- Maryland Heights, MO, USA

problem #3

Oct 211998

(reported on)

Bonneville

  • miles
Consumer was invovled in a 35 mph frontal collision in which the driver's or passenger's air bags did not deploy. Also, after the vehicle was inspected by the dealer the computer system indicated the air bags had deployed.

- Weymouth, MA, USA

problem #2

Nov 161996

Bonneville

  • miles
When vehicle was involved in a low impact crash ( less than 25 mph), the deployment of the driver's side air bag caused driver to become legally blinded in the right eye. The vehicle has been totalled.

- Clayton, CA, USA

problem #1

Jul 161995

Bonneville

  • miles
The consumer was in a head-on collision and the driver side air bag did not deploy.

- Woodland Hil, CA, USA