Model year record

2003 Pontiac Bonneville

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 70 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V238000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
102,212
Reported to NHTSA
2003-07-01
Owners notified
2003-10-17

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V222000

Air bags: frontal

Component
Air bags: frontal
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
133,221
Reported to NHTSA
2002-08-09
Owners notified
2002-08-15

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Engine10110,000 mi
Electrical system857,420 mi
Steering745,000 mi
Power train5182,000 mi
Unknown or other530,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system4229,000 mi
Air bags: frontal247,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition2143,875 mi
Engine and engine cooling218,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine272,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline297,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip235,900 mi
Air bags191,512 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash1
Electronic stability control (ESC)1
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system198,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor190,000 mi
Exterior lighting157,996 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly190,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission1300 mi
Seat belts172,000 mi
Seats: mid/rear assembly129,000 mi
Steering: column132,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion110,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion: pinion shaft1
Structure: body1108,231 mi
Tires: sidewall1
Vehicle speed control1
Visibility178,029 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element1
Visibility: power window devices and controls17,300 mi

The 2002 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2004 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.