Pontiac / Bonneville / 1994
1994 Pontiac Bonneville problems
Owners have filed 123 complaints about the 1994 Pontiac Bonneville with NHTSA. Electrical system accounts for 17.9% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of engine and engine cooling at 14.6%.
Complaints123
Crashes14
Fires10
Injuries8
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Electrical system 17.9% · 22
Engine and engine cooling 14.6% · 18
Air bags 12.2% · 15
Service brakes, hydraulic 9.8% · 12
Structure 8.9% · 11
Power train 8.9% · 11
Seat belts 6.5% · 8
Fuel system, gasoline 4.1% · 5
Severity
Of those complaints, 14 describe a crash, 10 describe a fire and 8 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 11 model years of the Pontiac Bonneville in this data, 1994 draws comparatively few complaints; 1998 is the outlier year.
Filings have fallen off, 8 in the last three years against 16 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 127,000 miles.
In owners' own words
This is the second Bonneville with the same problems listed owned. Seems Pontiac would investigate these problems a little more. Never buy another. After one engine replacement, will just replace the "heap" of a car next time. No safety defect mentioned. Electrical system
Intermittently vehicle will stall out and die without warning. Vehicle has been inspected by a private mechanic . Alternator/ battery and ignition module have been replaced. Electrical system
All the warning lights on the dashboard came on. Later, none of the lights were working on the instrument panel, even with a new battery. Dealer has not seen vehicle. Electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Other Pontiac Bonneville years
1992 139 complaints · 38.1% service brakes, hydraulic 1993 183 complaints · 26.2% service brakes, hydraulic 1995 330 complaints · 17.3% engine and engine cooling 1996 181 complaints · 26.5% engine and engine cooling 1997 188 complaints · 30.9% engine and engine cooling 1998 359 complaints · 58.8% engine and engine cooling