Total Complaints
123 filings
PONTIAC BONNEVILLE · model year
123 NHTSA complaints, 14 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994PONTIACBONNEVILLE carries 123 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 14 crashes, 10 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1994 BONNEVILLE is air bags:frontal with 8 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (8) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (8). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1994 BONNEVILLE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
123 filings
Crashes Reported
14 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 8 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 8 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 8 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 7 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 5 |
| AIR BAGS | 5 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 3 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 2 |
1994 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. DUE TO CORROSION THE ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS / MOUNTING FAILED AND ENGINE FELL OUT OF CAR. LUCKILY IT WAS WHILE TURNING AROUND IN THE DRIVEWAY, IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON / AT ROAD SPEEDS THERE COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, MULTI CAR INVOLVEMENT, INJURIES, OR LOSS OF LIFE. GM SERVICE OFFERED ZERO HELP ON RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN INFORMATION AND DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECT OR REPAIR. *TR
Mileage: 150,000
1994 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. DUE TO CORROSION THE ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS / MOUNTING FAILED AND ENGINE FELL OUT OF CAR. LUCKILY IT WAS WHILE TURNING AROUND IN THE DRIVEWAY, IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON / AT ROAD SPEEDS THERE COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, MULTI CAR INVOLVEMENT, INJURIES, OR LOSS OF LIFE. GM SERVICE OFFERED ZERO HELP ON RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN INFORMATION AND DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECT OR REPAIR. *TR
Mileage: 150,000
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLT AND RETAINER PULLED THROUGH THE CRADLE. THE REAR CRADLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND THE STEERING SEPARATED. THIS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE ROAD, AND TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT VERBALLY SPOKE WITH AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR MECHANIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHO SUGGESTED THE VEHICLE BE BROUGHT IN FOR INSPECTION. *JB
Mileage: 160,000
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT HE DETECTED THE ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING. HE SAW GRAY SMOKE COMING FROM THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING VENTS, AND A YELLOW FLAME CLOSE TO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER AREA. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND DISTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. NO REPAIRS COULD BE MADE DUE TO THE FIRE DAMAGE. *AK
Mileage: 146,000
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE ENGINE FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2005 WHILE SLOWLY PULLING OUT FROM A STOP LIGHT. HE HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND LOST STEERING CONTROL AND THE CAR DRIFTED TO THE CURB AND STOPPED. THE GM MANUFACTURER WANTED TO KNOW HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER FOUND OUT THAT THEY DONE ALMOST ALL THE MAINTENANCE THEY TOLD HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TEN YEARS OLD. SHE UNDERSTOOD THIS, BUT SHE STILL FELT THAT AN ENGINE SHOULD NOT JUST FALL OUT OF A VEHICLE. HER PRIMARY CONCERN WAS TO MAKE NHTSA AND THE MANUFACTURER AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IF DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED AND THIS HAPPENED THEN YOU WOULD LOSE ALL STEERING CAPABILITIES . THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A REPAIR SHOP AND THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD HER THAT THEY HAD A FORD TAURUS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT THEY HAD A DODGE INTREPID WITH THE SAME PROBLEM . THERE IS A FRAME THAT HOLDS THE ENGINE AND TRANSM
Mileage: 14,525
TURNING INTO STREET WHEN THE ENGINE CRADLE FELL OUT IN THE REAR. LOSS OF ALL STEERING. HAD A CUTLASS SUPREME THAT DID THAT ALSO EXCEPT THERE WAS A RECALL. HUGE SAFETY HAZARD, A VEHICLE GOING DOWN THE ROAD NO STEERING??? WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE. GM NEEDS A RECALL ON THIS. *JB
DT: WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF IT OVERHEATED. BEFORE THIS OCCURRED THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THERE ALMOST HAST BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THEY FINALLY DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. THE HAVE DONE OTHER THINGS TO THE VEHICLE TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DID NOT WORK. THEY HAVE FOUND IT TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK
Mileage: 92,000
DT: CONTACT STATES: THE CRADLE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE WHICH HELD THE SUSPENSION UP IN THE FRONT. THERE WERE FOUR BOLTS HOLDING IT UP, AND THE WASHERS RUSTED, CAUSING THIS FAILURE. DEALER SAID THEY HAD NOT SEEN THAT HAPPEN. THEY HAVE AGREED TO FIX IT ALL AT CONSUMER'S COST. CONTACT COMPLAINED TO GM, AND WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS TOO OLD.*AK
Mileage: 150,000
FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT WHERE THE A-FRAME ATTACHES. *AK
Mileage: 156,000
1. NOISE FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE 2. BOLTS HOLDING MOTOR TO K FRAME SNAPPED DROPPING MOTOR TO THE GROUND - LOST CONTROL OF STEERING - CAR HAS NEVER HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS.*AK 3. TOWED FOR SERVICE - COURSE OF ACTION PENDING.
Mileage: 88,000
I WAS EXITING OFF ROUTE 82 AND HEADING EAST ON RT. 422 GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. EST. WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG SOUND. THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES WENT OUT AND THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR CAME TO REST ABOUT 50 FT. AFTER THE CAR HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER. OHIO HIGHWAY STATE PATROL MADE A CRASH REPORT AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO GREENWOOD AUTOBODY DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS BROKE OUT THE FRAME. ALLOWING THE ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN TO DROP ON THE ROAD. DAMAGE IS BEING ESTIMATED BY THE AUTOBODY SHOP AND INSURANCE COMPANY. CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET.
Mileage: 127,000
I WAS EXITING OFF ROUTE 82 AND HEADING EAST ON RT. 422 GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. EST. WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG SOUND. THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES WENT OUT AND THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR CAME TO REST ABOUT 50 FT. AFTER THE CAR HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER. OHIO HIGHWAY STATE PATROL MADE A CRASH REPORT AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO GREENWOOD AUTOBODY DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS BROKE OUT THE FRAME. ALLOWING THE ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN TO DROP ON THE ROAD. DAMAGE IS BEING ESTIMATED BY THE AUTOBODY SHOP AND INSURANCE COMPANY. CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET.
Mileage: 127,000
I HAVE NOT SOUGHT ANY INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM AS OF YET BECAUSE I THOUGHT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO SINCE MY CAR WAS ALREADY SIX YEARS OLD WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED. NOW I HAVE PEELING PAINT IN SEVERAL SPOTS ON MY CAR AND IT LOOKS TERRIBLE. THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN MINT CONDITION. I STILL BELIEVE GM SHOULD PAY FOR RE-PAINTING BECAUSE THEY KNEW OF THEIR DEFECT YEARS AGO. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO GET THIS DONE?
Mileage: 84,000
FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT USED.
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE GOT SHUT OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A VEHICLE WITH A PAINT DEFECT. THE DEALER KNEW ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND STATED THAT THE PAINT NEVER ADHERED TO THE PRIMER. *SCC *NLM
Mileage: 69,000
DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. DRIVER SUFFERED FACIAL INJURIES. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. MR
CONSUMER STATES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKING AT HOME THE PASSEGER AIR BAG DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFROMATION:: MR
BENT AND TWISTED FINGERS. WHILE IN FLORIDA VISITING MY UNCLE AND AUNT (BEFORE HE DIED) I HAD NOTICED HIS FINGERS WERE BENT AS MY ARE. HE ALSO HAD A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH LEFT SHOULDER PAIN. WHEN IN FLORIDA THIS PAST JANUARY, I DROVE HIS 1994 BONNEVILLE. THE STEERING WAS TIGHT LIKE TO 2000 IMPALA. THIS ACCOUNTED FOR HIS GOING TO THE DOCTOR FOR SHOTS IN HIS SHOULDER AND AT ONE TIME A VISIT TO THE HOSPITAL ROOM BECAUSE OF THE SHOOTING PAIN WHICH HE BELIEVED WAS FROM A HEART ATTACK. SUBMITTED BY MIKE TOMICH 989-665-2311 BUT DIDN'T MAKE THE CONNECTIION WITH THE HARD STEERING. DT
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT IT IS HARD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.