Total Complaints
112 filings
PONTIAC BONNEVILLE · model year
112 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002PONTIACBONNEVILLE carries 112 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 4 fires, 4 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 2002 BONNEVILLE is steering with 12 filings, followed by visibility:power window devices and controls (11) and electrical system (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. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2002 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
112 filings
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 12 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 11 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 8 |
| STEERING:COLUMN | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| ENGINE | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 3 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN | 3 |
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
| TIRES | 3 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 2 |
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 187,000. .*BF CONSUMER OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR A YEAR AN AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON.*JB
Mileage: 187,000
CAR WILL RE-START ON ITS OWN AFTER KEY IS REMOVED. AFTER PARKING AND SHUTTING OFF THE CAR, THEN REMOVING THE KEY AND OPENING THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO EXIT: IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY PRESS THE UPPER PART OF THE LOCK BUTTON ON THE DOOR (THE UNLOCK FUNCTION) INSTEAD OF PRESSING THE LOWER PART OF THE LOCK BUTTON (THE LOCK FUNCTION), THE CAR WILL RE-START ITSELF. IT THEN CANNOT BE TURNED OFF BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS ALREADY IN THE OFF POSITION. THE ONLY WAY TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IS TO JIGGLE THE SHIFTER.
Mileage: 96,000
CAR WILL RE-START ON ITS OWN AFTER KEY IS REMOVED. AFTER PARKING AND SHUTTING OFF THE CAR, THEN REMOVING THE KEY AND OPENING THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO EXIT: IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY PRESS THE UPPER PART OF THE LOCK BUTTON ON THE DOOR (THE UNLOCK FUNCTION) INSTEAD OF PRESSING THE LOWER PART OF THE LOCK BUTTON (THE LOCK FUNCTION), THE CAR WILL RE-START ITSELF. IT THEN CANNOT BE TURNED OFF BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS ALREADY IN THE OFF POSITION. THE ONLY WAY TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IS TO JIGGLE THE SHIFTER.
Mileage: 96,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GASKETS AND VALVE COVER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Mileage: 100,000
IGNITION SWITCH, ENGINE CONTROL MODULE & SECURITY/THEFT MODULE WERE ALL REPLACED BECAUSE AUTO WAS INOPERABLE DUE TO THEIR FAILURE. THE MOBILE MECHANIC CHARGED $616.22 FOR PARTS, $1215.00 FOR LABOR & $13.08 FOR A HAZARDOUS WASTE FEE, TOTAL REPAIR WAS $1844.30. PLEASE SEND EMAIL SO I CAN SCAN DETAILED INVOICE OF REPAIR.
Mileage: 48,502
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED, BUT IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,529.
Mileage: 80,529
I HAVE HAD A AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON MY DASH FOR SOME TIME NOW (NOT SURE HOW LONG BUT A COUPLE OF YEARS OR MORE) AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS DASH INDICATOR WITH THE RECENT AIRBAG RECALLS. MY VIN DOESN'T MATCH ANY SUCH RECALL NOTICES, HOWEVER SOME NEWS WEBSITES (LIKE CBS) INITIALLY INDICTED 2002 -2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE'S WERE INCLUDED IN THIS AIRBAG RECALL? THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT VEHICLES NEAR HIGHER HUMIDITY AREAS WERE THE VEHICLES BEING RECALLED, SO THAT CONCERNED ME TOO, SINCE I LIVE ABOUT 8 MILES FROM THE PACIFIC OCEAN. I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING INHERENTLY WRONG WITH MY AIRBAGS AND I'D LIKE THE GM/THE DEALER TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT REPAIR, BEFORE ANY HARMFUL INCIDENTS OCCUR IN MY VEHICLE! *TR
Mileage: 160,000
MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND O2 SENSOR FAILURE CONSTANT. 10/2013 SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY WHILE IN MOTION12/2013 LEAKS IN LOWER GASKET VALVE...ENGINE IS EXTREMELY HOT MOST OF THE TIME 04/2014 SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON DUE TO O2 SENSOR FAILURE EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT 7/2014 INTERIOR LIGHTS CAUGHT FIRE 05/2014. *TR
Mileage: 188,000
MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND O2 SENSOR FAILURE CONSTANT. 10/2013 SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY WHILE IN MOTION12/2013 LEAKS IN LOWER GASKET VALVE...ENGINE IS EXTREMELY HOT MOST OF THE TIME 04/2014 SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON DUE TO O2 SENSOR FAILURE EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT 7/2014 INTERIOR LIGHTS CAUGHT FIRE 05/2014. *TR
Mileage: 188,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 10/02/14*LJ UPDATED 3/6/2015 *JS
Mileage: 82,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE EXTREMELY ROUGH AS IF IT COULD HAVE STALLED WHEN THERE WAS A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL OR LESS. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V238000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE EXTREMELY ROUGH AS IF IT COULD HAVE STALLED WHEN THERE WAS A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL OR LESS. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V238000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 295 IN NJ MY VEHICLE STALLED. THE STALLED AND ALMOST CAUSED A NEAR FATAL ACCIDENT WITH A SEMI. THE VEHICLE AFTER 20 MINUTES AND NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP AND I DECIDED TO TRY AND MAKE IT HOME BY TAKING BACK ROADS AWAY FROM THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE STALLED 4 MORE TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET IT HOME. I WAS VISIBLY SHAKEN UPSET AND SCARED OUT OF MY MIND. *TR
Mileage: 145,000
I PUT MY CAR INTO PARK AND MY KEY WOULD NOT GO TO OFF OR START. IT WAS STUCK ON ACC AND ON. *TR
Mileage: 138,000
I PUT MY CAR INTO PARK AND MY KEY WOULD NOT GO TO OFF OR START. IT WAS STUCK ON ACC AND ON. *TR
Mileage: 138,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH OUT WARNINGS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,019 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,119.
Mileage: 113,019
AS I WAS DRIVING, SMELLED WIRE BURNING AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER AT THE HEADLINER THEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS SHUT OFF, TRUNK RELEASE SWITCH INOP. I PULLED OVER ON THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED KEY OFF. THEN NOTICED TWO WEEKS AGO THAT THERE IS NO POWER TO THE OBD-II. HAVE ABLE TO REPAIR THE DAMAGES. *TR
Mileage: 215,000
AS I WAS DRIVING, SMELLED WIRE BURNING AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER AT THE HEADLINER THEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS SHUT OFF, TRUNK RELEASE SWITCH INOP. I PULLED OVER ON THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED KEY OFF. THEN NOTICED TWO WEEKS AGO THAT THERE IS NO POWER TO THE OBD-II. HAVE ABLE TO REPAIR THE DAMAGES. *TR
Mileage: 215,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MAKING A CLUNKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
Mileage: 109,000
2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SE 2 DEFECTS 1) "CLUNKING" OF STEERING SHAFT - HAS BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE 2) GAS GAUGE STOP WORKING AFTER 4 YEAR (2006). *TR
Mileage: 25,000
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.