1990 Pontiac Bonneville

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

73/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the 1990 Pontiac Bonneville, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Service brakes	16	36%
Seat belts	5	11%
Latches/locks/linkages	3	7%
Vehicle speed control	3	7%
Electrical system	3	7%
Seats	3	7%
Structure	3	7%
Fuel system	2	5%
Tires	2	5%
Engine and engine cooling	2	5%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

AREA AROUND PLATE THAT HOLD HOOD LATCH PIN IN PLACE CORRODED, CRACKED AND FAILED.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages

CONSUMER HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELTS NOT STAYING LOCKED AT ALL TIMES WHILE IN MOTION. MR
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT SEAT BUCKLE DID NOT LATCH PROPERLY. MR *JB
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

ALL FUEL LINES HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LEAK FUEL AFTER THE REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system

THE LIGHTS ON THIS MODEL, AND I HAVE SEEN MANY, HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE LENS. AS THEY AGED, THEY FADE AND BECOME VERY WHITE AND WEATHERED. IN THE DAYTIME IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE THE BRAKE LIGHTS FOR THE PERSONS BEHIND TH
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

SUSPECT RELATED CAMPAIGN FOR ABS HYDRALIC VALVE BLOCK (INTERMITTENT PULL IS WHEEL LOCKOUT). *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

WHILE ON A TWO WAY STREET, BRAKES GOT HARD AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP. CONSUMER HAD TO KEEP PUMPING ON BRAKES UNTIL IT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN.*AK THE ABS FAILED TEICE AND THE CONSUMER FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHCILE. *YH
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM HAS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. IT WAS NEVER FIXED AND WAS HARD TO DUPLICATE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL BE LOCKED OUT UNDER A PANIC STOP BUT THE ABS FAILS TO KICK IN AND THE CAR IS ESSENT
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1990 Pontiac Bonneville. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Fuel system 06E043000

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE

Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

The seven scores

Reliability raw	91	excellent
Longevity est.	83	excellent
Maintenance	75	good
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	59	average
Efficiency	36	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 73% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 88% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 51% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 57% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 91: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 83: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1990 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 75: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1990 Pontiac Bonneville?

Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 16 of them (36%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1990 Pontiac Bonneville reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 91/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1990 Pontiac Bonneville last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 83/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1990 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1990 Pontiac Bonneville?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.