Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 175 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville, and it carries 2 recalls. 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 54 | 31% |
| Electrical system | 25 | 14% |
| Power train | 16 | 9% |
| Steering | 12 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 9 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 3% |
| Fuel system | 5 | 3% |
| Air bags | 3 | 2% |
| Visibility | 3 | 2% |
| Seats | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
DRIVING AN SUDDENLY VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN, SPEED MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.STARTS BACK WITH NO PROBLEM. THIS IS A REGULAR PROBLEM, ALSO HAPPENS WHEN IDLING...MAKES FOR A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. HAS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY SURFA
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE CAR LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IT WOULD JUST QUIT AND I WOULD HAVE NO BRAKES OR STEERING AND ALL GAUGES WOULD SHUT DOWN. SOMETIMES IT WOULD LOSE POWER AND THEN IT WOULD COME BACK ON WHILE I
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MEC
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
IN EARLY NOVEMBER MY CAR (97 BONNEVILLE SSE) BEGAN EXPERIENCING TROUBLE STARTING. IT RARELY STARTED RIGHT UP BUT REQUIRED SEVERAL TRIES TO START. OCCASIONALLY I COULD SMELL GAS AFTER IT WAS STARTED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
I HAD A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY IN MICHIGAN, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS NOT SPEEDING, AND MY CAR WAS PERFECTLY SERVICED AND MAINTAINED. BY THE TIME THE FIRE
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE LEAK. A YEAR AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAN CONNECTED TO THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. THERE WAS
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS PLASTIC INTAKE PARTS, WHICH INCLUDE THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A ROUTINE TUNE-UP, SHE NO
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 EVENFLO INFANT CARRIER, MODEL NUMBER 25800402 (NA). THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN MAY OF 2006. THE CONTACT FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS ON INSTALLING THE CHILD SEAT IN HER 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.
NHTSA complaint: Child seat
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1997 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.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
THE SEAT COVER TRIM MATERIAL DOES NOT MEET THE FLAMMABILITY REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 302, "FLAMMABILITY OF INTERIOR MATERIALS."
Risk: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, A VEHICLE INTERIOR FIRE CAN OCCUR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COVERS ON THE FRONT SEAT BACKS, REAR SEAT CUSHION AND REAR SEAT BACK ASSEMBLIES.
| Reliability raw | 73 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 74 | good |
| Maintenance | 75 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 59 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 175 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 54 of them (31%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 73/100 (good) 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.
AVOIR scores its longevity 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1997 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. 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.