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 226 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 45 | 20% |
| Steering | 34 | 15% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 30 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 22 | 10% |
| Power train | 13 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 3% |
| Suspension | 7 | 3% |
| Fuel system | 5 | 2% |
| Structure | 4 | 2% |
| Seats | 4 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
SMELL OF FUEL DUMPING FROM EXHAUST. AIR FILTER CHECKS OUT. MILD SMELL JUST OUTSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HEADACHE PRODUCING SMELL INSIDE CAN. WASN'T THEIR A RECALL FOR PART TOLERANCES TO CORRECT THIS? ARE ALL GM DELPHI REP
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEAL
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR A YEAR AND AFTER I GOT IT THE SECURITY SYSTEM LOCKED ME DOWN SO THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE FIRST INCIDENT I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY SECURITY LIGHT STARTED FLASHING THEN THE CAR QUIT. I
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING THE BONNEVILLE THE CAR WILL JUST SHUT DOWN, LOOSES ALL POWER. IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND ALSO JUST ON LOCAL CITY DRIVING. YOU CAN BE GOING 30 MPH OR 65 MPH. CAR WILL JUST SHUT DOWN (WHICH IS VE
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION CONTROL A
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR RE
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER PAID $352.14 TO HAVE TO IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
VARIABLY THE ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING,RENDERING THE PS BRAKES TO BECOME INOPERABLE, EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR ME AS I AM 78 YEARS OLD.THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED THERE WAS NO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO P
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2000 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKS IN THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT.
Risk: WHEN THE REAR BRAKE PROPORTIONING, ANTILOCK BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL, OR STABILITY CONTROL FEATURE IS ACTIVATED IN SOME DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE FEATURE MAY NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS HYDRAULIC MODULATOR UNIT AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC MODULATOR.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE
Risk: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004.
| Reliability raw | 64 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 70 | 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 226 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and visibility is the most reported area with 45 of them (20%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 64/100 (average) 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 70/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 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 64/100. 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.