Everyone I've talked to who has owned a Bonneville will sing its praises about how nice of a car it is, and how reliable it is, and how they would buy another one. So what? Did I get the ugly duckling Bonneville?

First there was the fog lights. $40. Not bad.
Then there were the leaky tail lights $50. Okay.
Then the no-start tow ins. est $200. Ouch
Then there was the electrical problem. Total for parts and tools $32.
Then there was the thing my dad broke off. $.50
And there was the serp belt but I didn't pay for that one.
Now there is the power steering problem $900. HOLY!!!!

Power steering went in a landslide. "Something" broke in the pump, which was pushed into a high pressure hose, which was cut by the "something" which leaked onto the rack and pinion assembly, which is totalled. Pontiac has it until Monday when they get the parts they need in. Wish they would at least give me a rental until Monday.

This is my third one.

The 97 I had was cool but still had some problems. $18,000
Purchased in January '01 I needed my ABS/traction control thingy changed in a month and it was bought with only 34,000 miles on it. I needed a rack and pinion(never got it)
I didnt need too much after that, BUT, when the warranty expired because of my mileage, I needed a water pump. Then my motor locks up. I had to pay almost $2000 for a usede motor and the labor. This was at 54,000 miles.
aFTER THIS, MY CAR didnt run the same until i purchased an extended warranty. I took it to the dealer and they fixed everything the car needed to be fixed like all the sensor were changed and the cat converter needed changing. Then the car gets totalled

My 1993 SSE SC White

Purchased in March of 2003 $3000

Needed a good wash oil change and interior cleaning.
eeded a crank sensor for a long time and didnt know what the problem was at first
Needed stabilizer links
Need a power steering pump
Needed both belts changed
Passenger side seat would flop back if I mashed on the accelorator and someone was leaned back in it
My lights were stuck on bright because the switch broke
rusty underneath
Back bumper was loose (Kenn AD Bear and acg ssei remembers this well lol)
Neeed a cat and o2 sensor, never purchased then taken away.


My present 1993 SSE SC green $300

Need tune up (major)
Needs a idler pully (bad)
Rear air ride is not working for some odd reason ( taking care of this now)
Needed a thermostat (changed already)
Need the recliner fixed (chair wont go back or forward)
Needs suspension (getting this soon)


I am still happy

Wow. I've had no major problems other than traction/abs which I don't really care about, and a trans at 111,000.

The reason I'm bitching about it, especially here is becuase this is the single most problematic and expensive car I have ever owned. The Firebird had its problems, like the clutch you almost didn't need to use when shifting. And my insurance agent wanted me to get rid of it becuase of its seat belts and lack of airbags. The Tahoe had its faults like the alignment being off and the rear doors not opening. But on the two of them I spent about $100 maximum in repairs and service. I haven't even had the Bonneville for a year now and I'm already looking at more than $1,000 in repairs and service. I'm just wondering when I'm going to go beyond the value of the car.

REASSURE ME!!!! Tell me how wonderful the Bonneville is because I am really hating it right now.

belts should be replaced every once in a while on every car... and when u break something off on ur car.. usually its not a reliablity issue, its a oppps issue

also, the dealer isnt always the best in prices on fixing your car. they labor rate is crazy. but if you know a side shop tht you can trust, prices wont be that high and you can get them to fix it the same way the dealer will.

Bonnevilles for the most part are reliable, but like every car, there are those bad batches that have a few more problems than normal.

Maybe your car was made on a Monday or a Friday.

Monday cause they didnt feel like working and Friday cause they were in a hurry to leave.

you must of bought my old one...
Read this
Purchased May 10,2003 143,000 miles all documented regular maintence
4400 purch price
Week later 4 new Tires that I wanted 550.00
Then CV shaft 250.00
Then ABS brake modulator valve 1200 installed
then The shifter to ignition interlock cable 400.00 towing 50.00
Then the security system GM VATS went. 600 dollars plus 50.00 towing
Then Rear Ball joints and tie rod ends 300 installed my self
Alignment 90.00
Front ball joint 50.00 installed my self
Front end alignment 40.00
Front brakes 150 dollars done my self
Mass Air Flow sensor 290 dollars installed my self
Supercharger belt tensioner 135.00 replaced 4 TIMES!!!
Water pump 75 dollars and 10 hours of MY TIME.
The LAST STRAW
ABS wheel sensor went, and I then noticed my Floor was COMPLEATLY rusted through
Car for sale, sold it a month later in JUNE 2004
Odometer reading 157,000 miles....253-254,000 kms
I HATED THAT CAR SO MUCH
not in a million years do I EVER want it back.
What do I drive now, well, 3 weeks ago I purchased another 93 SSEi 98,000 miles, mint.
Had an Alero in the mean time \
Oh dont feel to bad, I bought a 94 Cutlass Supreme for 4000 dollars, drove it 20 miles, threw a bearing on a piston rod. Screwed the motor the day i bought it (three weeks after i sold my Bonneville) and now it would need A VERY expensive motor job as GM does not manufacture that block anymore. So it sits in my back yard as we speek.