RecallMyCar

1996 Pontiac Bonneville Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville, and owners have filed 150 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
150
owner complaints to NHTSA
6 / 7
complaints citing a crash / fire
18–21
MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Fuel injection system (fuel system)

    NHTSA 96V116000 Reported 275,811 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    A backfire during engine starting can cause breakage of the upper intake manifold.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module programming. Until the campaign repair is made, the vehicle hood should be shut whenever starting the vehicle to reduce the chance of personal injury.

  2. Electrical system: control module

    NHTSA 95V204000 Reported 32,869 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    These vehicles were assembled with a malfunction alarm, lighting and locking (mall) module that can contain a damaged capacitor. If the capacitor is damaged, the "key in the ignition" warning chime and the driver seat belt unbuckled warning chime and indicator lamp may not work. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS no. 114,…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the mall module.

150 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville have filed 150 complaints with NHTSA; 6 describe a crash and 7 describe a fire. Reports cite 15 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 114,029 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 24 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 pontiac bonneville. While driving 35 MPH, the driver and passenger side air bags deployed inadvertently without warning. The vehicle was not involved in a crash. Due to the”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 3, 2016 · Air bags

“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 pontiac bonneville. The contact stated that while parked, the anti-theft and an unknown security warning lights illuminated and the vehicle required multiple attempts to st”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 14, 2015 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined18–21 mpg
City / Highway15–17 / 24–27
FuelPremium, Regular
EPA classLarge Cars
Engine6 cyl, 3.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Compare Pontiac Bonneville model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Pontiac Bonneville model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1965 Pontiac Bonneville10
1966 Pontiac Bonneville20
1969 Pontiac Bonneville20
1971 Pontiac Bonneville20
1972 Pontiac Bonneville20
1974 Pontiac Bonneville10
1975 Pontiac Bonneville30
1976 Pontiac Bonneville10
1977 Pontiac Bonneville41
1978 Pontiac Bonneville23
1979 Pontiac Bonneville12
1981 Pontiac Bonneville01
1982 Pontiac Bonneville11
1984 Pontiac Bonneville11
1985 Pontiac Bonneville01
1986 Pontiac Bonneville13
1987 Pontiac Bonneville319
1988 Pontiac Bonneville017
1989 Pontiac Bonneville128
1990 Pontiac Bonneville039
1991 Pontiac Bonneville122
1992 Pontiac Bonneville3113
1993 Pontiac Bonneville1138
1994 Pontiac Bonneville088
1995 Pontiac Bonneville1244
1996 Pontiac Bonneville2150
1997 Pontiac Bonneville1147
1998 Pontiac Bonneville1277
1999 Pontiac Bonneville3143
2000 Pontiac Bonneville2214
2001 Pontiac Bonneville0129
2002 Pontiac Bonneville289
2003 Pontiac Bonneville254
2004 Pontiac Bonneville028
2005 Pontiac Bonneville027

Checking a specific 1996 Pontiac Bonneville

How do I know if my 1996 Pontiac Bonneville has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Pontiac dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 95V204000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Pontiac models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.