1988 Pontiac Bonneville Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 29%of 17 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the electrical system of the 1988 Pontiac Bonneville, 29% of the 17 complaints for this model year.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Prior alternator lasted lest than 15k miles. I get stranded every time the alternator fails (now for the fifth time). This is dangerous and could lead to my injury or even death, depending on where I am the next time the alternator fails, including on the highway in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night.”
NHTSA complaint #748439, filed 2001-07“The alternator on my 1988 Bonneville sse has failed five times since new, the last time after only less than 18k miles and less than 2 years, each time stranding me. It is my understanding that all bonnevilles from 1987 through mid-1992 model year have very high failure rates on altnernators, perhaps because the alternators were too small for the electrical load on the Bonneville. This represents a serious safety hazard for the owners of these bonnevilles, including me, because when the alternator fails, it strands the owner. …”
NHTSA complaint #748501, filed 2001-07Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 8 | 30% |
| 2004 | 11 | 39% |
| 2003 | 10 | 19% |
| 2002 | 10 | 11% |
| 2001 | 16 | 12% |
| 2000 | 32 | 15% |
| 1999 | 22 | 15% |
| 1998 | 28 | 10% |
| 1997 | 28 | 19% |
| 1996 | 21 | 14% |
| 1995 | 40 | 16% |
| 1994 | 19 | 22% |
| 1993 | 18 | 13% |
| 1992 | 17 | 15% |
| 1991 | 2 | 9% |
| 1990 | 3 | 8% |
| 1989 | 4 | 14% |
| 1988 | 5 | 29% |
| 1987 | 4 | 21% |
Other parts of the 1988 Pontiac Bonneville
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1988 Pontiac Bonneville
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology