1990 Pontiac Bonneville Problems
- Complaints
- 39filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 140,000miles, 2 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 19 mpgcombined, 3.8L 6-cyl FWD · 16 city / 25 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1990 Pontiac Bonneville (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 39 consumer complaints for the 1990 Pontiac Bonneville. The part named most often is brakes, with 17 complaints (44% of the total), followed by seat belts (6) and electrical system (3). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 140,000 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes17 44%
- Seat belts6 15%
- Electrical system3 7.7%
- Seats3 7.7%
- Body and structure3 7.7%
- Vehicle speed control3 7.7%
- Fuel system2 5.1%
- Engine cooling1 2.6%
- Exterior lighting1 2.6%
Also reported: Tires (1).
Example complaints
Brakes: “The ABS brake system has failed intermittently since the car was new. It was never fixed and was hard to duplicate. The brake pedal will be locked out under a panic stop but the ABS fails to kick in and the car is essentially brakeless. Others have undoubtedly died or suffered serious injury because when this occurs the car is a missle.”
NHTSA complaint #739088, filed 2001-01Seat belts: “When attempting to buckle the left hand side of the seat belt it won't latch. There is no catching and the button has collapsed. Dealer was not contacted.”
NHTSA complaint #847315, filed 1999-09Electrical system: “A vehicle fire originated in alterator wiring harness after pulling into driveway. Dealer/manufacturer were not notified. State farm insurance asked consumer to notify NHTSA.”
NHTSA complaint #863159, filed 2000-06Latches, locks and linkages: “Consumer states that rear door latches are inoperable, consumer can't get in or out of the car from the rear doors, occupants in the back have to climb over the front seat to get out of the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #801865, filed 1996-09Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 117,000 and 163,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1990 Pontiac Bonneville version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville FWD | 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 16 | 25 | 19 | $3,550 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1990 Pontiac Bonneville in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1990 Pontiac Bonneville.
Other model years of the Pontiac Bonneville
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 27 | 119,000 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 28 | 42,000 | 0 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 54 | 76,514 | 2 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 89 | 50,176 | 2 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 129 | 67,500 | 0 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 214 | 61,116 | 2 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 143 | 70,000 | 3 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 277 | 71,725 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 147 | 98,000 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 150 | 115,000 | 2 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 244 | 120,000 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1994 | 88 | 127,000 | 0 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 138 | 126,000 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 113 | 170,000 | 3 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 22 | 114,000 | 1 | — | 20 | — | Stable |
| 1990 | 39 | 140,000 | 0 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 28 | 53,272 | 1 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 17 | — | 0 | — | 20 | — | Stable |
| 1987 | 19 | — | 3 | — | 19 | — | Stable |
All Pontiac Bonneville model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1990 Pontiac Bonneville have?
NHTSA recorded 39 consumer complaints for the 1990 Pontiac Bonneville as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1990 Pontiac Bonneville is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 17 complaints (44% of the total), followed by seat belts with 6.
Has the 1990 Pontiac Bonneville been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1990 Pontiac Bonneville get?
The EPA rates the 1990 Pontiac Bonneville (Bonneville, 3.8L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 16 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1990 Pontiac Bonneville reported?
Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 140,000 miles and the middle half falls between 117,000 and 163,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.