1998 Pontiac Bonneville Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 194about this part
- Share
- 70%of 277 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 70,741miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 194 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1998 Pontiac Bonneville, 70% of the 277 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,741 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 16 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My upper intake manifold leaks engine coolant into the combustion chambers and into the crankcase. The EGR tube melts the upper plastic manifold I have had the upper and lower intake replaced for this issue once before with GM parts and it happening again. If it not fixed the coolant can contaminate my oil and lock up my engine when traveling down the road and possibly cause me to crash. If the engine locks up I will lose power steering and braking ability.”
NHTSA complaint #10351151, filed 2010-08, 129,000 miles“My 1998 Bonneville had been loosing antifreeze, the dealer replaced the thermistat, then the water pump went out. It still lost antifreeze....a couple weeks later while driving down the road it just died in the middle of the road. My intake manfold aloud my engine to fill with antifreeze, GM has a kit for this problem.....so they know it is a problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10019188, filed 2003-05, 96,000 miles“The 3800 engine in my Pontiac has in the past two years for some reason has had to have the intake manifold replaced twice because it has cracked. I am trying to out if there is a recall or some sort of reimbursement for this problem on the 1998 Pontiac Bonneville or other 3800 series engines?”
NHTSA complaint #10170734, filed 2006-10, 137,950 miles“Engine failed while traveling on an interstate stranding my son and three friends for over 3 hours. The diagnosis is head gasket failure and will cost approx. $1300 to repair in addition to the $300 spent in towing fees. This is the 5th one of this make and model that we have been made aware that has had this problem. Does GM deliberately make engines to self-destruct?”
NHTSA complaint #10016176, filed 2003-04, 77,000 miles“I have a 1998 Pontiac Bonneville (GM 3800 liter v-6). The plastic intake manifold cracked allowing coolant to flood the cylinders and resukting in a $675 repair bill. Luckily this happened in my garage and not on the highway. No major engine damage. No fire; just a costly repair bill that I think GM should be responsible for.”
NHTSA complaint #10020625, filed 2003-05, 78,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10246631Sep 1, 2013Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- 10012148Jun 1, 2004New rear main seal and special tool for installation.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 | 4% |
| 2004 | 2 | 7% |
| 2003 | 6 | 11% |
| 2002 | 10 | 11% |
| 2001 | 22 | 17% |
| 2000 | 37 | 17% |
| 1999 | 59 | 41% |
| 1998 | 194 | 70% |
| 1997 | 50 | 34% |
| 1996 | 43 | 29% |
| 1995 | 55 | 23% |
| 1994 | 14 | 16% |
| 1993 | 20 | 14% |
| 1992 | 9 | 8% |
| 1991 | 3 | 14% |
| 1990 | 1 | 3% |
| 1989 | 1 | 4% |
| 1987 | 3 | 16% |
Other parts of the 1998 Pontiac Bonneville
36 complaintsElectrical system
28 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
13 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsSteering
7 complaintsEngine
6 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsEquipment
4 complaintsExterior lighting
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Pontiac Bonneville
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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