1998 Pontiac Bonneville Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 3%of 277 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 118,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the visibility of the 1998 Pontiac Bonneville, 3% of the 277 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 118,500 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
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.
“I pushed the rear defroster button and about 5 seconds later there was this small pop noise and smoke started coming out of the dash. I pulled the car over and looked into the vent and saw a fire about 3 inches high. I got my children and myself out of the car ran to the nearest house and called the fire dept and by the time they got there (7 min later) the car was totally engulfed in flames. It was a total loss.”
NHTSA complaint #10091056, filed 2004-09, 118,500 miles“From the night we drove the car home we had problems with the headlights/ dash lights and interior lights not working properly. Then we had trouble with the windshield wipers not working , horn. Upon repair work in march of 1999 we were showed and told that the dash had been broken out before and wires had been cut into. We have also had a problem with lack of power upon pressing accelerator.”
NHTSA complaint #719876, filed 2000-03“Right rear-view mirror exploded. Explosion so loud and freightening that I thought a bomb had hit my car. I was 2 blocks from my driveway. I stopped immediately as I thought entire right side of car was destroyed from just the sound of the explosion. There is not a mark on my car nor the outside of the mirror framing. The mirror itself was blown to dust. The entire mirror framing, etc. Was left hanging down and held on by a small plug-in type receptacle just barely hanging on to a blown out plastic hole from the car. I have no rear view mirror now on the right side. …”
NHTSA complaint #759034, filed 2002-03“Consumer reporting a rental vehicle from hertz/ concerning following problems, 1) left side windshield wiper works intermittently; 2). Fuel vapors leaking into vehicle, and 3) trunk lid will not close properly,causing exhaust vapor enterning the vehicle. Reported these condition to NHTSA. Rental vehicle located in st. Paul, mn.”
NHTSA complaint #842525, filed 1999-07“Ventilation system is design so badly that outside fumes always enter inside of vehicle. Dealer stated that this was a normal ventilation system. Please provide any further information.”
NHTSA complaint #857882, filed 2000-03Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 | 6% |
| 2002 | 13 | 15% |
| 2001 | 15 | 12% |
| 2000 | 58 | 27% |
| 1999 | 6 | 4% |
| 1998 | 8 | 3% |
| 1997 | 3 | 2% |
| 1996 | 5 | 3% |
| 1995 | 7 | 3% |
| 1994 | 3 | 3% |
| 1993 | 5 | 4% |
| 1989 | 1 | 4% |
| 1988 | 1 | 6% |
Other parts of the 1998 Pontiac Bonneville
194 complaintsFuel system
36 complaintsElectrical system
28 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
13 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsVehicle speed control
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 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