1999 Pontiac Bonneville Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 6%of 143 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 53,519miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1999 Pontiac Bonneville, 6% of the 143 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 53,519 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
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 was on vacation driving into a rest area when the car made a thonk sound and the transmission just stopped. I could shift it into any gear, but it would not go anywhere. We had to push the car into the parking lot and have the car towed to a repairman. When the transmission was torn down, it was found that the gears had blown a part. The machanic could not find a used one and it would have taken 4 or 5 days to get one from AC delco, so he rebuilt the existing part. …”
NHTSA complaint #10068150, filed 2004-05, 48,038 miles“- the contact stated that the gear shift knob on the 1999 Pontiac Bonneville was not working properly. The contact indicated that the letter indicators p- park r- reverse n- neutral d- driver and l- low might differ from the actual gear in the transmission, if the contact selectseddrive the transmission would actually be in reverse. The contact was sometimes unable to start vehicle because the gear shift was in the park position. The dealership was unable to find the cause of the problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10183651, filed 2007-02, 61,800 miles“The gear shift indicator is giving false readings. Driver has no clue to what gear the vehicle is in. The shift indicator did not work most of the time. The vehicle would drive but it was actually in reverse the indicators were in neutral but the transmission was in drive. . The consumer learned there was a recall on the matter, however the recall did not apply to his vehicle, even though there was a recall on the same make and model.”
NHTSA complaint #10024708, filed 2003-09, 59,000 miles“Exterior lighting recall for 1999 Pontiac Bonneville recall announced: april 07 2009 NHTSA reference: #09e012000 number affected: 16,270 fuel system, gasoline:delivery recall for 1999 Pontiac Bonneville recall announced: february 24 2004 NHTSA reference: #04v090000 number affected: 910,873 power train:automatic transmission recall for 1999 Pontiac Bonneville recall announced: april 26 1999 NHTSA reference: #99v089000 number affected: 99,333 wheels recall for 1999 Pontiac Bonneville recall announced: april 12 1999 NHTSA reference: #99v072000 number affected: 352.”
NHTSA complaint #10436930, filed 2011-11“While standing outside of the vehicle the vehicle began to roll forward. The vehicle rolled across a neighbor's yard and into a tree. The vehicle was totaled. Cause is unknown. Please describe further.”
NHTSA complaint #10048470, filed 2003-11Related recalls
- 99V089000Apr 26, 1999Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 4t65e automatic transmissions. These vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of fmvss no. 102…Covers: Pontiac Bonneville 1999, Oldsmobile 88 1999, Buick Lesabre 1999
Related service bulletins
- 10115081Nov 2, 2015This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about cooler line fittings that come with the 4T65E General Motors remanufactured transmission…
- 10135203Apr 15, 2014This preliminary bulletin provides a way to aid the technician in diagnosing transmission fluid leaking from the trans breather vent.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 | 7% |
| 2004 | 3 | 11% |
| 2003 | 6 | 11% |
| 2002 | 7 | 8% |
| 2001 | 17 | 13% |
| 2000 | 18 | 8% |
| 1999 | 8 | 6% |
| 1998 | 13 | 5% |
| 1997 | 16 | 11% |
| 1996 | 8 | 5% |
| 1995 | 18 | 7% |
| 1994 | 8 | 9% |
| 1993 | 18 | 13% |
| 1992 | 10 | 9% |
| 1991 | 3 | 14% |
| 1989 | 1 | 4% |
| 1988 | 1 | 6% |
| 1987 | 2 | 11% |
Other parts of the 1999 Pontiac Bonneville
59 complaintsFuel system
23 complaintsElectrical system
22 complaintsBrakes
9 complaintsAir bags
8 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
6 complaintsTires
5 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsSuspension
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Pontiac Bonneville
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology