2000 Pontiac Bonneville Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report power window regulators that fail and let the glass drop, and clunking or binding in the steering column. Many also describe coolant and oil leaks from the upper intake area of the 3.8L V6, and intermittent stalling or hard starting that owners often link to fuel delivery, ignition or battery problems. Most sampled complaints were filed between roughly 35,000 and 90,000 miles.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Power window regulator failure (glass drops, won't rise)

   • 52 complaints (24%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 5.7 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $400 (median of 20 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2014

   Owners describe windows that fall down on their own, often while driving or after a bump, and then will not go back up. Complaints say the fix is a complete regulator assembly, that rear windows fail even when rarely used, and that some owners have replaced several regulators, sometimes the same window twice. Dealers reportedly quoted repairs in the range of a few hundred dollars each, and some owners say the dealer declined to cover it after warranty. Commonly reported between about 20,000 and 90,000 miles, with several failures noted on vehicles only a few years old and on rear windows used infrequently.

   What to check: Cycle every window up and down several times, including the rear ones, and listen for dragging or popping. Ask whether any regulator has already been replaced and keep the receipts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There are no events leading up to the failures. Three windows in this vehicle are inoperable because the motor quit. Initially, the window will either not go up or down and then all of a sudden it will work. One window has had the wiring clipped because I couldn't afford the part. The other 2 we just don't use.”

   NHTSA complaint #10136470, filed 2005-09, 63,000 miles

   “I've had 8 failures where the power windows fall down without warning. The first two failures were under warranty. Since then he regulators had to be replaced at a cost of $200 to $250 each. I stopped using the power windows years ago but they still keep breaking. On the last two occurrences I glued the windows closed with construction adhesive. Probably not the safest thing to do but I'm done paying for a factory defect. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10200270, filed 2007-08, 20,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls or is hard to start while driving

   • 49 complaints (23%)
   • median 84,700 mi at 7.0 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2018

   Owners report the engine cutting out without warning at highway or city speeds, sometimes requiring several attempts to restart, and occasionally stalling after a bump to the ignition switch. Complaints also describe long cranking, backfiring on start-up and a fuel odor. Several owners say shops could not identify a cause, while others had spark plugs, injectors or battery work done. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 100,000 miles, with some cases past 150,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the battery, cables and ignition switch have been serviced, and have a shop check for stored fault codes. Note that the battery sits under the rear seat and can corrode its surroundings.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Variably the engine stalls without warning,rendering the ps brakes to become inoperable, extremely dangerous for me as I am 78 years old.there have been times when this has occurred there was no shoulder of the road to pull off,leaving the car in whatever lane it stalled in! It takes anywhere from 5 min to 1/2 hour to restart very very frustrating and dangerous to other travelers and to me! Something desperately needs to be done about this!”

   NHTSA complaint #10593863, filed 2014-05, 69,000 miles

   “I have several complaints about my 2000 Pontiac Bonneville. My car has shut off while I'm driving, making loud noises, sputtering, etc. It occurs maybe every few months. It is very dangerous because I have small children and when my car cuts off I could get into an accident.on friday september 5, 2008 I had my car towed to buick Pontiac gmc of south atlanta. I had previously had several diagnostics ran on my car and no one could tell me the problem with it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10264938, filed 2009-04, 95,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering column clunk or binding when turning

   • 37 complaints (17%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 4.3 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • filed 2000–2007

   Owners describe a clunk or crackling noise from the steering column when turning the wheel, sometimes felt as binding or binding that comes back after a turn. Complaints say dealers greased or replaced the intermediate shaft, and in some cases replaced the rack and pinion, with the noise returning after a time. Several owners describe the dealer calling the noise a known characteristic of the collapsible column. Reported from roughly 12,000 to over 100,000 miles, and some owners note the noise is more noticeable in cold weather.

   What to check: Turn the wheel lock to lock with the engine running and listen for a clunk. Ask whether the steering shaft has been greased or replaced, since the symptom can return.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Incident date is an estimate. I had a clunking sound in my steering and took it to the dealer to investigate. They told me it was a known problem and the noise was because of the collapsible steering column, the two pieces are clunking together. Made that was in case of a crash. They said that they could take it apart, grease it and that it might not make any difference and that I would have to pay to have it done. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10088833, filed 2004-08, 30,000 miles

   “Intermediate steering shaft has been replaced twice and lubricated twice in the last four years. Continues to clunk when turning the car. General motors was contacted and admitted there is a problem with the steering and said they are working on a fix. Right now the fix is only temporary and can be costly.”

   NHTSA complaint #10168840, filed 2006-09, 12,943 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Coolant or oil leaks at the upper intake

   • 12 complaints (6%)
   • median 60,727 mi at 7.7 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2011

   Complaints describe cracked plastic intake components letting coolant into the oil, or oil weeping onto the exhaust side and producing a burnt smell through the vents. Owners report intake plenum or manifold replacement and, in one case, a catalytic converter replacement afterward. Some also mention coolant loss leading to head gasket concerns. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 140,000 miles, with several cases in the 45,000 to 65,000 mile range.

   Recall 04V090000

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for a milky residue under the oil filler cap. Ask whether the intake manifold or gaskets have been replaced, and note that a fuel pressure regulator recall exists for some 3800 V6 cars.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I smelled a burning odor in my Bonneville ssei. The local GM dealer, on the incident date in this form, told me the cause was oil dripping on the exhaust manifold and that it was a fire hazard. Upon further investigation, I found an existing NHTSA action number (ea07008) for the exact problem I am having for the exact 3800 series ii v6 l67 GM engine. There were 2 recalls for cars with this engine, but my Pontiac model was not included (even though it has the exact same engine). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10394914, filed 2011-04, 54,002 miles

   “I've run into a dex-cool problem with my Pontiac 2000. The car has 65.000 mi and the cylinder head gasket is starting to leak, eventually destroying the engine. What kind of recourse do I have after the dex-cool class action law suit is closed? The postmark and online submission deadline to submit a claim statement was october 27, 2008. I did not had any information about this class action suit and deadline. Since this is clearly an oem defect involving thousands of cars and drivers GM should have reacted responsibly and issued a recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10277177, filed 2009-07, 65,000 miles

Buying note. Check every power window and the steering feel on a test drive, since those are the most frequently reported problems on this model year. Ask for service records on the intake gaskets, battery area and brake module, and confirm any open recalls have been completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.