Skip to content
Engine coolingPart report

2001 Pontiac Bonneville Engine cooling Problems

Complaints
22about this part
Share
17%of 129 total for the year
Median mileage
93,767miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 22 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2001 Pontiac Bonneville, 17% of the 129 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 93,767 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 7 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“When I drive my car it shuts down on me while driving and I have to wait at least 20 mins before it starts back up and sometimes it smells like something is burning.”

NHTSA complaint #10554700, filed 2013-12, 166,000 miles

“The intake cover is made of plastic, antifreeze and plastic do not make a good combination. This has caused leaking in the intake and cost me over $600 for repairs. The thing is the mechanic knew the problem as soon as we raised the hood because he had seen it so many times in this model. I believe this to be a manufacturer problem and something needs to be done about it.”

NHTSA complaint #10007681, filed 2003-02, 40,000 miles

“I attempted to start my 2001 Pontiac Bonneville. It was parked in my garage. A load explosion from under the hood followed by flames. I opened the hood and put out the flames with a fire extinguisher. The intake manifold was split wide open.”

NHTSA complaint #10213231, filed 2007-12, 89,895 miles

“We had a lot of snow and I live on a slight hill. Went to start the car that was covered in snow to move the car on the other side of the street facing down hill. I turned the key to start the car and heard it pop or backfire which it had never done before. I tried again to start the car and now it sounded like the battery was dead (which I knew it could not have been). The next thing I knew, a neighbor ripped open my driver door and was pulling me out of the car saying your car is on fire . My neighbors called 911 for the fire department who came and put the fire out but the car was totaled! …”

NHTSA complaint #10564372, filed 2014-02, 136,000 miles

“On october 27,2011 I came on from work around 7:00 pm turn my car of and went into the house. I heard some one bamming on the back door , I open the door and a guy said that your car is on fire he asked if I had any on else in the house I told him yes so I go inside to get my children out the house. That is when I saw the same guy who was knock on the door use my hose pipe spraying water on the car. At that time I called the sheriff's department they advise me that the plaquemine fire department was on there way. The fire department put the rest of the fire out. …”

NHTSA complaint #10433516, filed 2011-10, 197,313 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine cooling: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
200514%
200427%
2003611%
20021011%
20012217%
20003717%
19995941%
199819470%
19975034%
19964329%
19955523%
19941416%
19932014%
199298%
1991314%
199013%
198914%
1987316%

Other parts of the 2001 Pontiac Bonneville

Steering
31 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
17 complaints
Electrical system
16 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
15 complaints
Fuel system
14 complaints
Air bags
11 complaints
Brakes
9 complaints
Engine
9 complaints
Body and structure
8 complaints
Other or unknown
4 complaints
Seats
3 complaints
Suspension
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2001 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