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Pontiac BonnevilleModel year report

2003 Pontiac Bonneville Problems

Complaints
54filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
76,514miles, 40 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.8L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 27 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Pontiac Bonneville (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a clunking or knocking noise from the steering when turning. Where mileage is given, these reports mostly fall between about 30,000 and 60,000 miles, while stalling and power loss are reported at higher mileage, often over bumps. Oil or coolant leaks near the intake or valve cover, and fuel odors, also appear repeatedly in the complaints.

  1. Steering

    Clunking or knocking when turning the steering

    • 8 complaints (15%)
    • median 40,000 mi at 4.9 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2006–2009

    Owners describe a clunking or knocking noise from the steering column when turning, sometimes felt through the wheel. Complaints say the noise returned after the intermediate shaft or a knuckle U-joint was replaced or greased. Some complaints say the dealer called the noise normal or a known problem with no correction. Where mileage is given, most reports fall between about 30,000 and 60,000 miles, and some describe the noise when turning from a stop.

    What to check: Test for clunks by turning slowly from a stop in both directions, and ask for records of any steering column or intermediate shaft repairs.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Steering knuckle u-joint was clunking. The dealership replaced and I paid $275. One year later, it started clunking again on turns - dealership added in grease kit at no charge. One year later, steering starts clunking again and they say it is not covered under warranty. Why is this thing designed to last only one year? The dealership says it is not a safety hazard, but if the steering is clunking like something is loose, how do I know it is safe?”

    NHTSA complaint #10184323, filed 2007-03, 45,000 miles

    “2003 Pontiac Bonneville ssei when turning the steering wheel, left or right from a stopping position a loud clunking noise appears. It is felt through the steering wheel and column. While driving the noise happens rarely. I have read numerous accounts of this but no recall as of yet. I am worried this is a safety concern while driving on the highways at high speeds especially. Is something loose and/or getting rubbed to cause damage and loss of steering in the future? Gm dealer defect?”

    NHTSA complaint #10281283, filed 2009-08, 57,000 miles
  2. Engine

    Engine stalls or loses power while driving

    • 7 complaints (13%)
    • median 110,000 mi at 10.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2008–2015

    Owners describe the engine stalling or losing power while driving, sometimes with the power steering and brakes becoming harder to use. Several complaints say it happened after driving over bumps, and some owners restarted the engine after shifting to neutral. Independent shops often could not reproduce or diagnose the problem, and in a complaint where the dealer pointed to a crankshaft sensor, replacing it and a cam sensor did not stop the stalling. Where mileage is given, reports fall between about 80,000 and 130,000 miles, and several describe it happening over bumps.

    What to check: Ask for any trouble-code records and sensor repair history, and test drive over rough road sections to see whether power drops.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While driving my engine lost power completely. I had went over bump in the road and the vehicle lost all power. I place the car in neutral, and able to restart and continue driving. Hit bump in road again and engine lost power again. I was fortunate to be able to pull over. Restarted engine and returned home. Had repair shop check vehicle for diagnosis and they were unable to resolve issue. Neither was GM dealer. I have had this happen everytime I go over bump in road, usually at speeds over 40 miles per hour. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10564622, filed 2014-02, 130,000 miles

    “My car shuts off while driving. I notice it because power steering is hard to use and RPM's go down to zero and car has shut off. It started up again. This has been a real problem. Dealer tested car and said it was a crankshaft sensor. I replaced the crankshaft sensor and the problem continues. Cam sensor replaced too. This is a safety issue. No one knows why the car shuts off when it wants to. Now the car still shuts off while driving, but also it takes 2 to 3 times to restart. Still trying to figure this out. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10748603, filed 2015-08, 81,000 miles
  3. Engine

    Oil or coolant leaks near the intake or valve cover

    • 8 complaints (15%)
    • median 72,000 mi at 9.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2003–2026

    Owners describe oil leaking from the engine, often near the valve cover, with oil fumes, a burnt smell, or light smoke from the engine area. Coolant leaks at the upper intake manifold are also described, and some owners had intake or plenum gaskets replaced more than once. Some complaints say the dealer told the owner that a repair kit would be at the owner's expense, and some report the engine later needed replacement. Where mileage is given, reports range from about 18,000 to 100,000 miles, with most falling between 30,000 and 100,000.

    What to check: Look under the vehicle and around the intake and valve covers for oil or coolant residue, and check the fluid levels. Ask whether the intake or valve cover gaskets have been replaced and for records of any coolant leak repairs.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The car I drive (3.8 liter six cylinder) has an oil leak coming from the left valve cover. After I come to a stop or make a left turn, I smell oil fumes and can see a light smoke coming from the front of the car. I've been reading about the current recall for cars made before and after my car. How do I get my car on list of recalls for repair?”

    NHTSA complaint #10786884, filed 2015-10, 100,000 miles

    “Plenum intake valve & gasket replaced in april 2003 and again in september 2003. Now engine needs to be replaced. Service dept. Told me they stock these parts due to frequent demand for them. This is my 2nd Pontiac and I am disappointed with the Bonneville. My 2 previous repairs were over $900 and now I may have to replace an engine. I would appreciate any assistance you could provide to rectify this issue. The vehicle is awaiting repair at dean arbour chevrolet in east tawas, mi.”

    NHTSA complaint #10043585, filed 2003-10, 72,000 miles
  4. Fuel system

    Fuel odor and possible fuel system leaks

    • 9 complaints (17%)
    • median 90,000 mi at 10.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2003–2026

    Owners describe a strong fuel smell, sometimes under the hood or after refueling, often with the check engine light on. Complaints mention fuel injector trouble, fuel tank leaks, and a fuel tank pressure sensor that needed replacing. Some owners were told their vehicle was not included in a related recall campaign. A complaint also describes smoke and flames from under the hood after a loss of power, with a witness pointing to the fuel lines. Where mileage is given, reports range from about 90,000 to 229,000 miles.

    Recall 03V238000

    What to check: Check for a fuel smell under the hood and around the fuel filler, and ask whether the VIN was checked against recall 03V238000. Ask for records of any fuel injector, fuel tank, or pressure sensor repairs.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Acted like it was running out of gas, loss of power and speed. Only 50mph when a boom in the engine, pulled over popped the hood latch, saw smoke, exited car as flames came out of the hood. Called 911.. Car burnt to the ground. Witness stopped and told me that there is a problem with faulty fuel lines .”

    NHTSA complaint #10474028, filed 2012-09, 229,000 miles

    “The fuel injector started having issues, and the car has a whistling sound when the ignition is turned on. The smell of gas is coming from under the hood of the car. The electrical system has been off since we got the vehicle in november of 2013, the mirrors move by themselves and the sunroof never worked correctly.”

    NHTSA complaint #10641886, filed 2014-10

Buying note. Buyers considering this model year may want to test drive for steering clunks and ask about any engine stalling or leak repairs. Checking the recall status for the fuel tank pressure sensor and getting a pre-purchase inspection can help clarify these concerns for a specific vehicle.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 49 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.

NHTSA recorded 54 consumer complaints for the 2003 Pontiac Bonneville. 40 of the complaints include a mileage, and 33% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 76,514 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 356 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Electronic stability control (1), Exterior lighting (1), Seat belts (1), Seats (1), Body and structure (1), Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “On 8/1/11 while driving I heard a loud noise like I had been hit by something so I pulled off the highway and noticed that my left rear window had dropped down by itself and I could not raise it by activating the switch. Gm replaced the operator. On 12/13/13 my right front window operator failed and I shared the cost of the repair with GM. Now on 1/19/14 my right rear window operator has failed. I searched the internet and have found that many people have had this same problem. This vehicle has only 7300 miles on it and in my estimation should not have these problems. …”

NHTSA complaint #10560775, filed 2014-01, 7,300 miles

Steering: “Clunking noise when turning and can be felt in the steering wheel, was told by the dealer it is a known problem with the 2003 Bonneville ssei and there is no correction. Also service stability system keeps coming up on the screen.”

NHTSA complaint #10265545, filed 2009-04, 30,000 miles

Engine: “While driving my vehicle lost power. I shifted vehicle to neutral and attempted restart. Engine restarted. Continued driving when drive over bumps, buckles in payment engine looses power. All needle indicators drop to off position, car starts to slow down, steering looses power, all lights go out as well. This is a condition that has become increasing more dangerous as speeds increases. I had vehicle checked out and mechanics are unable to diagnosis. I previously owned 2001 Pontiac Bonneville as well which did the same when driven over bumps, or imperfections in the road. …”

NHTSA complaint #10572831, filed 2014-03

Engine cooling: “The contact owns a 2003 Pontiac Bonneville. The contact stated that while moving the vehicle from its parked location, the contact noticed engine oil leaking on the ground under the vehicle. The contact also stated that the vehicle had been experiencing diminished engine power. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15v701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000. Updated 03/16/16”

NHTSA complaint #10825808, filed 2016-02, 75,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

33% of the 40 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 35,900 and 101,000 miles.

8%0–105%10–2520%25–5015%50–7523%75–10020%100–15010%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (40 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 76,514 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’03’07’10’149’17’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 Pontiac Bonneville. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Bonneville · sedan not rated4 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2003 Pontiac Bonneville version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Bonneville FWD3.8L 6-cyl4-speed automatic172721$3,200
Bonneville FWD3.8L 6-cyl4-speed automatic162519$4,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2003 Pontiac Bonneville → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 356 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 356 bulletins →

Other model years of the Pontiac Bonneville

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
200527119,0000—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20042842,0000—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20035476,5142—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20028950,1762—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200112967,5000—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200021461,1162—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199914370,0003—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199827771,7251—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199714798,0001—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1996150115,0002—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1995244120,0001—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199488127,0000—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1993138126,0001—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1992113170,0003—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199122114,0001—20—Stable
199039140,0000—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19892853,2721—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198817—0—20—Stable
198719—3—19—Stable

All Pontiac Bonneville model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Pontiac Bonneville?

Owners of this model year most often describe a clunking or knocking noise from the steering when turning. The issues reported most often: Clunking or knocking when turning the steering; Engine stalls or loses power while driving; Oil or coolant leaks near the intake or valve cover.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Pontiac Bonneville have?

NHTSA recorded 54 consumer complaints for the 2003 Pontiac Bonneville as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 Pontiac Bonneville is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 10 complaints (19% of the total), followed by steering with 10.

Has the 2003 Pontiac Bonneville been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2003 Pontiac Bonneville get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Pontiac Bonneville (Bonneville, 3.8L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 17 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Pontiac Bonneville reported?

Among the 40 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 76,514 miles and the middle half falls between 35,900 and 101,000 miles; 33% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.