2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

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! I AM FORTUNATE THAT THE NEIGHBORS HEARD THE POP, CAME OUTSIDE, SAW THE FLAMES UNDER THE CAR, AND I WAS NOT HURT. THIS HAPPENED WITH THE CAR PARKED RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE! STILL UNBELIEVABLE AND VERY FRIGHTENING! *TR

Mileage: 136,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 166,000

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. ONE OF THE FIRE FIGHTER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *TR

Mileage: 197,313

BATTERY DEAD, CHARGED THE CAR, STARTED IT UP...THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE(PLENUM). INS AGENT SAID IT WAS THE PLENUM AND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. GM IS LUCKY NO ONE WAS HURT!!!! *TR

Mileage: 120,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE INTAKE GASKET, VALVE COVER GASKET, OIL PAN, AND SEVERAL PIPING COMPONENTS AT THE COST OF $1,400. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LEAK COOLANT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD NOT BE CONCERNED. THE CONTACT LATER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND THEY FOUND THAT A COOLANT ELBOW PIPE HAD BEEN KNOCKED OUT OF PLACE, WHICH CAUSED THE LEAK. THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE FOR THE SECOND TIME AT THE COST OF $10, DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE INITIAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,767 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 105,000. UPDATED 07/08/09 *BF THE FRONT PASSENGER ELECTRIC WINDOW MOTOR FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR A SECOND TIME. UPDATED 07/08/09.*JB

Mileage: 93,767

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. A LEAKING VALVE COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED AND THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON 3.8 V6 GM ENGINES. AT THE TIME, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 ONLY APPLIED TO PONTIAC GRAND PRIX'S, NOT BONNEVILLES. THE CONTACT WANTS THE MANUFACTURER TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR COST SINCE THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. SHE FEELS THAT IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,821. UPDATED 05/19/09 *BF UPDATED 05/20/09.*JB

Mileage: 81,821

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, SHE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, SHE NOTICED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS RUPTURED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VIN WAS EXLCUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000. UPDATED 5/7/09 *CN UPDATED 05/08/09.*JB

Mileage: 120,000

DROVE VEHICLE FOR 25 MILES FROM WORK TO DAY-CARE FACILITY TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER. DROVE UNDER VARIOUS SPEEDS. PARKED CAR AND WENT INTO PICK UP DAUGHTER CAME BACK OUT AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM BENEATH THE HOOD. OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS A FIRE NEAR THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND VALVE COVER AREA. FIRE WAS SPREADING TO PLUG WIRES, PLASTIC ENGINE COVER AND THE WIRING HARNESS NEAR THE THROTTLE BODY. *TR

Mileage: 141,000

2001 BONNEVILLE SSEI 3.8L SUPERCHARGED V-6 ENGINE IDENTICAL TO ENGINES IN RECALL NUMBER EA07008. STRONG BURNING SMELL. VALVE COVER GASKET, OIL PAN GASKET, INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ALL LEAKING! OIL IS LEAKING INTO AND CONTAMINATING ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM! WHY ISN'T THIS MODEL INCLUDED IN EA07008 RECALL? YOUR WEBSITE DOESN'T EVEN LIST BONNEVILLES FOR 2001. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND RESPOND!!! *TR

REF NHTSA INVESTIGATION EA07008, WHY DOESN'T IT INCLUDE 2001 BONNEVILLE SSEI ,I DO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE GRAND PRIX AND THE REGAL GS. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

I HAD GONE TO A STORE, THE CAR RAN NORMAL. I WAS ON MY WAY BACK WHEN I MET A MAN FLASHING HIS LIGHTS AND WAVING HIS ARMS COMING TOWARD ME. I STOPPED AND HE TOLD ME THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER MY MOTOR. I GOT OUT AND WITHIN 2 MINUTES THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED AND TOTALLED. *TR

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. *TR

Mileage: 89,895

JUMPED VEHICLE DUE TO DEAD BATTERY,WHEN KEY WAS TURNED ENGINE BACKFIRE SOUND AND BLEW UP. INTAKE EXPLODED PARTS OF ENGINE THROWN EVERY WHERE. ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

I HAVE HAD A STEERING PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2001 BONNEVILLE SE. I HAVE A DOCUMENT ID #01-02-32-001A THAT STATES 2000-2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE HAS A CLUNK NOISE FROM FRONT OF STEERING WHEEL ROTATION (LUBRICATE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT). AFTER MONTHS OF GETTING A RUN-AROUND DUKE PONTIAC IN SUFFOLK VA FINALLY DIAGNOSED MY PROBLEM AND LUBRICATED THE SHAFT ON 03/01/02. THE NOISE STOPPED FOR ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AND HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE. IT NOW FEELS LIKE THE CAR HAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO CONTROL AT LOW OR HIGHER SPEEDS. I WAS ADVISED BY PERRY BUICK -PONTIAC 10/05/06 THAT THE NOISE I'M HEARING IS FROM THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. I ALSO EXPERIENCED LOW FLUID LEVELS THAT WAS DETECTED ON 8-16-05 WHEN I GOT AN OIL CHANGE FROM TUNE UP PLUS. I THEN WENT TO PERRY BUICK-PONTIAC AND WAS CHARGED $376.62 TO REPLACE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE WORK ORDER WAS NOTED THAT THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. AFTER INVESTIGATING I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A NOTICE IN 2003 THAT PERTAINS TO ENGINE COOLANT LEAK AT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD TO THROTTLE BOBY GASKET. IT STATES THAT THE CONDITION COULD RESULT IN LOW ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL AND HIGHER ENGINE TEMPERATURE. I FEEL THAT GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BECAUSE I STILL OWN THE CAR AND AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I FEEL IS A THREAT TO MY SAFETY AND TO THOSE WHO RIDE WITH ME. I ALSO FEEL THAT GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD REIMBURSED ME THE $376.62 THAT I PAID 8-18-05 TO HAVE THE MANIFOLD REPLACED. I ALSO HAD A FUEL LEAK OCT 5,20005 AND AM NOT SURE IF THAT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE PROBLEM AFOREMENTIONED. *JB

Mileage: 31

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, AIRBAG SENSOR FRONT, STEERING NOISE 4TH TIME, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER NOISY. *JB

WE OWN A 2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. IT HAS HAD TO HAVE A NEW FAN MOTOR, NEW MANIFOLD. AND IN DEC 2003 WE HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION, IN DEC 2004 WE HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION. AND NOW IT IS MAKING THE SAME NOISE AGAIN. IN READING ON THE INTERNET I SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS WITH PONTIAC OVER THE RACK AND PINION ISSUE. THEY NEED TO MAKE CHANGES TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED WHEN GETTING READY TO STOP OR MAKE A TURN. *AK

Mileage: 60,000

1)IN MARCH OF 2004,I HAD TO REPLACE A FRONT BEARING ON THIS VEHICLE,TO REGISTER IT. I THEN HAD THE TIRES BALANCED,BELIEVING THE SHAKING IN THE FRONT END WOULD STOP,IT HASN'T.MY NEXT PLAN WAS TO HAVE THE FRONT END CHECKED OUT.MAY 15TH 2004 I STARTED GETTING A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADS AND THAT THEY MAY NEED TO BE REDONE. I SPOKE IF SOME OTHER ITEMS I WANTED DONE: ADJUST SUN ROOF,FIX DRIVERS WINDOW,WHY IS THERE STILL A SHAKING IN THE FRONT END ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHY AM I GETTING WATER IN THE TRUNK? THE MECHANIC EXPRESSEED THAT THIS VEHICLE "HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT". THE WHOLE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPLACED. WHICH MIGHT EXPLAIN WHY THE SUN-ROOF IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT,THE TRUNK LEAKS WATER,THE FRONT DRIVERS BARRING HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE ENGINE IS QUITE LOOSE UNDER THE HOOD. THIS VEHICLE WAS OBVIOUSLY IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE FIRST OWNER, REPAIRED AND TURNED IN AT THE END OF THE LEASE. ALSO, HOW MANY OTHER VEHICLES MADE IN THIS YEAR HAD TO HAVE THE HEADS WORKED ON AT 45000 MILES,OR WAS THE MILEAGE TURNED BACK FOR THE RETURN OF THE LEASE????*AK

CAR LUGS DOWN INTERMITTENTLY AT 30 MPH AND AT 45 MPH. VERIFICATION OF PROBLEM WITH DEALER HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC AS IT DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME. ON NOV 13, 2002, THE DEALER REPLACED A VALVE ASSEMBLY (PART 24218255 -VALVE REM 4.265; PART 10478146 - VALVE SOLENOID 4.265; PART 24207957 - GASKET KIT 4.265; PART 24219819 - VALVE ASSEMBLY 4.265). *LA

Mileage: 1,997

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOST OF POWERSTEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

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.

Mileage: 40,000

CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT A COOLING SYSTEM LEAK HAS GONE UNDETECTED SINCE DELIVERY OF VEHICLE.*JB