1997 Pontiac Bonneville SE 3.8 from North America
Summary:
Piece of junk
Faults:
This car has been a maintenance nightmare. Even changing a headlight bulb is a gut wrenching nightmare. I restore old cars,I know what I am doing. The manual says just reach behind the headlight and remove, well, they have a big plastic box in the way and a dealer wants $40.00 to change it. After driving Pontiacs and putting heavy miles on them, no more Pontiacs. This car is too costly to maintain. Had new transmission at 54,000 miles. Bearings, fuel pumps, water pumps, alternators, electrical problems. no more. Next car will not be a Pontiac.
General Comments:
Maintenance HOG.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 23rd March, 2004
12th Oct 2003, 18:23
97 Pontiac Bonneville with 70,000 miles. Nice drive and handling. Unusually high ratio of repairs caused by latent defects.
Difficulty in changing lower radiator hose. Not enough space to remove upper clamp from lower hose.
Why does replacement of the 1997 SE Serpentine Belt appear to be blocked by engine support (connects engine to body through accessory belt)?
Engine has required three head gasket replacements. Pontiac replaced oxygen sensor three times. Last informed sensor was modified to work with CPU.