Defect
THE PUSH-PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF…
Remedy
REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.
1986 Pontiac Bonneville Recalls
Recalls on record Updated July 2026
The 1986 Pontiac Bonneville has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 93,317 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the exterior lighting. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
Complaints by component
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
STRUCTURE:BODY
Total complaints3
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Vehicle experienced gear failure, the vehicle would only move in reverse. *yc”
“Cloth headliner began to separate from the foam liner above head, hangs down, blocking drivers view. *dsh”
“Vehicle experienced symptom of recall in which the push-pull headlight switch may have electrical contacts allowing an intermittent headlight short circuit causing panel to flicker or go off completely. Vehicle not included in recall.”
Defect investigations
Investigation EA87022 Opened 1987-08-27 · closed 1991-11-27
STALLING
SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT STALLING IS DUE TO VARIOUS FAULTYCOMPONENTS OF THE FUEL INJECTION AND/OR IGNITION SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWINGMODELS ARE INVOLVED:BUICK ELECTRA, LESABRE, RIVERA, CENTURY; OLDS CUTLASSCIERA, 88, 98, TORONADO; PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.STATUS:THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.WE ARE CONTINUING TO…
Investigation EA89028 Opened 1989-07-28 · closed 1990-07-27
REAR BRAKE PIN
SUMMARY:THESE VEHICLES HAVE REAR DRUM BRAKES.THE PARKING LEVER PIVOTPIN IS HELD BY AN E RING.WHEN THE RING FAILS, PARTS OF THE RING ANDPIN FALL LOOSE INTO THE DRUM AND MAY JAM THE BRAKE, LOCKING THE WHEEL.A STRONGER E RING IS USED IN 1988 AND NEWER CARS.THIS INVESTIGATIONHAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE GMS C BODY CARS…
Investigation EA90017 Opened 1990-03-26 · closed 1991-04-22
BRAKE FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
Investigation PE87041 Opened 1987-08-04 · closed 1987-11-30
THROTTLE SYSTEM FAILURE
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:GM REPORTED KNOWLEDGE OF 137OWNER COMPLAINTS, 317 FIELD REPORTS, AND 2 LAWSUITS, IN ADDITION TO THEREPORTS RECEIVED DIRECTLY BY THE NHTSA.THE REPORTS RECEIVED BY GM CITETHE OCCURRENCE OF 263 ACCIDENTS,INCLUDING 77 INJURY ACCIDENTS, 100 INJURIESAND 1 FATALITY.SEVERAL POSSIBLE…
Investigation PE89101 Opened 1989-03-15 · closed 1989-07-28
REAR BRAKE PIN
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Investigation PE89104 Opened 1989-03-17 · closed 1989-05-12
JAMMED STEERING MECHANISM
SUMMARY: THE OIL FILL TUBE MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING IT TO FALL ANDPOSSIBLY BECOME LODGED NEAR THE STEERING GEAR.THIS MAY CAUSE THESTEERING MECHANISM TO BECOME JAMMED, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL.===
Investigation PE89145 Opened 1989-07-21 · closed 1989-09-22
PARKING BRAKE CABLE
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Investigation PE89171 Opened 1989-09-26 · closed 1990-03-26
BRAKE FAILURE
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Sources & methodology
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1986 Pontiac Bonneville as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.