The 1987 Pontiac Bonneville has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 519,934 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.
EXCESSIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE FRICTION MAY RESTRICT THE CABLES FREE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE BODY.
THIS COULD PREVENT THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO CLOSED(IDLE) POSITION WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED; THUS, ENGINE SPEED WOULDNOT DECREASE, AND LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
REPLACE ACCELERATOR CABLE.
AN IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK MAY MELT DOWN AND CAUSE A FIRE.
THE IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK LOCATED IN THE AREA OF THEPLASTIC WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET MAY, UNDER A HIGH RESISTANCE LOAD,MELT DOWN AND IGNITE THE WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET RESULTING IN AN ENGINECOMPARTMENT FIRE.
THE WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED.
THE HEADLAMP CIRCUIT BREAKER MAY OVERHEAT AT LOW BEAM CAUSING AN INTERMITTENT HEADLAMP CIRCUIT.
HEADLAMP AND FOGLAMPS WOULD GO OUT SUDDENLY REDUCINGDRIVER VISIBILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
REVISE FOGLAMP CIRCUIT TO PREVENT OVERHEATING OF HEADLAMP CIRCUIT.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“The car will momentarily hesitate when attempting to accelerate from a stopped position. It is periodic and not consistent, therefore, hard to duplicate according to the dealer. I asked gm to e-mail some of their nationwide pontiac dealerships and ask for their input on this type of problem but…”
“Whenever in drive and slowing down vehicle would cut off. If another vehicle was behind consumer's vehicle it would rear ended it. *ak”
“While driving, doors locked down and interior lights came on. When trying to turn off inerior lights, control switch sunk/melted into dash. Dash ablaze within 2 to 3 minutes, entire vehicle engulfed 3 to 4 minutes later. Escaped through open window. Very unsafe.”
“Vehicle stalls intermittently (since new) and dealer cannot determine cause or resolve problem.”
“Battery leaks, causing corrosion.”
“When making an emergency stop, vehicle will stop. This is a intermittent problem which can result in an accident. *ak”
“Drivers side seat belt buckle malfunctions. Tt”
“The vehicle stalls without warning, usually when the vehicle is started for the first time on a paticular day. Tt”
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…
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…
There is no summary currently available
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…
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Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1987 Pontiac Bonneville as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.