The 1996 Pontiac Bonneville has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 308,680 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 181 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A NO-START CONDITION AND POSSIBLY AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING. UNTIL THE CAMPAIGN REPAIR IS MADE, THE VEHICLE HOOD SHOULD BE SHUT WHENEVER STARTING THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF PERSONAL INJURY.
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE THAT CAN CONTAIN A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. IF THE CAPACITOR IS DAMAGED, THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" WARNING CHIME AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WARNING CHIME AND INDICATOR LAMP MAY NOT WORK. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF…
CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE; THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE KEY WAS LEFT IN THE IGNITION OR THAT THE SAFETY BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACE THE MALL MODULE.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 pontiac bonneville. While driving 35 mph, the driver and passenger side air bags deployed inadvertently without warning. The vehicle was not involved in a crash. Due to the failure, the windshield shattered. A police report was not filed and no injuries were reported.…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 pontiac bonneville. The contact stated that while parked, the anti-theft and an unknown security warning lights illuminated and the vehicle required multiple attempts to start. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the ignition lock cylinder was…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 pontiac bonneville. When the contact started the vehicle, the driver and passenger side air bags deployed inadvertently. The impact of the passenger side air bag caused the windshield to shatter. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified…”
“Interior lighting system malfunction. Light's staying on when car is running and senors chimming for doors. *tr”
“Interior lighting system malfunction. Light's staying on when car is running and senors chimming for doors. *tr”
“I left my house & stopped for gas. After getting gas I noticed my airbag light was on. I did not pull over thinking it was a sensor problem. I proceeded to the highway & when I reached 57mph I put on my cruise control. In about 2 minutes my airbags deployed & my ability to see was 0%. The entire…”
“I left my house on 9/10/2011 and went to gas station. After fueling up I noticed that my airbag light was on. I did not pull over because I thought it was just a sensor problem and I had never heard of anyone having to pull over for the airbag light. I proceeded to the highway and when I reached…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 pontiac bonneville. The contact stated that the vehicle was being driven 15 mph when the front air bags deployed involuntarily. One of the vehicle occupants suffered minor injuries as a result of the deployment. The manufacturer sent an inspector to examine the vehicle…”
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME…
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME…
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.