In early november my car (97 bonneville sse) began experiencing trouble starting. It rarely started right up but required several tries to start. Occasionally I could smell gas after it was started multiple times. The iac valve was replaced but that changed nothing. After several more weeks of the issue getting worse I scheduled it for service on dec 22. The serpentine belt fell off dec 18; the car was towed to the garage dec 21. On dec 22 the car was "fixed". Within 24 hrs I knew the starting issue was not fixed. I had to start it multiple times every time & could often smell gas. I don't believe that the garage paid attention to the reason the car was originally scheduled for service & instead fixed the immediate issue. I brought it back to the garage dec 26 but had to leave a message with the gas attendant as the service dept was closed. On mon dec 28 I went out to start my car for work. The engine cranked 1-2 times then I heard a very loud "bang" under the hood near the steering wheel. Smoke poured from under the hood almost instantly. The smoke rapidly intensified and changed color. Fire could then be seen beneath the engine & engulfed a major part of it within 2-3 minutes. Although the fire dept arrived less than 4 min after the fire started, the entire engine was destroyed.
1997 Pontiac Bonneville fuel system problems
12 complaints (8% of all complaints for this car).
- owner complaints
- 12
- of this car's complaints
- 8%
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Storage: tank assembly2
- Delivery: fuel pump2
- Fuel injection system1
- Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1
- Delivery1
- Carburetor system1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Pontiac Bonneville fuel system problems in other years
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Engine compartment fires
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 backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a source of fuel to produce a combustible air-fuel mixture in the manifold.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by odi that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in gm?s recalls.odi will continue to monitor the incidence of manifold ruptures and related fires in other my 1995-2002 gm passenger cars equipped with the subject intake manifold.for additional information, see the attached closing report.
EA02030
What 1997 Pontiac Bonneville owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
My car surges all the time and the cruise control gets stuck on it I took it to the chevrolet place they said it was the transmission gone in it. But I still drive it I believe it has something to do with the fuel system myself. I bought the car in sept of 2002 and it was doing it when I got it. But it was a buy as is deal so they said there was nothing I could do about it. But when I took it to the chevrolet place they already had the car on file but would not tell me what the file said about the car.
Was driving and smelled strong gasoline odor the longer driven. Luckily not on highway, was able to stop and investigate, saw dripping line onto engine block. Proceeded to local dealer a few blocks away. (sullivan pontiac) they replaced the line. Said this is why bonneville's mostly have fires. I was lucky wasn't on highway, and pulled over when I did,,could have caused fire/explosion destroying my auto, others and caused injury or death to myself and / or others. Leak was in location protected by shroud. How did leak occur? Defective fuel line? Dealer did not save the defective line for later examination. Paid $299.85 for labor, $40 for shipping new fuel line, and $87.57 for the new fuel line= $427.42. Worried about is this safe for others!? Nlm
Engine failed due to hole in egr/ inlet in intake manifold which caused engine coolant to enter fuel intake system
1.fuel gauge behaves erratically and reads full when almost empty.2. When repacing non-working backup lights found lights had corroded & rusted into sockets-took lots of patience and 2 1/2 hours to get them out!! 3.vehicle stalls at random times for about 3-5 seconds at speeds of 55-67.
Fuel sending unit indicates that tank is always fuel. Consumer has been to several dealers & they see this as a common problem of repairs.
Vehicle will stall while in motion unexpectedly and without warning, causing loss of power steering. Consumer had taken vehicle to dealer between 4-6 times, but defect keeps occurring. Finally dealr replaced fuel pressure regulator and defect did stop, but only for 2 years. Currently, defect has reappeared.*ak fuel pressure regulator was replaced twice in three years.
Fuel gauge cluster failed causing gauge to read full at all times
When driving or idling vehicle will suddenly die ,and will not restart until after 10-15 minutes later . Dealer has replaced alternator, but defect has reocurred, dealer claimed they could not determine cause without duplicating defect. *ak after multiple attempt to repair the vehicle, the dealer idenfified the problem to be a failed fuel pump and was replaced. The consumer wants reimbersment for the cost of replacing the alternator that was not the cause.
Starter term loose causing vehicle to stall. Nlm
Questions about the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville fuel system
Does the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville have fuel system problems?
Owners have filed 12 complaints about the fuel system of the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville, 8% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 1997 Pontiac Bonneville fuel system problems start?
Not enough complaints include the mileage to tell.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville fuel system?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Pontiac Bonneville have the most fuel system problems?
The Pontiac Bonneville model years with the most fuel system complaints are 1998 (36 complaints), 1996 (25 complaints) and 1999 (23 complaints).
Other 1997 Pontiac Bonneville problems
Engine 51Electrical 28Transmission 16Steering 14Brakes 12Acceleration 9Lights 5Airbags 4Seat belts 3Seats 3Visibility 3Wheels 3Suspension 2Tires 1
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