2001 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi review from North America

Courtesy lights do not always illuminate at night when left front door is opened.

Automatic headlamps sometimes cannot be switched to parking lights at night.

Cassette tape will not eject.

Steering groans during low engine-speed turns (idle/off-idle).

Popping felt in steering wheel when front suspension is worked lightly.

Outside mirrors sometimes vibrate on moderately rough road surfaces.

HUD sometimes vibrates on moderately rough road surfaces.

Primer visible through the thin layer of paint on hood.

Paint chips and oxidizes easily.

Steering angle sensor had to be replaced.

Driver Information Center intermittently displays 'Service Stability System' and 'Service Theft System.'

Power locks sometimes (VERY rarely) lock on their own.

Was advised by dealership that Powertrain Control Module was missing some code (fixed).

Due to faulty filler panel (also known as applique or rear reflector) seal, water poured into trunk whenever trunklid was opened.

Due to faulty exterior temperature sensor, temperature display read extremely high and sometimes did not work. Climate controls were also affected.

The dealership I got the car from did some shoddy work on it and didn't repair damage it received on the lot. The salesman got the whole order mixed up a couple of times and I ended up with another Bonneville (in worse shape) first.

However, the Bonneville is an *awesome* car and accelerates very quickly despite its size and weight.

Handling is tight, but body roll and support in seats should be addressed more if the Bonneville is being marketed as a sports luxury car.

Magnasteer, while nice to have at higher speeds, causes the driver to work to keep the car driving in a straight line when roads are crowned (road is slanted to allow for water runoff).

Interior is comfortable for trips, no matter how long, and is organized so that everything is right at the driver's fingertips. Seatbelts are the most comfortable I have ever worn. Auto-dimming rearview mirror and blue-tinted sideview mirrors are very nice.

Personalization options for 2 different drivers is incredibly convenient. Also, if your mirrors get bumped while the car is parked, they will reset themselves when the car is turned on. The tilting right sideview mirror option (for parallel parking) is amazing.

The interior is spacious, and the trunk is cavernous! It will hold a LOT. Automatic load leveling allows the car to handle almost exactly the same when the trunk is full. A split-folding rear seatback would be much more useful than the pass-through rear seatback.

Bonnevilles have a 5-star safety rating, with dual front airbags, as well as side airbags. StabiliTrak and all-speed Traction Control work very well. Pontiac should consider utilizing the rear brakes in their StabiliTrak system as well (Cadillac already does).

All-in-all, an amazing and absolutely beautiful car that gets looks from young and old alike. It has plenty of power at all speeds, and with its imperceptible shifts and smooth ride it is a pleasure to drive in any condition.