Comments: 1-15, 16-19
Day after car was delivered we realized the front passenger door would not close properly. This was a sign of things to come. It was fixed under warranty.
At around 40000 miles, a plastic part on the electric sun roof broke. We were told an entire new sun roof assembly was required to fix it. Of course, it was out of warranty. It works OK without it so we did not spend the $1500. My wife is afraid to use it now for fear it will break in the open position.
At around 65000 miles we paid $1000 to have both front hub bearings and tie rods replaced.
The dash lights work intermittently.
Power windows on both front doors and one back door began working intermittently at about 70000 miles.
At 75000 miles the front passenger window and rear passenger window both failed. One makes noise, the other doesn't. We will take them in for repair tomorrow. I expect it to be several hundred dollars.
I wonder what will break next.
We bought this car because we wanted something larger than our old Ford Probe, but we still wanted a sporty car.
The Bonneville SSEi seemed the perfect car.
We love the styling, performance, and handling of the car, but it is simply not reliable.
We paid nearly $34000 for this car in 2000. It is now worth about $13000 on trade.
Next time, we are buying a Honda.
I Think you want to say: 3.8 Supercharged V6.
There is no such a thing known as 3.8 Turbocharged V6 Engine.
And By the Way, I Think is horrible that you would rather own a Honda next time.
Our 2002 ssei has 23000 miles we will probably trade before the warranty is out. We have had the doors resealed twice. The steering has been a problem so the tie rod was replaced. The tires have all been replaced and we are now waiting for a new rear tire. Friends of ours had the same problem with the popping in the steering column.
My fiance drives a 95 ssei. When I met her the sun roof had leaked since she bought it. The left rear window doesn't work. The heater bypass nipple on the intake (which was made of plastic) broke in two, puking coolant all over the belts causing the waterpump belt to slip off. The supercharger has been sounding like its chewing on rocks and I think it has finally went tonight.It's a very nice car, but it's killing me. It keeps me very busy and almost crapped when I found out the supercharger costs about as much as a brand new in the crate chevy small block.Disgusting.
Bought a 2000 Bonneville last year that was in pristine condition. Within 4 months had to replace the rear window operating mechanism at a cost of over $400. Last week the other rear window failed and stayed in the down position during an extended trip in temps of 15 degrees. Rigged this window so that it just stays closed for good. I refuse to reward GM by buying another assembly for what is obviously a poor design and/or inferior materials.
I have a 1988 and, I also have a 1989 they both work fine I treat mine like a truck. I love taking it when I go fishinf and hunting. but I just resently have no problems with it at all I just think the old cars a generally better than new. sure the new ones look nice, but not as reliable as old ones.
Just remember cars that are made these days are not built like they used to be.
I own a 2001 and here is my laundry list, three window motors went out under warranty, power steering pump fell off car at 59,000 miles still fighting with GM on this issue, wheel bearings went out at 70,000 miles, computer module went out at 63,000 miles. Intermediate steering column failed causing thumping sound at low speeds. mechanic told me he never saw this in 25 years of reparing autos. GM sells a lube kit for this intermediate column part so they must know the problem now the final straw the blower fan motor is going bad for the dual zone climate control this started at 73,000 miles I am looking to trade, Problem is I have so many GM incentive dollars it is making it hard not to buy another GM even though I have looked at Honda and Hyundai. It will be gond by end of march. Just a not My wifes Grand Am had all four window motors replaced. Word on the street is GM got a very large batch of bad window motors from a vendor and will not recall them. they know, but as usual will take no action just keep bleeding the end user.
I bought a 1997 Bonneville SSEi in 1998 with all the possible toys for about $25,000. I love the car, but other than the engine block, I question the quality of all the other parts. At 160,000 miles it had an engine block leak, as luck would have it, I found a junk yard that had a year 2000 engine with the Supercharger and only 3,000 miles on the engine (result of another car's bad accident, but engine was good) for $1,800. I couldn't pass up the opportunity for a newer engine, so I had a mechanic retrofit it on my Bonnie and off I went.
Now at 226,000 miles, I have a few problems that make me wonder if I should invest in her or trade her in.
1. The left rear power window has not worked for months and comes and goes when it wants to work. More not than yes.
2. The turn signal lever does not return when the left turn signal is selected (I have to return the lever manually).
3. The rear compressor pump used to level the rear struts stopped working (this is the second one that has stopped working).
4. The fuel line had to be replaced due to leaks (pretty dangerous).
5. Now the door locks and interior lights stopped working (probably needs the computer module replaced).
6. Battery and battery cables had to be replaced due to faulty wires.
7. Gas gauge and gas tank had to be replaced, sensor is inside gas tank (bad engineering) ($900).
8. Countless electrical problems, big expense items: Sensors, Stereo (CD radio - $400), rear passenger interior light ($150) and front passenger interior light ($180), power antenna ($310).
And now, I need new struts (front and rear), the rear air compressor, power antenna and the wheel alignment that goes with the new struts; for about $2,800. This is killing me. Should I invest and wonder what else will go wrong?
Maybe I've been lucky and have not had many of the problems other people have had, but over all, I think I've probably paid in overall repairs and maintenance about as much as the car itself was worth, almost $20,000 (or maybe more).
Maybe next time I'll look for a nice Infinity, Lexus or Toyota instead. I'm not totally convinced of GM's quality and non-American cars (exports) seem to have better, more reliable parts that don't break every couple of thousand miles, which I find to be very sad. Where is the American quality and pride?
Me and my fiance just bought a 2001 SSEI with 90,000 miles on her. Before I bought it, I noticed a clunking in the steering while the car was in park. The mechanic took it in and said he greased a fitting. Turns out that there was no fitting to grease, and all he did was reposition the steering wheel tilt (fixed it temporarily), long enough for me to drive it off the lot. Two months later it started doing it again, come to find out it is the intermediate shaft which has to be taken apart and greased. What a mess.
My 2001 Pontiac Boneville has been one problem after another. First though, at 30,000 miles I took the car into the dealer to have the transmission fluid changed. I picked up the car and less than 20 miles later I noticed each time I turned the trany would slip. I checked the fluid level and found it was not even touching the dip stick. Went back to the dealer. It was over a quart low. The deal had to repair the transmission.
Next: The sun roof has leak since the very beginning as all my Pontiac vehicles have. If Pontiac made boats you could name them all Titanic I, II, III, IV, etc...because they would all sink because of all the leaks.
Next: the steering column knocks. Continuing.
Next: the rear window control went out.
Next: the trunk leaks.
Next: the air bag light is on.. cost $1500 to fix - the light is going to stay on for all I care for that much.
Next: The front right wheel bearing went out.
Next: Now, the fan motor control went out again, second time. First time under warranty, but now it is out of my pocket. Cost is too hight to fix. Thank goodness it is getting cooler now.
I hope I can sell this piece of junk to someone soon cause in the last 4 months I have spent $4000 on and car that has a value of less than $10,000.
All I can say is hello Honda Ridgeline. Be nicer to me please.
My 2000 Bonneville SSEi has 168,000 miles on it now and I still have not done anything to the engine or transmission. It runs like it did when it was new, faster than most sedans on the road. I know a lot of people that drive Japanese cars and have had numerous problems. You can no longer say that Japanese cars last longer.
I have a 2001 Pontiac Bonneville I bought used a few months ago. It has 100k miles on it and seems to be in great shape. The fan motor went out and I can't find another one new or used anywhere. But that problem was likely caused by debris getting into the fan motor because the previous owner took out the filter. Other than that, I am not having any problems. The car looks great and handles well. All the bells and whistles still work like new. People are always saying they really like my car.
After reading a lot of the comments on this page, I'm a little worried now.
Bought my 01 SLE new... LOVE the car, but... steering does whine and pop. ALL window motors went within 6 mos of each other... just had the two front fixed and had the rears put up permanently to the tune of $600 (dealer wanted a grand) Blower motor was working SOMETIMES, now not at all, but with summer in FL coming.. that will be another $400?...Oh well, with 108,000 miles on her I guess I'll drive her into the ground.
Might consider trading if GM still made a luxury car with attitude, but they don't. Honda? never.
I have owned my 2002 Bonneville SSEI since July of 2004. Within the first month of my purchase I had to be towed twice because of electrical shorts that would keep the vehicle from starting. Here I am over 4 years later! Replaced the motor @ 86000 Miles to the tune of $3200. Blower motor on the heat/ac had to be replaced, both rear windows have had new regulators, my interior lights do not work and every time my mechanic replaces the fuse it just blows again in 2 days (why bother?). My Sunroof is no longer operational and my trunk leaks as if there was a hole drilled directly under the spoiler. I really love my car, but it has been a financial burden that will prevent me from EVER purchasing another GM product.
I bought my Bonneville SE in 2001 with 15,000 on it in Feb of 2001. Before I bought it was used as a rental car. I must tell you that from all the horror stories I have read here I must be the luckiest Bonneville owner there is. Both my back window regulators have gone bad but I will be able to replace them for $45.00 a piece and install them myself. The left rear went out about 4 years ago and the right rear just went.
I have replaced the rear shocks, water pump and oil sending unit. Regular tire and brake work. My car has over 160,000 on it so I must have bought the very best one they made. I hope I have not jinxed myself by writing this.