Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1998 Pontiac Bonneville. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗GM/FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.
- Consequence
- THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (277)
277 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine and engine cooling is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 277 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 194 | 70% |
| Fuel system | 36 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 28 | 10.1% |
| Power train | 13 | 4.7% |
| Unknown or other | 8 | 2.9% |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 2.9% |
| Visibility | 8 | 2.9% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 2.5% |
| Steering | 7 | 2.5% |
| Engine | 6 | 2.2% |
How 1998 compares with other Bonneville years
Best and worst Bonneville years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 88 | 0 |
| 1995 | 244 | 1 |
| 1996 | 150 | 2 |
| 1997 | 147 | 1 |
| 1998 | 277 | 1 |
| 1999 | 143 | 3 |
| 2000 | 214 | 2 |
| 2001 | 129 | 0 |
| 2002 | 89 | 2 |
| 2003 | 54 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 20 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,350
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 444 g/mi
- EPA class
- Large Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 20 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 26 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 3.8 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 / 25 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1998 Bonneville for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1998 Pontiac Bonneville FAQ
How many recalls does the 1998 Pontiac Bonneville have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 04V090000 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1998 Pontiac Bonneville problems?
Owners filed 277 complaints with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling (194), Fuel system (36), Electrical system (28) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1998 Pontiac Bonneville get?
EPA rates the 3.8 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 17 city, 26 highway and 20 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1998 Bonneville compare with other years?
Among the 1994–2003 Pontiac Bonneville model years at least five years old, the 2003 drew the fewest complaints (54) and the 1998 the most (277). The 1998 drew 277. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.