Model year guide

1996 Pontiac Bonneville

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1996 Pontiac Bonneville is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 3 on record.

1996 Pontiac Bonneville — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1996 Pontiac Bonneville at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints153
Combined18–21 mpg

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1996 Pontiac Bonneville recalls 3

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #09E012000 · 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Electrical System:ignition:anti-theft:control Module NHTSA Campaign #95V204000 · 23/10/1995

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 FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION" AND FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." IN ADDITION, OTHER…

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACE THE MALL MODULE.

Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System NHTSA Campaign #96V116000 · 01/07/1996

A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.

Fix: 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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1996 Pontiac Bonneville common problems

Owners have filed 153 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

1996 Pontiac Bonneville MPG & running costs

Combined18–21 mpg
City16 mpg
Highway26 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,875
EPA size classLarge Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
Forced inductionSupercharged
Passenger volume110 cu ft
Cargo volume18 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$7,375 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1996 Pontiac Bonneville costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$19,375
Fuel only$19,375
Per mile$0.26

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

1996 Pontiac Bonneville trims & engines on record

Trims
SE
Engines
3.8L 6-cyl

1996 Pontiac Bonneville vehicles on record

1996 Pontiac Bonneville 1996 Pontiac Bonneville SE1G2HX52KXT4247568 1996 Pontiac Bonneville 1996 Pontiac Bonneville SE1G2HX5214T4231664 1996 Pontiac Bonneville SE1G2HX52K9T4224069

Other Pontiac Bonneville model years

2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1995 1994 1992 1990

1996 Pontiac Bonneville — frequently asked questions

Does the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville?

Owners have filed 153 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, electrical system, engine and engine cooling.

What gas mileage does the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville get?

The 1996 Pontiac Bonneville has U.S. EPA estimates of 18–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.