1977 Pontiac Bonneville problems

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The Pontiac Bonneville is a model line of full-size or mid-size front-engine rear drive cars manufactured and marketed by Pontiac from 1957 until 2005, with a hiatus for model years 1982-1986.

The Bonneville (marketed as the Parisienne in Canada until 1981), and its platform partner, the Grand Ville, are some of the largest Pontiacs ever built; in station wagon body styles they reached just over 230 inches (5.8 m) long, and at 5,000 pounds (2,300 kg) and more were also some of the heaviest cars produced at the time.

The Bonneville nameplate was introduced as a limited production performance convertible during the 1957 model year, its name taken from the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah — an early site of US auto racing and numerous world's land speed record records, itself named after U.S. Army officer Benjamin Bonneville.

1977 Pontiac Bonneville

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Common 1977 Pontiac Bonneville problems

The 1977 Pontiac Bonneville was a full-sized car that faced several common problems, primarily related to the engine, transmission, suspension, and electrical systems.

  • Transmission Issues: The Turbo-Hydramatic transmission in the Bonneville was also prone to problems, including difficulty shifting and slipping. This could lead to a loss of power and a decrease in fuel efficiency.
  • Suspension and Steering Problems: The Bonneville's suspension and steering systems were known to have issues, including a loose or noisy steering column and difficulty steering at low speeds. These problems could make the car difficult to handle and lead to a decrease in safety.
  • Electrical Problems: The Bonneville's electrical system was also prone to problems, including issues with the wiring in the ignition system and the power windows. These problems could cause the car to stall or fail to start, and could even result in a fire. Additionally, the Bonneville's electronic dashboard display could fail, causing the gauges and warning lights to stop working. This issue was often due to a faulty printed circuit board and could be expensive to repair.

In summary, the 1977 Pontiac Bonneville faced several common problems that could be frustrating and expensive to repair. These issues included engine problems, transmission issues, suspension and steering problems, and electrical problems. Owners of this car should be aware of these potential issues and take steps to maintain their car to prevent these problems from occurring.

1977 Pontiac Bonneville engine

How reliable are Pontiac Bonneville?

Bonneville owners have made 494 complaints over 16 model years. It ranks 10th in reliability out of 17 eligible Pontiac models. Our reliability rank is based on our PainRank™ system. A higher number means you can expect more significant problems.

How many miles can a Pontiac Bonneville last?

The Bonnevilles are the GM car I will miss the most with their restructuring. The bigger car ride, smaller car handling, full instrumentation and adult styling made the Bonnies an all-American car. The 3800 engine is very hard to fault and this car can easily last 200,000 miles with modest attention.

How rare is Pontiac Bonneville?

Just 630 production examples of these cars were ever made – one per dealer in the United States, plus two prototypes.

What was the last year they made the Pontiac Bonneville?

2005

The Bonneville made its last stand in 2005 before being resigned to the history books. Pontiac itself lasted not much longer. But it was a great name, and Bonnevilles are great cars. There are still plenty of Pontiac lovers out there today—I'm one of them.

How reliable are Pontiac Bonneville?

Bonneville owners have made 494 complaints over 16 model years. It ranks 10th in reliability out of 17 eligible Pontiac models. Our reliability rank is based on our PainRank™ system. A higher number means you can expect more significant problems.

How long can a Pontiac Bonneville last?

The bigger car ride, smaller car handling, full instrumentation and adult styling made the Bonnies an all-American car. The 3800 engine is very hard to fault and this car can easily last 200,000 miles with modest attention.

Was the Pontiac Bonneville a luxury car?

It entered the production lineup as a high-performance, fuel-injected luxury convertible version of the Star Chief in 1957, and was loaded with every available option as standard equipment to include leather upholstery, power adjustable front seat, power windows, power steering, power brakes and power convertible top ...

How rare is Pontiac Bonneville?

Just 630 production examples of these cars were ever made – one per dealer in the United States, plus two prototypes.

1977 Pontiac Bonneville car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Pontiac Bonneville problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Steering problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1977 Pontiac Bonneville vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1977 Pontiac Bonneville complaints

The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1977 Pontiac Bonneville.

1997-01-28

STEERING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • Components: STEERING
  • Summary: STEERING LINKAGES FAILED.

1977 Pontiac Bonneville recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 4 recalls for different components of the 1977 Pontiac Bonneville.

1977-02-16
  • Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  • Components: STEERING:LINKAGES:ARM:IDLER AND ATTACHMENT
  • Summary: ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, THE INCORRECT STEERING LINKAGE ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. AS A RESULT, THE RIGHT-HAND STEERING TIE ROD MIGHT INTERFERE WITH THE INTERMEDIATE ROD. THIS COULD CAUSE THE CONNECTION TO FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE STRESS AT THAT POINT.
  • Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING LINKAGE ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE.
1976-11-05
  • Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  • Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1976-11-03
  • Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  • Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
1976-09-07
  • Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  • Components: STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
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Additional sources

More sources of information about 1977 Pontiac Bonneville problems:

'02 Electrical problems (Pt 1 of Project Bonneville) : 2000-2005 ...
'02 Electrical problems (Pt 1 of Project Bonneville) : 2000-2005 ...
https://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/2000-2005-other-than-gxp/topic45413.html

There's a write up in the 2000-2005 common problems thread. ... Aaron - 1977 .. 2017 ... 2000 Pontiac Bonneville (5 problems all at once) electrical.

Car shuts off while driving : 1992-1999
Car shuts off while driving : 1992-1999
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/1992/topic37256.html

Aaron - 1977 .. ... Not a guarantee of your issue, but another place to look that is a known common failure point. ... Year and Trim: 1998 Pontiac ...

1990-91 Bonneville Information. : 1987-1991
1990-91 Bonneville Information. : 1987-1991
https://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/1987/topic45146.html

I would like info such as their reliability and common problems. ... Aaron - 1977 .. 2017 ..... 2017 ... Then: '98 Pontiac Bonneville SSE | 205hp ...

Transmission Experiences 4T65E - Pontiac Bonneville Club
Transmission Experiences 4T65E - Pontiac Bonneville Club
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/2000-2005-other-than-gxp/topic47251.html

2: 1983 Pontiac GP. The ... Aaron - 1977 .. 2017 ..... 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ..... 1992 Bonneville ... Check out common problem #2 in this ...

79 Corvette Door Lock Mechanism Very Stiff - CorvetteForum ...
79 Corvette Door Lock Mechanism Very Stiff - CorvetteForum ...
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c3-tech-performance/2269254-79-corvette-door-lock-mechanism-very-stiff.html

Mar 7, 2009 ... Is this a common problem? Thanks ... 1977 to 1985 Pontiac Bonneville ( All Four Doors ) ... problems, repair · Subscribe · C3 Tech/Performance ...

Other years of Pontiac Bonneville

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Bonneville 1978
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Bonneville 1979
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Bonneville 1981
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Bonneville 1982
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Bonneville 1984
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Bonneville 1985
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1977 Pontiac Bonneville photo