Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
POWER TRAIN
108150A12/01/199610-81-5050563Some vehicles may display a condition at 70 mph where the speedometer reads about 4 mph faster or slower than hud. *tw05/27/1997
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
67716402/01/199751296Intermittent neutral or loss of drive at highway speeds or from fourth gear (replace control valve body assembly). *tw06/27/1997
577106A12/01/199657-71-0650571Cold start rattle noise. *tw05/27/1997
57710602/01/199539308Cold start rattle noise. *tw11/01/1995
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - FLOOR SHIFT
43831408/01/199545811Low illumination of console prndl indicator in lower or all gear positions. *sd04/25/1996
POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY
990730030A04/01/2001990730030619370Owners of some vehicles equipped with hydra-matic 3t40, 4t60, 4t60-e or 4t65-e transaxles may comment on a grinding and / or growling noise that is noticeable when standing in park on a hill or slope with the engine running and the parking05/24/2001
99073003012/01/19995751136089996Some vehicles equipped with hydra-matic 3t40, 4t60 or 4t60-e transxales may comment on a grinding and / or growling noise that is noticeable when in park on incline. *tt03/01/2000
98777155A04/01/199877-71-55601052Experiencing a transaxle gear whine noise on coast down or light acceleration between 20 and 40 mph. *yc06/24/1998
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE
9573T400108/01/199545881Grinding and/or growling noise in park on incline.*sd04/25/1996
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DRIVESHAFT
577106A02/01/199757-71-0651497Cold start rattle noise (diagnosis/service procedure). *tw06/27/1997
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - UNIVERSAL JOINT
97080177715508/01/199754285Experiencing a transaxle gear whine noise on coast down or light acceleration. *yc03/30/1998
POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION
97080177715F08/01/199754421Experience a transaxle gear whine noise on coast down or light acceleration. *yc04/07/1998

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
POWER TRAIN
04/15/200282449
 The transmission failed at ~76,000 miles. replaced at gm dealer with a remanufactured gm unit. 06/23/2001. brake failure - warning light at 81,728 miles. replaced master cylinder and rear wheel cylinders. antilock brakes have always behaved strangely at times but have never failed to stop the car in a reasonable distance. 09/22/2001. engine failure at 82,449 miles. replacement engine installed at independent repair shop for $1400.00. . repair leaking genuine gm replacement transmission. side cover leaks severely, dealer advises out of warranty period and repair cost of $300+ for side pan gasket. problem solved at local transmission shop (mr. transmission) for $92.95. in addition the following no longer function or function improperly: fuel gauge does not work, refill based on mileage driven. also the fuel pump whines very noticeably, can be heard plainly in the vehicle over the radio. cost for repair of both at dealer: $600+ depending on parts required. steering wheel controls for the radio do not function. automatic headlight control will not turn headlights off after turning them on. result - battery replacement. now leave the control in the off position. spring loaded center console door latch failed causing console door to remain open. replaced console door and two vents that had broken for $124.66. console door latch failed approximately one year later (same failure). removed door spring so door now stays closed. drivers side door lock jams when using key fob, have to use passenger side door. no longer use key fob, door unlocks properly when using the key. within the past year the paint has began to peel on the top of the rear quarter panels and roof. i had a flat tire and went to retrieve the jack, which is located in the passenger side of the trunk. the jack is stored in a plastic case that is bolted to a bracket. only one weld was made during manufacture allowing the bracket to break loose. the jack case now just lies in trunk.
09/01/199901/01/1998
 The body control module that works the door locks and windows. the clutch on the air conditioner. replaced that then the compressor went out. the radio quit . its had a roar in the rear end ever since we got it. they cannot find the problem. the gauges for heat , speed, rpms,oil, etc. go back and forth when you start the engine then when they stop they don't read correctly. speed doesn't read right. master cyclinder went out 2 times.
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
08/12/200207/01/2096
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
03/22/2001
 Was driving and felt as if transmission was kicked out of gear and into neutral. shifted into another gear and same problem happened. shifted into another gear and it was the same. finally, only gear left was low gear. vehicle was coasting. had not driven or reversed. managed to get to a parking lot. had vehicle towed. was informed thatr transmission had blown and was not repairable.*ak
04/09/2000109/01/1999
 Difficulty of transmission going into gear. *ak
04/02/1999104/01/1999
 Gm tsb describes the exact condition and cure.gm would not help with repair. the problem was a defective part ,the repair was to install a part that has a different maching process and harder valves. *ak
10/15/1999104/01/1995
 Transmission went out when i used the passing gear. gears began slipping and i could not pass the vehicle. i pulled over and tried to put car in reverse and it would not engage. was able to drive to next town about three miles in first gear at abot 25 mph.this occurred on a vacation trip to florida. the car was towed to a pontiac dealer in manning sc santee motor co. inc. 452 n brook st.zip 29102 phone 800-948-6080. i doubt that i have used the passing gear more than a dozen times during the life of the car. it hard to bekeive that the transmission would go that easily after only 62,00 miles. i have kept up with the service on the car faithfully having had my mechanic give my car a thorough check before taking this trip even buying new tires although i still had faurly good tread on them. *ak
11/09/1999201/01/1996
 The problem started about 2 weeks ago, car took off and brakes were as hard as a rock, the only way to control car was to put in neutral. this last time i was on a freeway in southern calif. and the car took off again and i ended off the freeway in a vacant field to stop the car. i was afraid of going into a residental area. the first incident was reported and the car was checked out at a local gm dealership, and nothing was found. the car is there now again and they have found nothing. the car has an extended warranty and they have had it for 3 days.oddly enough when i called aaa to tow me out of the field this last time the dispatcher stated that her mom's buick does the same thing. gm is making it sound like this is unheard of and they have no idea what is going on, yet on the internet there seems to be other cases. *ak
10/22/1997611/18/1996
 After driving in third gear ,shifted vehicle into overdrive,the vehicle will not shift unless ignition is turned off. the manufacturer states that this is normal for this particular engine and transmission. *ak
07/01/19951
 Transmission failed. *sd
07/21/1995
 The car was in park and the car rolled across the highway and hit several signs and the airbag did not deploy. please describe. tt
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)
06/01/200471000503/26/2001
 I purchased this car used from a dealer in 2001 in michigan. (i don't think the air conditioning ever worked ). within a few months the traction control went out. it would be on, when the car started, but within driving 300ft. would go out and could not be turned back on from the button. a few months after that all of the dash lights went out when ever you turned on the head lights. this was due to a bad switch & a short. then the cruse control went out. a few months after that we had to replace the head gaskets due to the engine over heating by an unknown cause. 1 month after that we had to replace the engine after throwing a rod and cracking the engine block, due to the fact that there was still fluind in the engine from melted manafold.( this all took place between nov. 2001 & jan. 2002) after that the ignition had to be replaced because one of the wires was severed due to the wheel tilt. (we would tilt the wheel & could not start the car). in nov. 2002 the transmission started to slip, we had it replaced. then all at one time (2003) the battery went dead, the timing chain had jumped a tooth, the cam sensor, and the spark plugs which had been changed a few weeks before. a few weeks after that the engine overheated again due to a leak in the coolant resovoir bottel, this caused the head gaskets to blow again. it is now 2004 we have an ongoing electrical problem. since mid 2003 we have gone through 3 pcm & 3 proms due to the fact the they kept frying ( a result of a bad ground that still can not be found), an altanator due to the fact that it had spikes. the check enging light would constantly come on & when the codes were pulled the egr vlave was listed, we replaced it and still the check engine light came on due to a still bad pcm. now whenever we turn on the blinker the voltage gage moves in time with it due to a short. the rpm's surge at times while car is in motion or at idle, causing the car to satll or backfire. the cause is still unknown. *ak
09/20/200379000108/05/2003
 Traction control turns off when the vehicle is in motion. randomly occurs after traveling several hundred feet. higher incidence at time of automatic gear shift into 3rd gear. can not be reset by traction control switch - must come to full stop and turn off engine. with rapid acceleration and maintaining speed at 55 mph or above traction control off light will not come on. drop down to ~50 mph and light comes on. gm dealer claims npf but problem occurs almost each time out for me. another dealer claims replacement of tc module necessary - service tech tells me it is common problem to 95 & 96 bonnevilles.*ak
11/15/1999109/01/1999
 Traction control is turning off whenever vehicle is moving. traction control off light does not come on when vehicle is at idle and stationary. on off switch will not turn on traction control when it has come on by itself. to turn off traction control off dash light you must restart vehicle. it will stay off until vehicle moves approximately 300 to 500 feet then will come on again. *ak
09/26/19991
 Traction control for abs system failed. mjs
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH
07/06/1998
 Electrical system malfunctioned, causing turn signals/interior lights to go out. also problems with transmission system which slowed down at highway speeds/passenger's door lock which won't open. please provide further information. *ak
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE
02/15/2010139600
 In february 2010, driving at 5 mph while making right turn on bumpy blacktop, the engine fell out from under car causing steering to become inoperable. car was towed from scene. upon investigation it was found that 4 (rear) of 6 bolts holding engine cradle to uni-body frame pulled through rusted retainers. all (6) bolts, retainers, spacers and insulators were replaced. the steering linkage was reattached and the clock spring coil kit was replaced (clock spring was torn when steering linkage separated). this incident caused a lot of concern because it could have happened at any speed. towing, repairs and parts cost $805.14. 4 months later the steering rack was found to be leaking and was replaced at a cost of $450. no parts have been retained but photos of the bolts in the frame with the engine sub frame hanging are available. naturally the retainers that failed are gone because they fell off when they failed. the engine did not fall entirely from the vehicle because the 2 front bolts were still intact and the upper engine mount held the engine sub frame 2 above the road surface.
POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION
09/17/1995107/21/1995
 Vehicle rolls backwards when put in drive.