NHTSA Complaint #10082225 — 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE

I'VE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY 99 BONNEVILLE, COSTING ME OVER $2,400. IT STARTED AT 64,000 MILES (6/26/02) WITH A BACKFIRE CAUSED BY A FAULTY FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, WHICH NOW HAS A SERVICE RECALL (A LITTLE TOO LATE); THAT COST ME $300. A WEEK LATER, THE UPPER MANIFOLD PLENUM LEAKED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FLOOD AND DIE; I SPENT OVER $500 ON THAT LITTLE PROJECT (REPLACING THE MANIFOLD AND CLEANING THE ENGINE). IT NEVER RAN RIGHT AFTER THAT; I HAD EXTREMELY LOW GAS MILEAGE AND LACK OF POWER, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND OFF AND IT STALLED ON MANY OCCASIONS. AFTER ABOUT SIX MONTHS OF THIS, IT DIED AGAIN ON 3/22/03. THIS TIME, IT SPUN THE MAIN BEARING AND THE LOWER HALF WAS RUINED. I WENT TO THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS BEFORE I COULD FIND SOMEONE WILLING TO TOUCH IT, BUT I FOUND A GOOD MECHANIC THAT REBUILT THE LOWER HALF (VERSUS REPLACING THE ENGINE) FOR $1,600. I STILL HAVE THE CAR AND IT SEEMS TO BE PERFORMING WELL, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW. IM GOING TO INCLUDE ALL OF MY REPAIR COSTS FOR REIMBURSEMENT (THROUGH THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR RECALL NOTICE) AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT ALL OF THIS IS RELATED TO THE BACKFIRE AND THE PLENUM LEAK. *JB