Overview & Reviews

Changes for 1997 are few. Supercharged Bonnevilles get a new transmission, a new Delco/Bose premium sound system is optional on the SSE, and the EYE CUE heads-up display has a new motorized adjustment feature. Two new exterior colors, a new interior color and a new interior fabric visually liven up the aging Bonneville.

• Full-size comfort, good value, excellent powertrains, can equip SE like go-faster SSEi for less

• Dated overdone styling

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 46.00

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  Love and Hate - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Cumberland, Md - July 23 - 10:00 am

  The Bonneville has the most comfortable seats of any car I ever owned. It has been a perfect car for me....until it came time to repair it. I had two major repairs under warranty and after out of warranty, I have has substantial repair bills. Now they tell me the transmission is on the way out. Repairing this car is too expensive! This could have been a great car if it didnt need so much work on it. The mechanical integrety is bad.

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  Repairs - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By BDBrown - May 15 - 2:00 am

  Like the vechicle. bought used with relatively low miles. At this time 67000. Recent repairs, however, have included water pump, brakes, and oil pan leak. Troublesome brake problem is re-occuring and apparently difficult for mechanics to solve.... front brakes grab at slow speed... not always, but wish we could get is solved. Overall we like the car and performance.

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  THnx GM Signed Japan - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By axestrum - December 3 - 2:00 am

  Well Typical Gm,60,000 and the Radiator fluid is in the oilpan,replaced the water pump also,have towed this american built gem home with my 1993 130000 mile Nissan Pu more than once,potential great car,just needs to be designed and built in Japan,BYE BYE GM!!!!!

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  Slipping Transmission - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By travelgrl - April 3 - 10:00 am

  At 68,000 miles the transmission starting slipping and had to be replaced. There are many reports that for two years the transmission needed to be flushed or you had to end up rebulid the transmission. Other than that its a good car.

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  Nice ride, but many problems - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By JaniceB - December 9 - 10:16 am

  Happy w/ the Bonneville as far as looks & ride. Plenty of room and decent gas mileage for a big car. I loved all the features. Had to replace the AC ($700). Also had tons of problems with it not wanting to start. Someone else mentioned the battery corrosion problem, we found this true to. Also, we had to have a switch resistor in the ignition replaced to the tune of $100. Ive read this is a common problem. The vents quit working. Took it to the dealership, they said they couldnt duplicate the problem, but informed me of the plastic intake manifold gasket problem. Cost to be over $600, and is a well-known problem with these GM 3.8s! At that point, I decided not fix, bought an import.

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  Reliable 97 Bonnie - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Keith - September 26 - 2:20 am

  This is the best car Ive ever owned! It drives and handles great, and the interior is roomy and comfortable. The high mileage 3.8 L. still delivers punch and starts flawlessly every time. All dashboard controls are conveniently located, especially the audio controls located on the steering wheel. Gas mileage is also decent.

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  Comfort but not mechanics - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By LibrnPA - May 14 - 2:00 am

  Id say that my 97 Bonneville was my favorite of all time except for all the mechanical repairs Ive had over this past year (bought it last summer). I usually get 170,000mi+ on my cars but this Bonny has 90,000 and everything leaks! Had intake manifold repaired, antifreeze leaked, tranny seals leaked and it has always leaked a little oil. Now the rear main seal is leaking and i cant spend more big bucks and im heartbroken. This car is so well engineered for comfort and handling - my 8 to 10 hr interstate trips are easier in the Bonny than my 89 DeVille. Anyone else have leaks??

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  97 Bonne - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By KMS - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Problem areas: Transmission fixed under warranty at 8000 miles to correct abrupt 1-2 shift. Tranny has been fine since. Audio speaker intermittent failure. I elected to replace with after-market speakers to improve audio quality rather that fix as a warranty item. Water pump replaced at 52,000 miles ($300 - paid by Warranty Gold).

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  RonKr Bonneville Review - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Ron K. - February 1 - 2:00 am

  Very tight suspension, great handling, very comfortable. A great road car, no fatigue after 12 hours behind the wheel, seats are first class-power adjustable leather buckets. Instrumentation first class. The compass and HUD features are excellent. brake rotors warped at 90,000 miles, replaced with new rotors which had to be machined again at 103,500 miles. New plugs at 99,000 miles after car was felt to be missing. Car spent much (about 1/2) of its life at 80-90 mph on interstates, with other half in the NYC area. Used synthetic oil after break-in, so no obvious wear.

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  My fun Bonny - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By matt - July 10 - 3:00 pm

  I just got my Bonneville SE, I love my new Pontiac, especially when I raced a new Toyota Camry Solaro, and I beat it 2 times. Even though the car may be big, its still got tons of power