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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  Ah!.. The Bonneville - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Bviller - November 11 - 10:00 am

  Purchased new. Its been great since day one. It has a smooth comfortable ride without feeling like a boat. Its covered 110,000 miles and still running strong. We had one transmission problem which was repaired under warranty. The water pump started leaking at 102,000 miles. No other repairs. Getting 24mpg in mixed city/highway driving.

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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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  Intake Manifold - Why Plastic? - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By bobwill@Sask - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Purchased used at 140,000 kms, now at 186,000 kms, only minor mechanical work required - new plugs and wire set. However, one large problem as others have eluded to, the plastic intake manifold (upper plenum) which corrodes and leaks coolant into the combustion chamber. Despite being documented by GM dealerships under a service bulletin, GM has not recalled these vehicles (1995 - 1998 Bonnes and other GMs), have not redesigned the part and will provide no financial assistance. Next car will be an Acura TL.

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  1997 Bonneville SE Review - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By snowwhite612 - March 23 - 12:20 pm

  I bought the 1997 40th Anniversary Edition Bonneville SE in 1997. It is loaded with options and has never let me down. It gets great gas mileage too. One area for improvement would be less rattle noise.

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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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  excellent car underrated - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By william southard - April 27 - 2:33 pm

  keep the boost gauge at -5 and the gas mileage is pretty good. also ease the power on into boost for the best launch of the start.

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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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  Great first car - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By bonnevillese4me - July 16 - 10:00 am

  Ive only had this car for a couple of months but so far Ive put almost 2000 miles on it including two trips to Viriginia and just taking it around on everyday trips and it has performed beautifully. This is my first car, and I decided a used car was the way to go, but this car is in such great shape youd never know it was a used car.