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1990 Pontiac Bonneville

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1990 Bonneville.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1990 Pontiac Bonneville is equipped with an Automatic 4-spd transmission and delivers EPA fuel economy estimates of 16/25/19 mpg. As the opening year of the 1990-2005 model complaint history, this vehicle generated 44 total owner complaints focused primarily on service brakes, hydraulic issues alongside one recorded recall. While this volume avoids the peak of 299 complaints seen in 1998, the 1990 model stands above the lowest trouble count of 27 complaints recorded in 2005, positioning it between the history's reported extremes.

Model year2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1990

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy16/25/19 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	198.8 in
Overall width	72 in
Overall height	55.5 in
Wheelbase	111 in
Curb weight	3565 lb
Track (front / rear)	61.4 / 60.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	16 / 25 / 19 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	108 cu ft
Cargo volume	15 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Bonneville of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.1–7.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.10 sec — 1995 SE Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1995	SE Sedan 3.8L Supercharger V6	7.10 sec	15.40 sec	225 hp	FWD
1996	SE Sedan 3.8L Supercharger V6	7.70 sec	15.80 sec	225 hp	FWD
1998	SE Sedan 3.8L V6	7.30 sec	15.50 sec	205 hp	FWD
2000	SSEi Sedan 3.8L Supercharger V6	7.50 sec	15.80 sec	240 hp	FWD
2000	SSEi Sedan 3.8L Supercharger V6	7.50 sec	15.80 sec	240 hp	FWD
2000	SSEi Sedan 3.8L Supercharger V6	7.90 sec	16.40 sec	240 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · PCV System (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1990 Pontiac Bonneville presents a notably low-complaint profile within its generation, recording just 44 complaints—significantly below the 132–299 range seen from 1992 onward. This year also marks the fewest recalls (1) and no investigations, contrasting sharply with the mid-to-late 1990s, where recalls and investigations surged, peaking at 4 recalls and 4 investigations in 1999. Complaints in 1990 were concentrated in hydraulic brakes (16) and seat belts (5), though these figures remain modest compared to later years, where systemic issues appear to have triggered broader federal scrutiny. The absence of crash or fire trends beyond single incidents further distinguishes 1990 as a relatively stable entry point. While the data doesn’t specify root causes, the complaint and recall trajectory suggests this year avoided the escalating reliability concerns that plagued subsequent models. For a used Bonneville, 1990 emerges as one of the stronger years to consider.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

4 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90’91 ’92 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 44 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic16

Seat Belts5

Latches/Locks/Linkages3

Vehicle Speed Control3

Electrical System3

Seats3

Structure3

Fuel System, Gasoline2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Bonneville. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 1990 Bonneville have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Bonneville get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 25 highway / 19 combined mpg.