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1996 Pontiac Bonneville

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Bonneville.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1996 Pontiac Bonneville is a full‑size passenger car that rides on a traditional body platform and is powered by an engine that requires a 4.5‑quart fill of 5W‑30 API oil, with an EPA rating of 15/24/18 mpg and an automatic four‑speed transmission. Its engine and cooling system have been the most frequent source of owner complaints, contributing to a total of 153 complaints across the model line during its production run. This year sits toward the upper end of the Bonneville’s reliability spectrum, closer to the peak of 299 complaints in 1998, indicating that while the 1996 model had improvements, it still carried the larger trend of engine‑related issues that define the vehicle’s historical reliability profile.

Model year2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1996

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy15/24/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 78 · 690 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter, front wiper blades and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 78 · 690 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnLAMPSOEM · verified

Tire sizeP215-65R15OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731175
Engine air filter	19259030
Fuel filter	25121293 discontinued
Spark plug	12681664
Front wiper blades	25689175 discontinued · alt 10283602
Serpentine belt	19172682 discontinued · alt 19244953
Thermostat	24505924 alt 24502433

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	199.6 in
Overall width	74.4 in
Overall height	55.9 in
Wheelbase	110.6 in
Curb weight	3417 lb
Track (front / rear)	60.6 / 60.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	64/36

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	15 / 24 / 18 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	110 cu ft
Cargo volume	18 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Premium 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.

7.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.70 sec — 1996 SE Sedan

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

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	22 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	6.2 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	15 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	31 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)	13 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	Lower: 11 ft-lbs; Upper: 7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	22 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts	10 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts	35 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	107 ft-lbs

Ignition

Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5,000-8,000 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Type	41-921
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.00 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	GM part number 12345923 or equivalent.
Oil Capacity	8.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	690 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	78

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	55.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	48-55
RPM	38-52 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance	11.4-12.6 na ohms
Engine Compression	100

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	38 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.26 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.26 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	1.224 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages

74 ft. lbs., Step 2: 105

74 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

110 ft. lbs., step 2: 76

110 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	37 ft. lbs.	37 ft. lbs
2	120 degrees.	120 degrees
3	Bolts 1-4	30 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	37 ft. lbs.	37 ft. lbs
2	120 degrees.	120 degrees
3	Bolts 1-4	30 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 100,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 100,000 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	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel System (inspect) · Supercharger Assembly (inspect fluid condition)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (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 1996 model year represents a relative improvement within the generation’s federal record, posting 153 complaints—a notable decrease from 1995’s spike of 257 and significantly lower than the 1998 peak of 299 that follows. While its three recalls exceed the single recall of the prior year, they align with elevated regulatory activity seen throughout the early-to-mid 1990s, and the 51 technical service bulletins indicate moderate manufacturer diagnostic support compared to the exponential TSB growth observed in 2000 and beyond. Positioned between the high-complaint bookends of 1995 and 1998, 1996 sits in a temporary valley of the arc, with primary complaint concentrations being Engine & Engine Cooling (34 filings) and Air Bags (26 filings), though the data does not specify root causes for these categories. With fire complaints at 7 and crash complaints at 6, the year demonstrates lower overall consumer distress signals than the surrounding high-water marks of this generation. Given its reduced complaint volume compared to adjacent model years and moderate recall exposure, 1996 emerges as a comparatively stable choice within this generation’s timeline.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

153

Owner complaints

6 involved a crash · 7 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 153 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling34

Air Bags26

Fuel System, Gasoline15

Electrical System12

Power Train7

Service Brakes, Hydraulic6

Structure6

Steering5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

95V204000Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control ModuleReported 23/10/1995

THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE THAT CAN CONTAIN A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. IF THE CAPACITOR IS DAMAGED, THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" WARNING CHIME AND THE DRIVER SEAT… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACE THE MALL MODULE.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 51 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP4723F	2022-01-14	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D	2020-01-31	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
19NA273	2019-12-02	Electrical System	This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to…
PIC4696E	2019-11-22	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
17NA073	2019-09-18	Equipment	This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…

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.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 78 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 19259030 Fuel filter 25121293 Spark plug 12681664

Reference guides

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

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1996 Bonneville take?

4.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1996 Bonneville have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Bonneville get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 24 highway / 18 combined mpg.