PontiacBonneville2004Overview/pontiac/bonneville/2004/base/

2004 Pontiac Bonneville

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2004 Bonneville.

Body PASSENGER CAR

Classified as a passenger car, the 2004 Pontiac Bonneville utilizes an engine requiring 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 API oil. This model year recorded 28 total owner complaints with zero recalls, identifying the electrical system as the top complaint area within the 1990-2005 model complaint history. These figures place the 2004 version near the bottom of the recorded spectrum, sitting just one complaint above the 2005 low of 27 and drastically below the 1998 peak of 299. This positioning defines the vehicle as a high-reliability entry relative to the model's broader history.

Model year200520042003200220012000199919981997

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

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 100 · 770 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 100 · 770 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225-60R16OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731175 alt 25322835
Engine air filter19259030 alt 19166106
Fuel filter25121293 discontinued
Spark plug12681664 alt 12571535
Battery88866305
Front wiper blades15214346
Serpentine belt12588412 alt 19355282
Thermostat24505924 alt 12559807
Cabin air filter15811562

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length202.8 in
Overall width74.4 in
Overall height55.9 in
Wheelbase112.2 in
Curb weight3790 lb
Track (front / rear)62.6 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

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.

6.9–7.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.90 sec — 2004 GXP Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2004GXP Sedan 4.6L V86.90 sec15.40 sec275 hpFWD
2004GXP Sedan 4.6L V87.80 sec16.00 sec275 hpFWD
2000SSEi Sedan 3.8L Supercharger V67.50 sec15.80 sec240 hpFWD
2000SSEi Sedan 3.8L Supercharger V67.50 sec15.80 sec240 hpFWD
2000SSEi Sedan 3.8L Supercharger V67.90 sec16.40 sec240 hpFWD

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, the oil drain plug to 15.0 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

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.4
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity7.5 qt

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub118 ft-lbs

Ignition

Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5,000-8,000 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Type41-921
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.050 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.20 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity9.00 oz
RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.20 lbs
Oil GroupPAG

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Pressure Test15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)53-59
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)41-47

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH RPO L36 / WITH RPO LD8
Torque Caliper to Bracket137 ft-lbs / 25 ft-lbs / 20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle100 ft-lbs / 111 ft-lbs / 94 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake ApplicationWITH RPO L36 / WITH RPO LD8
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.267 in / 0.433 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1111 ft. lbs., step 2: 76111 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
137 ft. lbs., step 2: 12037 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages
137 ft. lbs.37 ft. lbs
2120 degrees.120 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Note: Ensure replacement M11 cylinder head bolts are of the same thread, pitch as original cylinder bolts to prevent engine damage. Bolts with a 1.5 mm thread pitch have a thread length of 1.89 inches (48 mm). Bolts with a 2.0 mm thread pitch have a thread length of 2.638 (67 mm).

1M11 Bolts22 ft. lbs
2M11 Bolts60 degrees
3M11 Bolts60 degrees
4M11 Bolts60 degrees
58.9

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 at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 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.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

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 2004 Pontiac Bonneville marks a clear inflection point in its generation’s federal record, representing the lowest complaint volume (28) and zero recalls or investigations—contrasting sharply with the mid-cycle peak of 299 complaints in 1998 and elevated recall activity in 19992000. Complaints declined steadily from 2001 onward, while Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) surged, suggesting GM addressed persistent issues through service guidance rather than formal recalls. The 2004 model’s top complaint areas—electrical system (8), steering (5), and power train (3)—mirror trends from prior years, though their frequency is notably reduced. With no crash-related complaints and only one fire report, the data implies improved reliability relative to earlier model years. This year sits at the tail end of the generation’s quality arc, where complaints plateaued at historic lows, making the 2004 a comparatively strong candidate for a used purchase.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
444
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
28
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 28 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System8
Steering5
Power Train3
Air Bags2
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other1
Service Brakes1
Steering,Electrical System,Latches/Locks/Linkages,Equipment1
Wheels1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 444 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIP5601C2025-07-18Unknown Or OtherThis PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
23-NA-0012025-03-28Electrical SystemThis service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G…
PIP5358D2025-02-19Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP4723J2024-10-25Electrical SystemThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIT5099H2024-09-12Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2004 Bonneville take?

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

Does the 2004 Bonneville have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.