Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Pontiac Grand Am problems
Owners filed 179 complaints about the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am with NHTSA between Sep 1997 and Sep 2016. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (36).
Complaints
179
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
14
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
14
People reported injured
Deaths
4
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes, hydraulic36
- Electrical system34
- Engine and engine cooling25
- Vehicle speed control16
- Steering15
- Air bags14
- Visibility14
- Suspension14
- Power train13
- Equipment10
- Fuel system, gasoline8
- Seat belts7
- Fuel system, other4
- Engine3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
9
37
26
13
17
14
29
13
4
5
2
1
0
2
0
0
4
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 9 |
| 1999 | 37 |
| 2000 | 26 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 29 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes, hydraulic
36 reports1 crash
“WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND FRONT ROTOR NEEDED REPLACE DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB”
Electrical system
34 reports1 crash6 fires1 related recall
“WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 287 IN NEW JERSEY WHEN ENGINE CUT OFF CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES, POWER STEERING. CAUSED ACCIDENT WHEN RAN OFF ROAD DUE TO LACK OF POWER STEERING AND INABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY BRAKE. TOOK TO DEALER WHO REPLACED CRANKSHAFT SENSOR THAT DID NOT REPAIR PROBLEM. AFTER CAR WAS REPAIRED INCIDENT CONTINUED TO OCCUR WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE CODES. NOW THAT ISSUE HAS DEVELOPED WITH IGNITION SWITCHES, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS MAY BE A LONGER TERM PROBLEM THAN CURRENTLY THOUGHT. FINALLY SOLD THE VEHICLE DUE TO CONTINUING PROBLEM THAT NO ONE COULD SOLVE. *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
25 reports1 fire
“1999 ENGINE INSTALLED A 1998 CAR...FAULTY WIRES, CAR LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS, LOOKS TO HAVE BEEN IN A FIRE. KNOCK SENSOR BAD,EGR VALVE BAD...NUMEROUS THINGS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND LESLIE REED'S AUTO KNEW IT WAS A LEMON CAR. IT HAS A SALVAGED TITLE AND LESLIE REED'S AUTO NEVER GOT THE CAR REPAIRED BEFORE THEY SOLD THE CAR. *TR”
Vehicle speed control
16 reports3 crashes
“I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 GT PONTIAC GRAND AM FROM PEORIA ILLINOIS ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. SHE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN NO POWER NO NOTHING...PULLED OVER WAITED APPROXIMATELY 5MINUTES AND SHE STARTED RIGHT UP...PLEASE HELP!!! [XXX] *TR”
Steering
15 reports2 crashes
“FLUID WAS LEAKING BY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. ALSO, NOTICED A WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING. CAR HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT. REPAIR SHOP HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK & PINION AND HEATER CORE. COST FOR REPAIRS: $700.00. *AK”
Air bags
14 reports5 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.