Problems · NHTSA complaints
1997 Pontiac Grand Prix problems
Owners filed 820 complaints about the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix with NHTSA between Dec 1996 and Feb 2021. The most-cited component is steering (215).
Complaints
820
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
34
Reported by owners
Fires
109
Reported by owners
Injuries
32
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Steering215
- Exterior lighting148
- Engine and engine cooling137
- Electrical system89
- Visibility78
- Air bags56
- Engine45
- Service brakes, hydraulic42
- Power train33
- Suspension24
- Equipment18
- Vehicle speed control16
- Structure16
- Fuel system, gasoline14
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 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
32
49
56
89
100
152
101
59
26
11
8
23
30
9
9
6
4
5
11
28
4
2
1
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 |
| 1997 | 32 |
| 1998 | 49 |
| 1999 | 56 |
| 2000 | 89 |
| 2001 | 100 |
| 2002 | 152 |
| 2003 | 101 |
| 2004 | 59 |
| 2005 | 26 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 23 |
| 2009 | 30 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 28 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 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
Steering
215 reports15 crashes2 fires2 related recalls
“NOTE: I HAVE FILED A SAFELY COMPLAINT BEFORE WITH THE NHTSA ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE ON NOV 9, 2020 REFERENCE NUMBER: 11373799. AND NOW DUE TO SAFETY NEGLIGENCE FROM THE INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT OF THE NHTSA ..EXCESSIVE HEAT COMING FROM THE EXTREMELY HOT OIL THAT'S DRIPPING OFF THE EXTREMELY HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD THAT'S LEAKING FROM THE VALVE COVER STARTED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND ALSO LEAKED INTO THE CYLINDER CAUSING THE PISTON TO SLIT INTO NUMEROUS PIECES THEN VIOLENTLY BEING SHOT BACK AND FORTH STRIKING THE CYLINDER WALLS VIOLENTLY THEN BREAKING THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK AND OIL PAN, THEN SPILLING HOT OIL ON THE I-105 HIGHWAY AT HIGH WAY SPEED COMING UP ON A FORK, LOST OIL COMPRESSION AND STALLING OUT WITH HEAVY THICK CAN'T SEE IN MORE THEN 5 FEET IN FRONT OF YOU GREY/BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM BOTH ENDS OF THE VEHICLE. ALMOST COSTED ME MY LIFE”
Exterior lighting
148 reports2 fires2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.”
Engine and engine cooling
137 reports2 crashes56 fires3 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 05/31/2016*LJ”
Electrical system
89 reports2 crashes27 fires
“THE ENGINE LEAKS OIL ON THE MANIFOLD WHICH STARTED A FIRE AND ELECTRICAL SOME OF MY SENSOR CONNECTORS AND NOT WORKING.. THE FIRE STARTED AFTER I PULLED IN TO DRIVE WAY AND I CAN FEEL FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR THAT THE ENGINE WAS GETTING REAL HOT SO I POPPED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE ON THE MANIFOLD. *TR”
Visibility
78 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT TURNED ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MOTOR CRANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 99V348000 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER: LINKAGES) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.”
Air bags
56 reports14 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE AN ILLEGAL LEFT TURN. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK, AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.