Problems · NHTSA complaints

1998 Pontiac Grand Prix problems

Owners filed 499 complaints about the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix with NHTSA between Dec 1997 and May 2023. The most-cited component is steering (88).

Complaints
499
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
19
Reported by owners
Fires
60
Reported by owners
Injuries
21
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering88
  2. Engine and engine cooling87
  3. Exterior lighting87
  4. Electrical system49
  5. Visibility44
  6. Engine33
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic31
  8. Air bags24
  9. Power train21
  10. Fuel system, gasoline14
  11. Seat belts14
  12. Suspension13
  13. Equipment12
  14. Vehicle speed control9

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 Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19974
199832
199944
200039
200157
200265
200364
200447
200518
200612
200719
200818
200917
20109
20114
20122
20131
20142
201514
201622
20173
20182
20191
20201
20210
20221
20231

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Steering

88 reports3 crashes4 fires2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP DUE TO A STEERING FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000. *TR *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2019SteeringODI 11234519

Engine and engine cooling

87 reports32 fires3 related recalls
“1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FIRE AND RECALL NOTICE REPAIRS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED SINCE THE FIRE, THE ABS AND TEMPERATURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE TRACTION LIGHT AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS STOPPED WORKING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2016Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10839475

Exterior lighting

87 reports1 crash2 related recalls
“THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING LENSES OF THE HEADLIGHT HAVE FALLEN OUT AND HAVE BROKEN FROM THE HEADLIGHT. HE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE PRODUCES PROJECTILES AS WELL. HE STATES THAT HE HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT AND THEY HAVE NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE TO HIM (71532337325-GM COMPLAINT CASE NUMBER).HE STATES THAT THERE ABOUT 20 PEOPLE THAT HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO GENERAL MOTORS. HE STATES THAT WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT THERE IS CORROSION ON THE CHROME OF THE SEAL OF THE HEADLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE CONTACT, THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THIS WAS A COSMETIC CONCERN AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. THE FAILURE MILEAGE IS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 103,000.--DS UPDATED 09/18/07 *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 21, 2007Exterior lightingODI 10200365

Electrical system

49 reports16 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 20, 2016Electrical systemODI 10860547

Visibility

44 reports
“THE GAS TANK IS NOT SEALED IN THE MIDDLE ALLOWING GAS AND FUEL VAPOR TO LEAK FROM CAR! ALL THE SWAY BAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS SEPARATED DUE TO THE RACK AND PINION, CAR HAS NO SOUND WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT BUT IF YOU TRY AND TURN THE CAR TO THE LEFT IT IS AS IF THE POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT AND MAKE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND IS GETTING VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT, ALSO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DO NOT WORK PROPER AND CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE RAIN, THE KEY GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION ALL THE TIME,FEEL AS IF MOTOR IS TWISTING OR MOVING FORWARD, WILL BE CONTACTING PONTIAC DUE TO RECALLS AND PROBLEMS ARISING. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 17, 2011Steering, Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, VisibilityODI 10401196

Engine

33 reports11 fires
“I have a problem I drop my car off at the Chevy dealership to get a recall done and they only did one value cover when there are two value cover both was leaking so why only one got change that don't make any since when both value cover leaks oil too cause a fire just like the recalls says it will do so something need too get done because if my car caught fire then I'm sueing y'all for it because y'all made the recalls”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 26, 2023EngineODI 11523933
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.