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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Steering88
- Engine and engine cooling87
- Exterior lighting87
- Electrical system49
- Visibility44
- Engine33
- Service brakes, hydraulic31
- Air bags24
- Power train21
- Fuel system, gasoline14
- Seat belts14
- Suspension13
- Equipment12
- 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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
32
44
39
57
65
64
47
18
12
19
18
17
9
4
2
1
2
14
22
3
2
1
1
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 4 |
| 1998 | 32 |
| 1999 | 44 |
| 2000 | 39 |
| 2001 | 57 |
| 2002 | 65 |
| 2003 | 64 |
| 2004 | 47 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 19 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 17 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 22 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 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
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”
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.”
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”
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.”
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”
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”
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.