88 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix cite steering, 18% of all 499 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.
“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”
“THERE ARE A LOT OF RECALLS ON MY PONIAC GRAND PRIX SE. THEY HAVE AFFECTED THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY CHILD. THE STEERING FLUID LEAKS FROM THE CAR AFTER SOMETHING WAS REPLACED ON A RECALL A WHILE BACK. RECENTLY WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC MY CAR STOPPED GOING AND OVERHEATED A LOT. THIS CAR ALWAYS RUNS HOT. IT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MOST RECENT RECALL. BUT THIS CAR WILL NO LONGER EVEN START UP. HOW DO I FIND OUT IF THE RECALLS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY CAR BREAKING DOWN ON ME? ALSO IN THE LETTER I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL SAID TO PARK MY CAR AND NOT DRIVE IT. YET THE DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS IN TO REPLACE AND FIX THE ISSUE. IS THERE A WAY TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THIS. I NEED A RELIABLE CAR AND REALLY WISH I HADN'T PURCHASED ONE WITH SO MANY ISSUES.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V286000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,921.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.”
“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”
“1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, 147,000 MILES. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF STEERING FAILURE ARE CONSISTENT WITH GM RECALL #02049 AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 02V28600. FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM. CAN BARELY TURN THE CAR LEFT ANYMORE DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE RACK & PINION SYSTEM. SEVERAL CALLS TO GM AND PONTIAC ENDED WITH THEM SAYING MY VIN # IS NOT IN THE RECALL. WHEN THE CAR CAUSES A CRASH AND KILLS SOMEONE, I PLAN TO SUE BOTH PONTIAC AND GM. *TR”
Showing 6 of 88 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.