Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Pontiac Grand Prix problems
Owners filed 412 complaints about the 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix with NHTSA between Apr 1999 and Dec 2022. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (152).
Complaints
412
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
125
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling152
- Steering58
- Engine50
- Electrical system47
- Visibility30
- Power train24
- Fuel system, gasoline16
- Service brakes, hydraulic15
- Air bags14
- Equipment14
- Wheels10
- Suspension10
- Vehicle speed control8
- Exterior lighting8
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
14
35
21
31
68
41
15
14
25
32
19
14
8
6
5
10
17
28
3
2
2
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 14 |
| 2000 | 35 |
| 2001 | 21 |
| 2002 | 31 |
| 2003 | 68 |
| 2004 | 41 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 25 |
| 2008 | 32 |
| 2009 | 19 |
| 2010 | 14 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2016 | 28 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 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
Engine and engine cooling
152 reports71 fires3 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE WITNESS STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO POLICE OR INJURY REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000. UPDATED 01/06/17*LJ”
Steering
58 reports2 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ALIGNMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS OFF. THE CONTACT THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE RACK AND PINION HOUSING WAS DETACHED FROM OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000.”
Engine
50 reports1 crash34 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND PARKED, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THERE WAS NO FIRE REPORT FILED. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.”
Electrical system
47 reports1 crash25 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY HAD BECOME LOOSELY CONNECTED FROM THE IGNITION AND FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FAILURE AFTER THE DEALER REPLACED A HARMONIC SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Visibility
30 reports
“HAD 1999 GRAND PRIX FOR SEVEN MONTHS ALREADY HAD PROBLEMS WITH DRIVERS WINDOW NOT WINDING DOWN. A PART OF THE PASSENGER DOOR PANEL STARTED TO COME OFF. NOW DRIVERS SEAT BELT WON'T LATCH, AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR BROKEN VALVE SPRING AND DAMAGE TO THE HEAD GASKET AS A RESULT FROM THE BROKEN VALVE SPRING. CAR ONLY HAD 1 OTHER OWNER AND WAS RUNNING PERFECT ALSO HAD PERFECT SERVICE RECORDS. *NM”
Power train
24 reports1 crash1 fire
“A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAUSED THE LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED. THE SAME CONDITIONS AS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. YET THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR IS COMMON ON ALL AUTOS. THUS ALL AUTOS THAT USE A CRANKSHAFT SENSOR ARE UNSAFE.[XXX] *TR”
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.