Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 67 of 383 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
32 crash reports12 fire reports29 injury reports
What owners actually said
383 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2000
Tires
AFETR MARKET TIRES, P185/80R13 SIZE. RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPLORED WITHOUT WARNING ON THE INSIDE WALL WHILE DRIVING 40-45MPH.*AK FAILED TIRE WAS A GOODYEAR REGATTA, CONSUMER NOTED THAT THE BLOWOUT RESULTED IN A PERPENDICULAR CUT TO THE INNER SIDEWALL FROM THE RIM, AFTER INSPECTION, THE OTHER THREE TIRES WERE FOUND TO HAVE CUTS ON…
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AFETR MARKET TIRES, P185/80R13 SIZE. RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPLORED WITHOUT WARNING ON THE INSIDE WALL WHILE DRIVING 40-45MPH.*AK FAILED TIRE WAS A GOODYEAR REGATTA, CONSUMER NOTED THAT THE BLOWOUT RESULTED IN A PERPENDICULAR CUT TO THE INNER SIDEWALL FROM THE RIM, AFTER INSPECTION, THE OTHER THREE TIRES WERE FOUND TO HAVE CUTS ON THE INNER SIDEWALL ALONG THE RIM AREA, TIRES WERE REPLACED AT A PRORATED COST. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #871074
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2000
Electrical System
WHEN PUTTING KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THERE IS NO RESPONSE, VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OVER. CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC REPLACED INNER MECHANISM OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE BROKE DOWN AGAIN, VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #870952
Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control
ENGINE ACCELERATED FROM LOW TO HIGH-PREDOMINANT ENGINE SURGE AT 3500-4000 RANGE/HUBBY IS ASE MASTER MECHANIC-WILL LOOK INTO. *AK
NHTSA ODI #731052
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2000
TiresCrash
PE00 020 ; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND SHE WAS ON HER WAY TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT FRONT LEFT TIRE HAD SEPARTED. TIRE SIZE WAS P205/55R16. TIRE WAS AN EAGLE GOODYEAR. SECOND INCIDENT ON 06-JUN-99, WHILE SHE WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY REAR LEFT TIRE SEPARATED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #870054
Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2000
Power Train
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #729396
Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering
COOLANT IS LEAKING ONTO RACK AND PINION, DETERIORATING THE RACK AND PINION, AND MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER VEHICLE WHEN MAKING A TURN. ALSO, THERE IS ALOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOISE WHEN TURNING. POWER STEERING HOSE HAS GONE BAD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK POWERE STEERING HOSE AND WATER PUMP…
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COOLANT IS LEAKING ONTO RACK AND PINION, DETERIORATING THE RACK AND PINION, AND MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER VEHICLE WHEN MAKING A TURN. ALSO, THERE IS ALOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOISE WHEN TURNING. POWER STEERING HOSE HAS GONE BAD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK POWERE STEERING HOSE AND WATER PUMP LEAKED CAUSING RACK AND PINION DAMAGE. FRONT BRAKE SHOES FAILED. *YH
NHTSA ODI #868370
Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN TRAVELING IN WET WEATHER, WHEN BRAKES APPLIED, IT IS LIKE A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE BRAKES TO BEGIN GRIPPING...IT IS AS IF THE BRAKES ARE SATURATED WITH WATER.NO BRAKING ACTION FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IS AN UNSAFE PERIOD OF TIME. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE DRIVEN. IT IS …
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WHEN TRAVELING IN WET WEATHER, WHEN BRAKES APPLIED, IT IS LIKE A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE BRAKES TO BEGIN GRIPPING...IT IS AS IF THE BRAKES ARE SATURATED WITH WATER.NO BRAKING ACTION FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IS AN UNSAFE PERIOD OF TIME. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE DRIVEN. IT IS AS IF THE DISCS ARE COMPLETELY EXOSED TO WATER. MECHANIC SAYS NOTHING WRONG WITH BRAKES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #727560
Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2000
Suspension
BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WORE OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO LEFT AND RIGHT DURING ACCELERATION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #867339
Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2000
Tires
COMING APART AT SEAM. ANOTHER TIRE DOES NOT HAVE DOT NUMBERS. IT IS ALSO COMING APART. *AK( DOT NUMBER: MKT2E2BR29 TIRE SIZE: 205-55-R16 )
NHTSA ODI #726755
Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2000
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
WHEN THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATURE FAILED THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELLERATED AT FULL THROTTLE, SYSTEMS BEGAN TO ALARM ONE AT A TIME FIRST THE ABS THEN THE ETS, ECT LOCKING UP THE BRAKES KEPT THE CAR FROM MOVING FOWARD WHEN THE ALTERNATOR FAILED THE ENGIN FINALY STOPPED. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT WHEN THE BATTERY FAILED THE ALTERNATOR WAS UN…
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WHEN THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATURE FAILED THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELLERATED AT FULL THROTTLE, SYSTEMS BEGAN TO ALARM ONE AT A TIME FIRST THE ABS THEN THE ETS, ECT LOCKING UP THE BRAKES KEPT THE CAR FROM MOVING FOWARD WHEN THE ALTERNATOR FAILED THE ENGIN FINALY STOPPED. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT WHEN THE BATTERY FAILED THE ALTERNATOR WAS UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE LOAD AS THE VOLTAGE DROPPED SYSTEMS BEGAIN TO BECOME UNRELIABLE AND EITHER THE COMPUTER OR CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO ACCELLERATE. A VOLTAGE THRESHOLD LOCKOUT IS NEEDED SO THAT WHEN POWER FALLS BELOW THE LEVEL WHERE A SYSTEM CAN NO LONGER OPERATE SAFELY THE SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN.*AK
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
THE PROTECTIVE COVER FOR THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER WAS OMITTED. WITHOUT THIS COVER, THE POSITIVE TERMINAL BOLT ON THE FUSE BLOCK IS EXPOSED AND CAN CONTACT THE INSULATED NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. IF THE INSULATION ON THE NEGATIVE CABLE BECOMES SUFFICIENTLY WORN, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN THE POSITIVE TERMINAL AND NEGATIVE CABLE RESULTING IN EXTREMELY HIGH CURRENT FLOW.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS HIGH CURRENT FLOW CAN CAUSE ARCING AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE PROTECTIVE COVER AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER TO THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
RQ03001 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Jan 2, 2003 · Closed Sep 15, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
RQ98013 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployments
Opened Aug 26, 1998 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
ON JUNE 26, 1998, GENERAL MOTORS BEGAIN A SAFETY RECALL, 98V-146, TO RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) IN THE 1996 AND SOME 1997 J BODY CARS, CAVALIER AND SUNFIRE.DUE TO CERTAIN CALIBRATIONS IN THE AIR BAG SDM, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN A LOW SPEED CRASH OR WHEN AN OBJECT STRIKES THE FLOOR PAN.THE RECALL POPULATION CONSISTS OF 675,302 VEHICLES BUILT FROM APRIL 1995 THROUGH MAY 1997.ODI HAS RECEIVED 8 OWNER REPORTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT A CRASH.THE PURPOSER OF THE RQ IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER GM SHOULD EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE THESE VEHICLES.CLOSING RESUME NOTE:AS OF AUGUST 5, 1999, ODI RECEIVED ONE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT REGARDING THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THE INCIDENT RATES FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ABOUT ONE-THRID OF THE RATES OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES (WHEN THE RECALL WAS INITIATED).BASED ON THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOSE NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES.
1997 Pontiac Grand Am Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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