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1998 Pontiac Grand Am

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Grand Am years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am are substantially higher than the model-year median of 82.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 42 of 172 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports5 fire reports10 injury reports

Steering complaints

14 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2000
Steering

THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATES ON CAR W/O WARNING WHEN TRYING TO START CAR. CAR THINKS IT'S BEING STOLEN. IT STARTS AND THEN SHUTS DOWN WITH THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT BLINKING. CAN ONLY MOVE BY TOWING IT AWAY. HAVE HAD IT TO DEALER ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. LAST TIME REPLACE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE, THE NEXT DAY HIT A BUMP AND THFT SYSTEM LI…

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THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATES ON CAR W/O WARNING WHEN TRYING TO START CAR. CAR THINKS IT'S BEING STOLEN. IT STARTS AND THEN SHUTS DOWN WITH THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT BLINKING. CAN ONLY MOVE BY TOWING IT AWAY. HAVE HAD IT TO DEALER ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. LAST TIME REPLACE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE, THE NEXT DAY HIT A BUMP AND THFT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. DID THIS ON 4 OCCASIONS BUT CAR STARTED AFTER CUTTING IT OFF. LAST TIME ABOUT 5 WEEKS AFTER LAST REPAIR, IT GAVE ME NO WARNING WHEN I TRIED TO START IT. THE THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND IT SHUT THE CAR DOWN. IT WAS TOWED TO DEALER THAT DID PREVIOUS W ORK (FROM GA. TO FLA.), THEY INFORMED ME I NEEDED NEW KEYS AND A LOCKING SYSTEM. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE FEBRUARY 2000, I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED 5 TIMES, TWICE IN ONE DAY.

NHTSA ODI #733867

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2000
Steering

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING , CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856730

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 1999
Steering

POWER STEERING FAILS WHEN ON WET ROAD. LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL INTO DEEP PUDDLE AND SUBSEQUENT WATER DAMAGE TO ENGINE

NHTSA ODI #714574

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 1999
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

TRANSMISSION- R&R TRANS TO REPLACETHIRD GEAR INPUT AND REPLACED BUSHING RECONDITIONED TRANS ASSSEMBLY AND REPLACED AXLE SEAL / STEERING WHEEL REPLACED STREERING WHEEL SENSOR BUSHING , DEALER CLAIMS THEY COULD NEVER FIND PROBLEM / BRAKES DEALER SAID THIS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY WENT TO MIDAS REPLACED PADS, LEFT CALI…

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TRANSMISSION- R&R TRANS TO REPLACETHIRD GEAR INPUT AND REPLACED BUSHING RECONDITIONED TRANS ASSSEMBLY AND REPLACED AXLE SEAL / STEERING WHEEL REPLACED STREERING WHEEL SENSOR BUSHING , DEALER CLAIMS THEY COULD NEVER FIND PROBLEM / BRAKES DEALER SAID THIS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY WENT TO MIDAS REPLACED PADS, LEFT CALIPER , RIGHT CALIPER BOTH HAD DAMAGED BOOTS UNEVEN PAD WEAR DRUMS WERE HARDSPOTTED AND OUT OF ROUND HOSES -STEELINED WERE RUST SPOTTED ./ REPLACED FRONT BUSHING.DEALER SAID THEY COULD NEVER FIND PROBLEM WITH BRAKES WHEN FIRST REPORTED TO THEM

NHTSA ODI #711418

Official recalls

1

04V036000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Jan 27, 2004

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. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. 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 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.

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

1

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.