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

Tires complaints

3 reports

Clear category filter

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2004

Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

Read full complaint

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER 20,000 MILES. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 5 YR BATTERIES 3 TIMES NOW AT MY OWN EXPENSE. LAST TIME RESULTED IN CAR NEEDING TO BE TOWED AND KEY NOT BEING ABLE TO BE TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION. TRIED JUMP STARTING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OVER HEATED. MY COMPLAINT IS THIS I JUST RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL STATING THAT IF THE CAR IS HARD TO START IT COULD START ON FIRE IF JUMP STARTED MORE THEN 3 TIMES AND IF THE KEY IS ON THE ON POTION TO LONG. THEY WANT TO INSTALL A RELAY DEVICE TO PREVENT FIRES BUT WHY IS THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION PROBLEM NOT BEING FIXED. WHY DO WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE BATTERY EVERY YEAR. THE RELAY DEVICE WILL NOT FIX THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM IT WILL ONLY FIX THE FIRE THREAT. ALSO SIDE MIRROR ADJUSTMENT KNOB HAS FALLEN INSIDE CAR DOOR AND WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL DOWN OR UP. CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE AT TIMES. FRONT TIRES WORE ON THE INSIDE OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10060533

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2000

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

Read full complaint

I HAVE HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION, CALIPERS, GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM,2 LIGHTERS, ALTERNATOR,2 SETS OF WINDOW MOTORS, 1 BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT,STRUT TORQUE WASNT BOLTED TO THE CAR WHEN LEASED, A RADIAL PULL IN 1 TIRE IN WHICH I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE REPLACED, TIRE SCRAPING ON FENDER RIGHT AFTER LEASING, 2 NEW HEADLAMPS,FUEL CAP, BATTERY, AND HAVE HAD A SHORT SOMEWHERE AND DEALER REFUSED TO LOCATE. DEALER AND PONTIAC CUSTOMER DIVISION REFUSE A BUY BACK OR TRADE IN. SENT PACKAGE TO GENERAL MOTORS TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND THEY REFUSED THE PACKAGE ALL TOGETHER. PONTIAC TELLS ME THEIR FIELD REP WENT TO TALK TO JOHN MOORE AND HE REFUSED A BUY BACK SO IN TURN, SO DID PONTIAC. I JUST WOULD LIKE A CAR THAT RUNS. THIS IS MY SECOND PONTIAC THAT HAS BEEN A LEMON. I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTAION TO PROVE IT. HOW DOES A SINGLE MOM WORKING TWO JOBS GET HELP? ITS COSTED ME A FORTUNE IN MISSED WORK.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/65R15 )

NHTSA ODI #725050

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999

Tires

MICHELIN TIRE CONTINUALLY LEAKING AIR. YH

NHTSA ODI #607369

Official recalls

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

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

Steering:rack And Pinion