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: 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
What owners actually said
172 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 1999
WheelsCrash
FRONT RIGHT LUGS SHEARED OFF CLEAN COMPLETELY, CAUSING THE WHEEL & TIRE TO DROP AND PUTTING THE AUTO TO THE PAVEMENT ON IT'S FRONT. RAIL AND ROTOR AND SPINNING THE AUTO SOMEWHAT. PONTIAC REFUSES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY SAYING THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT, BUT IT WASN'T THEIR FAULT. IT TOOK THEM 1 MONTH TO DECIDE THAN LEAVING…
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FRONT RIGHT LUGS SHEARED OFF CLEAN COMPLETELY, CAUSING THE WHEEL & TIRE TO DROP AND PUTTING THE AUTO TO THE PAVEMENT ON IT'S FRONT. RAIL AND ROTOR AND SPINNING THE AUTO SOMEWHAT. PONTIAC REFUSES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY SAYING THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT, BUT IT WASN'T THEIR FAULT. IT TOOK THEM 1 MONTH TO DECIDE THAN LEAVING THE AUTO UNREPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND CAUSED ME TO RENT AN AUTOMOBILE. THEN FINALLY PAID MYSELF TO GET THE CAR BACK IN USE. LOSS OF 1 MO. USE, HAD TO PAY THE MONTH'S LEASE EVEN THOUGH CAR WAS NOT DRIVEABLE, AND WHEN THEY FIXED IT, THEY DID IT IN 4 HOURS! *AK
NHTSA ODI #705945
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control
AFTER DRIVING THE CAR AND LETTING SIT FROM 30 MIN TO 4 HOURS(AT VARIOUS TEMPS) AND RESTARTING GOING@10 MPH, THE CARS RPMS FLUCTUATE BRIEFLY AND THEN ACCELERATE DRAMATICALLY TO 4000 RPM LUCKELY, I PUT IT INTO NETURAL OR MY SPEED KEEPS INCREASING, WHEN PUT INTO NEUTRAL, THE RPM'S INCREASED TO 4,000 AND STAYS UNTIL THE GAS IS PRESS…
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AFTER DRIVING THE CAR AND LETTING SIT FROM 30 MIN TO 4 HOURS(AT VARIOUS TEMPS) AND RESTARTING GOING@10 MPH, THE CARS RPMS FLUCTUATE BRIEFLY AND THEN ACCELERATE DRAMATICALLY TO 4000 RPM LUCKELY, I PUT IT INTO NETURAL OR MY SPEED KEEPS INCREASING, WHEN PUT INTO NEUTRAL, THE RPM'S INCREASED TO 4,000 AND STAYS UNTIL THE GAS IS PRESSED FIRMLY THEN IT WILL GO BACK TO IDLE. PRESSING THE BRAKE DOESN'T STOP THIS. A COUPLE OF TIMES THE RPMS FLUCTUATED THEN THE CAR DIED INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705180
Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED, CAUSING HEAVY STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION. DEALER RESURFACED ROTORS ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AGAIN AFTER 3 MONTHS. BRAKE ROTORS NOW MUST BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY ONE YEAR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #704954
Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKES SQUEAK AND THERE IS SOME KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKES TALK TO HER, AND GO STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD . ALSO, WHEN CONSUMER IS BACKING OUT AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT THERE IS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #835638
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL GAUGE FAILED. YH
NHTSA ODI #610010
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES FAILED. YH
NHTSA ODI #609249
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Seat Belts
SEAT BELT FAILED ON THREE OCCASIONS. *YC
NHTSA ODI #608611
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System
ALTERNATOR FAILED. MJS
NHTSA ODI #608004
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE ROTORS WARPED DUE TO THERE FAILURE CAUSED PULSATION. *YC
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.
1998 Pontiac Grand Am Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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