Total Complaints
119 filings
PONTIAC GRAND PRIX · model year
119 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988PONTIACGRAND PRIX carries 119 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1988 GRAND PRIX is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper with 22 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc (15) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:drum (8). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 1988 GRAND PRIX. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
119 filings
Crashes Reported
6 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 22 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 15 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 8 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 7 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 5 |
| STRUCTURE | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 2 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST | 2 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
I KEEP LISTENING TO THE NEWS ABOUT THE GM IGNITION SWITCH AND CARS CUTTING OFF. I LIVED IN NJ BOUGHT 1988 GRAND PRIX BRAND NEW WITH ONLY 9 MILES ON IT WHEN I TOOK POSSESSION. THE FIRST TITLE OFF IT HAD 24 MIES ON IT. I TOOK IT BACK TIME AFTER TIME RUNNING UP A SERVICE BILL WHICH EVENTUALLY CONTRIBUTED TO MY BANKRUPTCY BUT NJ HD NO LEMON LAW SO I WAS STUCK IN IT. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GET RID OF IT WITH 154000+ MILES ON IT AND IT WAS STILL CUTTING OFF WHENEVER. IT WAS SCARY TO DRIVE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU TOOK YOUR FOR OFF THE GAS IF THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WOULD FREEZE. I AM REPORTING THIS SO SOMEONE KNOWS THAT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON WAY LONGER THAN GM IS LETTING ON.
Mileage: 154,000
I KEEP LISTENING TO THE NEWS ABOUT THE GM IGNITION SWITCH AND CARS CUTTING OFF. I LIVED IN NJ BOUGHT 1988 GRAND PRIX BRAND NEW WITH ONLY 9 MILES ON IT WHEN I TOOK POSSESSION. THE FIRST TITLE OFF IT HAD 24 MIES ON IT. I TOOK IT BACK TIME AFTER TIME RUNNING UP A SERVICE BILL WHICH EVENTUALLY CONTRIBUTED TO MY BANKRUPTCY BUT NJ HD NO LEMON LAW SO I WAS STUCK IN IT. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GET RID OF IT WITH 154000+ MILES ON IT AND IT WAS STILL CUTTING OFF WHENEVER. IT WAS SCARY TO DRIVE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU TOOK YOUR FOR OFF THE GAS IF THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WOULD FREEZE. I AM REPORTING THIS SO SOMEONE KNOWS THAT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON WAY LONGER THAN GM IS LETTING ON.
Mileage: 154,000
WHEN GETTING INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE CAME OFF THE ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THAT SEAT WAS REPLACED. *AK
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING STARTED THE LEFT BALL JOINT FELL OFF AND THE AXLE BROKE. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING CRADLE BOLTS BROKE, CAUSING ENGINE TO FALL, AND VEHICLE TO BREAK DOWN.*AK
CONSUMER WAS INJURED WHEN HER SEATBELTS FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN HER WHILE DRIVING, HOWEVER THERE WAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN 90V054000 REGARDING THE BELTS.(ATTORNEY ON BEHALF OF CLIENT)*JB
NHTSA RECALL 00 V 189 000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00061/65 CONCERNING CRADLE BOLTS. DEALER:PONIAC PUBLIC SERVICE GARAGE, MARQUETTE,MI; PHONE# 906/226-6518 WILL NOT HONOR RECALL, AND MANUFACTURER OFFERED $200 FOR COST OF RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMTION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH FRONT COIL SPRING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE BROKE AND CUT UP THE TIRE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL.*AK CONSUMER STATES SPRING AND STRUT SUPPORT BROKE OFF CAUSING SPRING TO PUSH SUPPORT PLATE DOWN INTO THE PATH OF THE TIRE RIPPING THE TIRE. *YH
FRAME CRADLE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF RETAINERS, CAUSING MOTOR TO DROP OUT. TOOK TO DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED.*AK
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FELL OFF TRACK, WHEN CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE THE DOOR FELL OFF THE DOOR HINGE, BOTH HINGE PINS BROKE IN HALF. NLM *TT
DUE TO GAS TANK RUSTING, VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING FUEL. HAD GAS TANK REPLACED BY MECHANIC. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT PRIOR TO REPLACING THE GAS TANK, MECHANIC TRIED TO MAKE REPAIRS BY USING JB WELD, HOWEVER THAT FAILED AND THE TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. *SLC
DOOR ON PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE FELL OFF. DID NOT HAVE ANY PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, A NOTICE WAS RECEIVED FROM DEALERSHIP ABOUT 5 OR 6 YEARS AGO STATING THAT IF THIS HAPPENS TO VEHICLE THEY WILL REPAIR IT, BUT HAD CONTACTED DEALER WHO REFUSE TO REPAIR IT. *AK
I JUST GOT THIS CAR AND I HAVE HAD TO GET 2 TRANSMISSIONS AND I HAD TO GET THE CV SHAFTS REPLACED AND THE BALLJOINTS REPLACED AND NOW THE WHEEL BEARINGS ARE GOING IS THERE ANY THING I CAN DO ABOUT THIS. *AK
I JUST GOT THIS CAR AND I HAVE HAD TO GET 2 TRANSMISSIONS AND I HAD TO GET THE CV SHAFTS REPLACED AND THE BALLJOINTS REPLACED AND NOW THE WHEEL BEARINGS ARE GOING IS THERE ANY THING I CAN DO ABOUT THIS. *AK
THE CAR HAD WORK DONE ON THE FUEL TANK AND RECALLS CAME BACK AND TWO DAYS LATER A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASH IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING STARTED,THE STARTER WAS STICKING ON AND THAT WAS IT THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED
THE CAR HAD WORK DONE ON THE FUEL TANK AND RECALLS CAME BACK AND TWO DAYS LATER A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASH IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING STARTED,THE STARTER WAS STICKING ON AND THAT WAS IT THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED
THE FRONT FRAME TO BODY BOLTS ROTTED OUT CAUSING THE FRAME TO FALL TO THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONROL AND STEERING COLUMN SEPARATION, DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. NLM
CALIPER NOT ENGAGING WITH ROTORS ON ONE SIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND MADE REPAIRS AT CONSUMER'S COST. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
CRADLE BOLTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-189, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND CRASH INTO THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE'S CABLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, THE REAR OF THE MOTOR WAS FOUND ON THE GROUND. OWNER CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MOTOR MOUNTS BOLTS, BUT NOT IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. HOWEVER, OWNER DID RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN OCTOBER, 2000. (LETTER WRITTEN BY FATHER) *CJ
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.