PONTIAC GRAND PRIX · model year

1988 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

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.

119
Complaints
6
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

119 filings

Crashes Reported

6 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER22
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC15
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS5
STRUCTURE5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS2
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST2
SEATS2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR2
SUSPENSION:REAR2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2

Recent Complaints

20160117ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

20160117STEERING

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

20040719SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

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

20030513SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING STARTED THE LEFT BALL JOINT FELL OFF AND THE AXLE BROKE. *NLM

20020904STRUCTURE

WHILE DRIVING CRADLE BOLTS BROKE, CAUSING ENGINE TO FALL, AND VEHICLE TO BREAK DOWN.*AK

20020731SEAT BELTS

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

20020506STRUCTURE

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

20020415SUSPENSION

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

20020408STRUCTURE

FRAME CRADLE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF RETAINERS, CAUSING MOTOR TO DROP OUT. TOOK TO DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED.*AK

20020328STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

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

20020220FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

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

20010618STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

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

20010611POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

20010611POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT

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

20010409FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

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

20010409FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

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

20010227STRUCTURE

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

20001227SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

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

20001219STRUCTURE

CRADLE BOLTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-189, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

20001219STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

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

Compare 1988PONTIACGRAND PRIX to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1988 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX have?
The 1988 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX has 119 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX?
The most-complained component for the 1988 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER with 22 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM.
Is the 1988 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.