PONTIAC GRAND PRIX · model year

1989 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

202 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989PONTIACGRAND PRIX carries 202 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 2 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 1989 GRAND PRIX is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc with 20 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper (18) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (10). 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 1989 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.

202
Complaints
7
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

202 filings

Crashes Reported

7 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:DISC20
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER18
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS10
STRUCTURE10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE5
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS5
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY4
STEERING4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH3

Recent Complaints

20151217ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20100315ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT IS OFF ALL THE TIME, OTHER TIMES ONLY WHEN HEADLIGHTS ON, OTHER TIMES ONLY WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE OFF. SPEED, FUEL ODOMETER... NOTHING CAN BE SEEN. *TR

Mileage: 135,000

20081226EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS BRAKE LIGHT LAMPS WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN OPERATION. THIS CAUSED THE BATTERY TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 90V185000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 2/5/09 *CN UPDATED 02/10/09. *JB

Mileage: 110,000

20050706STRUCTURE

DT: THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SERVICE DEALER AND INQUIRED ABOUT RECALLS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A RECALL, NHTSA CAMPAIGN 00V189000. THE VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR AN ALIGNMENT. WHEN THEY TRIED TO FIX THE RECALL THEY FOUND THAT THE CRADLE FRAME WAS RUSTED, AND THEY REFUSED TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS. CONSUMER THEN SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE WAS RUDE. CONSUMER THEN ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS THE ONE TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION WHETHER RECALL WORK WOULD BE DONE. CONSUMER THEN CALLED GM ON HIS OWN, AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. HE CALLED THAT DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD LOOK AT VEHICE NEXT WEEK ON JULY 11. THEY SAID THEY RAN INTO SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, AND THE CRADLE SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK

20050615STRUCTURE:BODY

DT: ONE OF THE BOLTS BROKE TO THE BODY OF THE FRAME, AND WHEN STEERING THE VEHICLE THE TIRE WAS PIVOTED TO THE RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CRADLE DROPPED. NO FOR WARNING, HUSBAND A MECHANIC STATED THE SAME THING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

20030327STRUCTURE

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 00 V 189 00. *JB

20021015CrashSTRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

ABELOFF HAS HAD MY VEHICLE SINCE 9/10/02 DUE TO THE RECALL AND HAS NOT YET REPAIRED IT. I AM WITH OUT A VEHICLE. PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS MATTER SO THAT I MAY HAVE MY CAR BACK. MR

20021015WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO REPLACE ALL 4 BOLTS. DUE TO THE 1 DEFECTED BOLT BEING LEFT ON VEHICLE THE STEERING IS OFF. MR

20020930STRUCTURE

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT CRADLE MOUNTS BROKE RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. NLM

20020830STRUCTURE

TOOK CAR IN FOR RECALL CAMPAIGN # 00V189000 DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM RERPAIR BECAUSE LEFT CRADLE WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR REPAIR TO BE EFFECTIVE, DEALER REFUSED TO NEGOTIATE ON RERQUIRED REPAIR DO TO APPARENT DESIGN DEFECT.*AK

20020605STRUCTURE

RECALL 00V189000 REPAIRS WERE DONE ON 1 MAR 2002. NEW BOLTS INSTALLED UNDER RECALL WENT RIGHT THROUGH ENGINE CRADLE DUE TO HOLES WITHIN ENGINE CRADLE.*AK

20020327STRUCTURE

THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR PARTS REGARDING A RECALL (NHTSA ID# 00V-189-000 MANUFACTURER ID# 00061/65). THE MANUFATURES THAT MAKES THE PARTS HAS THE PARTS ON BACK ORDER. THE PONTAC MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP HAVE NO STANDBY PARTS AVAILABLE. NLM

20010627STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT WORK, CAUSING CONSUMER TO EXIT AND ENTER FROM PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *SLC

20010305SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20010305ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20001219SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

REAR DISC BRAKES NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY CONSUMER HAS HAD 2 SETS BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WILL NOT STOP. NLM

20001219STRUCTURE

PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-189 THE BOLT BROKE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FALL AND BREAK THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN, CONSUMER HAD NO STEERING WHEN THE ENGINE FELL AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. NLM

20001219ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER NOTICED THE ODOMETER NOT READING THE MILEAGE CORRECTLY, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *SLC

20001219SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS. NLM

20001213SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS SPEED SENSORS HAVE FAILED TWICE, MASTER CYLINDER HAS FAILED AND REPLACED TWICE, ENITRE BRAKE SYSTEM HAS LOCKED UP, 8 FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORTS, BRAKE POWER ASSIST NOW FAILED.

Compare 1989PONTIACGRAND PRIX to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX have?
The 1989 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX has 202 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX?
The most-complained component for the 1989 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC with 20 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS.
Is the 1989 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.