PONTIAC GRAND PRIX · model year

1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

618 NHTSA complaints, 25 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998PONTIACGRAND PRIX carries 618 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 25 crashes, 76 fires, 27 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1998 GRAND PRIX is exterior lighting:headlights with 74 filings, followed by steering:rack and pinion (51) and engine and engine cooling (37). 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 1998 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.

618
Complaints
25
Crashes
76
Fires
27
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

618 filings

Crashes Reported

25 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS74
STEERING:RACK AND PINION51
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING37
ENGINE33
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE28
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS26
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP22
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM18
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION17
STEERING17
UNKNOWN OR OTHER14
AIR BAGS14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE14
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY11

Recent Complaints

20230526ENGINE

I have a problem I drop my car off at the Chevy dealership to get a recall done and they only did one value cover when there are two value cover both was leaking so why only one got change that don't make any since when both value cover leaks oil too cause a fire just like the recalls says it will do so something need too get done because if my car caught fire then I'm sueing y'all for it because y'all made the recalls

20220915ENGINE

The contact owns a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that he noticed oil spots on the ground underneath the vehicle. The contact then stated that upon inspection, he checked under the vehicle and noticed that oil was leaking from the valve cover gasket. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that a recall for the failure had been previously performed on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.

Mileage: 61,000

20200119UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I JUST FOUND OUT MY VEHICLE HAS A RECALL ON IT

20190724STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP DUE TO A STEERING FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000. *TR *TR

Mileage: 168,000

20181011VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD FLUID RESERVOIR WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BECKER BUICK GMC, INC. (LOCATED AT 636 E SPRAGUE AVE, SPOKANE, WA 99202, (509) 455-3550) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PLASTIC RESERVOIR WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 159,000

20180301ENGINE

1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE FRONT VALVE COVER AND GASKET RECALL NOTICE. *SMD *JS

20170530FireSTRUCTURE:BODY

CAR CAUGHT FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS DESTROYED ON 04/05/2016, ENGINE FIRE. MY DRIVEWAY WAS FRIED, IMPRINT OF CAR STILL THERE. I FILED A CLAIM WITH GM LAST YEAR.,HAVE NOT HEARD A THING SINCE. VEHICLE LOSS WAS $2800 DRIVEWAY REPAIR IS $3200

Mileage: 96,000

20170530FireENGINE

CAR CAUGHT FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS DESTROYED ON 04/05/2016, ENGINE FIRE. MY DRIVEWAY WAS FRIED, IMPRINT OF CAR STILL THERE. I FILED A CLAIM WITH GM LAST YEAR.,HAVE NOT HEARD A THING SINCE. VEHICLE LOSS WAS $2800 DRIVEWAY REPAIR IS $3200

Mileage: 96,000

20170530FireFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

CAR CAUGHT FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS DESTROYED ON 04/05/2016, ENGINE FIRE. MY DRIVEWAY WAS FRIED, IMPRINT OF CAR STILL THERE. I FILED A CLAIM WITH GM LAST YEAR.,HAVE NOT HEARD A THING SINCE. VEHICLE LOSS WAS $2800 DRIVEWAY REPAIR IS $3200

Mileage: 96,000

20170522FireENGINE

RETURNED TO WORK FROM LUNCH WENT INSIDE STARTED BACK TO WORK WITH IN 10 MINUTES CO WORKERS WAS TELLING ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED MINUTES LATER PUT THE FIRE OUT FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID FIRE STARTED IN FRONT PART OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT I BELIEVE IT WAS CAUSED BY THE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE THAT WAS NEVER COMPLETED.

Mileage: 240,356

20170103FireENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 50 MILES, IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE SOON AFTER BEING PARKED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION AFTER THE FIRE OCCURRED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

20160923FireENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 67 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, WHICH WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.

Mileage: 167,000

20160825ENGINE

THERE ARE A LOT OF RECALLS ON MY PONIAC GRAND PRIX SE. THEY HAVE AFFECTED THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY CHILD. THE STEERING FLUID LEAKS FROM THE CAR AFTER SOMETHING WAS REPLACED ON A RECALL A WHILE BACK. RECENTLY WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC MY CAR STOPPED GOING AND OVERHEATED A LOT. THIS CAR ALWAYS RUNS HOT. IT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MOST RECENT RECALL. BUT THIS CAR WILL NO LONGER EVEN START UP. HOW DO I FIND OUT IF THE RECALLS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY CAR BREAKING DOWN ON ME? ALSO IN THE LETTER I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL SAID TO PARK MY CAR AND NOT DRIVE IT. YET THE DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS IN TO REPLACE AND FIX THE ISSUE. IS THERE A WAY TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THIS. I NEED A RELIABLE CAR AND REALLY WISH I HADN'T PURCHASED ONE WITH SO MANY ISSUES.

Mileage: 178,000

20160825STEERING

THERE ARE A LOT OF RECALLS ON MY PONIAC GRAND PRIX SE. THEY HAVE AFFECTED THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY CHILD. THE STEERING FLUID LEAKS FROM THE CAR AFTER SOMETHING WAS REPLACED ON A RECALL A WHILE BACK. RECENTLY WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC MY CAR STOPPED GOING AND OVERHEATED A LOT. THIS CAR ALWAYS RUNS HOT. IT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MOST RECENT RECALL. BUT THIS CAR WILL NO LONGER EVEN START UP. HOW DO I FIND OUT IF THE RECALLS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY CAR BREAKING DOWN ON ME? ALSO IN THE LETTER I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL SAID TO PARK MY CAR AND NOT DRIVE IT. YET THE DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS IN TO REPLACE AND FIX THE ISSUE. IS THERE A WAY TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THIS. I NEED A RELIABLE CAR AND REALLY WISH I HADN'T PURCHASED ONE WITH SO MANY ISSUES.

Mileage: 178,000

20160630ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE SECOND NOTIFICATION LETTER WOULD BE SENT BY THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20160608ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL EMERGING FROM THE REAR VALVE COVER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON MARCH 7, 2016 FOR THE FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,212.

Mileage: 119,212

20160510ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION ON FEBRUARY OF 2016. HOWEVER, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED TWO PARTS PER WEEK. THE CONTACT WAS PLACED ON A WAITING AND THE REPAIR WILL BE PERFORMED WITHIN SIX MONTHS. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20160504ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20160502ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20160420ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 124,000

Compare 1998PONTIACGRAND PRIX to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX have?
The 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX has 618 NHTSA complaints, 25 crashes, 76 fires, 27 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX?
The most-complained component for the 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS with 74 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING:RACK AND PINION and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Is the 1998 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.