Total Complaints
500 filings
PONTIAC GRAND PRIX · model year
500 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999PONTIACGRAND PRIX carries 500 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 18 crashes, 150 fires, 10 injuries, and 6 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 1999 GRAND PRIX is engine and engine cooling with 64 filings, followed by engine (50) and engine and engine cooling:engine (34). 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 1999 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
500 filings
Crashes Reported
18 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 64 |
| ENGINE | 50 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 34 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 31 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 27 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 20 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 18 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 17 |
| STEERING | 17 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 13 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 9 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 9 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 8 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 8 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 8 |
1999 PONTIAC GRAN PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLE REPAIRS MADE RELATED TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL.
valve covers leaks oil on to the exhaust and started a lil fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND PARKED, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THERE WAS NO FIRE REPORT FILED. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Mileage: 200,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. HATFIELD BUICK GMC (301 E REDLANDS BLVD, REDLANDS, CA 92373, (909) 748-5385) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
CAR STARTED ON FIRE TWICE CAUSING OTHER DAMAGES BESIDES RECALL DEFECT. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THESE FIRES HAPPENED. ALSO I DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIR BAGS IN THIS CAR ARE TAKATA OR NOT. I DON'T NEED THESE AIR BAGS TO CAUSE PROBLEMS. THE GM DEALER SEEMS TO BE HARASSING ME ABOUT FIXING THIS RECALL.
Mileage: 280,000
HOVER HEATING, SAYS LOW COOLANT WHEN I FIRST DRIVE IT. I ADDED COOLANT BUT AT TIMES IT SAYS LOW COOLANT. SPILLING COOLANT.
HOVER HEATING, SAYS LOW COOLANT WHEN I FIRST DRIVE IT. I ADDED COOLANT BUT AT TIMES IT SAYS LOW COOLANT. SPILLING COOLANT.
HOVER HEATING, SAYS LOW COOLANT WHEN I FIRST DRIVE IT. I ADDED COOLANT BUT AT TIMES IT SAYS LOW COOLANT. SPILLING COOLANT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A PARKING SPACE IN A LOT, IT ERUPTED INTO FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR A DEALER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) YEARS LATER AND NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO RECOURSE FOR THE CONTACT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY HAD BECOME LOOSELY CONNECTED FROM THE IGNITION AND FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FAILURE AFTER THE DEALER REPLACED A HARMONIC SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE CARS HEADLIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY SHUT OFF OR ONLY HIGH BEAMS WILL WORK, THE 3800 MOTOR HAS MANY ISSUES WITH PARTS MALFUNCTIONING OVER AND OVER NO MATTER WHAT MANUFACTURER THAT'S USED TO SUPPLY THE PARTS OEM OR AFTERMARKET, I'VE REPLACED MANY MAF, TPS, IAC, CPS SENSORS OVER THE BRIEF AMOUNT OF TIME OWNING PRETTY MUCH ANY VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE 3800 SERIES II V6, GAUGE CLUSTERS RANDOMLY STOP WORKING BUT THAT A KNOWN GM ISSUE FOR MULTIPLE VEHICLES FOR SEVERAL YEARS, COOLANT COROSSIAN AND INTERNAL RUST FROM DEX COOL COOLANT
THE CARS HEADLIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY SHUT OFF OR ONLY HIGH BEAMS WILL WORK, THE 3800 MOTOR HAS MANY ISSUES WITH PARTS MALFUNCTIONING OVER AND OVER NO MATTER WHAT MANUFACTURER THAT'S USED TO SUPPLY THE PARTS OEM OR AFTERMARKET, I'VE REPLACED MANY MAF, TPS, IAC, CPS SENSORS OVER THE BRIEF AMOUNT OF TIME OWNING PRETTY MUCH ANY VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE 3800 SERIES II V6, GAUGE CLUSTERS RANDOMLY STOP WORKING BUT THAT A KNOWN GM ISSUE FOR MULTIPLE VEHICLES FOR SEVERAL YEARS, COOLANT COROSSIAN AND INTERNAL RUST FROM DEX COOL COOLANT
THE CARS HEADLIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY SHUT OFF OR ONLY HIGH BEAMS WILL WORK, THE 3800 MOTOR HAS MANY ISSUES WITH PARTS MALFUNCTIONING OVER AND OVER NO MATTER WHAT MANUFACTURER THAT'S USED TO SUPPLY THE PARTS OEM OR AFTERMARKET, I'VE REPLACED MANY MAF, TPS, IAC, CPS SENSORS OVER THE BRIEF AMOUNT OF TIME OWNING PRETTY MUCH ANY VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE 3800 SERIES II V6, GAUGE CLUSTERS RANDOMLY STOP WORKING BUT THAT A KNOWN GM ISSUE FOR MULTIPLE VEHICLES FOR SEVERAL YEARS, COOLANT COROSSIAN AND INTERNAL RUST FROM DEX COOL COOLANT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE) TWO DAYS BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN ABNORMAL ODOR AND BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD, FLAMES WERE PRESENT. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF A REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HELPED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE WITNESS STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO POLICE OR INJURY REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000. UPDATED 01/06/17*LJ
Mileage: 160,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE WITNESS STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO POLICE OR INJURY REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000. UPDATED 01/06/17*LJ
Mileage: 160,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Mileage: 160,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER BEING PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NEITHER A FIRE NOR A POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND LATER REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,496.
Mileage: 205,496
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, BLACK SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE TO STOP THE SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 10/21/16*LJ *TR
Mileage: 125,000
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.