Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 67 of 383 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
32 crash reports12 fire reports29 injury reports
What owners actually said
383 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2000
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control
THIS FAILURE IS PARTICULARLY BAD BECAUSE BOTH TIMES THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 10 MILES BEFORE THE OCCURRENCE (WHICH IN HINDSIGHT) I SEE WAS THE ONLY WARNING OF DANGER AND BOTH TIMES WERE PITCH DARK OUTSIDE, FIRST THE CAR SEEMED TO BE IN NEUTRAL IN THE DRIVE POSITION, IN THAT THE ENGINE REVVED, BUT HAD LITTLE REAL POWER AND WHI…
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THIS FAILURE IS PARTICULARLY BAD BECAUSE BOTH TIMES THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 10 MILES BEFORE THE OCCURRENCE (WHICH IN HINDSIGHT) I SEE WAS THE ONLY WARNING OF DANGER AND BOTH TIMES WERE PITCH DARK OUTSIDE, FIRST THE CAR SEEMED TO BE IN NEUTRAL IN THE DRIVE POSITION, IN THAT THE ENGINE REVVED, BUT HAD LITTLE REAL POWER AND WHILE IN ANTICIPATION (FEAR) THAT THE CAR WOULD LUNGE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY TOOK HOLD DIDN'T COME TO FRUITION, WHAT OCCURRED COULD HAVE BEEN AS BAD. THE DASH LIGHT INDICATORS STARTED FLASHING BUT THE MAIN DASH LIGHTS SEEN FREGUENTLY (SPEEDOMETER) DISAPPEARED AND THEN I NOTICED THAT I WAS ONLY BEING GUIDED BY STREET LAMPS (SECOND OCCURENCE, I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THAT) AND THE CAR DIED AT THE SAME TIME, MAKING ME LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND HAVE TO GET THIS THING OFF THE ROAD. THIS CAR HAS NEVER MISSED A BEAT BEFORE THAT, BUT WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME, A BUNCH OF CITY WORKERS OUT TRYING TO FIX A BURST PIPE IN THE STREET AT 5:30 A.M. WERE WATCHING THIS HAPPEN AND CAME RUNNING OVER AND SAID THAT THE WAY THIS CAR FAILED SHOULD BE REPORTED BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN BAD FOR ANY DRIVER TO LOSE CAR MANUEVERABILITY AT THE SAME TIME AS EXTERIOR LIGHTS. THE SECOND TIME, WHEN I SAW THE ABS LIGHT COME ON, I WAS PREPARED. I CALLED MY HUBBY ON THE CELL PHONE AND HE CAME AND FOLLOWED ME FROM THERE AND I HAD ABOUT 10 MILES OF DRIVETIME BEFORE MY CAR BECAME POSSESSED AGAIN. IT IS SITTING BY THE ROAD ON AN ISOLATED SECTION IN INDIANA AND I'M FEELING PRETTY DARN LUCKY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #736496
Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2000
Electrical System
THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED ACCURATELY BY ANOTHER PERSON 0DIID 726109/ WE JUST PURCHASED A BATTERY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, WHICH IT DID FOR ABOUT 100 MILES, THEN IT WAS DITTO, BUT WOULD LIKE AN EMAIL AS TO WHAT THE PERSON ODIID 726109 FOUND TO BE THE PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND IS A MASTER MECHANIC. *AK
NHTSA ODI #736485
Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS: STEERING GROANS AFTER HARD BRAKING OR TIGHT HIGH/LOW-SPEED TURNS/WARNING LIGHT COMES ON; ALTERNATOR: NOT CHARGING-REPLACED TWICE; THERMOSTAT REPLACED TWICE
NHTSA ODI #736051
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2000
Power Train
TRANSMISSION SHUTS DOWN ENGINE WHEN PUT IN GEAR, ENGINE SHUTS OFF LIKE TRANSMISSION IS LOCKED UP
NHTSA ODI #735393
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AFTER 15-20 MINUTES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS AND PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING, CONSUMER STATES THAT IT FEELS AS IF THE ENGINE IS NOT RECEIVING FUEL AND A HOT BURNING ODOR IS COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK AREA, POSSIBLE FUEL SYSTEM FAILU…
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INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AFTER 15-20 MINUTES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS AND PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING, CONSUMER STATES THAT IT FEELS AS IF THE ENGINE IS NOT RECEIVING FUEL AND A HOT BURNING ODOR IS COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK AREA, POSSIBLE FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #874018
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2000
Steering
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SUDDENLY BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. ALSO, WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN STEERING DID THE SAME. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS. DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. OWNER WAS TOLD TO CHECK WITH MANUFACTURER. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #873876
Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN BY APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL LIGHTLY WHEN BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY FELL OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES. CONSUMER HAD TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY AND GET INTO RIGHT LANE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC TO PREVENT ACCIDENT. THEN, GRADUALLY APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE. PONTIAC DEALER STATED THAT…
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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN BY APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL LIGHTLY WHEN BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY FELL OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES. CONSUMER HAD TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY AND GET INTO RIGHT LANE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC TO PREVENT ACCIDENT. THEN, GRADUALLY APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE. PONTIAC DEALER STATED THAT 30 CENT CLIP BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO FALL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #873256
Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury
WAS DRIVING 40MPH & LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HIT EMBANKMENT HEAD ON & FLIPPED OVER SEVERAL TIMES, HITTING THE RIGHT FRONT. ONCE HITTING THE GROUND AFTER FLIPPING, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE DECLARED TOTALED. DRIVER SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES & WAS HOSPITALIZED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #873095
Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2000
Air BagsCrash
I HIT A DEER AT 50-55 MPH, AIR BAG SENSORS INDICATED DEPLOYMENT, DIDN'T DEPLOY
NHTSA ODI #733770
Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2000
Visibility
DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW GOES UP AND DOWN AND GETS STUCK BY IT'S SELF.*AK
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
THE PROTECTIVE COVER FOR THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER WAS OMITTED. WITHOUT THIS COVER, THE POSITIVE TERMINAL BOLT ON THE FUSE BLOCK IS EXPOSED AND CAN CONTACT THE INSULATED NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. IF THE INSULATION ON THE NEGATIVE CABLE BECOMES SUFFICIENTLY WORN, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN THE POSITIVE TERMINAL AND NEGATIVE CABLE RESULTING IN EXTREMELY HIGH CURRENT FLOW.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS HIGH CURRENT FLOW CAN CAUSE ARCING AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE PROTECTIVE COVER AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER TO THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
RQ03001 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Jan 2, 2003 · Closed Sep 15, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
RQ98013 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployments
Opened Aug 26, 1998 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
ON JUNE 26, 1998, GENERAL MOTORS BEGAIN A SAFETY RECALL, 98V-146, TO RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) IN THE 1996 AND SOME 1997 J BODY CARS, CAVALIER AND SUNFIRE.DUE TO CERTAIN CALIBRATIONS IN THE AIR BAG SDM, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN A LOW SPEED CRASH OR WHEN AN OBJECT STRIKES THE FLOOR PAN.THE RECALL POPULATION CONSISTS OF 675,302 VEHICLES BUILT FROM APRIL 1995 THROUGH MAY 1997.ODI HAS RECEIVED 8 OWNER REPORTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT A CRASH.THE PURPOSER OF THE RQ IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER GM SHOULD EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE THESE VEHICLES.CLOSING RESUME NOTE:AS OF AUGUST 5, 1999, ODI RECEIVED ONE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT REGARDING THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THE INCIDENT RATES FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ABOUT ONE-THRID OF THE RATES OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES (WHEN THE RECALL WAS INITIATED).BASED ON THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOSE NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES.
1997 Pontiac Grand Am Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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