IllustrationCONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START VEHICLE DUE TO FROZEN IGNITION WHICH WOULD NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN, DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER, CONSUMER ASKED IF THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE VEHICLE WAS ONLY 3 AND 1/2 YEARS OLD AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD NOT BE. *SLC
1998 Pontiac Grand Am
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Grand Am years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am are substantially higher than the model-year median of 82.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Grand Am years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 42 of 172 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports5 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
172 reportsWHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, EARLY MORNING START AND VEHICLE FAILED TO START. CONSUMER MADE A SECOND ATTEMPT TO START AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, FIRE STARTED IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED ,AND EXTINGUISHED FIRE BEFORE ANYMORE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS…
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WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, EARLY MORNING START AND VEHICLE FAILED TO START. CONSUMER MADE A SECOND ATTEMPT TO START AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, FIRE STARTED IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED ,AND EXTINGUISHED FIRE BEFORE ANYMORE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK
CONSUMER STATES WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, VEHICLE STARTS TO PULSATE AND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 FEET TO STOP, WHILE VEHICLE IS BUCKING AS IF THE ABS ARE ENGAGING, RPM NEEDLE GOES CRAZY. *SLC
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SECOND TIME. REQUEST INFORMATION WHETHER THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE PROBLEM. GARAGE STATES THAT IT IS. IS MANUFACTURER EXTENDING WARANTY FOR THIS FAILURE PAST WARANTY PERIOD. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DISC BRAKE SEPARATED AND FELL OFF WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. *AK
BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. REPLACED TWICE AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED ONCE. SPOUSE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT OR REAR BRAKES DID NOT SHOW ANY WEAR.-WE ALSO HAVE HAD A PROBELM WITH THE BATTERY THAT I THINK WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.*AK
I FEEL AS THOUGH THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MY 1998 PONTIAC GRANDAM. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (BOOMERSHINE PONTIAC) TWICE IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. ON NOVE 28, 2000 ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS IN MY VEHICLE CAME ON AND THEN MY CAR LOCKED UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE BYPASS AT ABOUT 50 MPH. I COULD NOT STEER OR BRAKE …
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I FEEL AS THOUGH THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MY 1998 PONTIAC GRANDAM. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (BOOMERSHINE PONTIAC) TWICE IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. ON NOVE 28, 2000 ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS IN MY VEHICLE CAME ON AND THEN MY CAR LOCKED UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE BYPASS AT ABOUT 50 MPH. I COULD NOT STEER OR BRAKE MY CAR. IT WAS LOCKED UP, SO THREW ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND SLID UNTIL THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. I REPORTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT MY ABS, ETS, CHECK ENGINE, AND AIRBAG LIGHTS KEPT FLASHING ON AND OFF. ON FEB 20, 2001 I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO BOOMERSHINE PONTIAC AND REPORTED THAT MY CHECK ENGINE, ABS, AND AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ONCE AGAIN COMING ON. MY CAR WAS SUPPOSELY REPAIRED WHEN I PICKED IT UP ON FEB 22, 2001. ON MARCH 1. 2001 AT 9:05AM I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND MY ABS, ETS, AND AIRBAG LIGHTS WERE ONCE AGAIN FLASHING . I WENT TO PONTIAC BOOMERSHINE TO REPORT THIS. AND I TOOK THE SALES CONSULTANT JASON BRESNOCK FOR A RIDE IN THE CAR. MY AIRBAG LIGHT DID FLASH WHILE JASON BRESNOCK WAS RIDING WITH ME. I HAVE MADE AND APPOINTMENT FOR TUESDAY MARCH 6, 2001 AND 7:45AM TO HAVE THEM WORK ON MY CAR ONCE AGAIN. I FEEL THAT THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS CAR AND THE TECHNICIANS CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE. I FEEL THAT I AM DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AT THIS POINT.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING 45MPH VEHICLE STALLED. HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES*AK
FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS HAD TO REPLACED AT 24,000 MILES WITHIN 1 YEARR OF OWNERSHIP. THEN 1 1/2 YEARS ,ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AT SAME TIME. DEALER HAD TO HAVE MOTOR PACT KIT PUT WHICH RUNS REAR HYDRAULIC FOR BRAKES AT 50,000 MILES. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
104V036000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Jan 27, 2004
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. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. 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 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
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
1RQ03001 · 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.