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1994 Pontiac Grand Prix

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Grand Prix years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix are substantially higher than the model-year median of 88.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 10 of 213 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.

  • Visibility. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

25 crash reports2 fire reports19 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

22 reports
Clear category filter
126,000 miles · Aug 8, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. AFTER THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE JUST CLICKED. THE LOCAL MECHANIC PURCHASED THE PARTS FROM PARTS PLUS AND FOUND A NOTICE IN THE BOX. THE NOTICE STATED THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT VOLTAGE BEING CARRIED TO THE STARTER DUE TO THE MR. GOODWRENCH ANTIT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. AFTER THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE JUST CLICKED. THE LOCAL MECHANIC PURCHASED THE PARTS FROM PARTS PLUS AND FOUND A NOTICE IN THE BOX. THE NOTICE STATED THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT VOLTAGE BEING CARRIED TO THE STARTER DUE TO THE MR. GOODWRENCH ANTITHEFT SYSTEM. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS, WHICH WOULD COST BETWEEN $250-$500. SHE CALLED THE DEALER REGARDING RECALLS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NONE RELATED TO HER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES AND THE STARTER WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10237456

38,746 miles · Mar 27, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

1994 GRAND PRIX 38,746 MI DROVE VEHICLE 1 AND 3/4 MI TO WARM UP TO CHANGE OIL NOTICED TEMP GAUGE RISING SHUT OFF MOTOR WAITED 30 MIN CHECKED RADIATOR NO ANTI FREEZE CHECKED OIL NOTICED ANTI FREEZE MIXED WITH OIL TOOK CAR HOME CALLED REPAIR SHOPS BEST PRICE $950.00 TO REPAIR BAD HEAD GASKET AND INTAKE GASKET I OWNED THE CAR EXACT…

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1994 GRAND PRIX 38,746 MI DROVE VEHICLE 1 AND 3/4 MI TO WARM UP TO CHANGE OIL NOTICED TEMP GAUGE RISING SHUT OFF MOTOR WAITED 30 MIN CHECKED RADIATOR NO ANTI FREEZE CHECKED OIL NOTICED ANTI FREEZE MIXED WITH OIL TOOK CAR HOME CALLED REPAIR SHOPS BEST PRICE $950.00 TO REPAIR BAD HEAD GASKET AND INTAKE GASKET I OWNED THE CAR EXACTLY 3 DAYS I UNDERSTAND THE PONTIAC 3100 AND 3800 HAVE BAD HEAD GASKETS THIS IS MY LAST GM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10222499

20,000 miles · Aug 1, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

1. RUNS HOT WAS TOLD BY DEALER ITS "NORMAL" TO RUN IT AT 230 20,000 MILES. 2. REPLACE BRAKES AT 40,000 MILES. 500.00 REPAIR 3. RECALLED FOR WIPER/SIGNAL SWITCH 45,000, 4. CUTS OUT OR RPMS MOVE THE CAR DOESN'T, DEALER CANT FIND A PROBLEM 46,000 MILES. 5. "DRINKS OIL NO SIGNS OF LEAKS! 60,000 MILES DEALER HAS NO CLUE! 6. TOTAL…

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1. RUNS HOT WAS TOLD BY DEALER ITS "NORMAL" TO RUN IT AT 230 20,000 MILES. 2. REPLACE BRAKES AT 40,000 MILES. 500.00 REPAIR 3. RECALLED FOR WIPER/SIGNAL SWITCH 45,000, 4. CUTS OUT OR RPMS MOVE THE CAR DOESN'T, DEALER CANT FIND A PROBLEM 46,000 MILES. 5. "DRINKS OIL NO SIGNS OF LEAKS! 60,000 MILES DEALER HAS NO CLUE! 6. TOTAL OVER HEATING AT 70,000. REPLACE THERMOSTAT. 300.00 REPAIR 7. BATTERY WENT DEAD 71,000 MILES 90.00 REPAIR 8. TURN SIGNALS "STICK" WILL NOT TURN OFF BY THEMSELVES NOT BLINK 72,000 MILES 9. REPLACE ALTERNATOR AT 73,000 MILES, 400.00 REPAIR. IM THE SECOND OWNER...THIS CAR IS A TOTAL PIECE OF '!@#$%! NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE FOR SURE!!! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10130911

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO IGNORE LIGHT. CONSUMER STATED A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER CAR BROKE DOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #881460

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING, THE OIL FILTER CAME OFF AND STRUCK THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND IGNITED A FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *SLC

NHTSA ODI #557970

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

MECHANIC NOTICED A SMALL OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE SHAFT O-RING. NLM

NHTSA ODI #553084

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingStructure

PASSENGER'S DOOR IS SIGHTLY HANGING OUT WHICH MAY CAUSE THE DOOR TO FALL OFF UNEXPECTEDLY, AND MAY RESULT IN INJURIES. PIN BROKE ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR. ALSO, VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOSING OIL DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING VALVE COVER GASKET. *AK

NHTSA ODI #854819

Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 12/15/99 AND 12/16/99 VEHICLE STALLED GOING 55 AND STARTED BACK UP AND STALLED TWO MORE TIMES. ALSO GAUGES ON VEHICLE JUMPED WHEN TRIED TO RESTART. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716140

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING T 55MPH NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, AND THE CAR CUT OFF.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #844669

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH HEATER BLOCK DISENGAGED FROM ENGINE WHICH CAUSED ITTO OVERHEAT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835614

Official recalls

1

97V017000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:switch/wiring

Feb 11, 1997

SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A STRAINED OR SEPARATED WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR IN A SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE OLD DESIGNED WASHER/WIPER SWITCHES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.

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

EA96010 · Windshield Wiper Failures

Opened Jun 18, 1996 · Closed Feb 19, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility

BY LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 4, 1997, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WAS GOING TO RECALL 349,331 MODEL YEAR 1994 AND 1995 W CAR VEHICLES.THE W CAR MODELS OF CHEVROLET, BUICK, OLDSMOBILE, AS WELL AS THE SUBJECT PONTIAC GRAND PRIX MODELS ARE INCLUDED.THE RECALL (97V-017) WILL INVOLVE REPLACING ALL THE OLD STYLE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCHES WITH THE LATER IMPROVED SWITCH, WITH THE LONGER WIRING HARNESS.DUE TO GM'S SAFETY-RECALL ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

PE96011 · Windshield Wiper Failure

Opened Feb 8, 1996 · Closed Jun 18, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility

There is no summary currently available