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
What owners actually said
213 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 1998
Visibility
CONSUMER RECEIVED A MFR. RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER SWITCH IN JUNE 98, WHICH HE TOOK TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT EVERYTHING APPEARED FINE. LATER ON, IN DECEMBER 98, SWITCH WENT BAD AND CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK, DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR . OWNER HAD SWITCH REPLACED AT REPAIR SHOP AT OWN EXPENSE. *…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER RECEIVED A MFR. RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER SWITCH IN JUNE 98, WHICH HE TOOK TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT EVERYTHING APPEARED FINE. LATER ON, IN DECEMBER 98, SWITCH WENT BAD AND CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK, DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR . OWNER HAD SWITCH REPLACED AT REPAIR SHOP AT OWN EXPENSE. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #832344
Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1998
Visibility
RECALL 97V017000; WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER WENT UP AND STOPPED. FIDDLED WITH THE SWITCH THEY STARTED. TURNING ON SIGNALS THEY WILL STOP AGAIN. CURRENTLY, THEY WILL ONLY OPERATE WITH THE LEFT SIGNAL, DEALER CONTACTED AND VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY TO THE RECALL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #830610
Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 1998
Visibility
NONE
NHTSA ODI #700237
Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspensionUnknown Or Other
WHENEVER STOPPING THE VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE, AND WHEN DRIVING THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FIVE TIMES, AND THEY STILL CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THE VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING AND OIL CONSUMPTION HAS INCREASED. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #829841
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY MADE A NOISE AND WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ROTORS/CALIPERS AND THE PADS HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. DEALER CONTACTED AND PROBLEM IS NOT REMEDIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #827968
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 1998
Air BagsCrashInjury
TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED IN FRONT SUDDENLY. SWERVED TO SIDE OF ROAD & HIT GUARDRAIL HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER INJURED (BACK AND SHOULDER). *AK
NHTSA ODI #828155
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 1998
Air Bags
AIR BAG SENOR LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER SHOP, WAS INFORMED THAT THE MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT WORK.THIS WAS ON 10-JUL-98; ON THE 11-JUL-98, CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CONDITION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #827885
Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 1998
Air BagsCrashInjury
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A HEAD-ON COLLISION.
NHTSA ODI #540338
Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 1998
Air BagsCrashInjury
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, NEITHER DRIVERS NOR PASSENGERS SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOIED, FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED! ALONG WITH STEERING COLUMN SMOKES.
NHTSA ODI #540300
Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 1998
Air BagsCrashInjury
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, NEITHER DRIVERS NOR PASSENGERS SIDE AIRGABS DEPLOIED, FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED! ALONG WITH STEERING COLUMN SMOKES.
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
1994 Pontiac Grand Prix Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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