IllustrationLOSS OF POWER AT 60 MPH. AFTER STOPPING VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF OVERDRIVE. GRINDING. AFTER EVALUATION BY MECHANIC, METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN TRANSMISSION FLUID. COST OF REPAIRS WILL EXCEED $1,500.
1996 Pontiac Grand Prix
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 88.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Grand Prix 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: 11 of 79 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 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports3 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
79 reportsACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE. YH
MY FATHER, JIMMIE G. NALL, ORIGINALLY LEASED THIS VEHICLE; AT LEASE END, HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FOR ME. WHILE MY FATHER HAD IT, HE HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY ON SCHEDULE, INCLUDING HAVING THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES. WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND I BECAME THE MAIN DRIVER IT HAD A LITTLE OVER 18K MILES. IT NOW HAS 34496…
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MY FATHER, JIMMIE G. NALL, ORIGINALLY LEASED THIS VEHICLE; AT LEASE END, HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FOR ME. WHILE MY FATHER HAD IT, HE HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY ON SCHEDULE, INCLUDING HAVING THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES. WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND I BECAME THE MAIN DRIVER IT HAD A LITTLE OVER 18K MILES. IT NOW HAS 34496. NOTHING SHOULD BE WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO MAKE ANY MAJOR REPAIRS YET. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH WEAR AND TEAR FOR MAJOR DAMAGE OR REPAIRS. THE TRANSMISSION IS NOW STARTING TO SLIP AT TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THEN WILL GO OFF AFTER A LITTLE WHILE. THE TEMP. WILL GO UP RAPIDLY (230) NOT TO A DANGEROUS LEVEL, THEN DROP BACK DOWN (210) AFTER I TURN ON THE HEATER. EVERYDAY WHEN STARTING, I HAVE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH AT LEAST 3 TIMES BEFORE IT WILL START. WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THE ODOMETER WILL JUMP SLIGHTLY. I HAVE HAD THE TRANS. FLUID CHECKED AND IT IS FULL. WE HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR ONCE, THE BATTERY TWICE, THE IGNITION SWITCH ONCE. FOR AS FEW MILES AS THIS CAR HAS, ALL THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE WRONG, AND I REALLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BE REPLACING PARTS AND MAKING REPAIRS ON AN ALMOST NEW VEHICLE. THE BACK BRAKES RUMBLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN AFTER BACKING UP AND COMING TO A STOP. I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD THIS RUMBLING. I FEEL THIS CAR IS BASICALLY A LEMON, BUT I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD GO AND TRADE THE GRAND PRIX IN, FOR 34500 MILES, AS STATED BEFORE, THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR! *AK
BRAKES ARE NOT OPERABLE. *AK
TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGES EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS, REQUIRED TIGHTENING. *MJS
VEHICLE HESITATES ON ACCELERATION DUE TO EGR VALVE FAILURE. YH
WATER IS FILLING UP ON THE REAR TAIL LIGHT LENS WHICH IS CAUSING A ELECTRICAL SHORT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK THE LEFT REAR TAIL LENSE WAS FILLED WITH WATER AND WAS REPLACED. NEXT, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TAIL LENSES WERE REPLACED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. AGAIN, W…
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WATER IS FILLING UP ON THE REAR TAIL LIGHT LENS WHICH IS CAUSING A ELECTRICAL SHORT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK THE LEFT REAR TAIL LENSE WAS FILLED WITH WATER AND WAS REPLACED. NEXT, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TAIL LENSES WERE REPLACED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. AGAIN, WATER ENTERED THE TAIL LENSE FOR THE THIRD TIME. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND INFACT GM HAD REDESIGNED THE TAIL LENSE BEFORE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *YH
CONSUMER HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH POWER DOORS/LOCKS EVERY SINCE SHE HAS HAD THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS LOCKED INSIDE FOR THIRTY MINUTES. ALSO, POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. SHE HELD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DOWN, JAMMING IT. *AK
WAS GOING 30MPH & HAD APPLIED BRAKES. VEHICLE KEPT GOING. LOW TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE HIT ONE CURB & THEN ANOTHER CURB BEFORE COMING TO STOP ON RAMP. SECOND TIME AT 20MPH OFF RAMP. HIT BRAKES, VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. PRESSED HARDER. ABS LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED. HEARD A SNAP & ROTOR BROKE; WHEEL & VEHICLE WENT INTO SP…
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WAS GOING 30MPH & HAD APPLIED BRAKES. VEHICLE KEPT GOING. LOW TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE HIT ONE CURB & THEN ANOTHER CURB BEFORE COMING TO STOP ON RAMP. SECOND TIME AT 20MPH OFF RAMP. HIT BRAKES, VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. PRESSED HARDER. ABS LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED. HEARD A SNAP & ROTOR BROKE; WHEEL & VEHICLE WENT INTO SPIN. *AK
STEERING RACK FAILURE (40K MILES). STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN LEFT *AT ALL* AT A DEAD STOP; EXTREMELY STUBBORN AT SPEED. NO WARNING(S)/INDICATIONS OF IMPENDING FAILURE. NO BELT SQUEALS, PS FLUID LEVEL OK. L-R TURNING WAS FINE, THEN NOT. COINCIDENTALL
Official recalls
103V527000 · Steering:rack And Pinion
Dec 11, 2003
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
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
3PE02050 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Jun 13, 2002 · Closed Oct 22, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
EA99026 · Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment
Opened Aug 31, 1999 · Closed Dec 28, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
There is no summary currently available
EA96023 · Inappropriate Air Bag Deployment
Opened Sep 27, 1996 · Closed Feb 13, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
THE FAILURE RATE (1.25/100K) ON THIS ISSUE IS LOW.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITURE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THIS ISSUE.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC FILE.