1998 Pontiac Grand AM Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Grand AM years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 10th of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 172 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Pontiac Grand AM. That ranks 10th out of 11 Grand AM model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (36 complaints, 21%), typically at around 40,000 miles. Complaints mention 12 crashes, 5 fires, 11 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 172owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 12complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Pontiac Grand AM problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 36 | 21% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 33 | 19% | 74,899 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 23 | 13% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 16 | 9% | 118,039 | — | — |
| Steering | 14 | 8% | 92,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 14 | 8% | 66,305 | — | — |
| Visibility | 14 | 8% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 13 | 8% | 135,678 | — | — |
| Power Train | 13 | 8% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 | 5% | 80,213 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 7 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 4 | 2% | 74,850 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 2% | 92,735 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 2% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 2% | 190,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1% | 32,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Pontiac Grand AM recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Power rack and pinion steering failure (RQ03001) — opened Jan 2, 2003, closed Sep 15, 2003.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
While starting the vehicle, the anti-theft circuitry cuts out the ignition system and prohibits re-starting the vehicle. A 'pass code' light appears on the dashboard. In one instance, the anti-theft circuitry cut out while the vehicle was in motion and could not be re-started. The vehicle could be…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 pontiac grand am. After the vehicle was started, the passenger side air bag deployed inadvertently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 208,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 pontiac grand am. The contact stated that the driver was traveling at an unknown speed when the vehicle stalled and crashed into a tree. The driver was killed and the vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed of the incident. The manufacturer was not made aware of…
Was driving on interstate 287 in new jersey when engine cut off causing loss of brakes, power steering. Caused accident when ran off road due to lack of power steering and inability to effectively brake. Took to dealer who replaced crankshaft sensor that did not repair problem. After car was…
1998 pontiac grand am. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle engine made an unusual noise, when she started it. *smd the consumer stated she turned the ignition off, thinking the noise would stop, but it did not. She took the keys out of the ignition and it continued to make the sound. The vehicle…
Other Pontiac Grand AM years
← 1997 Grand AM · 1999 Grand AM →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Grand AM | 102 | 2 |
| 2004 Grand AM | 293 | 2 |
| 2003 Grand AM | 325 | 2 |
| 2002 Grand AM | 395 | 1 |
| 2001 Grand AM | 538 | 4 |
| 2000 Grand AM | 675 | 5 |
| 1999 Grand AM | 849 | 3 |
| 1998 | 172 | 1 |
| 1997 Grand AM | 383 | 2 |
| 1996 Grand AM | 450 | 4 |
| 1995 Grand AM | 409 | 1 |
See all Pontiac Grand AM problems by year, every Pontiac model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Pontiac models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Pontiac Grand AM?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 36 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Pontiac Grand AM?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Pontiac Grand AM a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Grand AM model years, the 1998 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.