Pontiac Grand Prix Problems by Year
NHTSA has 4,378 owner complaints and 22 safety recalls on file for the Pontiac Grand Prix, across 14 model years (1995–2008). The 1997 model year has the most complaints (810). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
Pontiac Grand Prix years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Grand Prix year: 1997, 1998. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1997 Grand Prix: 810 complaints, 5 recalls
- 1998 Grand Prix: 499 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2000 Grand Prix: 461 complaints, 5 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1996 Grand Prix: 79 complaints, 1 recall
- 2003 Grand Prix: 106 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2008 Grand Prix: 143 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Pontiac Grand Prix problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 795 | 14 | 5 |
| Electrical System problems | 737 | 14 | 27 |
| Steering problems | 607 | 14 | 44 |
| Engine problems | 574 | 12 | 10 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 555 | 14 | 7 |
| Power Train problems | 367 | 14 | 13 |
| Visibility problems | 264 | 13 | 2 |
| Air Bags problems | 245 | 14 | 129 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 245 | 14 | 20 |
| Structure problems | 139 | 14 | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 128 | 14 | 15 |
| Suspension problems | 124 | 14 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 112 | 14 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 86 | 12 | 17 |
| Equipment | 84 | 14 | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 79 | 14 | 23 |
| Tires | 58 | 12 | 11 |
| Wheels | 58 | 13 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 41 | 11 | 1 |
| Seats | 40 | 10 | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 27 | 8 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 24 | 10 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Other | 20 | 8 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 16 | 9 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 15 | 7 | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 10 | 7 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 9 | 5 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Firerelated | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Pontiac Grand Prix problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2007: exterior lighting (92) · electrical system (68)
- 2006: electrical system (65) · power train (61)
- 2004: electrical system (107) · engine (98) · steering (64)
- 2002: engine (86) · engine and engine cooling (62) · electrical system (56)
- 2001: engine and engine cooling (102) · engine (65) · electrical system (60)
- 2000: engine and engine cooling (151) · engine (73) · electrical system (63)
- 1999: engine and engine cooling (152) · steering (58) · engine (50)
- 1998: engine and engine cooling (90) · exterior lighting (90) · steering (89) · electrical system (51)
- 1997: steering (216) · exterior lighting (149) · engine and engine cooling (136) · electrical system (88) · visibility (78) · air bags (56)
All Pontiac Grand Prix model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Grand Prix | 143 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2007 Grand Prix | 220 | 3 | — | Exterior Lighting | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2006 Grand Prix | 239 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2005 Grand Prix | 148 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2004 Grand Prix | 454 | 7 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2003 Grand Prix | 106 | 3 | — | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2002 Grand Prix | 330 | 3 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2001 Grand Prix | 308 | 6 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 2000 Grand Prix | 461 | 5 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 1999 Grand Prix | 412 | 4 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 1998 Grand Prix | 499 | 4 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 Grand Prix | 810 | 5 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 Grand Prix | 79 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1995 Grand Prix | 169 | 3 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Fewer complaints than other years |
More from Pontiac: all Pontiac models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Pontiac Grand Prix years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1997 (810), 1998 (499) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Grand Prix year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Pontiac Grand Prix?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 795 complaints across 14 model years.
How many recalls does the Pontiac Grand Prix have?
22 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.