Pontiac Grand Prix Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 245 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the Pontiac Grand Prix across 14 model years. The 1997 model year has the most (56). The words owners use most often: “air bag” (38% of reports).
- 245air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 129mention a crash
- 99mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- $1,450typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Air bag: mentioned in 92 of 245 complaints (38%)
- Bags deploy: mentioned in 31 of 245 complaints (13%)
- Upon impact: mentioned in 16 of 245 complaints (7%)
- Medical attention: mentioned in 15 of 245 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical air bags repair on the Pontiac Grand Prix at $1,450, and half of them between $730 and $1,850.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2011), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 125 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 245 complaints, 129 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 99 an injury.
Pontiac Grand Prix air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Grand Prix | 22 | 15% | 82,500 |
| 2007 Grand Prix | 16 | 7% | 74,000 |
| 2006 Grand Prix | 19 | 8% | 90,000 |
| 2005 Grand Prix | 10 | 7% | 92,500 |
| 2004 Grand Prix | 28 | 6% | 90,000 |
| 2003 Grand Prix | 2 | 2% | 108,544 |
| 2002 Grand Prix | 11 | 3% | 110,000 |
| 2001 Grand Prix | 11 | 4% | 104,000 |
| 2000 Grand Prix | 11 | 2% | 98,000 |
| 1999 Grand Prix | 14 | 3% | 100,000 |
| 1998 Grand Prix | 24 | 5% | 50,000 |
| 1997 Grand Prix | 56 | 7% | 90,000 |
| 1996 Grand Prix | 3 | 4% | 220 |
| 1995 Grand Prix | 18 | 11% | 133,190 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 2001
Problem: On certain passenger, sport utility vehicles and mini vans, some of these vehicles have a passenger air bag that was manufactured without a check valve pin. An air bag without the check valve pin could produce increased pressure at the onset of the air bag deployment and reduced pressure afterward.
Risk: This could increase the severity of injury to a person who was not properly restrained and who was close to the passenger air bag at the time of deployment. It could also reduce the ab8ility of the air bag to protect a restrained front seat passenger.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag. Owner notification began december 16, 2002. 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 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or saturn at 1-800-553-6000, prompt #3.
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 1999
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles and mini vans, the driver's air bag inflator modules could produce excessive internal pressure. In the event of a crash that would trigger a driver's air bag deployment, the increased internal pressure can cause the inflator module to explode.
Risk: Metal and plastic debris could cause severe injury to vehicle occupants.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver air bag module. Owner notification began february 1, 2002. 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 pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 2001
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger, sport utility vehicles and minivans. The passenger air bag inflator modules were built without the correct amount of generant, which produces the gas that fills the air bag. Some were built with a double load of generant and some were built without generant.
Risk: In the event of a crash that would trigger a passenger air bag deployment, a double load of generant can cause the inflator module to explode. If the air bag module explodes, metal and plastic debris could cause severe injury to vehicle occupant. A module with no generant would not inflate the air bag, and the occupants could receive more severe injuries.
Fix: Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module. Telephone calls were made to owners on january 29, 2001. Follow up owner mailing began on april 17, 2001. 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 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, or saturn at 1-800-553-6000.
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 2000
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The passenger side air bag modules have an undersized inflator orifice.
Risk: In the event of a crash that would trigger a passenger side air bag deployment, this undersized orifice can cause the inflator module to explode. If an air bag inflator module explodes, metal and/or plastic debris could cause severe injury to the vehicle occupant.
Fix: Dealers will replace the passenger side air bag modules.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I was driving a red 2002 Pontiac. While sitting at a stop sign and the driver of a 2012 Ford Fiesta was going 55-60 MPH and ran in the back of my vehicle.
got cutoff on a busy highway going 70mph and they slammed their brakes. i had 6 car lengths between us and immediately started braking but we were just skidding. I had the choice of hitting the vehicle or swerving left towards the median. I chose the latter. The steering locked up, the abs did NOT…
Pontiac wont start, changed starter, saw recall for ignition switch. Rack & pinion leak, cover gasket leak, saw recall. Air bag code came up.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 pontiac grand prix. While driving 35 mph, the contact's vehicle accelerated independently without warning and crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact then veered off the road, crashed into a pine tree, and flipped over. The air bags did not deploy and the…
I had barely hit a curb pulling into the bank parking when my brake pad wouldn't stop. At less than 7mph. My air bags had deployed leaving me jarred, and in a shock i could not move. I sat locked in to my safetybelt until the construction worker down roadpulled me out to safety. Such a mils hit…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Pontiac Grand Prixs have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 245 owner complaints about air bags for the Pontiac Grand Prix. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Pontiac Grand Prix air bags?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix air bags problems on the Pontiac Grand Prix?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,450 (half paid between $730 and $1,850), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the Pontiac Grand Prix?
The most frequent phrase is “air bag”, in 92 of 245 complaints, followed by “bags deploy” (31).
Other Pontiac Grand Prix problems
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (795)
- Electrical System problems (737)
- Steering problems (607)
- Engine problems (574)
- Exterior Lighting problems (555)
- Power Train problems (367)
- Visibility problems (264)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (245)
See all Pontiac Grand Prix problems.