1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes6639.8%
- Body & structure1810.8%
- Engine159.0%
- Electrical127.2%
- Steering127.2%
- Seat belts95.4%
- Fuel system74.2%
- Interior & seats74.2%
- Suspension63.6%
- Exterior lighting31.8%
- Other / unspecified31.8%
- Transmission31.8%
- Driver assistance21.2%
- Visibility21.2%
- Powertrain (other)10.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS BRAKE LIGHT LAMPS WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN OPERATION. THIS CAUSED THE BATTERY TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 90V185000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 2/5/09 *CN UPDATED 02/10/09. *JB
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SERVICE DEALER AND INQUIRED ABOUT RECALLS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A RECALL, NHTSA CAMPAIGN 00V189000. THE VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR AN ALIGNMENT. WHEN THEY TRIED TO FIX THE RECALL THEY FOUND THAT THE CRADLE FRAME WAS RUSTED, AND THEY REFUSED TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS. CONSUMER THEN SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE WAS RUDE. CONSUMER THEN ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS THE ONE TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION WHETHER RECALL WORK WOULD BE DONE. CONSUMER THEN CALLED GM ON HIS OWN, AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. HE CALLED THAT DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD LOOK AT VEHICE NEXT WEEK ON JULY 11. THEY SAID THEY RAN INTO SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, AND THE CRADLE SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK
DT: ONE OF THE BOLTS BROKE TO THE BODY OF THE FRAME, AND WHEN STEERING THE VEHICLE THE TIRE WAS PIVOTED TO THE RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CRADLE DROPPED. NO FOR WARNING, HUSBAND A MECHANIC STATED THE SAME THING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
REF: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V189000 - FIX DOESNT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT IS OFF ALL THE TIME, OTHER TIMES ONLY WHEN HEADLIGHTS ON, OTHER TIMES ONLY WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE OFF. SPEED, FUEL ODOMETER... NOTHING CAN BE SEEN. *TR
THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER NOTICED THE ODOMETER NOT READING THE MILEAGE CORRECTLY, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *SLC
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE ARE STILL NOT PARTS AVAILABLE FOR STEERING PROBLEM, AND CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION.*AK
CRADLE\FRONT CRADLE BOLT FAILURE\STEERING DISCONNECTED DURING FAILURE. *AK
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FELL APART
NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER. *MJS
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
ABS SPEED SENSORS HAVE FAILED TWICE, MASTER CYLINDER HAS FAILED AND REPLACED TWICE, ENITRE BRAKE SYSTEM HAS LOCKED UP, 8 FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORTS, BRAKE POWER ASSIST NOW FAILED.
INTERMITENT STALLING/REPLACED FUEL PUMP. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
DRIVER POWER FRONT SEAT ADJUSTER ON ONE SIDE IS UNATTACHED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
LEFT REAR TRAILING ARM BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. (QCAW)
RECALL # 97V058000, AFTER RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED (2) TIMES TO DEALER SINCE PERFORMING RECALL WORK. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE TURN SIGNAL IS ON BACKORDER FROM GENERAL MOTORS TO THE TUNE OF 2,500 CUSTOMERS. CARS WILL NOT PASS VEHICLE INSPECTION WITHOUT THE TURN SIGNALS WORKING. TURN SIGNALS ARE VERY IMPORTANT WHEN CHANGING LANES AND TURNING. I HAVE RECEIVED A TICKET FOR NOT HAVING MY VEHICLE INSPECTED DUE TO THE TURN SIGNAL COMPONENT NOT BEING AVAILABLE TO REPAIR MY CAR. GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD STEP-UP PRODUCTION ON THESE TURN SIGNAL COMPONENTS AS IT POSES AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *AK
TURN SIGNAL FAILURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO REPLACE ALL 4 BOLTS. DUE TO THE 1 DEFECTED BOLT BEING LEFT ON VEHICLE THE STEERING IS OFF. MR
FRONT RIGHT WHEEL CAME OFF VEHICLE WITH STUDS AND NUTS ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY INDEPENDENT DEALER AND REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY . *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
IGNITION MODULE FAILED, MAKING VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE TO START.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
IGNITION MODULE FAILED, MAKING VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE TO START.
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
IGNITION MODULE FAILED, MAKING VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE TO START.
WHILE DRIVING THE SUNROOF JUST BLEW OFF. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
AXLE BROKE, RESULTING IN UNCONTROLABLE DRIVING. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .