1992 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 1992 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
- Brakes4129.3%
- Electrical2618.6%
- Engine1410.0%
- Exterior lighting107.1%
- Transmission96.4%
- Interior & seats75.0%
- Body & structure64.3%
- Steering64.3%
- Driver assistance53.6%
- Visibility42.9%
- Other / unspecified32.1%
- Suspension32.1%
- Seat belts32.1%
- Tires & wheels21.4%
- Heating & air conditioning10.7%
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
I WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH ALL THE DATES NEEDED FOR ABOVE INFO. MY 1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SE IS A HAZARD TO MY HEALTH AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. I HAVE SMOKE FROM STEERING WHEEL AND LOSS OF POWER AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, AND MUCH MUCH MORE.
1) UPON STARTING THE CAR, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH. 2) AS I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOPLIGHT I HEARD A LOUD THUD AND THE CAR JUMPED, THINKING SOMEONE HAD HIT ME, I KEPT DRIVING TO PULL OVER AND NOTICED THAT I HAD NO STEERING. BY THE TIME I HAD STOPPED I WAS IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND NARROWLY MISSED SEVERAL CARS. THE MOTOR HAD SEPARATED ROM THE A FRAME. THE MECHANIC SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THE MANUFACTURER HAD FORGOTTEN A BOLT AND THE OTHER ONE GOT STRESSED. 3) THE BRAKES FAIL OR ARE SLOW AT STOPPING QUITE OFTEN EVEN WHEN PADS ARE REPLACED. 4) CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. THIS HAS CAUSED MANY NEAR MISSES. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED AND ALSO HAPPENS WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY.*AK
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE STEERING COLUMN ON MY 92 PONTIAC HAD STARTED TO SMOKE THREE TIMES SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN 1994. THE SECOND WAS AROUND 1996. THE LAST TIME WAS LAST MONTH. THE LAST TIME WAS THE WORST. EACH TIME I SHUT OFF THE KEY AND IT WOULD STOP SMOKING. *JB
I HAD BOUGHT A CAR FROM A USED DEALERSHIP AND THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS WRONG WITH IT THAT I FEEL THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE EVEN BEEN SOLD. I FEEL THAT IT FALLS UNDER THE LEMON LAW ACT. IT HAS BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP LOTS OF TIMES AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T FIXED IT AND NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THEY WONT FIX IT AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT THE ODOMETER DOES NOT WORK AND I TOLD THEM THAT AND THEY WON'T DO NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. SO PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME SO I CAN FIND OUT WHAT TO DO. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THANK YOU, JAMIE HOCHSTETLER. *JB
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE AND COOLANT LEAKING INSIDE THE ENGINE. *AK
I WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH ALL THE DATES NEEDED FOR ABOVE INFO. MY 1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SE IS A HAZARD TO MY HEALTH AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. I HAVE SMOKE FROM STEERING WHEEL AND LOSS OF POWER AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, AND MUCH MUCH MORE.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAS HAD TURN SIGNAL ISSUES FOR WELL OVER A YEAR NOW. THEY WOULD NOT WORK VERY WELL MOST OF THE TIME. I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE COLUMN A COUPLE OF TIMES RECENTLY. THEY RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER. DEALER SAID THEY HAD HEARD OF IT OFTEN AND A REPLACEMENT PART COSTS IN EXCESS OF $150.00 NOT INCLUDING LABOR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, SMOKE HAS OCCASIONALLY COME FROM THE AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. I TEST DROVE ANOTHER GRAND PRIX ONCE AND IT DID IT DURING THE TEST DRIVE. MY TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING PROPERLY, AND ONLY WORK IF I PULL THE LEVER UP OR DOWN AND TOWARD ME AND HOLD IT THERE WHILE I TURN.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED TO REPORT RECALL 91V214000 CONCERNING POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON 1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT CALLED A DEALER), AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN HIS FAMILY SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ,AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE, THE FAILURE BEGAN IN EARLY NOVEMBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NEITHER WEATHER NOR SPEED WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. ALSO HE STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, SLIPPING WHEN HE TRIES TO SWITCH THE GEARS. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HIS CAR REPAIRED AS STATED IN THE SAFETY REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NUMEROUS FAILURES WITH SWITCHING THE GEARS. *AK
WHILE PLACING VEHICLE IN GEAR INDICATOR LIGHT DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. SAME AS RECALL 91V214000/ AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE ORANGE MARKER BEHIND THE WINDOWS IN THE GEAR INDICATOR CAME LOOSE FROM THE LNKAGE. *AK *SLC
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
INDICATOR LIGHTS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT UP ERRATICALLY. READ THAT THIS WAS SOMEWHAT COMMON IN THIS MODEL. STARTED WITH "CHECK GAUGES" LIGHT, THEN THE "LOW GAS" INDICATOR LIGHT AND NOW THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT. CAR WAS TESTED AND NO MECHANICAL ISSUES FOUND - ISSUE IS ELECTRICAL OR OTHER - NOT FIXED DUE TO COST .*AK
SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL CAME FROM STEERING COLUMN. THIS WAS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THIS CONDITION IN LAST THREE YEARS.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
1992 GRAND PRIX - ENGINE CRADLE TO BODY BUSHINGS. I WAS DRIVE AT 60 MPH WHEN THE WASHERS FOR THE BODY BUSHINGS GAVE WAY AND CAUSED MY CAR TO LOSE STEERING. I WAS LUCKY AND DIDN'T CROSS THE CENTER LINE OR INVOLVE ANY CARS BUT DID END UP IN THE DITCH WITH DAMAGE TO MY CAR DUE TO LOSS OF STEERING SECONDARY TO ENGINE CRADLE BODY BUSHINGS GIVING AWAY. THIS EXACT PART WAS RECALLED ON SIMILAR VEHICALS UP TO 1990 MODELS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND NEXT TIME THE CONSUMER MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY AS MYSELF. I FEEL GM SHOULD HAVE INCREASED THE MODELS OF THEIR RECALL. *AK
WHILE BACKING OUT ONTO THE STREET, THE CRADLE BOLT BROKE, THIS RESULTED IN ENGINE DROPPING ONTO FRAME/ SEPARATION OF STEERING COLUMN, AND FAILURE IMMEDIATELY OF DIRECTION CONTROL. *AK THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RUSTED WASHERS CAUSED THE CRADLE BOLT TO BREAK AND INSTALLED SPACERS, INSULATOR AND RETAINERS. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
1992 GRAND PRIX - ENGINE CRADLE TO BODY BUSHINGS. I WAS DRIVE AT 60 MPH WHEN THE WASHERS FOR THE BODY BUSHINGS GAVE WAY AND CAUSED MY CAR TO LOSE STEERING. I WAS LUCKY AND DIDN'T CROSS THE CENTER LINE OR INVOLVE ANY CARS BUT DID END UP IN THE DITCH WITH DAMAGE TO MY CAR DUE TO LOSS OF STEERING SECONDARY TO ENGINE CRADLE BODY BUSHINGS GIVING AWAY. THIS EXACT PART WAS RECALLED ON SIMILAR VEHICALS UP TO 1990 MODELS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND NEXT TIME THE CONSUMER MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY AS MYSELF. I FEEL GM SHOULD HAVE INCREASED THE MODELS OF THEIR RECALL. *AK
1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAS HAD TURN SIGNAL ISSUES FOR WELL OVER A YEAR NOW. THEY WOULD NOT WORK VERY WELL MOST OF THE TIME. I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE COLUMN A COUPLE OF TIMES RECENTLY. THEY RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER. DEALER SAID THEY HAD HEARD OF IT OFTEN AND A REPLACEMENT PART COSTS IN EXCESS OF $150.00 NOT INCLUDING LABOR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
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
1) UPON STARTING THE CAR, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH. 2) AS I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOPLIGHT I HEARD A LOUD THUD AND THE CAR JUMPED, THINKING SOMEONE HAD HIT ME, I KEPT DRIVING TO PULL OVER AND NOTICED THAT I HAD NO STEERING. BY THE TIME I HAD STOPPED I WAS IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND NARROWLY MISSED SEVERAL CARS. THE MOTOR HAD SEPARATED ROM THE A FRAME. THE MECHANIC SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THE MANUFACTURER HAD FORGOTTEN A BOLT AND THE OTHER ONE GOT STRESSED. 3) THE BRAKES FAIL OR ARE SLOW AT STOPPING QUITE OFTEN EVEN WHEN PADS ARE REPLACED. 4) CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. THIS HAS CAUSED MANY NEAR MISSES. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED AND ALSO HAPPENS WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY.*AK
WHILE DRIVING,SMOKE COME FROM UNDER DASH, ALL WIRING BURNED/MELTED, NO FLAMES, CAUSED BY ACCELERATOR RIGID ROD PIVOT BOLT INTERFERENCE. *AK
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
I WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH ALL THE DATES NEEDED FOR ABOVE INFO. MY 1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SE IS A HAZARD TO MY HEALTH AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. I HAVE SMOKE FROM STEERING WHEEL AND LOSS OF POWER AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, AND MUCH MUCH MORE.
CONSUMER STATES THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS DO NOT "PARK" AT CORRECT LOCATION. WHEN DISENGAGED, ARMS STOP DIRECTLY VERTICAL ON WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTING CONSUMER'S VIEW WHILE DRIVING. RELATED RECALL 99V348000 V.I.N. NOT INCLUDED.
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
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL CRACKED ALL THE WAY AROUND THE LUGS: NUTS CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF. VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE REPAIR SHOP. THIS DID NOT CAUSE A CRASH, BUT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH RIGHT FRONT STEEL RIM SEPARATED WITHIN MIDDLE OF RIM. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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
I WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH ALL THE DATES NEEDED FOR ABOVE INFO. MY 1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SE IS A HAZARD TO MY HEALTH AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. I HAVE SMOKE FROM STEERING WHEEL AND LOSS OF POWER AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, AND MUCH MUCH MORE.
2 TIRES REPLACED WILL NOT HOLD ALIGNMENT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELTS ARE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE ONLY DURING PANIC STOPPING INSTANCES, CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED ON TWO OCCASIONS AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT ENGAGE CAUSING INJURIES FROM HITTING HEAD ON ROOF OF THE VEHICLE AND SLIDING UNDER THE DASHBOARD ON ANOTHER OCCASION. MJS
TIMING BELT BROKE ON TWO OCCASIONS CAUSING DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS ON SECOND INCIDENT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH ALL THE DATES NEEDED FOR ABOVE INFO. MY 1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SE IS A HAZARD TO MY HEALTH AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. I HAVE SMOKE FROM STEERING WHEEL AND LOSS OF POWER AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, AND MUCH MUCH MORE.
WHEEL AND TIRE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
A/C CONDENSOR DOWNSIZED BY MANUFACTURER, CAUSING EXCESS MOISTURE IN DUCTS WHICH CAUSED A MOLD ODOR TO COME FROM VENTS.
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 .