RoadVitals

1994 Pontiac Grand Prix Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
45
Latest Apr 4, 2001
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
21%
of 213 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 45 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 45, in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Apr 4, 2001

DURING INSPECTION MECHANIC FOUND ROTORS TO BE WARPED.*AK

NHTSA ID
885035
Incident
Mar 15, 2001
Brakes
Filed Dec 13, 2000

BRAKE ROTORS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND IT'S AFFECTING BRAKES. OPERATION. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER FIXED BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID
876424
Incident
Aug 25, 1998
Brakes
Filed Sep 1, 2000

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE - WAS ADVISED BY REPAIR SHOP NOT TO DRIVE AT ALL UNTIL REPAIR MADE REPLACE ALL BRAKE ROTORS,CALIPERS AND PADS. TOTAL COST $1034. LATER WAS TOLD THERE IS A CLASSACTION SUIT AND THAT GM IS WILLING TO PAY AT LEAST 75% OF THE COST HOWEVER I CANNOT FIND OUT HOW TO GO ABOUT FILING A CLAIM. THE PONTIAC DEALER I INQUIRED ABOUT THIS SAYS GM IS CONTACTING OWNERS BUT THERE IS A DEADLINE OF OCTOBER 31 AND I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA ID
729905
Incident
Jun 3, 2000
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Aug 4, 2000
Crash reported

MUTLIPLE INCIDENTS OF FAILURE. SPORADIC BRAKE AND RELEASE ON ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES DURING SLOW STOPS. CAR STUTTERS TO A STOP. OTHER DEFECTS WITH CAR INCLUDE SPORADIC TURN SIGNAL FAILURE, HEAD LIGHT FAILURE. AIR BAG DID NOT IMPLOY DURING AN T-BONE COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ID
726676
Brakes
Filed Jul 26, 2000

I BOUGHT THE AUTO NEW AND WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPAIRED. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED OR FIXED. AT 54248 MILES I REPLACED BOTHE THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS AND THE FRONT PADS. NOW AT 71000 MILES I HAVE TO REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS AGAIN IN A SPAN OF 17000 MILES. THE GARGAGE AND THE COMPANY HOTLINE CLAIM THE PROBLEM IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BOTH THE GRAND PRIX AND THE CHEVY LUMINIA. IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A FACTORY DEFECT YET THESE ITEMS ARE REPLACED ON THESE VEHICLES MUCH MORE OFTEN THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME SIZE AND STYLE. 16-17000 MILES APPEARS TO BE PROBLEMATIC FOR A COMPLETE BRAKE REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
726081
Brakes
Filed Jul 26, 2000

FRONT AND REAR BRAKES HAVE RUSTED OUT 3 TIMES, THE FIRST TIME BEING LESS THAN 7,100 MILES. THE CALIPERS ARE RUSTED OUT AND FROZEN. BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND ARE IN NEED OF ANOTHER REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
726048
Incident
Mar 1, 1996
BrakesEngineFuel system
Filed Jul 17, 2000

MECHANIC NOTICED A SMALL OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE SHAFT O-RING. NLM

NHTSA ID
553084
Incident
May 24, 2000
Brakes
Filed Jul 11, 2000

REPETETIVE REPAIRS AND COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF FRONT AND REAR CALIPER ASSEMBLIES, AND REPLACEMENT OF RUSTED/SEIZED AND WARPED ROTORS. THIS IS A CONSTANT FAILURE ITEM THAT HAS NOT BEEN COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY FOR SOME TIME!!!*AK

NHTSA ID
725291
Incident
Jun 28, 2000
Brakes
Filed Jul 3, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
724875
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
BrakesExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jul 3, 2000

THE RIGHT WINDOW AND LEFT WINDOW FAILED A YEAR APART. YH

NHTSA ID
552862
Brakes
Filed Jun 17, 2000
Crash reported

BRAKES APPLIED AND NO RESPONSE OCCURRED. BRAKES APPLIED AGAIN AND THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP INCLUDING THE STERRING WHEEL. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS. THE PONTIAC WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. I HAVE RELACED BRAKES IN THIS CAR BEFORE, BUT THEY CONTINUED TO WEAR UNEVENLY. WHEN THEY HAVE GONE OUT IN THE PAST IT ALSO WAS SUDDENLY AND THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS GONE, NOT JUST THE PADS. PLEASE ALERT OTHER PONTIAC DRIVERS OF THIS RISK FOR ACCIDENT AND INJURY. *AK

NHTSA ID
724132
Incident
May 24, 2000
Brakes
Filed Jun 7, 2000

I AM WONDERING IF THERE HAVE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS YEAR GRAND PRIX AND THE BRAKES FAILING. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 5 YEARS AND HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES 3 OR 4 DIFFERENT TIMES, WHICH SEEMS A BIT EXCESSIVE AND IT IS NOT AN INEXPENSIVE PROPOSITION WHEN THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
723692
BrakesExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Feb 28, 2000

MCNAMARA PONTIAC SERVICED THE CAR ON 01/9/98 DUE TO BRAKES PULSATING.AT THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE WIPER SWITCH.BY SEPTEMBER OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE PART FAILED WHILE MY WIFE WAS COMING FROM WORK IN A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT.WE NOTICED THAT IF WE PUT THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON,THE WIPERS WILL WORK.AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE REP AT THE DEALER HE STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT MAKE THE REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE OUR VEHICLE VIN HAPPENED TO NOT BE ON THE LIST .WE WERE QUOTED APPROX. $500.00 TO MAKE A REPAIR WHICH I FEEL SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL.I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED IN 1998 FAILED SO QUICKLEY....THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE SENT A LETTER TO THIS AGENCY.SO FAR NO RESPONSE..THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
719412
Incident
Sep 17, 1999
Brakes
Filed Oct 8, 1999

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
850323
Incident
Sep 1, 1999
BrakesInterior & seats
Filed Sep 29, 1999

ALL SORTS OF BRAKE PROBLEMS, BROKEN HOOD OPENER, KNOBS FOR HEAT, ADJUSTMENT FELL OFF, LIGHTBULBS FOR LICENSE PLATE SHORT OUT, ALSO PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT BOTTOM TURN SIGNAL, AND FOG LIGHTS.

NHTSA ID
712484
Brakes
Filed Aug 30, 1999

SEVERAL COMPONETS OF ABS HAVE FAILED. MOTOR ASSEMBLY FAILED 2 TIMES, ABS MODULE (#16184393) ONCE. BOTH VERY EXPENSIVE ($500 AND $1000 RESPECTIVELY). COULD HAVE CAUSED LOW SPEED COLLISION WHEN PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR. TECHINCAL BULLETIN (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: SB037955) MAY BE CONCERN FOR RECALL. THANKYOU.

NHTSA ID
710711
Incident
Aug 24, 1999
Brakes
Filed Aug 10, 1999

IF THE LIGHTS/ RADIO & AIR CONDITIONER ARE RUNNING AT THE SAME TIME & WOULD HAVE TO APPLY BRAKES TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN, THE BRAKES FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE RIGHT AWAY. THE LIGHTS, RADIO & AIR CONDITIONER TAKE AWAY FROM THE BRAKING POWER. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE PROBLEM CHECKED & CORRECTED, IF POSSIBLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
844801
Incident
Jan 4, 1996
Brakes
Filed Jul 5, 1999

FRONT BRAKE DISC WARPED DUE TO BRAKE CALIPER TILTING. *AK

NHTSA ID
708237
Incident
Jun 25, 1999
Brakes
Filed Apr 21, 1999

BRAKE CALIPERS WERE RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT THEY CAUSED THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP. CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
836980
Brakes
Filed Apr 20, 1999

THIS CAR HAS COST ME A FORTUNE. FIRST I PAID FOR THE ABS BRAKE PROBLEM FROM THE TIME I OWNED THE CAR AND THE DISC BRAKES WERE NEW. I ALSO HAD THE ROTORS TURNED AND THEY STILL MAKE SQUEAKY NOISES WHEN BACKING UP THERE IS A WEIRD NOISE,PLUS THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE AIR IN THE BRAKE LINE. ALSO, WHEN THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON, IT FEELS AS IF I DONT HAVE ANY BRAKES AT ALL. I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT IT IS A GREAT LOOKING CAR EVERYONE THAT SEES IT THINKS IT; LOOKS GREAT AND THE ENGINE SOUNDS GOOD, BUT IT ALWAYS COST ME SO MUCH TO KEEP IT. AS A FEMALE FROM MCNAMARA PONTIAC DEALERSHIPS AND GOODYEAR AND FIRESTONE HAS DRAINED ME OVER HUNDRED DOLLARS, AND I HAVE THE RECEIPTS, EVEN THE WARRANTY I BOUGHT DIDN'T HELP ME WITH THE PROBLEM I HAD. THE CAR DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM WON'T TRADE OR FIX ANY THING BUT MY BROTHER BOUGHT A CAR FROM THEM AND THEY FIXED EVERY PROBLEM HE HAD FOR FREE. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME BEFORE I OR ONE MY KIDS DIE IN THIS CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID
705828
Incident
Feb 14, 1998
BrakesInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Feb 2, 1999
1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MP, WHEN AT 3 CAR LENGTHS BETWEEN VEHICLES CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES SWERVED OFF ROAD AN CURB, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBACKS CAME FORWARD, SLAMMING PASSENGER INTO THE DASH. SEATBACK NOR SEAT SHOULDER BELT PROVIDED SAFETY FOR CONSUMERS. *AK

NHTSA ID
834353
Incident
Feb 1, 1999
Brakes
Filed Oct 7, 1998

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY MADE A NOISE AND WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ROTORS/CALIPERS AND THE PADS HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. DEALER CONTACTED AND PROBLEM IS NOT REMEDIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
827968
Incident
Sep 11, 1998
Brakes
Filed Jul 29, 1998
Crash reported

ABS PROBLEM; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES DURING NORMAL BRAKING, NO INCLEMENT WEATHER, SMOOTH ROAD SURFACE, THE PEDAL TRAVELS TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THERE IS NO BRAKING ABILITY. THE PEDAL IS ALSO SPONGY. DEALER NOT ABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. DRIVER REAR ENDED A SEMI-TRAILER NEXT DAY BECAUSE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID
825997
Incident
Jun 18, 1997
Brakes
Filed Jul 7, 1998

THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS DETERIORATE, CAUSING THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
825050
Incident
Jun 25, 1998
Brakes
Filed Jun 30, 1998

THE BRAKE CALIPERS LOCKED UP. THE BRAKE SHOP HAS REPAIRED THE BRAKES THREE TIMES, AND STATED THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW FOR THE PARTS FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF BRAKES. DEALER IS UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
824817
Incident
Mar 18, 1997

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .