RoadVitals

1994 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
213
Latest Jan 4, 2012
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
29
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 1, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 213 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 213 · page 1 of 9

Body & structure
Filed Jan 4, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH DOOR HANDLES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HANDLE WAS REPLACED ONCE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HANDLES WERE MADE OUT OFF POT METAL, INCREASING THE RISK OF FRACTURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10442397
Incident
Jan 8, 2007
Transmission
Filed Oct 13, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. SHE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE ADJUSTED THE GEAR SHIFTER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AGAIN TO THE SAME LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE ADJUSTED THE GEAR SHIFT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC 5 TO 6 TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE ANY DETAILS REGARDING THE DIAGNOSIS. THE PRE-OWNED VEHICLE WAS PURCHASE IN 1998. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID
10360355
Incident
Jul 15, 1998
Mileage
140,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 28, 2010

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING ON MY 1994 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR A FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH FOR THE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR BUT THE DEALER SAYS MY VIN IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL. ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR MANUAL FOR MY VEHICLE, IT IS THE WIPER SWITCH WHICH IS FAULTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10340526
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Mileage
124,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 6, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT OPERATE AT THE HIGHEST SPEED. SHE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED HER THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE OF $94.00 PER HOUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,115. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.

NHTSA ID
10291238
Incident
Jun 17, 2009
Mileage
83,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 1, 2009

WITHOUT WARNING, ACCIDENT OR OTHER CAUSE, THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLES FAILED TO OPERATE. I CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. I HAD MY LOCAL MECHANIC TRY TO REPAIR THE LINKAGE, BUT GM SAYS NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. HE REPAIRED IT, BUT WARNED IT MAY NOT LAST . REPAIR LASTED 2500 MILES AND SIX MONTHS AT A COST OF $165.00. CAR IS UNSAFE IF I CANNOT ENTER OR EXIT WITH REASONABLE EFFORT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10290521
Incident
Apr 10, 2009
Mileage
130,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 21, 2009

DRIVER DOOR LATCH MECHANISM FAILED TO WORK. SERVICED BY PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO STATED LINKAGE PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM EITHER SIDE TRAPPING DRIVER IN CAR IN AN EMERGENCY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10266304
Incident
Feb 10, 2009
Mileage
129,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 8, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. AFTER THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE JUST CLICKED. THE LOCAL MECHANIC PURCHASED THE PARTS FROM PARTS PLUS AND FOUND A NOTICE IN THE BOX. THE NOTICE STATED THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT VOLTAGE BEING CARRIED TO THE STARTER DUE TO THE MR. GOODWRENCH ANTITHEFT SYSTEM. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS, WHICH WOULD COST BETWEEN $250-$500. SHE CALLED THE DEALER REGARDING RECALLS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NONE RELATED TO HER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES AND THE STARTER WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
10237456
Incident
Aug 10, 2007
Mileage
126,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 27, 2008

1994 GRAND PRIX 38,746 MI DROVE VEHICLE 1 AND 3/4 MI TO WARM UP TO CHANGE OIL NOTICED TEMP GAUGE RISING SHUT OFF MOTOR WAITED 30 MIN CHECKED RADIATOR NO ANTI FREEZE CHECKED OIL NOTICED ANTI FREEZE MIXED WITH OIL TOOK CAR HOME CALLED REPAIR SHOPS BEST PRICE $950.00 TO REPAIR BAD HEAD GASKET AND INTAKE GASKET I OWNED THE CAR EXACTLY 3 DAYS I UNDERSTAND THE PONTIAC 3100 AND 3800 HAVE BAD HEAD GASKETS THIS IS MY LAST GM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10222499
Incident
Feb 18, 2008
Mileage
38,746 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 5, 2006

MY DAD WORKS FOR GM. MY PARENTS BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 1994, IMMEDIATELY, THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT CAUSED VISUAL PROBLEMS. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT NO CHARGE. LATER, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM BOTTOM LEFT ACROSS TO THE RIGHT. IT WAS REPLACED AGAIN FOR NO CHARGE. MY PARENTS WERE ACTUALLY TOLD IT MAY CRACK AGAIN. I NOW OWN THE CAR AND HAVE HAD IT FOR 2 YEARS. THE WINDSHIELD STARTED CRACKING AGAIN FROM THE LOWER LEFT CORNER FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON . THE CRACKS HAVE GROWN OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS, BUT I CAN STILL SEE FINE BECAUSE OF MY HEIGHT, IT ISN'T OBSTRUCTING. MY PROBLEM IS, I GOT PULLED OVER AND WAS TOLD I HAVE TO EITHER HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED, GET RID OF THE CAR ( WHICH IT STILL RUNS WELL), OR PAY A FINE. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMETHING THAT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10169978
Incident
Nov 1, 2004
Visibility
Filed May 23, 2006

INTERMITTENT AND THEN COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. FOR A WHILE, THEY WOULD OPERATE INTERMITTENT;Y IF THE TURN-SIGNAL STALK WAS WIGGLED OR HELD IN A NON STANDARD POSITION. IN SPITE OF AN EXISTING RECALL ON THE VEHICLE, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 97V017000, GM REFUSES TO FIX THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10158118
Incident
May 23, 2006
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Aug 1, 2005

1. RUNS HOT WAS TOLD BY DEALER ITS "NORMAL" TO RUN IT AT 230 20,000 MILES. 2. REPLACE BRAKES AT 40,000 MILES. 500.00 REPAIR 3. RECALLED FOR WIPER/SIGNAL SWITCH 45,000, 4. CUTS OUT OR RPMS MOVE THE CAR DOESN'T, DEALER CANT FIND A PROBLEM 46,000 MILES. 5. "DRINKS OIL NO SIGNS OF LEAKS! 60,000 MILES DEALER HAS NO CLUE! 6. TOTAL OVER HEATING AT 70,000. REPLACE THERMOSTAT. 300.00 REPAIR 7. BATTERY WENT DEAD 71,000 MILES 90.00 REPAIR 8. TURN SIGNALS "STICK" WILL NOT TURN OFF BY THEMSELVES NOT BLINK 72,000 MILES 9. REPLACE ALTERNATOR AT 73,000 MILES, 400.00 REPAIR. IM THE SECOND OWNER...THIS CAR IS A TOTAL PIECE OF '!@#$%! NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE FOR SURE!!! *NM

NHTSA ID
10130911
Incident
Jan 1, 2005
Mileage
20,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 20, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GRAND PRIX. NHTSA RECALL 97V017000 WAS ISSUED CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER SWITCH WIRING. THIS COULD CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY, AND COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR IN A SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION DRIVER'S VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THE WIPERS WILL EITHER QUIT ALL TOGETHER OR WORK INTERMITTENTLY. HE HAS HAD PROBLEM FOUR TIMES OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10129459
Incident
Feb 15, 2005
Exterior lightingSteering
Filed Jun 22, 2005

THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE CONSUMERS 1994 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. *JB THE STEERING WHEEL HAD COME OUT OF THE POST. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER THE DIRECTIONAL LIGHT AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC

NHTSA ID
10127964
Incident
Jun 22, 2005
Seat belts
Filed Sep 8, 2004

THE SEAT BELT LATCH ON THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE BROKE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THEM AND A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL STATED THAT THIS IS A NUISANCE. *LA *SC

NHTSA ID
10083300
Incident
Jun 16, 2004
Mileage
178,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 13, 2003

WINDSHIELD WIPER/TURN SIGNAL MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ON STEERING COLUMN REPLACED TWICE ALREADY (12/31/96, 02/17/99) AND NOW BLINKERS ARE INOP AND MUST BE REPLACED FOR A THIRD TIME. HAVE NOTICED THIS ITEM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ID
10005794
Incident
Feb 10, 2003
Mileage
140,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 16, 2002

WHEN FILLING FUEL TANK GAS LEAKES ONTO HOT MUFFLER. FILLER TUBE RUSTED OUT. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A 1994 CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID
765740
Incident
Aug 15, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 30, 2002

TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD FLASHERS DO NOT WORK. CONSUMER VERIFIED THAT BULBS WERE WORKING PROPERLY.*AK

NHTSA ID
8015180
Incident
Jun 1, 2002
Visibility
Filed May 27, 2002

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ACROSS BOTTOM 3RD, ON COLD DAY WHEN DEFROSTER WAS TURNED ON. HAVE OBSERVED THE SAME TYPE OF CRACK IN AT LEAST THREE OTHER VEHICLES IN MY AREA, MADE BY PONTIAC (GRAND PRIX SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR, BONNEVILLE). VEHICLES WITH HEADS-UP DISPLAYS. COST TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD IS OVER $600.*AK

NHTSA ID
762323
Incident
Feb 8, 2001
Airbags
Filed Apr 12, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, ANOTHER CAR TURNED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S CAR, IT HIT AND T-BONED OTHER DRIVER. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK *YD

NHTSA ID
8007534
Incident
Mar 10, 2002
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 29, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ALONG AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE REAR AXLE SNAPPED AT THE WHEEL. SHE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS T BREAK AND UPON INSPECTING IT I SAW THAT IT WAS A CLEAN BREAK. LE SNAPPED AT THE WHEEL.

NHTSA ID
755093
Incident
Nov 28, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 31, 2001

WAS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH RECALL CORRECTED, WHEN AND BY WHOM. IS THER ANY OTHER INFO I CAN OBTAIN FOR THIS CAR. THANK YOU. F

NHTSA ID
751475
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 31, 2001

HAS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH BEEN REPLACED BEING IT WAS A RECALL. WHEN AND WHO DID THE RECALL WORK. BEING THE WIPER SWITCH ALSO CONTROLLS THE CRUISE AND DIRECTIONAL THE BOOT AT THE COLLUM IS MISSING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. FRANK PISANO. *AK

NHTSA ID
751473
Incident
Mar 15, 2001
Electrical
Filed Jul 31, 2001

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AS A RESULT OF A BROKEN WIRE ON KEY CYLINDER. WIRE WAS ROUTED SUCH THAT IT WAS CUT THROUGH BY KEY CYLINDER ACTUATION. APPROX. $350.00 FOR REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ID
749490
Incident
Jul 13, 2001
Electrical
Filed May 4, 2001

INTERMITTENTLY HAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF STEERING POST, MOSTLY WHEN APPLYING RIGHT TURN DIRECTIONAL ON. *AK

NHTSA ID
744924
Incident
Apr 30, 2001
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 7, 2001

THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE ON IT SELF, WHICH CAUSED IT TO SEPARATE FROM THE CAR'S FRAME. THIS HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND HIT THE CURB. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNING. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. *AK

NHTSA ID
743683
Incident
Mar 23, 2001

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.

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