RoadVitals

1994 Pontiac Grand Prix Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
25
Latest Aug 1, 2005
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.
12%
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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 25 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 electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
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
Driver assistanceElectricalVisibility
Filed Mar 15, 2001

WHITE SMOKE AND ODOR CAME FROM WINDSHIELD WIPER/CRUISE CONTROL/IGNITION SWITCH AREA OF THE STEERING COLUMN. CRUISE CONTROL AND TURN INDICATORS ACTED ERATICLY. I STOPPED VEHICLE AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. THEN RESTARTED VEHICLE AND PROCEDED TO DEALERSHIP. SMOKE CAME AND WENT DURING TRIP. A STEERING COLUMN FIRE WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IN A MOVING VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY ON A FREEWAY.

NHTSA ID
742497
Incident
Mar 14, 2001
Electrical
Filed Dec 1, 1999

DOES GMC CARE ABOUT THIS? 4 ALTERNATORS IN 3.5 YEARS. THIS IS EXPENSIVE, AND MY CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY HAVE REPLACED MY ALTERNATOR TWICE NOW, AND I HAD A LOCAL SHOP DO IT THE OTHER TWO TIMES. (THE DEALER BEING THE 2 MOST RECENT.) THIS PROBLEM ALARMS ME. WHAT IF MY WIFE IS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT JUST DIES? FORTUNATELY, I WAS AT A LIGHT WHEN THE CAR DIED. IN TRAFFIC? I SHUDDER AT THAT THOUGHT. AND WHEN THE DEALER SAYS "GM KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM" AND NOTHING IS DONE, THAT'S ANNOYING. MY BROTHER ALSO HAD A 92 GRAND PRIX (WHICH WAS TRADED IN) AND HE WENT THROUGH 3 ALTERNATORS ALSO. THAT IS 7 ALTERNATORS IN MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE REGARDING THIS ISSUE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *AK

NHTSA ID
715484
Incident
Nov 25, 1999
Electrical
Filed Aug 15, 1999

ALTERNATOR FAILED -- AGAIN.

NHTSA ID
710007
Incident
Aug 14, 1999
ElectricalEngineTransmission
Filed Jul 27, 1998

REPLACED OIL PAN GASKET DUE TO AN OIL LEAK OF UNDETERMINED SOURCE.

NHTSA ID
780114
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 24, 1998

VEHICLE STALLING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE PCM, IGNITION CORE RETURN AND CAM SENSOR.

NHTSA ID
538269
Incident
Jul 16, 1998
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Jul 19, 1998

ENGINE OLI LEAK. ALSO, ALTERNATOR/REAR STRUTS/IDLE SPEED CONTROL MOTOR/BATTERY AND DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED.

NHTSA ID
538453
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed Jul 2, 1998

ALTERNAT0R WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND HAD GONE OUT THREE TIMES. CONSUMER SAID IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO BE REPLACE IT BECAUSE NOT MANY DEALERS CARRY THIS PRODUCT. *AK

NHTSA ID
824967
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Body & structureElectricalExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Apr 13, 1998

TURN SIGNAL/HORN AND POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS FAILED.

NHTSA ID
534215
Electrical
Filed Feb 4, 1998
Fire reported

BATTERY CABLE WORE AGAINST THE BATTERY HOLDER, SHORTED OUT AND STARTED A FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
516227
Incident
Dec 14, 1996
Electrical
Filed Dec 9, 1997

HORN MUST BE PRESSED THROUGH AIRBAG, AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE.

NHTSA ID
526393
Body & structureDriver assistanceElectrical+2 more
Filed Sep 6, 1997

DOOR FAILS TO OPEN OR CLOSE.

NHTSA ID
525572
Incident
Apr 14, 1994
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 7, 1997

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 25-30 MPH, VEHICLE SHUT DOWN OR STALL OUT FOR NO REASON, COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD TRIED RESTARTING BUT FAILED TO START, FINALLY TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS PUT ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND INFORMED ELECTRIC SHORT; WIRES ON ENGINE BURNED & CAUSE COMPUTER TO SHUT DOWN. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
813876
Incident
Jun 28, 1997
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Sep 9, 1996

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE RIGHT HAND TURN SIGNAL, IN BAD WEATHER CONDITION ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE TURN SIGNAL CAUSING WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID
802011
Incident
Aug 15, 1996
Electrical
Filed Aug 6, 1996

THE CHIMING MODULE CONTINUES TO GO OUT AND FAILURE OF THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS AND ALL POWER EQUIPTMENT.

NHTSA ID
800529
Incident
Aug 12, 1995
Electrical
Filed May 29, 1996

THE WINDSHEILD WIPER FAILED BEACUSE THE WIRE WAS BEING RUBBED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
984929
Incident
Apr 4, 1996
Electrical
Filed Feb 4, 1996

COMPUTER FAILED, CRACKING 4 PUSHRODS, RESULTING IN ENGINE FLOODING/STALLING.

NHTSA ID
501175
Incident
Dec 9, 1995
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Feb 3, 1996

EMERGENCY BRAKE STUCK.

NHTSA ID
501176
Incident
Feb 3, 1996
Electrical
Filed Dec 8, 1995

WINDSHIELD WIPERS INOPERATIVE DUE TO BROKEN WIRE. *SD

NHTSA ID
490487
Incident
Jul 1, 1995
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes+7 more
Filed Nov 8, 1995

1) VEHICLE CONSUMES OIL W/NO INDICATOR TO IDENTIFY. SEVERAL DEALERS IN AREA CAN'T DETECT CONSUMPTION. 2) SPEED CONTROL ENGAGES W/NO ACTIVATION OF SWITCH. TT VEHICLE HAS ROUGH IDLE. TURN SIGNALS DO NOT TURN OFF SOMETIMES AND THEY MAKE LOUD NOISES, POSSIBLE WIRING PROBLEMS. RACK AND PINION STICKS. BRAKE DUST FLOWING FROM WHEELS AND MAKES THEM RUSTY. VEHICLE LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS. WINDOWS WERE REPLACED AND STILL NOT VERY FUNCTIONAL. INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, BATTERY ILLUMNATED, REPLACED ALTERNATOR. DASHBOARD IS SEPARATING. MUFFLER IS RUSTING. FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SLC

NHTSA ID
974802
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Aug 28, 1995

GLUE IS DRIPPING OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD MOLD. TT

NHTSA ID
971103
Incident
Jan 24, 1995
Electrical
Filed May 8, 1995

THE LOCATION OF THE BUTTONS TO SOUND THE HORN, DO NOT ALLOW FOR SAFE USEAGE. TT

NHTSA ID
964964
Incident
Feb 7, 1994
Electrical
Filed Jan 30, 1995

ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED. TT

NHTSA ID
959286
Incident
Apr 1, 1994

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 .