1998 Pontiac Grand Prix Airbags Problems

AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN A CAR WRECK IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA 10/09/2012. *TR

NHTSA ID

10479643

Incident

Oct 9, 2012

MY 17 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING ON ICE AND STARTED TO SLIDE AND HE SLID INTO A DITCH. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, HE WAS DRIVING APPROX. 15 MPH AND ONCE THE CAR WAS PULLED OUT OF THE DITCH IT WAS DRIVEN THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED W/ SUCH FORCE THAT IT SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD AND THE DRIVERS SIDE HAD ENOUGH FORCE THAT IT HIT MY SON IN THE FACE HARD ENOUGH TO SHOVE HIS HEAD INTO THE HEADREST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253022

Incident

Dec 27, 2008

Mileage

179,786 mi

WIRING HARNESS TO AIR BAG SHORTED OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227838

Incident

May 7, 2008

Mileage

50,000 mi

SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT, FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS, MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON IN MY 1998 GRAND PRIX GTP. I HAVE SEARCHED FOR RECALLS AND NOTHING COMES UP. IT WOULD COME ON FOR 6 MONTHS AND THEN GO OFF FOR 6 MONTHS. FOR THE LAST YEAR IT HAS STAYED ON. 5 MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AND IT AND COMPUTER DID NOT COME UP WITH ANY CODES. FINALLY I WENT TO A NEW MECHANIC THE OTHER DAY AND THEY SAID I HAVE TO CARRY IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CALLED AND SAID THE PART IS $21.00, BUT THE LABOR WILL BE $500.00. SOMETHING ABOUT THE HARNESS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. SAID THEY HAD THE PART IN STOCK, BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALREADY REPLACED SEVERAL OTHERS. HOW DO YOU GET A RECALL ON THESE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10150014

Incident

Apr 1, 2001

Mileage

40,000 mi

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT. A CAR WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT AND STRUCK ME.THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. THE AIRBAG DID MORE DAMAGE TO THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10093701

Incident

Sep 30, 2004

SERVICE ENGINE PROBLEMS FROM THE BEGINNING. ALMOST EVERY EXHAUST-RELATED COMPONENT WAS REPLACED BEFORE A NEW COMPUTER CUT DOWN ON THE PROBLEM. I STILL HAD AN EPISODE OR TWO AFTER THAT INSTALLATION, BUT HAVE HAD NO EPISODES IN TWO YEARS NOW. AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT I KNEW ABOUT THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THAT ONE AND IT WAS FIXED FOR FREE. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW BUTTON DIED A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, BUT IT WAS REPLACED FREE UNDER WARRANTY. MORE RECENTLY TWO WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM. I AM LIVING WITH MY POWER WINDOW PROBLEMS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PAY TO HAVE TWO MOTORS REPLACED. NO WINTER PROBLEMS IN THE WINTER. MOST RECENTLY MY LENS COVER ON THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT FELL OFF. IT COST ME OVER $100 FOR AN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT AND HOME INSTALLATION, BUT GM WAS GOING TO CHARGE ME $250 PLUS LABOR.

NHTSA ID

10069996

Incident

Feb 15, 2001

Mileage

32,000 mi

THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10017612

Incident

Apr 21, 2003

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. SCANNER SAYS DO NOT DRIVE. PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. CALLED GM AND THEY SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON AIR BAGS. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 AIR BAGS ON DRIVERS SIDE. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD A COMPLAINT? THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10011048

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

Mileage

58,000 mi

MY AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT HAS COME ON AFTER I HAD TROUBLE WITH MY ELECTRIC WINDOWS. I UNDERSTAND THIS ISN'T COVERED BY WARRANTY.*AK

NHTSA ID

765315

Incident

Aug 1, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8012470

Incident

Jun 18, 2002

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

8009547

Incident

May 6, 2001

SRS AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH. DEALER DIAGNOSED (FOR $85) THAT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF $1100. CAR NEVER IN ACCIDENT. LIGHT JUST STAYED ON ONE MORNING ON START.**** DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER FROM ARTEMIS****760791. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10008780

Incident

Apr 7, 2002

Mileage

65,000 mi

SRS AIR BAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS NEEDS REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA ID

785952

Incident

Apr 11, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 40MPH WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003905

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

899503

Incident

Nov 26, 2001

I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A CAR TRAVELING WELL IN EXCESS OF THE 35 MPH LIMIT WHO NEVER TOUCHED HIS BRAKES. UPON IMPACT I WAS DRIVEN INTO A TRUCK STOPPED ABOUT 7 FEET IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR WAS DECLARED TOTALED BY HIS INSURANCE COMPANY WITH MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AND REAR. NEITHER OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I SUSTAINED A LEFT SHOULDER/ARM AND LEFT SIDE NECK INJURY WHICH I STARTED TREATMENT ON THE NEXT DAY. TREATMENT HAS HOPEFULLY COMPLETED AS OF SURGERY ON 7/16/2001 TO REMOVE DICS, REPAIR VERTEBRAE, AND PLACE A TITAINUM PLATE IN MY NECK EXCEPT OF COURSE 6-8 WEEKS OF RECOVERY FROM THE SURGERY. IN ADDITION TO MEDICAL COST, I , DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT HAVE BEEN NOT ALLOWED TO WORK FOR ALL BUT ABOUT 6 WEEKS IN THE 7 MONTHS SINCE THE ACCIDENT AND OF COURSE THE 6-8 WEEKS LEFT. I FEEL HAD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED I WOULD HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY OF THE INJURIES I SUFFERED. WHEN THIS FAILURE WAS ADDRESSED TO THE PONTIAC DEALER IT WAS STATED THAT EVIDENTLY THE IMPACT WAS NOT ENOUGH; THAT I DOUBT BASED ON TEST I HAVE SEEN AND THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

749310

Incident

Dec 12, 2000

AIRBAGS KEEP MALFUNCTIONING, CAUSING AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TWICE, BUT DEFECT HAS REOCCURRED.*AK AIR BAG CIRCUT FAILED DUE TO A BAD MODUELE. *YH

NHTSA ID

883448

Incident

Mar 15, 2000

IN MAY OF 2000 MAY AIR BAG LIGHT ON MY DASH BOARD INDICATED A PROBLEM BY STAYING ILLUMINATED. FIERER PONTIAC, HAMILTON, OHIO REPAIRED A "CONNECTOR" WHICH COST $498.50. IN FEBRUARY 01 I NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AGAIN. SINCE I HAVEN'T BEEN DRIVING THE CAR I ASKED MY WIFE HOW LONG THE LIGHT HAD BEEN ON. SHE SAID THAT IT HAD BEEN ON FOR AS LONG AS SHE COULD REMEMBER (AT LEAST 6 MONTHS) AND SHE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ILLUMINATED. I TOOK THE CAR (98 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SE) BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME ANOTHER $420.00 TO FIX IT AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY SAY IT'S A BAD MODULE. I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM PAYING ALMOST $1000 TO KEEP THIS SAFETY EQUIPMENT OPERATING WHEN IT HAS NEVER BEEN USED (DEPLOYED). I AM OF THE BELIEF THAT SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS SUPPOSED TO BE VERY RELIABLE BECAUSE IT IS IN FACT "SAFETY EQUIPMENT". IF GENERAL MOTORS SAID THAT SEAT BELTS HAD TO BE REPLACED EVERY 75,000 MILES FOR $1000, PEOPLE WOULD BE UP IN ARMS AND THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MAKE GM DESIGN THE "SAFETY ITEM" TO LAST LONGER AND BE MORE RELIABLE. DOESN'T THE SAME THING APPLY HERE? PLEASE REPLY ASAP SINCE THIS CAR IS DISSEMBLED IN THE PONTIAC SHOP. I HAVE CONTACTED THE PONTIAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE DEPARTMENT AND SPOKE TO NANCY PERRY @ 1-800-762-2737. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY SATISFACTION YET. CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO SAY TO GET PONTIAC TO FIX THIS AIR BAG SYSTEM AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE (OTHER THAN THE $500 I HAVE SPENT ALREADY)? PLEASE PHONE ME AT 513-896-6169 OR EMAIL ME AT [email protected] (FRIDAY MORNING). PONTIAC IS ALSO PLANNING TO CHARGE ME FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. PLEASE HELP OR LET ME KNOW WHO TO CONTACT WHO CAN. THANK YOU ! , KEVIN M WEST. *AK

NHTSA ID

741342

Incident

Mar 15, 2000

AIRBAG LIGHT NORMALLY FLASHES ON, THEN IT GOES OFF. BUT, CURRENTLY AIRBAG LIGHT WON'T GO OFF. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY, CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY.*AK

NHTSA ID

873574

Incident

Oct 16, 2000

THE PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG HARNESS WAS FIXED ON 5/22/2000 AND I WAS CHARGED $172.70 FOR THE REPAIR. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THE FIX OUGHT TO BE FREE OF CHARGE AS THIS IS A KNOWN DOCUMENTED SAFETY RELATED CONCERN *AK *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED ON 12/12/02 CUT -OVER TO ARTEMIS*****724576.

NHTSA ID

10006341

Incident

May 14, 2000

Mileage

37,800 mi

I HAVE HAD TWO CAR ACCIDENTS. IN BOTH ACCIDENTS THE AIR BAGS DID NOT COME OUT AND THE SEAT BELTS OFFERED NO PROTECTION EITHER. THE DESIGN OF THE NECK RESTRAIN ALLOWED MY NECK TO GO BACK CAUSING SEVERE INJURY TO A DISC. IF THE SAFTEY SYSTEM FAILED ONE TIME I WONDERED. BUT FAILED TWICE THE CAR OR DESIGN HAS PROBLEMS. WHEN FIRST PURCHASING MY CAR THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE SHIFTER WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. AGAIN I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. *AK

NHTSA ID

720452

Incident

Oct 20, 1999

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS WHEN VEHICLE HIT A TREE AND ROLLED OVER CAUSING DRIVERS CHEST TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND BECOME BRUISED. NLM

NHTSA ID

547379

Incident

Jun 26, 1999

CAR WAS TRAVELING APPROX.35-40 MPH AND HIT TWO STOPPED CARS. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK UP, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT STEERING WHEEL SUFFERING FROM CONCUSSION AND ACUTE HERNIATED C5-6 IN NECK. AN ACCIDENT REPORT WAS FILED WITH MANUFACTURER AND THE COMPANY FIXING CAR DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID

707010

Incident

Jan 22, 1999

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURIES AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THERE WAS NO FRONTAL IMPACT OR WARNING LIGHT. MANUFACTURER STATED IT WAS NOT THE CONSUMER'S FAULT , BUT COULD DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN #. *AK

NHTSA ID

830208

Incident

Sep 13, 1998