Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 52 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.
The 25 most recent of 52, in the owner's own words
1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FIRE AND RECALL NOTICE REPAIRS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED SINCE THE FIRE, THE ABS AND TEMPERATURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE TRACTION LIGHT AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS STOPPED WORKING.
TAKATA RECALL I HAVE SEVERAL RECALLS THAT PERTAIN TO MY VEHICLE. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL I RECEIVE NOTICE WHEN THE SERVICE PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. I AM WONDER WHAT MY NEXT STEP SHOULD BE IN RESOLVING THIS MATTER SINCE THERE ARE SEVERAL RECALLS THAT APPLY. MY VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY LEAKING ENGINE OIL, FLUIDS CAUSING IT TO OVER HEAT. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT IS PART OF GM RECALL 15757 AMONG VARIOUS OTHERS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. AFTER REVERSING FROM THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING ON THE PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION KIT AND OIL PAN WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000. UPDATED 02/18/16*LJ *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD REMAIN STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE DETAILS OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING RESULTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
TURNED HEATER ON AND HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. NOT REPAIRED YET
REIMBURSEMENT FOR TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE DEFECT WAS CONDUCTED. 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. *TR
MY CAR BURNED UP DUE TO WIRES UNDER HOOD. *TR
DROVE TO THE STORE AND HOME, PARKED MY CAR AND WALKED INSIDE. WITHIN 5 MINUTES NEIGHBORS REPORTED MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPT. CAME AND PUT IT OUT. EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD IS BURNT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN APRIL FOR A RECALL REPAIR, BUT IT STILL CAUGHT FIRE. I HAVE RECEIPTS. *TR
I PURCHASED A VEHICLE. WITHIN 10 MINUTES, STILL IN THE SAME SPOT WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD AND THE MILES SEEM TO HAVE BEEN TAMPERED WITH. THERE IS ALSO A STICKER ON THE WINDOW THAT SAYS GET YOUR NEXT OIL CHANGE AT 245K. I DID NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT HE ADVERTISED THE CAR AS HAVING 122K BUT THE ODOMETER READ 116K. HE HAD LEFT HIS HOME AND I HAD TO KEEP CALLING HIM ON HIS CELL PHONE. AFTER FINALLY REACHING HIM, BECAUSE HIS WIFE TOLD HIM THAT THE POLICE WAS AT HIS HOME, I ASKED HIM FOR A REFUND AND HE SAID NO, I DON'T DO REFUNDS FOR NOBODY. THE POLICE AGREED THAT THE DASH AND THE MILES SEEM TO HAVE BEEN TAMPERED WITH BUT IT WOULD BE A CIVIL MATTER AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE HIM TO COURT IF I WANTED A REFUND. HE SAID THAT I CAN SWITCH THE CAR OUT FOR ANOTHER CAR THAT HE OWNED BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY MORE AND THAT CAR DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT MILES ON IT EITHER. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT HE HAS MANY CASES IN CLAYTON COUNTY THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT AGAINST HIM ABOUT CARS. I CALLED AND LEFT MESSAGES ABOUT THE CAR NOT HAVING AND FAILING THE EMISSIONS THAT I PAID FOR AND HE HAS NOT RETURNED ANY OF MY CALLS. I TRIED TO GET AN EMISSION TEST ON OCTOBER 18, 2008 AND IT FAILED. I CALLED HIM AND AGAIN MY CALLS WENT UNRETURNED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE IN HIS GARAGE AFTER DRIVING 12 MILES AT 30 MPH UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. 15 MINUTES LATER HE SMELLED SMOKE AND REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND BOTH STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SOURCE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *AK
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY IT BECAME STUCK IN THE SNOW. THE CONTACT LEFT THE VEHICLE, AND 20 MINUTES LATER HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED HE DID NOT LEAVE THE VEHICLE RUNNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 135,000. *AK UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB
I WENT TO THE STORE, DROVE ABOUT 40 FEET AND GOT STUCK IN SNOW. REALIZED I WAS BOTTOMED OUT IN SNOW WHEN I OPENED MY DOOR. I DIDN'T TRY TO GET UNSTUCK. I SHUT OFF ENGINE AND WENT INTO HOUSE. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, I HEARD A NOISE AND LOOKED OUT AND SAW FLAMES SHOOTING FROM UNDER HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS THERE WITHIN 5 MINUTES AND TRUCK WAS THERE WITHIN 10. THEY IMMEDIATELY ASKED ME IF THE CAR WAS LEFT RUNNING AT THE TIME THE FIRE STARTED. I SAID,"NO, I WAS INSIDE AT LEAST 20 MINUTES BEFORE I HEARD THIS NOISE AND LOOKED OUT." THE ENGINE AND FRONT END OF CAR IS A COMPLETE LOSS. CRACKED WINDSHIELD, MELTED LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER OF WINDSHIELD AND FRONT OF INSTRUMENT PANEL. THEIR WERE NO FLAMES THAT REACHED THE INSIDE THRU THE FIREWALL. UNFORTUNATELY I AM NOT INSURED AND WIFE AND I ARE DISABLED, THE CAR BEING OUR ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION. THROUGHOUT THE WEBSITES I RESEARCHED, I SAW SEVERAL DOZEN PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES AS I HAD WITH THEIR GRAND PRIX GTP'S. FIREMAN SAID CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT LOOKS LIKE IT MAY HAVE BEEN ELECTRICAL OR MAYBE FUEL RELATED. *JB
DROVE 15 MINUTES AND PARKED THE CAR AND WENT INSIDE THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE. WITHIN 10 MINUTES AFTER SHUTTING MY CAR OFF ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST INTO FLAMES. FIRE NEAR FRONT TOP OF THE ENGINE. FIRE DEPARTMENT DEEMED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS WITHIN 15 MINUTES. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A GAS STATION THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS CONFINED TO THE ENGINE AREA. A REPORT WAS FILED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT REMAINS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. *AK
I OWN A 1998 GRAND AM. DUE TO A RECALL NOTICE, I HAD MY CAR SHIPPED TO DETROIT FOR SERVICE, SINCE I AM I N THE SERVICE, GUARDING AN EMBASSY OUT OF THE STATES. MY MOTHER, WANDA GRIFFIN, 19347 REVERE, TOOK MY CAR ON MONDAY, MAY 23, 2005 TO RAY LAETHEM PONTIAC, INC., 17677 MACK IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN FOR SERVICE PER INSTRUCTIONS ON THE RECALL NOTICE. THE CAR RAN BEAUTIFULLY FOR TWO DAYS, BUT ON THURSDAY, MAY 26, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. SHE WAS TOLD BY RAY LAETHEM SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TOWING THE CAR, AND IF THE PART IS DEFECTIVE SHE WOULD HAVE TO BEAR THE COST. I FEEL THIS IS VERY UNFAIR BECAUSE IF THE PART IS DEFECTIVE, SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PUT IN THIS DISPOSITION. I AM WRITING FOR CLARITY OF YOUR POLICY AND TO SEE IF SHE COULD BE REIMBURSED FOR COST OF TOWING, SINCE WE LIVE A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE FROM THE COMPANY.
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND UPON TURNING INTO A RESIDENTIAL STREET SMOKE STARTING COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. UPON EXISTING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WAS A LARGE BURNT HOLE, THE SIZE OF A BASKET BALL IN THE CENTER OF SEAT. THE FIRE REACHED THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. A GM INVESTIGATOR, AFTER INSPECTION, INDICATED THAT AN UMBRELLA CAUSED THE FIRE. THE UMBRELLA WAS ON THE FLOOR IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE, BUT HAD NOT BURNED, MELTED OR SCOURED MARKS ON IT. *AK THE MOTOR WIRING IN THE ELECTRIC SEAT WAS FOUND TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *SC *JB
AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *JB *NM
ENGINE FAILED SUDDENLY ON I-55 NEAR CHICAGO AT RUSH HOUR.I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF AND GET THE CAR TOWED 160 MILES TO CHAMPAIGN. WE WERE TOLD OF AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FAILURE BY THE DEALER, WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN HELPFUL. THE CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED BUT THE DEALER SAID SUCH PROBLEMS "JUST HAPPEN". THIS SUGGESTS A DESIGN FLAW. IF WE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO PULL OVER THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENT AND PROBABLY SEVERAL FATALITIES. A PART THAT CONTROLS SUCH CRITICAL FUNCTIONS SHOULD HAVE A WARNING SIGNAL AND A BACKUP. I CONTACTED GM AND HAD AN EXTENDED EMAIL EXCHANGE BUT THEY WERE QUITE UNRESPONSIVE.
VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT START WITHOUT WARNING ON RAINY NIGHT. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY. PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS CRACKED FUEL PUMP RESISTOR LOCATED ON FRAME RAIL. PART REPLACED WITH KIT RELOCATING RESISTOR FROM FRAME TO UNDER HOOD. EXTENSIVE LABOR CHARGES INVOLVED.
MY 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE STARTED ON FIRE AND MELTED THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO THE GROUND. *AK
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.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATES WITH ME. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. PROBLEMS: OVER THE 4 YEARS THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL FROM A STOP POSITION USUALLY WHEN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OUR WHEN MAKING A TURN FROM A BLVD. IN ALL CASES I'M IN A PANIC SITUATION TO RE-START THE CAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER AND THEY CANT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BUT CHARGED BE $80 FOR THE DIAGNOSES. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE.. I FEEL VERY SERIOUS. HEADLIGHT CAPSULES FELL OFF, LEFT SIDE NOVEMBER 2001 AND JUST NOW THE RIGHT SIDE JUNE 2003. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL ITEM. POWERWINDOW (LEFT REAR) MOTOR HAD TO BE REPALCED AND THE RIGHT REAR GOES ON AND OFF AT TIMES. WINDSHEILD SEAL LEAKS AND WATER RUNS INTO THE OVERHEAD LIGHT COUNSEL AND OVER THE PASSENGER SEAT, I'M ALSO TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE WEATHER GUARD IS BAD AROUND THE PASSAGER FRONT LEFT DOOR. DASH LIGHT FOR THE PERFORMANCE SHIFT DOESNT WORK, BUT DEALER INDICATES THAT THE SHIFT BOTTON WORKS. I HAVE ALL OF MY SERVICE RECORDS AND HAVE USED THE ORIGINAL SELLING DEALER FOR ALL OF MY SERVICE NEEDS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I'M INTERESTED IN ADDRESSING MY MECHANICAL ISSUES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE FOR MY 1998 GP IS 47,000.
WITHIN SECONDS OF PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT OF FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED IT WAS DUE TO A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *JB
IGNITION KEY OCCASIONALLY (SOMETIMES FOR FEW MINUTES,SOMETIMES FOR DAYS) GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION LOCK IN A SLIGHTLY TURNED POSITION. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2002. ONE REPAIR SHOP SUGGESTED THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH SHIFTER - BRAKE PEDAL - IGNITION LOCK, BUT DECIDED NOT TO TOUCH IT. *LA
THERE ARE OCCASIONS WHEN TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE THAT THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE KEY. *LA
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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