1998 Pontiac Grand Prix Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP DUE TO A STEERING FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000. *TR *TR

NHTSA ID

11234519

Incident

May 15, 2019

Mileage

168,000 mi

THERE ARE A LOT OF RECALLS ON MY PONIAC GRAND PRIX SE. THEY HAVE AFFECTED THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY CHILD. THE STEERING FLUID LEAKS FROM THE CAR AFTER SOMETHING WAS REPLACED ON A RECALL A WHILE BACK. RECENTLY WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC MY CAR STOPPED GOING AND OVERHEATED A LOT. THIS CAR ALWAYS RUNS HOT. IT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MOST RECENT RECALL. BUT THIS CAR WILL NO LONGER EVEN START UP. HOW DO I FIND OUT IF THE RECALLS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY CAR BREAKING DOWN ON ME? ALSO IN THE LETTER I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL SAID TO PARK MY CAR AND NOT DRIVE IT. YET THE DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS IN TO REPLACE AND FIX THE ISSUE. IS THERE A WAY TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THIS. I NEED A RELIABLE CAR AND REALLY WISH I HADN'T PURCHASED ONE WITH SO MANY ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

10898601

Incident

Aug 16, 2016

Mileage

178,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V286000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,921.

NHTSA ID

10762504

Incident

Aug 9, 2015

Mileage

127,921 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

NHTSA ID

10692644

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

149,000 mi

THE GAS TANK IS NOT SEALED IN THE MIDDLE ALLOWING GAS AND FUEL VAPOR TO LEAK FROM CAR! ALL THE SWAY BAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS SEPARATED DUE TO THE RACK AND PINION, CAR HAS NO SOUND WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT BUT IF YOU TRY AND TURN THE CAR TO THE LEFT IT IS AS IF THE POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT AND MAKE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND IS GETTING VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT, ALSO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DO NOT WORK PROPER AND CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE RAIN, THE KEY GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION ALL THE TIME,FEEL AS IF MOTOR IS TWISTING OR MOVING FORWARD, WILL BE CONTACTING PONTIAC DUE TO RECALLS AND PROBLEMS ARISING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10401196

Incident

May 13, 2011

Mileage

180,000 mi

1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, 147,000 MILES. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF STEERING FAILURE ARE CONSISTENT WITH GM RECALL #02049 AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 02V28600. FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM. CAN BARELY TURN THE CAR LEFT ANYMORE DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE RACK & PINION SYSTEM. SEVERAL CALLS TO GM AND PONTIAC ENDED WITH THEM SAYING MY VIN # IS NOT IN THE RECALL. WHEN THE CAR CAUSES A CRASH AND KILLS SOMEONE, I PLAN TO SUE BOTH PONTIAC AND GM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10367943

Incident

Nov 9, 2010

Mileage

147,000 mi

98 GRAND PRIX LOSES POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT AT LOW SPEED. THIS IS EXACTLY LIKE THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN RECALL#02V286000. THIS CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THAT SERVICE RECALL BACK IN 2003 AT 39,000 MILES. THE CAR NOW HAS 95,000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE RECALL FIX WAS ONLY TEMPORARY. THE CARS ARE STILL POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AFTER THE RECALL FIX HAS BEEN PERFORMED. GM WILL NOT REPAIR THE CAR AGAIN SINCE THEY CLAIM THEY ONLY HAVE TO FIX IT ONCE. THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED, AND IF IT WAS NOT SAFE THE 1ST TIME AND HAD TO BE RECALLED, IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AGAIN UNTIL THEY GET IT RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10352792

Incident

Jul 20, 2010

Mileage

95,000 mi

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295260

Incident

Nov 29, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT. THE WHEEL FELT AS IF THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AND IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION). HE CALLED PONTIAC DIRECTLY AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 145,000.

NHTSA ID

10266074

Incident

Apr 7, 2008

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE FORWARD. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION). THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THERE WILL BE NO COMPENSATION PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000. UPDATED 03-06-09 *BF UPDATED 03/09/09*JB

NHTSA ID

10257677

Incident

Jan 12, 2009

Mileage

105,000 mi

1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX WILL NOT TURN LEFT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SOME TROUBLE AND EVENTUALLY ESCALATED TO NOT TURNING LEFT AT ALL. HE STATES HE HAD TO TURN THE WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT THEN BACK IN ORDER TO TURN LEFT. *KB THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS BINDING WHICH REQUIRED A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. THE CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, HOWEVER YEARS LATER, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RECALL REGARDING THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10235010

Incident

Jul 1, 2002

I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER,THEN I MOVED TO A NEW RESIDENTS 2WKS. LATER I PARKED MY CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY WENT INTO THE HOUSE MAYBE 2-3 MIN I NOTICED FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. I RAN AND GOT THE WATER HOSE AND PUT IT OUT. I CALLED THE DEALER THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF A RECALL I HAD TO SHOW PROOF LETTER. I FAXED IT THEN THEY TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALERS GMC WAS CALLED THEY CALLED THE DEALER .04-25-08 I CALLED GMC STATED SINCE THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE THEY NEED TO SEND FIRE INVESTIGATOR OUT. HE CAME TO THE DEALERS TOOK PICTURES AND REPORT AND FEDEX IT TO GMC MICH. THEN THEY GAVE ME ANOTHER ADJUSTER DARLENE CLEMENS. ON MAY 2ND I CALLED GMC AGAIN I WAS GIVEN ANOTHER ADJUSTER WHY SHE WOULDN'T TELL ME JUST GAVE ME THE PERSONS NAME JEMEIA PRICE SINCE THEN I BEEN PLAYING PHONE TAG NO ONE CAN HELP ME I AM WITHOUT A CAR NO LOANER OR ANY CONCERN SINCE MY CAR IS PAID OFF. SINCE THEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT OTHER RECALL THE DEALER SAID NO NOT ON GMC LIST OR WEBSITE THE RECALL#FOR THE CAR IS #07035 AND MY OTHER CONCERNS WERE RECALL# 02V286000 OR 02049 AND#07E021000 IM WORRIED I COULD DIED OR MORE DAMAGE TO MY CAR I KEEP GO CARE OF MY CAR GMC DOESN'T CARE I NEED HELP *TR

NHTSA ID

10227657

Incident

Apr 18, 2008

1998 GRAND PRIX WITH A RECALL ON THE RACK AND PINION. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE WAS A TIME LIMIT ON THIS RECALL OR CAN HE STILL HAVE IT INSPECTED. HE STATES THAT THE RETAINER MAY NOT HAVE BEEN CRIMPED PROPERLY. *KB RECALL # 02V286000. *JB

NHTSA ID

10227332

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

DRIVER NEEDS TO EXERT MORE EFFORT THAN NORMAL TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. INCREASINGLY, THE DRIVER REQUIRES MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED AND ENCOUNTERS HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT. ALTHOUGH 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIXS ARE INCLUDED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN(02V286000) AND THIS VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM THE SAME COMPONENT FAILURE AS DESCRIBED BY ODI, MANUFACTURER SAYS THAT THIS VIN IS NOT INCLUDED AND WILL NOT REPAIR VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225229

Incident

Apr 10, 2008

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED TOWARDS THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE LEFT, BUT FAILED. AFTER THE TURN WAS COMPLETED AND THE SPEED WAS INCREASED, THE FAILURE CEASED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

NHTSA ID

10202167

Incident

Sep 1, 2007

Mileage

97,000 mi

I HAVE A PROBLEM THAT IS EXHIBITING THE EXACT BEHAVIOR AS OUTLINED IN GM RECALL NO. 02049, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 02V286000. MY STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS ONLY. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS RECALL THROUGH THE INTERNET - I DIDN'T ACTUALLY RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. I WENT TO SOMERSET PONTIAC IN TROY, MICHIGAN, TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE AND THEY TOLD ME I MISSED THE RECALL CAMPAIGN BECAUSE MY CAR WAS ACTUALLY BUILT ON NOVEMBER 23RD, 1997. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN WAS ONLY FOR VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN JAN. 1, 1997 TO OCT. 31, 1997. MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT ON NOV. 23, 1997 - I MISSED THE CAMPAIGN BY 23 DAYS. THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP HAVING THE STEERING RACK REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. I BELIEVE GM SHOULD PAY FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE THIS IS THE EXACT PROBLEM FOR WHICH THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. BECAUSE MY CAR WAS BUILT 23 DAYS LATER PROVES THE CAMPAIGN SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXTENDED ANOTHER MONTH. THE REPAIR SHOP IS HOLDING ON TO MY ORIGINAL PARTS AT MY REQUEST IN CASE I NEED THEM FOR PROOF IN THIS CASE. THEY ARE CHARGING ME $145 TO DO SO SINCE THERE IS A CORE CHARGE ON THE STEERING RACK. THE PROBLEM ACTUALLY BEGAN AT ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I HAVE A CASE HERE AND IF I SHOULD HOLD ON TO THESE PARTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR HELP. -STEVE *TR

NHTSA ID

10192121

Incident

May 30, 2007

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STEER STRAIGHT AND MADE A CLUNKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT RECALL # 02V286000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION) DID NOT APPLY TO THE VIN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 93,991.

NHTSA ID

10190181

Incident

May 6, 2007

Mileage

93,991 mi

STEERING LOCKED UP WILL NOT TURN LEFT

NHTSA ID

10185927

Incident

Mar 21, 2007

DT*: THE CONTACTED STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT SHARP TURN AT ANY SPEED THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE MECHANIC DETECTED A PROBLEM WITH THE LOWER RACK AND PINION BEARINGS. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 02V053000, REGARDING THE STEERING: RACK AND PINION. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID

10153560

Incident

Mar 20, 2006

Mileage

141,000 mi

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO A SECONDARY ROAD, SPEED AT ABOUT 10-12 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMED TO LOCK-UP HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN, I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED TO 2-3 MPH AND WAS ABLE, WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL ENOUGH TO COMPLETE THE TURN. WHILE STEERING TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEELS THE POWER STEERING APPEARED TO RETURN SUDDENLY AND CAUSED THE CAR TO LUNGE TO THE RIGHT. THE PROBLEM APPEARED TO BE INCONSISTENT AS IT DID NOT ALWAYS "LOCK-UP" WHILE MAKING THE SAME TURN EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF BACKING UP (WHEELS TURNED TO THE RIGHT). EVERY DAY I LEAVE WORK THE SAME WAY. AS SOON AS I ATTEMPT TO GO FORWARD AND STEER TO THE LEFT THE POWER STEERING APPEARS TO FAIL. SUSPECTING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS JUST A BAD PART THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED I BEGAN SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR PARTS. I FOUND THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE AT "AUTOBUYGUIDE.COM". UPON FURTHER RESEARCH OF THE PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT MOST PEOPLE DO NOT REPORT PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. SO IN THE INTEREST OF "STATISTICAL ACCURACY" I AM REPORTING THAT I HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH MY 1998 PONTIAC GRAN PRIX GT (~125,000 MILES). I HAVE CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT BUT I HAD TO LEAVE A MESSAGE. NO RESPONSE AT THIS POINT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10152846

Incident

Mar 13, 2006

Mileage

125,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT END MADE A POPPING NOISE AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES. THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND A RECALL, #02V286000 FOR THE RACK AND PINION AND DETERMINED THE POPPING WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE RACK AND PINION. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID

10151729

Incident

Mar 3, 2006

Mileage

128,000 mi

WAS DRIVING CAR WHEN IT BECAME NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR TO THE LEFT. TURNING THE CAR RIGHT WORKED NORMALLY. MY REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE PINION BEARING ON MY RACK AND PINION UNIT HAD FAILED AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON LINE, I FOUND A RECALL WAS IN EFFECT FOR THIS PROBLEM. AFTER CONTACTING MY LOCAL DEALER TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM THEY STATED THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, DESPITE THE FAILURE MATCHING THE RECALL POSTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND GM'S OWN DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM. I THEN CALLED THE ZONE REPRESENTATIVE FOR PONTIAC TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND GOT THE SAME VIN NUMBER STORY AS THE DEALER GAVE ME. IT SEEMS THE SCOPE OF GM'S RECALL IS INADEQUATE AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW AWAITING A REPLACEMENT GM UNIT. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE FAILED UNIT, AND IT SHOWS THE FAILED PARTS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10150668

Incident

Feb 17, 2006

Mileage

87,000 mi

DT*: DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING RACK AND PINION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO TURN LEFT. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #02V286000, REGARDING THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 04/06/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10149205

Incident

Jan 27, 2006

Mileage

153,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID 02V286000 CONCERNING THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10143879

Incident

Nov 24, 2005

Mileage

137,000 mi

EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN STEERING WHEEL LEFT AT LOW SPEEDS. WHEEL TURNS TO RIGHT LIKE NORMAL. REPAIR SHOP SAYS NEW RACK IS NEEDED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10142744

Incident

Nov 5, 2005