RoadVitals

1998 Pontiac Grand Prix Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
49
Latest Oct 11, 2018
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.
10%
of 499 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.
0
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 windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 49 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 visibility

The 25 most recent of 49, in the owner's own words

Visibility
Filed Oct 11, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD FLUID RESERVOIR WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BECKER BUICK GMC, INC. (LOCATED AT 636 E SPRAGUE AVE, SPOKANE, WA 99202, (509) 455-3550) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PLASTIC RESERVOIR WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11139707
Incident
Oct 8, 2018
Mileage
159,000 mi
EngineFuel systemSteering+3 more
Filed May 17, 2011

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
Visibility
Filed Feb 16, 2009

THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW WILL NOT WORK. I PUT IT DOWN ONE DAY AND WHEN I TRIED TO PUT IT BACK UP, IT WENT HALF WAY AND STOPPED. I WAS PARKING AT A HOCKEY GAME AND HAD TO GET MY WINDOW UP! MY HUSBAND HAD TO PUSH IT UP BUT WHEN WE CAME OUT FROM THE GAME, IT WAS BACK DOWN. LUCKILY NOTHING WAS BOTHERED IN THE CAR. NOW IT IS UP WITH SMALL WOOD SHIMS STUCK DOWN IN THE DOOR SO THE WINDOW WON'T FALL DOWN. I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING EVERY WHERE FOR THE MOTOR AND REGULATOR BUT JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, THE PART IS GONE BEFORE I CAN GET IT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. IT SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND PONTIAC SHOULD FIX IT. IT IS A 1998 GRAND PRIX DAYTONA PACE CAR WITH ONLY 93,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10258844
Incident
Jan 23, 2009
Visibility
Filed Mar 14, 2008

1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRIC WINDOW REGULATOR ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. FIRST TIME OVER $380.00 TODAY, $410.00. *TR

NHTSA ID
10221230
Incident
Mar 13, 2008
Visibility
Filed Feb 14, 2007

WINDSHIELD WIPERS PARK IN WRONG POSITION WHEN SNOWING OR ICY OUTSIDE. THIS CAUSES WIPER ARMS TO CRISS-CROSS AND BEND BADLY AND BECOMES DANGEROUS WHEN CONDITIONS ARE BAD OUTSIDE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10182541
Incident
Feb 13, 2007
Mileage
103,400 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 12, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT YHE 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP, HA HAD WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR PROBLEMS. T IN 2001 HE HAD THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY STOP WORKING DUE TO A SEPARATION BETWEEN THE DRIVE PIN AND THE CRESCENT IN THE CRANK ASSEMBLY. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE DRIVE'S PIN SEPARATED AGAIN ,AND DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTOR TO TRY AND GET THEM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL 99V348000 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE 1997 PONTIAC GRAN PRIX. THE CONTACT FELT THAT ALL GRAND PRIX VEHICLES WITH THIS TYPE OF PIN IN THE WIPER SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL. THE CONTACT CALLED GM AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CASE# 71-481-566-952. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104000, AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62000.*AK

NHTSA ID
10182359
Incident
Jan 5, 2001
Mileage
62,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 16, 2006

MY 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP HAS HAD MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE WIPER ASSEMBLY, LEAVING ME IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. THESE FAILURES OCCUR PRIMARILY IN WINTER BUT SOMETIMES IN WARMER WEATHER. THE WIPERS FAIL TO FUNCTION WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING, AND ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10162509
Incident
Jul 15, 2006
Mileage
75,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 4, 2005

THREE (3) OF THE POWER WINDOWS DROPPED WITHOUT NOTICE BECAUSE THE ELECTRIC MOTORS FAILED DURING OR AFTER DRIVING THE CAR! THE DEALERS WILL NOT REPLACE OR HELP WITHOUT CHARGING YOU FULL PRICE FOR REPAIR. GM WILL NOT REPAIR OR HELP IN COST EITHER. (EDMONDS.COM STATES THIS IS A CUSTOMER COMMON COMPLAINT !)*JB

NHTSA ID
10138497
Incident
Mar 5, 2005
Mileage
68,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 21, 2005

1. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS FOR PAST 2 YEARS 2. WIPERS STAY IN UPRIGHT POSITION IMPAIRING VISION 3. AM NOW HAVING REPAIRS DONE AT MY OWN EXPENSE. GM KNOWS THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND HAD A RECALL ON SOME OLDER MODELS (MY SON'S - THIS IS HOW I KNOW) AND REFUSES TO REPAIR ALL VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE E-MAILED MY COMPLAINT TO THEM AMD HAVE GOTTEN THE RUN AROUND.*AK

NHTSA ID
10114430
Incident
Dec 18, 2004
Mileage
115,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Sep 30, 2004

ALL FOUR OF MY WINDOWS HAVE GONE OUT! I HAVE POWER WINDOWS, AND NONE OF THEM WORK. ONE GOES DOWN ABOUT TWO INCHES, TWO DON'T BUDGE, AND THE OTHER FALLS DOWN IF IT ISN'T PROPPED UP WITH SOMETHING WEDGING IT BETWEEN THE GLASS AND THE DOOR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS WILL COST ME WELL OVER $1500 TO FIX, AND I KNOW THERE'S A PROBLEM IF ALL FOUR QUIT WORKING IN THE SAME YEAR!*AK

NHTSA ID
10093375
Incident
Jan 1, 2004
Mileage
100,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 3, 2004

POWER WINDOW CABLES ARE GETTING IN FRAID OUT. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS BEEN REPLACED. I FOUND THE PART COST $328.00 FOR ME TO JUST DO IT MY SELF. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE HOE DRIVE A PONTIAC GRAND PRIX FOR THE YEARS OF 1997-2000 THAT HAVE HAD TO GET IT FIXED. THE SHOP SED IT WOULD BEE ABOUT $200+ IN LABER PLUS PARTS. I FOUND ON ANTHER WEBSIT MORE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PONTIAC CARS THAT ARE BIG LIKE BONT. GRAND PRIX GTP. AND THE GRAND AM. ALL HAVE THE SAME THING GOING WRONG WITH THE POWER WINDOWS. ALL THE PEOPLE TELL ME THE MOTOR IS STILL GOOD IT IS JUT THE CABLES AND THE KEEPER THAT HOLD THE CABLES IN PLACE.

NHTSA ID
10060222
Incident
Feb 28, 2004
Mileage
80,450 mi
AirbagsElectricalExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Jan 15, 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
ElectricalEngineVisibility
Filed Jan 15, 2004

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.

NHTSA ID
10069484
Incident
Jul 15, 2003
Visibility
Filed Dec 17, 2003

THE RUBBER SEAL BECAME LOOSE AROUND THE WINDSHIELD, FLAPPING WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ID
10051686
Visibility
Filed Dec 11, 2003

POWER WINDOW MOTORS ON BOTH SIDES ARE BROKE. APPARENTLY THIS IS AN RECURRING PROBLEM CONSIDERING THE PRICE OF THE REGULATORS. PONTIAC NEEDS TO RECALL THIS DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10049602
Incident
Dec 9, 2003
Visibility
Filed Sep 22, 2003

POWER WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED (FRONT DRIVER SIDE). *JB

NHTSA ID
10039278
Incident
Sep 21, 2003
Mileage
60,747 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 28, 2003

I OWN A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND-PRIX. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP IN THE UP-RIGHT POSITION. THIS HAS CAUSED IMPAIRED VISION. I KNOW THAT THE 1997 MODEL WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME MALFUNCTION. I AM THE MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN AND SAFETY IS MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE WHEN I PURCHASE A CAR. UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND A VERY EXPENSIVE PART TO REPLACE. I DO NOT FEEL THIS SHOULD GO OUT AT ONLY 94,000 MILES. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10023935
Incident
Apr 1, 2003
Mileage
92,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 21, 2003

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX FAIL WHEN ICE BUILDS UP UNDER THEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS IS BETWEEN $120.00 AND $140.00. THIS IS HAZARDOUS BECAUSE THE WIPERS STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND OBSTRUCTS THE DRIVER' VISION. I HAVE CONTACTED PONTIAC NUMEROUS TIMES CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM BUT TO NO AVAIL. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS STYLE OF AUTOMOBILE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10007911
Incident
Feb 10, 2003
Mileage
93,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 18, 2003

I OWN A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX WHICH EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN 99V348000. IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT GM HAS ADDED THE 1998 MODELS TO THER SERVICE BULLETIN (HTTP://WWW.PACE317.COM/GP/TSB/98WIPERS.HTML) IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THE 1998 MODEL WERE ADDED TO THIS RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10007759
Incident
Jan 15, 2003
Mileage
100,500 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 28, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR IS DISTORTED AND CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY WHEN USED. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID
8021731
Incident
Oct 15, 2001
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+8 more
Filed Oct 25, 2002

THE PROBLEM(S) ARE WITH BOTH A 1998 AND 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE PROBLEMS WERE AS FOLLOWED: ENGINE COMPONENTS, STEERING, SUSPENSION, BRAKING SYSTEM, BATTERY, FUEL SYSTEM, TRANSMISSION, STRUCTURAL, THE WHEELS WERE NOISY, THERE WERE VISUAL COMPONENT DEFECTS, THE RADIO WAS DEFECTIVE, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHT ON THE DOOR WAS INOPERATIVE. JG SCC

NHTSA ID
568045
Incident
May 10, 2001
Mileage
19,513 mi
AirbagsVisibility
Filed Aug 7, 2002

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
Visibility
Filed Apr 2, 2002

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR IS THAT THE POWER WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE FAILED IN EACH OF THE FOUR WINDOWS AT LEAST ONCE AND IN TWO OF THE WINDOWS A MINIMUM OF TWO TIMES EACH. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE WINDOW FALLS INTO THE DOOR AND CANNOT BE EITHER RAISED OR LOWERED. IN EFFECT YOU WALK OUT TO YOUR CAR IN THE MORNING AND THE WINDOW IS DOWN. EACH OCCURRENCE COST $550 TO REPAIR. APPARENTLY, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER SERVICE WRITER THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON GRAND PRIXS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS BOTH A SAFETY ISSUE AND UNFAIR EXPENSE ISSUE. I'LL BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS THIS WITH ANYBODY FROM NHTSA AS I HAVE COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
760159
Visibility
Filed Mar 8, 2002

WINDSHIELD WIPER CAM HAD TO BE REPLACED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS BECAUSE WIPERS WOULD STOP OPERATING WHILE RUNNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8005262
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
Visibility
Filed Mar 1, 2002

WATER ENTERING THROUGH COWL VENTILLATION EVAPORATOR BOX TO FLOOR DAMAGING AIR BAGS/ AIR BAG LIGHT NOW STAYS ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES.*AK

NHTSA ID
758797

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 .