RoadVitals

1999 Pontiac Grand Prix Transmission Problems

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

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
18
Latest Jun 15, 2011
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.
4%
of 412 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.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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 transmission

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

Other / unspecifiedTransmission
Filed Jun 15, 2011

DRIVING TO WORK AS NORMAL AND TOOK OFF FROM A FULL STOP WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WAS GOING NUTS TRYING TO CATCH A GEAR. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT BLINKED THAN STAYED ON AND NOW WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 1ST AND 3RD GEAR CAR SPUTTERS, SHAKES, SLAMS INTO GEAR HARD AND I NEED TO KEEP GIVING IT GAS TO GET IT TO CATCH SO I MOVE AND DON'T GET STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A TURN. IT IS A 99 GRAND PRIX SE 3800 ENGINE SEDAN AND I BROUGHT IT TO MY GOOD FRIEND WHO OWNS A SHOP AND THE COMPUTER SAID IT WAS A C1 MISFIRE SOLENOID OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. ON MY ENGINE, THE LEFT SIDE HAS 3 THINGS THAT 2 SPARK PLUG WIRES GOES INTO EACH AND ARE LABELED 1/3, 2/5 AND 4/6 (MIGHT BE WRONG ON NUMBERS). THE CODE WAS SAYING THE FIRST ONE THAT SAYS 1/3 WAS BAD CAUSING THE MISFIRE. WE CHANGED THE PART AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LINE WENT OFF AND CAR DROVE FINE. THE NEXT MORNING I WENT TO GO WORK AND AT THE FIRST LIGHT, I GO TO TAKE OFF AND IT STARTS SHAKING AND SPUTTERS AND BECOMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. DURING THIS THE SERVICE ENGINE LINE BLINKED THAN STAYED ON STEADY. NOW THE CAR HAS TROUBLE CATCHING A GEAR FROM 1ST TO 3RD AND IT FEELS LIKE A ROLLER COASTER JUST TRYING TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOP OR DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC. I REPLACED EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE CAR AND GIVE UP WITH PROBLEMS. THERE HAS TO BE A DEFECT THAT PONTIAC WON'T ADMIT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10406906
Incident
May 3, 2011
Mileage
158,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 13, 2009

TRANSMISSION SLIP'S REAL BAD. THE CAR ROCKS BACK AND FORTH WHEN SLOWLY ACCELERATING. WHAT WILL BE DONE ABOUT THIS? THIS MY ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10280324
Incident
Oct 22, 2007
Mileage
125,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 27, 2005

DT: THE CAR IS DYING WITHOUT WARNING. THERE ARE NO LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD THAT LIGHT UP WHEN THIS HAPPENS. AFTER THE VEHICLE DIES, THE BATTERY LIGHT IS COMING ON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 15 TIMES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AT THIS POINT. ALSO, TRIED A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP, AND THEY COULD FIND THE PROBLEM EITHER. THE CONSUMER SAYS HER CAR IS A DEATH TRAP, AND THIS IS HAPPENING ANYWHERE/ANYTIME. THIS PAST WEEKEND THE CAR DIED 4 TIMES ON THE FREEWAY. CONSUMER HAS TO WAIT 15-20 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL START BACK UP. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GM AND HAVE REGISTERED TWO COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR. SPEED IS NOT A FACTOR AND ALSO DIES WHILE IN PARK.*AK

NHTSA ID
10126647
Incident
Jul 10, 2004
Transmission
Filed Apr 14, 2004

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 65,000 MILES. TRANNMISSION COOLER APPARENTLY BLEW A LINE PUTTIN ANTI FREEZE THROUGH THE THE TRANSMISSION. ACCORDING TO MY SERVICE MAN A RECURRING PROBLEM WTH PONTIAC GRAND PRIXS OF THE 1999 BODY STYLE.

NHTSA ID
10066171
Incident
Apr 10, 2004
Mileage
65,000 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Oct 30, 2003

RPMS JUMP 100 - 200 RPMS IN THE MATTER OF A SECOND OR TWO WHILE CAR IS ACCELERATING AND THE CAR "SURGES" OR "BUCKS" WHILE RPMS JUMP UP AND DOWN. TCC SOLENOID IN TRANSMISSION THOUGHT TO BE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
10045055
Incident
Feb 1, 2002
Mileage
28,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 16, 2003

INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE WHEN THE CAR IS HOT. TRANSMISSION "SLAMS" WHEN UPSHIFTING INTO ANY GEAR. *LA

NHTSA ID
10043055
Incident
Oct 15, 2003
Mileage
49,000 mi
Transmission
Filed May 5, 2003

NEED TO REPAIR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON VEHICLE THAT IS 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS 49000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10017033
Incident
May 5, 2003
Mileage
48,860 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 1, 2003

WE HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT INTO THE VEHICLE TOWARDS THE END OF OUR WARRANTY PERIOD. AFTER THE NEW TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN, WE STARTED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS THAT THE CAR IS SHUTTERING DURING ACCELERATION. YOU CAN WATCH THE TACHOMETER AND SEE IT BOUNCE UP AND DOWN DURING THE SHUTTERING. WE FILED UNDER LEMON LAW TO HAVE THE CAR BOUGHT BACK FROM US. DURING THE ARBITRATION, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHUTTER. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. MANY TIMES WHILE THE CAR WAS IN TO GET SERVICED ON THIS COMPLAINT, THE TECHNICIANS WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SHUTTERING. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ARBITRATOR DID NOT SETTLE IN OUR FAVOR SINCE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NOW, TWO YEARS LATER, THE PROBLEM IS BECOMING SEVERE AGAIN. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO? THIS IS THE SECOND TIME SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE BAD ON US. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER COMPLAINT FILED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. DURING THE TIME THAT THEY REPLACED OUR TRANSMISSION, THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES BEING SERVICED FOR THE SAME THING IN THIS REGION. I FEEL THAT WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THE CAR BOUGHT BACK FROM US UNDER THE LEMON LAW. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE NOW FACED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN, EXCEPT IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. TS

NHTSA ID
10005080
Incident
Feb 1, 2003
Transmission
Filed Jan 29, 2003

WHEN MY PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP SHIFTS INTO 3RD OR 4TH GEAR UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION, I EXPERIENCE SURGING. MANY PEOPLE WHO I SPEAK WITH SAY THAT IT COULD BE THE TCC SOLENOID. I BELONG TO CLUBGP.COM. THERE ARE PLENTY OF US ON CLUBGP WHO ARE COMPLAINING OF THIS SAME ISSUE. GOING WIDE OPEN THROTTLE, IT RUNS FINE. WHEN LIGHTLY DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AT AROUND 25-30 MPH, THE RPM'S DROP TO ABOUT 1500 AND IT SEEMS TO REQUIRE AN AWFUL LOT OF EFFORT TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR SIMPLY BOGS. THIS HAS HAPPENED OFF AND ON FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS. FRIENDS OF MINE ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE A RECALL DONE ON THIS AS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10004930
Incident
Jan 29, 2003
Mileage
70,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 26, 2002

BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 26,550 MILES ON IT, OWNER HAD NO REASON TO BELIEVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL. THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED NO SYMPTOMS OF TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION UNTIL THE TRIP IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. ON THE TRIP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CAR MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE AND VIBRATED A BIT WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED IN REVERSE. THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED IN DRIVE. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE PULLED AWAY FROM A STOP, IT MADE THE SAME UNUSUAL NOISE AND VIBRATION. THE NOISE AND VIBRATION SUBSIDED ONCE THE CAR WAS MOVING MORE THAN FIVE OR TEN MILES PER HOUR. AFTER TWO MILES THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING AFTER PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE RAN FINE, PUTTING THE CAR INTO GEAR CAUSED A NOW LOUDER NOISE AND VIBRATION BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE MECHANIC REMOVED THE TRANSMISSION PAN AND REPORTED A HEAVY METAL FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. PONTIAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE SAID THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD PROVIDE NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW 3.5 YEARS AGO. WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 3 YEARS) THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 26,550 MILES WAS NOT A FACTOR. PONTIAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PUT THE OWNER IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER, WHO SAID HE WOULD WORK WITH THE OWNER IF HE WOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED FROM THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST TO THE DEALERS FACILITY. WHEN ASKED WHAT WORK WITH THE OWNER MEANT. THE DEALER VOLUNTEERED THAT ALTHOUGH THE REPAIR AT THE DEALERS FACILITY MIGHT COST MORE THAN AT THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS FACILITY, THE DEALER MIGHT BE WILLING TO PAY 50% OF THE REPAIR COST. BECAUSE THE WORK AT THE INDEPENDENT SHOP HAD ALREADY COMMENCED. THE OWNER DID NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DEALERS OFFER. DT

NHTSA ID
770136
Incident
Nov 20, 2002
EnginePowertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Jul 27, 2002

ENGINE SUDDENLY MISSES AND SOMETIMES DIES WHILE MOVING AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE TACHOMETER QUITS AND THE 'TRACTION CONTROL OFF' SWITCH-LIGHT COMES ON. THE ENGINE SOMETIMES RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY AND/OR THE ENGINE SMOOTHS OUT, BUT THE TACHOMETER REMAINS INOPERATIVE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHT STAYS LIT. STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE RESETS THE TACH AND INDICATOR LIGHT. SOMETIMES WHEN THE ENGINE DOES DIE, IT WILL NOT RESTART FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES OF BEING STRANDED ON THE EXPRESSWAY.*AK

NHTSA ID
764804
Incident
Jul 10, 2002
Transmission
Filed Jul 10, 2002

THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE PC SOLENOID. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER BUT THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT CORRECTED. *YH

NHTSA ID
566576
Incident
Dec 21, 2001
Transmission
Filed May 31, 2002

VEHICLE DRIVES WELL UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR AT LEAST 10-15 MINUTES. AFTER VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR A WHILE IT JERKS INTO GEARS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AS PROBLEM PERSISTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8010860
Incident
May 1, 2001
Transmission
Filed May 31, 2001
1 injury reported

MY GRANDSON, AGE 5 WAS RUN OVER BY MY VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WITH THE GEARSHIFT PLACED IN PARK, AND THE KEYS IN MY POCKET, HE WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR OUT OF GEAR. I WAS IN THE GARAGE, A FEW FEET AWAY WHEN I HEARD HIM CRYING. I TURNED AROUND AND SAW HIM ATTEMPTING TO GET OUT OF THE CAR - THE CAR WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS - HE FELL OUT, AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL RAN COMPLETELY OVER HIS ABDOMEN AND HIPS. HE SUSTAINED SOME DAMAGE TO HIS LIVER AND ABRASIONS TO HIS BACK. I DROVE HIM IMMEDIATELY TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL IN DELAWARE, OH WHERE HE WAS EXAMINED IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, THEN MEDIFLIGHTED TO CHILDRENS HOSPITAL IN COLUMBUS, OH. HE WAS IN INTENSIVE CARE FOR 1 1/2 DAYS, AND IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 5 DAYS TOTAL. HE IS ALSO SEEING A CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST WHO HAS DIAGNOSED HIM WITH POST TRAUMATIC DISORDER, AND IS SEEING HIM ON A REGULAR BASIS. MY DAUGHTER'S AND MY CONCERN IS THAT GMC, THOUGH PURCHASING MY VEHICLE BACK, AND HAVING SENT AN INVESTIGATOR DOWN WHO WAS ABLE TO ALSO TAKE THE CAR OUT OF PARK WHEN TURNED OFF WITH THE KEYS REMOVED, HAS YET TO ADMIT LIABILITY. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANOTHER CHILD, WITH EVEN WORSE RESULTS. PLEASE HELP US SEE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
746188
Incident
Mar 8, 2001
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Nov 14, 2000

ENGINE IS SURGING BETWEEN 50-60 PLUS MILES PER HOUR RANGE, PONTIAC DEALER RECOMMENDS TRANSMISSION CHANGE EVEN THOUGH CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT. TYPICALLY NOTHING SHOULD BE DONE ON CAR TILL OVER 100,000 MILES. BOUGHT AS USED CAR AND DEALER STATES I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T HAVE MONEY TO DO SO, BUT I BOUGHT CAR WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT. SHOULDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE WHEN USED FOR ONLY 20,000 MILES. SOUNDS LIKE A RIP-OFF TO ME. WHAT CAN WE DO WITH IT AND CAN WE FIND OUT PREVIOUS OWNERS AND IF HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT? THANKS ALOT. *AK

NHTSA ID
736272
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
Transmission
Filed Nov 13, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
736240
EngineTransmission
Filed Aug 28, 2000

CAR STALLS ON ACCEL,TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD IN TO 2ND GEAR

NHTSA ID
729312
Transmission
Filed Aug 3, 2000
Crash reported

WHILE VEHICLE WAS ON AND TRANSMISSION PAWL WAS IN PARK, PAWL JUMPED FROM PARK TO DRIVE ON A FLAT SURFACE WHERE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. *AK

NHTSA ID
866725
Incident
Jul 28, 2000

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .