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Pontiac Grand PrixYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 5,427 NHTSA owner complaints across 39 model years, the Pontiac Grand Prix years to avoid are 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2004, and the strongest years are 1988, 1989, 1992 and 1996. The Grand Prix has 68 safety recalls on record.

Pontiac Grand Prix
Years to avoid'97 '98 '99 '00 '04Use caution: 2001, 2002Best years'88 '89 '92 '96Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints5,427Top: Engine and engine coolingSafety recalls681965–2008 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Pontiac Grand Prix years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Grand Prix median. Tap a year for its full report.

'65'66'70'72'73'74'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2008Solid58/100143 complaints · 1 recall2007Solid45/100220 complaints · 3 recalls2006Solid42/100239 complaints · 1 recall2005Solid57/100148 complaints · 1 recall2004Avoid26/100454 complaints · 7 recalls2003Solid55/100106 complaints · 3 recalls2002Caution30/100331 complaints · 3 recalls2001Caution31/100308 complaints · 6 recalls2000Avoid23/100461 complaints · 5 recalls1999Avoid26/100412 complaints · 4 recalls1998Avoid27/100499 complaints · 4 recalls1997Avoid18/100810 complaints · 5 recalls1996Best70/10079 complaints · 1 recall1995Solid50/100169 complaints · 3 recalls1994Solid45/100213 complaints · 1 recall1993Solid57/100131 complaints · 1 recall1992Solid63/100114 complaints · 1 recall1991Solid54/100172 complaints · 4 recalls1990Solid53/100176 complaints · 8 recalls1989Solid62/100139 complaints · 9 recalls1988Best71/10088 complaints · 11 recalls1987Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1986Not rated–/1002 complaints · 4 recalls1985Not rated–/1003 complaints · 1 recall1984Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls1983Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1982Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1980Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1979Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls1977Not rated–/1002 complaints · 3 recalls1976Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1974Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1973Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1972Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1970Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1966Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1965Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Pontiac Grand Prix problems

All model years combined: 5,427 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling898366
Electrical system889235
Steering67167
Service brakes, hydraulic66554
Exterior lighting62830
Engine576297
Power train40828
Visibility3424
Air bags271166
23 other systems1404242
68 recalls

Pontiac Grand Prix recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

26%Engine and engine cooling: engine15V-701 · 1997–2004 · Oct 26, 2015 · 1,003,556 vehicles47%Exterior lighting: headlights15V-519 · 2007 · Aug 14, 2015 · 429,170 vehicles25%Engine and engine cooling: engine15V-201 · 2004 · Apr 6, 2015 · 330,742 vehicles22%Electrical system: ignition14V-400 · 2004–2008 · Jul 3, 2014 · 5,877,718 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling09V-116 · 1997–2003 · Apr 8, 2009 · 1,497,516 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling08V-118 · 1997–2003 · Mar 12, 2008 · 207,542 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline: storage06V-419 · 2007 · Oct 31, 2006 · 1,602 vehicles–Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal05V-046 · 2004 · Feb 9, 2005 · 19,924 vehicles–Structure: frame and members04V-299 · 2004 · Jun 23, 2004 · 281 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic04V-287 · 2004 · Jun 23, 2004 · 47,991 vehicles–Steering: rack and pinion03V-527 · 1996 · Dec 11, 2003 · 750,283 vehicles–Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings03V-331 · 2004 · Sep 12, 2003 · 59,528 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 68 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

38 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Grand Prix

  1. Loss of HeadlightsRQ17002 · 2006–2008 · closed Mar 29, 2021
    No recall
  2. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS - FIRESPE09025 · 2005–2006 · closed Oct 2, 2009
    No recall
  3. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIREEA07008 · 1999–2002 · closed May 1, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-118
  4. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIREPE07006 · 1999–2002 · closed Jun 12, 2007
    No recall
  5. LOSS OF BRAKE LAMP ILLUMINATIONPE07001 · 2000–2002 · closed Apr 30, 2007
    No recall
  6. UNSTABLE HEADLAMPSDP05010 · 2004 · closed Apr 10, 2006
    No recall
  7. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA02030 · 1997–2002 · closed Mar 9, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-090
  8. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE02050 · 1996–2000 · closed Oct 22, 2002
    No recall
  9. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILUREEA02003 · 1997 · closed Dec 10, 2002
    Led to recall 02V-286
  10. STRUCTURERP01001 · 1988–1991 · closed Jun 13, 2002
    Led to recall 00V-189