1998 Pontiac GRAND AM problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
127 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 42 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 127 complaints (9.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 29 | 22.8% |
| Steering behavior | 15 | 11.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 7.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 5.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 12 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 9 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 8 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 12; Electrical System:Ignition: 9; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 8; Electrical System: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 85 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 26 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 27 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 26; 2001: 13; 2002: 17; 2003: 14; 2004: 27; 2005: 12; 2006: 4; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2011: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 29 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10025403 · 2003-07-04 (July 4, 2003)
BREAKS HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK ALONE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER INTERMITTENTLY. WE PURCHASED THIS CAR 2 YEARS AGO AND IT HAS BEEN IN PONTIAC SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES. THEY HAVE PUT ON NEW BRAKES, PADS ETC. ADJUSTED THE BRAKES AND STILL THE PROBLEM IS UNRESOLVED. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE IMMEDIATELY THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND WILL CAUSE AN INJURY OR DEATH!*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050916 · 2003-12-22 (December 22, 2003)
THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE FUNCTION PREVENTS ME FROM BEING ABLE TO BRAKE MY CAR ON WET, SNOWY OR SLUSHY DAYS, BOTH MY DAUGHTER AND I HAVE HAD TO SHIFT DOWN AND PULL ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO PULL OVER, WE LIVE ON A LONG STEEP HILL. THIS RESETS THEABS BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY. ALSO, THE AUTO LOCKS MALFUNCTION AND THE FRONT WINDOWS DON'T ROLL UP AND DOWN, I AM AFRAID WE'LL BE TRAPPED IN AN OUT OF CONTROL CAR. ALSO THE ADJUSTMENT KNOB FOR THE EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRRORS FELL INTO THE DOOR SO I CAN'T ADJUST THEM WITHOUT STOPPING AS THE WINDOWS DON'T OPEN.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050916 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019509 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)
THE STEERING BECAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030176 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING STEERING WHEEL VEERED LEFT TO RIGHT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012074 · 2003-03-19 (March 19, 2003)
THE BATTERY FAILED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 18,324 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012074 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021405 · 2003-06-11 (June 11, 2003)
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF MY VEHICLE THE KEY WOULD NOT GO TO THE OFF POSITION TO RELEASE MY KEY. ALL ELECTRICAL DEVICES (HEAD LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS,ETC...) WOULD STAY ON. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THEN BROUGHT IT TO A DEALER THE NEXT MORNING. THEY STATED THERE WAS A FAILURE IN THE SHIFT INTERLOCK SOLENOIV AND THE INGNITION LOCK CYLINDER ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR HAS 33,000 MILES AND HAS MAINTANANCE REGULARLY(OIL CHANGE,ETC...). THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $520 TO FIX A FAILED PART. THEY ALSO STATED IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. ANY INFORM…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021405 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060533 · 2004-03-05 (March 5, 2004)
BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER 20,000 MILES. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 5 YR BATTERIES 3 TIMES NOW AT MY OWN EXPENSE. LAST TIME RESULTED IN CAR NEEDING TO BE TOWED AND KEY NOT BEING ABLE TO BE TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION. TRIED JUMP STARTING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OVER HEATED. MY COMPLAINT IS THIS I JUST RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL STATING THAT IF THE CAR IS HARD TO START IT COULD START ON FIRE IF JUMP STARTED MORE THEN 3 TIMES AND IF THE KEY IS ON THE ON POTION TO LONG. THEY WANT TO INSTALL A RELAY DEVICE TO PREVENT FIRES BUT WHY IS T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060533 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094563 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)
WHILE BACKING OUT IN REVERSE OR DRIVING VEHICLE HAD A RATTLING SOUND. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE SHIFTING THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10094563 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10221897 · 2008-03-20 (March 20, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT INSTALLED A FLUSH AND SEAL TUBE IN THE VEHICLE THAT ALLOWS ANTIFREEZE TO PENETRATE FASTER. SINCE THAT TIME, THE ENGINE HAS FAILED TWICE. THE ENGINE STALLED DURING THE SECOND FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FLUSH AND SEAL TUBE CRACKED AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221897 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10609356 · 2014-07-09 (July 9, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/22/14*CN UPDATED 05/19/2015 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10609356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142319 · 2005-11-09 (November 9, 2005)
I OWN A 1998 GRNAD AM GT AND FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD ALL SIX INJECTORS REPLACED TWICE TOTALING OVER $600.00 EACH TIME. OTHER PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WHO ALSO OWN 1996-1999 GRAND AMS/GRAND PRIX HAVE ALSO SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE INJECTOR CLEANERS THAT ARE ONE THE MARKET DON'T SEEM TO GET RID OF THE BUILD UP AND EVENTUALLY THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOME KIND OF DEFECT IN THE INJECTORS AND WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION TO FIND OUT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142319 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151788 · 2006-03-04 (March 4, 2006)
THE GAS TANK SEAL IS LEAKING. I HAVE NOT DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT YET. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10151788 at NHTSA ↗