1988 Pontiac GRAND PRIX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
70 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
154,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 70 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 35 | 50.0% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 7.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.4% |
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:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 20 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 15 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 7 |
| Structure | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 2 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 2 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 20; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 15; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 7; Structure: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 2; Parking Brake:Conventional: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 69 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 41 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
1995: 41; 1996: 7; 2000: 8; 2001: 4; 2002: 7; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 35 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 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 482281 · 1995-03-17 (March 17, 1995)
REAR BRAKE CALIPERS CORRODED/INOPERABLE, CAUSING PREMATURE FRONT BRAKE WEAR. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482339 · 1995-03-19 (March 19, 1995)
BRAKE PADS REPLACED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482339 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10820709 · 2016-01-17 (January 17, 2016)
I KEEP LISTENING TO THE NEWS ABOUT THE GM IGNITION SWITCH AND CARS CUTTING OFF. I LIVED IN NJ BOUGHT 1988 GRAND PRIX BRAND NEW WITH ONLY 9 MILES ON IT WHEN I TOOK POSSESSION. THE FIRST TITLE OFF IT HAD 24 MIES ON IT. I TOOK IT BACK TIME AFTER TIME RUNNING UP A SERVICE BILL WHICH EVENTUALLY CONTRIBUTED TO MY BANKRUPTCY BUT NJ HD NO LEMON LAW SO I WAS STUCK IN IT. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GET RID OF IT WITH 154000+ MILES ON IT AND IT WAS STILL CUTTING OFF WHENEVER. IT WAS SCARY TO DRIVE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU TOOK YOUR FOR OFF THE GAS IF …
Owner-reported narrative. 154,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10820709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 556920 · 2000-10-27 (October 27, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND CRASH INTO THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE'S CABLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, THE REAR OF THE MOTOR WAS FOUND ON THE GROUND. OWNER CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MOTOR MOUNTS BOLTS, BUT NOT IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. HOWEVER, OWNER DID RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN OCTOBER, 2000. (LETTER WRITTEN BY FATHER) *CJ
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 556920 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 743341 · 2001-03-31 (March 31, 2001)
THE CAR HAD WORK DONE ON THE FUEL TANK AND RECALLS CAME BACK AND TWO DAYS LATER A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASH IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING STARTED,THE STARTER WAS STICKING ON AND THAT WAS IT THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 743341 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8004281 · 2002-02-20 (February 20, 2002)
DUE TO GAS TANK RUSTING, VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING FUEL. HAD GAS TANK REPLACED BY MECHANIC. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT PRIOR TO REPLACING THE GAS TANK, MECHANIC TRIED TO MAKE REPAIRS BY USING JB WELD, HOWEVER THAT FAILED AND THE TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8004281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 500911 · 1995-11-21 (November 21, 1995)
TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING/LEAKS FLUID.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500911 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 717772 · 2000-01-23 (January 23, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS SHREDDING AND MAKING THUMPING NOISES UNDER HOOD. I STOPPED CAR & OPENED HOOD AND FOUND THAT HALF OF THE BELT WAS LEFT. I DROVE FOR ANOTHER MILE TO FIND A PHONE TO CALL AAA. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD THE BELT WAS NEARLY ALL GONE. CAR WAS BUCKING ALSO AND THEN STALLED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 717772 at NHTSA ↗