1990 Pontiac GRAND PRIX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
117 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
74,987 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 117 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 61 | 52.1% |
| Steering behavior | 17 | 14.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.9% |
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 | 22 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 21 |
| Structure | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 5 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 22; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 21; Structure: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 110 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 | 61 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 2000 | 28 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
1995: 61; 1996: 6; 2000: 28; 2001: 6; 2002: 6; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 61 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 10012290 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
VEHICLE'S REAR BRAKES WERE INOPERATIVE. RUST ACCUMULATED ON THE SURFACE OF THE BRAKES. AS A RESULT THE ROTORS AND PADS DID NOT COME IN CONTACT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 900,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019876 · 2003-05-14 (May 14, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143848 · 2005-11-28 (November 28, 2005)
IF YOU USE THE TURN SIGNAL, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL START SMOKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND DEALER DIDN'T WANT TO FIX IT. TURN SIGNALS STILL WORKED WHEN APPLIED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143848 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206369 · 2007-10-19 (October 19, 2007)
REAR SUBFRAME RETAINERS RUSTED OUT CAUSING ENGINE/TRANSAXLE TO DROP AND STEERING SHAFT TO SEPARATE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHERE THE VEHICLE ENDED UP IN THE ON COMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE RETAINERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE BEFORE. REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE THE SAME DEFECT AS THE ORIGINAL PARTS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS A SOLUTION. ONE GM DEALER (DON MILLER IN MADISON) DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF A RECALL. ANOTHER GM DEALER SAID GM WILL OFFER A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND TAKE THE CAR, BUT THERE IS NO REPAIR OPTION. YOUR PERSON I SPOKE WITH A…
Owner-reported narrative. 260,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206369 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152257 · 2006-03-09 (March 9, 2006)
CAR WOULD GET HORRID GAS MILEAGE, OCCASIONALLY STALL, EXHAUST SMELL UNDER HOOD, BLACK EXHAUST. THE CROSSOVER PIPE FROM EACH EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS A COMMON CRACKING ON THE BELLOWS AND MUST BE REPLACED, THEY RUN $2500 FROM GM WHICH JUST CRACK AGAIN, OR $425 FOR JEFF M ONE THAT DOESN'T CRACK. THE PIPE CRACKS CAUSE FRESH AIR TO ENTER THE EXHAUST AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR THINKS THE CARS RUNNING RICH, CAUSING HORRIBLE GAS MILEAGE, OIL CONTAMINATION, AND STALLING. THE EXTRA HEAT FROM THE CAR RUNNING RICH CRACKS THE TURBO HOUSING. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 72,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152257 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 718120 · 2000-01-31 (January 31, 2000)
THE TURN SIGNAL PROBLEM INVOLVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, SIGNALS DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. THE SMOKE WOULD STOP, THE AFTER SEVERAL DAYS START AGAIN. NOW THE TURN LIGHTS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK. THE PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT HAS REQUIRED REPLACING THE BALL 4 TIMES, DUE TO THE BALL BREAKING OFF AT THE POINT WHERE THE BALL IS ATTACHED TO THE THREADED PART. AT THE PRESENT, THE CAR STALLS MOST OF THE TIME WHEN SLOWING DOWN. AT A STOP IT STALLS AND REQURIRES HOLDING THE ACCELERATOR TO KEEP RPM AT AROUND 1000 TO PREVENT ST…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 718120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8008913 · 2002-05-01 (May 1, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS SHAKING IN THE FRONT AND NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. *JB CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DRIVE TRAIN WAS SLIPPING. ALSO THE FRONT CONTROL ARM FAILED. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8008913 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 486783 · 1995-05-31 (May 31, 1995)
WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486783 at NHTSA ↗