1991 Pontiac GRAND PRIX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
120 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
126,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 120 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 56 | 46.7% |
| Steering behavior | 24 | 20.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.8% |
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 | 16 |
| Structure | 16 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 11 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 10 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 6 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 16; Structure: 16; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 11; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 10; Structure:Frame And Members: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 111 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 | 46 |
| 1996 | 14 |
| 2000 | 20 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
1995: 46; 1996: 14; 2000: 20; 2001: 9; 2002: 13; 2003: 4; 2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 56 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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 10005932 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005932 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045779 · 2003-11-08 (November 8, 2003)
I HAVE A 1991 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX W/ A 3.4L V-6 AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS W/ THE BRAKE SYSTEM SINCE 1999. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND THE BRAKES WOULD WORK ONE SECOND AND NOT THE NEXT ( WOULD GET REALLY STIFF AND FIRM, NO ASSIST), SO A COUPLE DAYS LATER IT JUST WENT STIFF FOR GOOD. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE CAR FOR THE BRAKE FUSES AND FOUND THE ABS PUMP FUSE HAD BURNT OUT. I REPLACED AND AS SOON AS I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE IT WENT SOFT FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THEN STIFF AGAIN. HAD A FRIEND WATCH THE FUSE AND HE SAID AS SOON AS I STEPP…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10045779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002454 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE BOLTS SECURING THE ENGINE CRADLE PULLED THROUGH RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. RELATED RECALL 97V058000. CONSUMER'S V.I.N. IS NOT INCLUDED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002454 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087027 · 2004-08-17 (August 17, 2004)
WHILE TURNING INTO AN ALLEY, THE BOLTS BROKE HOLDING CRADLE UNDER ENGINE. ENGINE DROPPED DOWN AND PULLED OUT STEERING SHAFT. RESULTED IN NO STEERING AND ENGINE ALMOST LAYING ON STREET. WAS A RECALL IN 97 AND 2000, DUE TO CORROSION OF RINGS AND RETAINER. CORROSION BEING LINKED TO SALT ON ROADS. NO WARNING THIS WAS A PROBLEM. MY GRAND PRIX 1991 HAS ONLY 70,000 MILES ON IT AND KEPT IN GARAGE. PONTIAC SAID MY CAR ISNT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN NUMBER. TOWED TO PONTIAC DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD PARTS COULD ONLY BE ORDERED THROUGH DEALER. P…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10087027 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069582 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
CAR DOES NOT RUN.... CRACKED RADIATOR BAD HEAD GASKET. POSSIBLE WARPED HEAD. HEAD GASKET LEAKS. SOMETHING DRAINING BATTERY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069582 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163732 · 2006-07-27 (July 27, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE HEAD AND FOG LIGHTS BECAME DARKENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THERE IS A RECALL # 92V182000, WHICH PERTAINING TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS. THE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163732 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 733740 · 2000-10-08 (October 8, 2000)
I ENTERED MY AUTO ON THE EVENING OF 10/4/00 AT 8:10PM AND TURNED KEY TO START. I DID NOT AT ANY TIME DEPRESS GAS PEDAL. AFTER ENGINE STARTED, I ALLOWED RPM'S TO SETTTLE DOWN AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. PUT TRANSMISSION IN "REVERSE" AND LET UP ON THE BRAKE. THE IMMEDIATELY STARTED MOVING IN REVERSE IN AN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION (S?). I SET MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT MOVE. THE CAR KEPT SPEEDING UP UNTIL IT HIT A TREE, BROADSIDE. THE TOTAL DISTANCE WAS ABOUT 20-25 FEET, BUT THE CAR WAS "TOTA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 733740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 881412 · 2001-02-26 (February 26, 2001)
BOLTS THAT SUPPORT FRAME TO HOLD ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE CRACKING. DEALRER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THEIR IS A RECALL FOR PROBLEM BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 881412 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 753865 · 2001-10-29 (October 29, 2001)
THE ALTERNATOR/STARTER GO OUT EVERY 6 MONTHS, THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED 8 TIMES, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT BLINK, THE BRAKES GO OUT EVERY 6 MONTHS, I THINK THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE POWER STEERING HAS TO BE REFILLED EVERY 100 MILES. THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK. THE WINDOW IS DOWN ABOUT AN INCH AND WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 753865 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 973757 · 1995-10-23 (October 23, 1995)
FUEL TANK PLASTIC TANK SPLIT CAUSING LOSS OF FUEL. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 973757 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 875432 · 2000-11-24 (November 24, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING DURING DAY TIME VEHICLE WAS FINE. BUT, AT NIGHT NOTICED VEHICLE WOULD IDLE HIGH & START TO OVERHEAT. VEHICLE WOULD STUTTER LIKE IT WAS STALLING. APPLIED BRAKES & VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. ALSO, SMOKE WOULD BE COMING INSIDE OF VEHICLE FROM UNDER HOOD. PROBLEMS WERE INTERMITTENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 875432 at NHTSA ↗