1997 Pontiac GRAND PRIX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
673 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
104,352 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 201 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering:Rack And Pinion is the most frequently named component, appearing in 125 of 673 complaints (18.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 192 | 28.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 44 | 6.5% |
| Braking behavior | 37 | 5.5% |
| Engine operation | 16 | 2.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 1.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 125 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 115 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 56 |
| Engine | 45 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 28 |
| Electrical System | 27 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 27 |
| Air Bags | 25 |
Steering:Rack And Pinion: 125; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 115; Engine And Engine Cooling: 56; Engine: 45; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 28; Electrical System: 27; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 27; Air Bags: 25
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 29 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 40 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 47 |
| 150,000 and above | 63 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 40; 100,000 to 149,999: 47; 150,000 and above: 63
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (63). 472 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 | 89 |
| 2001 | 100 |
| 2002 | 150 |
| 2003 | 102 |
| 2004 | 59 |
| 2005 | 20 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 23 |
| 2009 | 30 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 28 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 89; 2001: 100; 2002: 150; 2003: 102; 2004: 59; 2005: 20; 2006: 11; 2007: 7; 2008: 23; 2009: 30; 2010: 9; 2011: 9; 2012: 6; 2013: 4; 2014: 5; 2015: 11; 2016: 28; 2017: 4; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Steering:Rack And Pinion leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 192 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 44 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 37 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 10000630 · 2002-12-29 (December 29, 2002)
I AM DRIVING MY FATHER-IN-LAW'S GRAND PRIX (HE IS IN A NURSING HOME). THE POWER STEERING ON MY 97 GRAND PRIX GTP FAILED COMPLETELY. HAD THE CAR NOT BEEN ON A SIDE STREET (AS OPPOSED TO AN EXPRESSWAY), IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I'VE CONTACTED SEVERAL PONTIACE DEALERS AND GM/PONTIAC AND WAS TOLD THEY NO NOTHING OF A RECALL AND THAT I SHOULD PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THEY MIGHT REIMBURSE ME IF THEY FIND OUT ABOUT A RECALL AND IF IT MEETS THEIR SPECS. EVEN AFTER I GAVE THEM THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID THEY STILL SAID THEY HAD NO KNOWLED…
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000630 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002032 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF. TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION FAILED. HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED & CORRECTED BEFORE RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005628 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAS HAD NUMEROUS FALSE AIR BAR WARNIG LIGHTS AND JUST RECXENTLY THE REAR WINDOW DIFROSTER RELAY WIRING BURNT UP THE DEALER SAYS THIS HAPENS AND MY ONLY REMEDY IS TO CHANG THE HARNESS.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005628 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014880 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN TO THE LEFT, INSTEAD IT TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND. *JB. ALSO THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATOR, RACK AND PINION, BRAKES, SEATS, WINDOWS, BATTERY, BULBS, STEERING PUMP, AND THE SUN ROOF LEAKED. PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007675 · 2003-02-17 (February 17, 2003)
ON 7/19/02, I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND TOTALED MY VEHICLE. SINCE THEN, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX THAT I PURCHASED FROM MY GRANDPARENTS. LESS THAN A MONTH LATER, 2ND AND THRIRD GEAR MELTED TOGETHER IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE ABS LIGHT HAS COME ON, AND THE CAR HAS LOST TRACTION. SINCE THAT DATE, MY FRONT SEAL STARTED LEAKING, I HAVE REPLACED MY BRAKES WHICH ARE QUICKLY WEARING OUT, I HAVE BEEN THROUGH 3 SETS OF TIRES, AND REPLACED THE FRONT BEARING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE A FRONT END ALIGNMENT DOE AND AM AGA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007675 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014528 · 2003-04-17 (April 17, 2003)
WARNING LIGHTS, ABS, CHECK TIRE PRESSURE, TRAC OFF. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014528 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014064 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW. IN JANUARY OF 2003 THE CAR STARTED DYING WHILE DRIVING IT AT SLOW SPEEDS. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT. IT ALSO HAS TWICE STOPPED WHEN I AM GOING SLOW ON A LARGE LOOPING ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE INTERSTATE. EACH TIME THE CAR WILL START RIGHT UP AGAIN AND RUN FINE. THERE IS NO PRIOR WARNING THE CAR IS GOING TO DIE. I FIRST NOTICED IT DIED WHEN I WA NO LONGER ABLE TO STEER THE CAR, BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING IS GONE. IN FEBRUARY 2003 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER I BO…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014064 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019489 · 2003-05-19 (May 19, 2003)
GENERAL MOTORS VOLUNTARY RECALL OF 1996/1997 AND 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND TRANSPORT, AND 1997/1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES CONCERNING POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF LOWER PINION BEARING IN POWER STEERING WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE.*AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015176 · 2003-03-31 (March 31, 2003)
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. MR THE TRANSMISSION WAS FIRST REPLACED AT 22,748 MILES. 8,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE THIRD TRANSMISSION IS NOW HAVING PROBLEMS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10452256 · 2012-03-19 (March 19, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGES INCREASED AS WELL. A SMALL FIRE ERUPTED AND THE CONTACT USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FULLY DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE FIR…
Owner-reported narrative. 105,288 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 728420 · 2000-08-19 (August 19, 2000)
MY CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR DIFFEFENT TIMES FOR FUEL PARTS RELATED FAILURES. JAN. 15, 1999, THE FUEL TANK SENSOR LEVEL WAS REPLACED. NOV. 3, 1999, THE ORIGINAL FUEL TANK PUMP/KIT WAS REPLACED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PAID FOR PARTS BUT NOT THE LABOR. JUNE 1, 2000, MY CAR WAS AGAIN TOWED IN AND THE FUEL TANK PUMP/ASSEMBLY KIT WAS REPLACED. AUG. 15, 2000, MY CAR WAS AGAIN TOWED AND THE FUEL TANK PUMP/SENDER KIT WAS REPLACED. I PICKED MY CAR ON AUGUST 18, 2000 FROM THE REPAIR DEALER AT APPROX. 5 P.M., AND AN HOUR AND A HALF LAT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 728420 at NHTSA ↗