U.S. public vehicle records

1999 Pontiac GRAND PRIX problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

398 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

95,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 237 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 398 complaints (16.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	49	12.3%
Engine operation	26	6.5%
Braking behavior	22	5.5%
Electrical and battery issues	21	5.3%
Transmission and shifting	16	4.0%
Fuel system concerns	3	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.

Engine And Engine Cooling

Engine

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Electrical System

Steering:Rack And Pinion

Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe

Steering

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Engine And Engine Cooling	64
Engine	50
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	33
Electrical System	31
Steering:Rack And Pinion	27
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls	19
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe	18
Steering	17

Engine And Engine Cooling: 64; Engine: 50; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 33; Electrical System: 31; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 27; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 19; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 18; Steering: 17

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 29; 50,000 to 74,999: 41; 75,000 to 99,999: 46; 100,000 to 149,999: 60; 150,000 and above: 50

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (60). 161 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.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2021

2022

2000: 35; 2001: 21; 2002: 31; 2003: 68; 2004: 41; 2005: 15; 2006: 14; 2007: 25; 2008: 32; 2009: 19; 2010: 14; 2011: 8; 2012: 6; 2013: 5; 2014: 10; 2015: 17; 2016: 28; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 49 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 26 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 22 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 10001622 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TURNING LEFT THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001622 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10008078 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)

THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY WHEN MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS AT SLOW SPEEDS. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS BAD.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008078 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10019800 · 2003-05-14 (May 14, 2003)

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER ABRUPTLY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019800 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10024190 · 2003-06-11 (June 11, 2003)

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. *MR PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024190 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10120878 · 2005-05-13 (May 13, 2005)

DT: WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, A METAL SOUND WAS HEARD. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, WHEN THE CAR BROKE DOWN IT WAS TOWED TO MEINKE MUFFLER SHOP AND THEY SAW THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY. THEY SAVED THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. WHEN POINTED OUT TO DEALER THEY SAW THE PROBLEM. 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS SAID THIS NEVER HAPPENS AND THEY FELT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. MANUFACTURER SAID FOR THE DEALER TO CALL BUT THE DEALER WILL NOT CALL MANUFACTURER. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120878 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10148014 · 2006-01-18 (January 18, 2006)

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX DEVELOPED A LOW HUM IN THE FRONT END WHICH FAIRLY QUICKLY - WITHIN 30 MILES - ESCALATED TO A SUBSTANTIAL RUMBLE/ROAR. I THEN EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN AND PRONOUNCED WOBBLE. I PULLED INTO THE BREAKDOWN AND EVENTUALLY FOUND THAT 4 OF THE 5 STUDS HOLDING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ON WERE GONE. THE STUDS WERE SHEARED OFF DOWN TO THE ROTOR. THERE WAS LITTLE IN THE WAY OF WARNING. NO CHANGE IN DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS IN DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, I DID NOTE A ROTATIONAL 'T…

Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148014 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10053241 · 2004-01-14 (January 14, 2004)

MULTIPLE REPAIR PROBLEMS--AIR PLATE WAS REPAIRED--NEW ENGINE INSTALLED AFTER HAVING ONLY 54,000 MILES WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES--ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH RADIO DISPLAY--NOW BACK PASSENGER TIRE/POSSIBLE AXLE, STRUT; SOUNDS LIKE BACK TIRE IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF UPON HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD/DRIVEWAYS OR TURNING. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS CHECKED OUT-AM NOW UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE . *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10053241 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10122545 · 2005-05-31 (May 31, 2005)

ON MAY 24, 2005, MY CARE (1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX) HAD A HARD TIME STARTING. IT SEEMED AS IF THE CAR DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER. I IMMEDIATELY SUSPECTED THE BATTERY. I DROVE THE CAR AROUND TO SEE IF IT WOULD RECHARGE ITSELF. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR, I LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND TRIED IT AGAIN. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I DECIDED TO PULL THE BATTERY AND HAVE IT TESTED. I DISCONNECTED THE (-) TERMINAL AND NOTICED THE THE (+) TERMINAL WAS VERY CORRODED AND THERE WAS A LOT OF CORROSION DOWN THE SIDE OF THE BATTERY AS WELL. WHEN I PULLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 43,173 miles reported. Look up ODI 10122545 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004930 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)

WHEN MY PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP SHIFTS INTO 3RD OR 4TH GEAR UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION, I EXPERIENCE SURGING. MANY PEOPLE WHO I SPEAK WITH SAY THAT IT COULD BE THE TCC SOLENOID. I BELONG TO CLUBGP.COM. THERE ARE PLENTY OF US ON CLUBGP WHO ARE COMPLAINING OF THIS SAME ISSUE. GOING WIDE OPEN THROTTLE, IT RUNS FINE. WHEN LIGHTLY DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AT AROUND 25-30 MPH, THE RPM'S DROP TO ABOUT 1500 AND IT SEEMS TO REQUIRE AN AWFUL LOT OF EFFORT TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR SIMPLY BOGS. THIS HAS HAPPENED OFF AND ON FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS. FRIENDS…

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004930 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005080 · 2003-02-01 (February 1, 2003)

WE HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT INTO THE VEHICLE TOWARDS THE END OF OUR WARRANTY PERIOD. AFTER THE NEW TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN, WE STARTED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS THAT THE CAR IS SHUTTERING DURING ACCELERATION. YOU CAN WATCH THE TACHOMETER AND SEE IT BOUNCE UP AND DOWN DURING THE SHUTTERING. WE FILED UNDER LEMON LAW TO HAVE THE CAR BOUGHT BACK FROM US. DURING THE ARBITRATION, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHUTTER. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. MANY TIMES WHILE THE CAR WAS IN TO GET SERVICED …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005080 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10265343 · 2009-04-14 (April 14, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE LINE FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO HER DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT SHE WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO BRAKE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SALES DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE FAILURE, ALTHOUGH SHE NOTICED IN MARCH OF 2009 THAT THE BATTERY FAILED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED ANOTHER BATTERY. THE SAME DAY, THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH THE CONTACT NOTICED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT HAD THE FAILURES REPLACED, BUT THE V…

Owner-reported narrative. 135,533 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265343 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10454737 · 2012-04-10 (April 10, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES. THE CONTACT USED WATER TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE RELATED TO THE RECALL REPAI…

Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454737 at NHTSA ↗