1998 Pontiac GRAND AM: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
127 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 42 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 127 complaints (9.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 29 | 22.8% |
| Steering behavior | 15 | 11.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 7.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 5.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.6% |
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:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 12 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 9 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 8 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 12; Electrical System:Ignition: 9; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 8; Electrical System: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 85 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 | 26 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 27 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 26; 2001: 13; 2002: 17; 2003: 14; 2004: 27; 2005: 12; 2006: 4; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2011: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 29 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10012074 · 2003-03-19 (March 19, 2003)
THE BATTERY FAILED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 18,324 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012074 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019509 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)
THE STEERING BECAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021405 · 2003-06-11 (June 11, 2003)
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF MY VEHICLE THE KEY WOULD NOT GO TO THE OFF POSITION TO RELEASE MY KEY. ALL ELECTRICAL DEVICES (HEAD LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS,ETC...) WOULD STAY ON. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THEN BROUGHT IT TO A DEALER THE NEXT MORNING. THEY STATED THERE WAS A FAILURE IN THE SHIFT INTERLOCK SOLENOIV AND THE INGNITION LOCK CYLINDER ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR HAS 33,000 MILES AND HAS MAINTANANCE REGULARLY(OIL CHANGE,ETC...). THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $520 TO FIX A FAILED PART. THEY ALSO STATED IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. ANY INFORM…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021405 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023957 · 2003-06-28 (June 28, 2003)
98 PONTIAC GRAND AM AIR BAG NOT WORKING, WATER LEAKS ON FLOOR BOARD WHEN AC IS ON, RUNS HOT, STOPS RUNNING, ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023957 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025403 · 2003-07-04 (July 4, 2003)
BREAKS HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK ALONE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER INTERMITTENTLY. WE PURCHASED THIS CAR 2 YEARS AGO AND IT HAS BEEN IN PONTIAC SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES. THEY HAVE PUT ON NEW BRAKES, PADS ETC. ADJUSTED THE BRAKES AND STILL THE PROBLEM IS UNRESOLVED. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE IMMEDIATELY THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND WILL CAUSE AN INJURY OR DEATH!*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030176 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING STEERING WHEEL VEERED LEFT TO RIGHT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039288 · 2003-09-22 (September 22, 2003)
THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HAS FAILED THREE TIMES IN THIS VEHICLE, IN AS MANY YEARS. SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURS AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, VERY FRIGHTENING. POTENTIALLY DEADLY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039288 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042577 · 2003-10-08 (October 8, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER STARTED TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, PULLED OVER, POPPED HOOD, AND DRIVER NOTICED THE ALTERNATER WIRE WAS BURNING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042577 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V036000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 2004-01-27 (January 27, 2004)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗