1991 Pontiac GRAND PRIX: complaints, problems and recalls

DRIVER SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER, VEHICLE STARTED SWAYING. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE ROLLED A FEW TIMES. THE WASHER OF A RUSTY K FRAME BOLT WAS MISSING. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001539 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

VEHICLE HAD HAD TWO RECALLS 97V058000 AND 00V1890000 CONCERNING REAR CRADLE BOLTS PUSHING THROUGH RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION. IT WAS PURCHASED FIRST IN FLORIDA BEFORE BEING REGISTERED IN NEW YORK. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED, AND INFORMED NEW OWNER NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS ON VEHICLE. PREVIOUS OWNER HAD VEHICLE SINCE 1993, AND NEVER WAS NOTIFIED OF RECALLS. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR ANY RECALLS THAT HAS BEEN ISSUED. DEALER HAD INFORMED NEW OWNER REPAIRS FOR RECALLS COULD BE DONE, BUT OWNER WOUD BE CHARGED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031458 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUSE BUT ITS NOT, WHEN I LEAVE THE FUSE IN WHEN THE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON, I REMOVE THE FUSE THE LIGHTS GO OUR. IT APPEARS THAT THE HANDLE COMES DETACHED SOME HOW. IT WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT USING THE KEY OR NOT USING THE KEY. I AM SURE I AM NOT THE FIRST OWNER TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069257 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2000-07-11 (July 11, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HEAVY. A CONDITION WHERE ONE OR BOTH FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS CAN PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINERS.

Consequence: IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

Reported: 1992-01-10 (January 10, 1992)

THE FRONT DOOR SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOPS MAY BE CRACKED AND ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 208.

Consequence: THE SEAT OCCUPANT FACES INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THEEVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL REINFORCING PLATES ON THE CRACKED SHOULDER BELT GUIDES.

Reported: 1992-12-15 (December 15, 1992)

THE FOG LAMPS, LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS, AND HIGH BEAM HEADLAMPS CAN BE OPERATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THIS CAN CAUSE THE HEADLAMP CIRCUIT BREAKER TO OVERLOAD AND TRIP, RESULTING IN LOSS OF HEADLAMPS (LOW AND HIGH BEAM) AND FOG LIGHTS.

Consequence: LOSS OF HEADLAMPS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING REDUCES DRIVERVISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS OR AT NIGHT, AND COULD RESULT IN AVEHICLE ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, THE USE OF MORE THAN FOUR (4) WHITE LIGHTS ON AVEHICLE AT THE SAME TIME VIOLATES THE LAW IN SOME STATES.

Remedy: INSTALL NEW FOG LAMP RELAYS, NEW CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND NEW CIRCUIT BREAKER TERMINALS. ALSO, MODIFY THE LIGHTING CIRCUIT TO PREVENT THE FOG LAMPS AND HIGH BEAM LAMPS FROM OPERATING SIMULTANEOUSLY.

Reported: 1997-04-08 (April 8, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NOT LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.