1998 Pontiac GRAND PRIX: complaints, problems and recalls

MY SECOND REAR MAIN SEAL LEAKING OIL WITH ONLY 61,000 MILES ON THE CAR. MY FIRST WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AT 34,000 MILES AND 27,000 MILES LATER I HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME 1100 DOLLARS TO FIX AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT THIS BEING THE SECOND REPAIR IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. CUSTOMER CARE SAID ALL THEY COULD DO WAS OFFER A DISCOUNT ON A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. I THOUGHT THAT WAS LAUGHABLE. WILL THE REST OF THE PROBLEMS I'VE HAD I WILL NEVER TOUCH A GM PRODUCT AGAIN. 3 REPAIRS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY ARE NOW…

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000450 at NHTSA ↗

THE 1998 GRAND PRIX GT WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR OVER 24 HOURS , A FIRE STARTED IN THE DASH OF THE CAR

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000561 at NHTSA ↗

THE HEADLIGHT LENS (COVER) CAME OFF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE (THIS WAS DUE TO BAD ADHESIVE) THE LIGHT BULD EXPLODED WHEN IT CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE WEATHER. CHECKED THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THAT ONE IS READY TO FALL OFF ALSO. THIS HAPPENED ON 1/6/2003

Owner-reported narrative. 81,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000792 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR MAIN ENGINE CRANKSHAFT SEAL IS LEAKING OIL. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE, 1ST TIME AT 55K MILES AND 2ND TIME AT 95K MILES. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001044 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MAKES AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN CAUSING A DISTRACTION. TS THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JG

Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001582 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE GEAR SHIFT BROKE. DEALER NOTIFIED, REPAIRED AND 20,000 MILES LATER PROBLEM REOCCURRED. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002041 at NHTSA ↗

HEADLIGHT FACE FALLS OFF AND THEN I LOOSE THE USE OF THE HEADLIGHT UNTIL IT IS REPLACED. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002953 at NHTSA ↗

RECALL NUMBER 02V286000 I HAVE THE PROBLEM THAT IS STATED ON THE RECALL. I CALLED PONTIAC AT [phone removed] AROUND 12-12-02. THEY SAID THE RECALL SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC YET. I WOOULD HAVE TO WAIT TILL DEALER GOT THE RECALL NOTICE BEFORE THEY WOULD PAY TO HAVE MY CAR FIXED.THAT IT WOULD BE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR BEFORE THE DEALERS GOT THE NOTICE. MY CAR HAS BEEN PARKED SENSE THEN. AM A FRAID TO DRIVE IT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.I NEED A LOANER CAR OR MINE FIX. CAN YOU HELP ?

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002976 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-11-04 (November 4, 2002)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. 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 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

Reported: 2008-03-12 (March 12, 2008)

GM IS RECALLING 207,542 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L SUPERCHARGED V-6 ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES HAVE HIGHER FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET TEMPERATURES, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR EARLIER DEGRADATION OF THE FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET AND EVENTUAL OIL SEEPAGE.

Consequence: CERTAIN UNDERHOOD FIRES MAY BE CAUSED BY DROPS OF ENGINE OIL, FROM SEEPAGE OR SPILLAGE, BEING DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING. IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND, IN SOME INSTANCES, THE FIRE MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINE’S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, ALONG WITH THE 1-3-5 SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. , FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. UNTIL THE REMEDY IS COMPLETED, GM STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT OWNERS OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS (1) THAT OWNERS DO NOT PARK THEIR VEHICLE IN A GARAGE, CAR PORT, OR OTHER STRUCTURE; (2) IF OWNERS NOTICE A BURNING ODOR, THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CHARGE; (3) USE PREMIUM FUEL (91 OCTANE OR HIGHER) IN THE VEHICLE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE VEHICLE'S OWNER MANUAL. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Reported: 2009-04-08 (April 8, 2009)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.

Consequence: IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINE’S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM OR HTTP:WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2015-10-26 (October 26, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.