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1999 Pontiac GRAND PRIX: complaints, problems and recalls

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: . 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
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior4912.3%
Engine operation266.5%
Braking behavior225.5%
Electrical and battery issues215.3%
Transmission and shifting164.0%
Fuel system concerns30.8%

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
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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling64
Engine50
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine33
Electrical System31
Steering:Rack And Pinion27
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls19
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe18
Steering17

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
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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00011
25,000 to 49,99929
50,000 to 74,99941
75,000 to 99,99946
100,000 to 149,99960
150,000 and above50

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
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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200035
200121
200231
200368
200441
200515
200614
200725
200832
200919
201014
20118
20126
20135
201410
201517
201628
20173
20182
20192
20211
20221

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10000947 · 2003-01-11 (January 11, 2003)

CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD...BLOWN HEAD GASKET.

Owner-reported narrative. 68,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000947 at NHTSA ↗

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 10004125 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO STEER LEFT, VEHICLE STEERS TO THE RIGHT. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER STATES THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004125 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004600 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THEY TURNED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON, THE WIPERS FLEW OFF THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004600 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004607 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)

CONSUMER NOTICED EVERY DAY A LOW PRESSURE ON THE LEFT TIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO GOOD TIRE SHOP AND TECHNICIAN FOUND A HAIR LINE CRACK ON THE WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED NOTHING THEY CAN DO WARRANTY IS OVER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004607 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 10005862 · 2003-02-14 (February 14, 2003)

1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GT, ENGINE LOCKED UP AFTER 57,816 MILES DUE TO DEFECTIVE UPPER PLENUM MADE OF INFERIOR MATERIAL, THEREFORE CAUSING THE WATER, GAS, AND OIL TO MIX LOCKING DOWN THE ENGINE. GIVING THE SAME SYMTOMS AS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.

Owner-reported narrative. 57,816 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005862 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

02V027000 · Air Bags:Frontal

Reported: 2002-01-25 (January 25, 2002)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES COULD PRODUCE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL PRESSURE. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT WOULD TRIGGER A DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, THE INCREASED INTERNAL PRESSURE CAN CAUSE THE INFLATOR MODULE TO EXPLODE.

Consequence: METAL AND PLASTIC DEBRIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 1, 2002. 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 PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
08V118000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

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> .

NHTSA campaign record ↗
09V116000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
15V701000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗