Pontiac / Grand Prix / 1996
1996 Pontiac Grand Prix problems
Owners have filed 116 complaints about the 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling accounts for 18.1% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of service brakes, hydraulic at 15.5%.
Complaints116
Crashes10
Fires4
Injuries8
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Engine and engine cooling 18.1% · 21
Service brakes, hydraulic 15.5% · 18
Electrical system 9.5% · 11
Steering 7.8% · 9
Structure 6.9% · 8
Fuel system, gasoline 5.2% · 6
Power train 5.2% · 6
Vehicle speed control 4.3% · 5
Severity
Of those complaints, 10 describe a crash, 4 describe a fire and 8 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 19 model years of the Pontiac Grand Prix in this data, 1996 draws comparatively few complaints; 1997 is the outlier year.
Filings have fallen off, 5 in the last three years against 10 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 39,153 miles.
In owners' own words
I began to have engine problems with my vehicle at 36,000 miles. I decided to trace the vin # through carfax. When I did I found that the odometer has been rolled back 71,000 miles or more. The car dealer does not want to handle the problem. Engine and engine cooling
Would be driving vehicle when it would start to hesitate at 40mph. Problem was sporadic. Would not be able to pass another vehicle. Took to dealer numerous times for problem. Mechanic could not locate cause. Engine and engine cooling
Consumer complains the heating system has become inoperable. Inspection of the failure led to the discovery that the vehicle is in need of a new engine. Mechanic can not explain why this occured. Engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…