Pontiac / Grand Prix / 1997
1997 Pontiac Grand Prix problems
Owners have filed 1,064 complaints about the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix with NHTSA. Steering accounts for 21.8% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of exterior lighting at 14.6%.
Complaints1,064
Crashes52
Fires123
Injuries42
Deaths2
What owners report breaking
Steering 21.8% · 232
Exterior lighting 14.6% · 155
Engine and engine cooling 13.1% · 139
Electrical system 8.9% · 95
Visibility 8.2% · 87
Air bags 5.6% · 60
Service brakes, hydraulic 4.8% · 51
Engine 4.2% · 45
Severity
Of those complaints, 52 describe a crash, 123 describe a fire, 42 report an injury and 2 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 19 model years of the Pontiac Grand Prix in this data, 1997 draws the most complaints of any of them.
Filings have fallen off, 7 in the last three years against 42 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 100,500 miles.
In owners' own words
The driver received a (NHTSA) recall notice (02-v-286-000) power steering wheel. The dealer's mechanic replaced the bearing not the rack and pinion. One month later the driver complained that the steering wheel was hard to turn and there was a knocking noise heard coming from underneath the vehicle. The consumer took the vehicle back to the dealer for inspection. The dealer's mechanic would not replace the part. Steering · reported at 164,000 miles
Nhtsa#02-v-286-000 rack and pinion bearing in the power and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs where not crimped properly, the pinion shaft can be forced upward during left turn and back down as the steering wheel is moved back. Consumer stated experienced the same problem with his vehicle. Manufacturer was notified and stated they had no knowledge of recall. Please provide further information. Steering
: The contact stated the vehicle was scheduled for the recall repair # 02v286000, for the steering: rack and pinion, at the service dealer. The bearing was replaced, but due to an unavailable tool, the rack and pinion was not replaced as the contact had been informed by the service dealer. The rack and pinion problem had become a problem since the bearing was replaced. The manufacturer was notified. Steering · reported at 22,786 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Other Pontiac Grand Prix years
1994 306 complaints · 22.5% visibility 1995 245 complaints · 20.0% service brakes, hydraulic 1996 116 complaints · 18.1% engine and engine cooling 1998 618 complaints · 15.4% engine and engine cooling 1999 500 complaints · 31.4% engine and engine cooling 2000 588 complaints · 26.5% engine and engine cooling