1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 |
| 1981 | 0 |
| 1982 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 |
| 1984 | 3 |
| 1985 | 3 |
| 1986 | 2 |
| 1987 | 2 |
| 1988 | 88 |
| 1989 | 139 |
| 1990 | 176 |
| 1991 | 172 |
| 1992 | 114 |
| 1993 | 131 |
| 1994 | 213 |
| 1995 | 169 |
| 1996 | 79 |
| 1997 | 810 |
| 1998 | 499 |
| 1999 | 412 |
| 2000 | 461 |
| 2001 | 308 |
| 2002 | 330 |
| 2003 | 106 |
| 2004 | 454 |
| 2005 | 148 |
| 2006 | 239 |
| 2007 | 220 |
| 2008 | 142 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
16% of complaints: exterior lighting — 131 distinct reports on file.
16% of complaints: steering — 127 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURY DEATHShow complaint excerpts
I HAVE LOCATED THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION. I HADN'T REPORTED ANYTHING BECAUSE THEIR WAS NO RECALL UNTIL 11/06/02. DT
NHTSA ODI report, 20021125
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL BECAME TIGHT, THEN W/O WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL SNAPPED AND TURNED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND RAN OFF THE ROAD. *TS *NLM *DT
NHTSA ODI report, 20021017
7% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 56 distinct reports on file.
FIRE INJURYShow complaint excerpts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN IT EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND IN THE ENGINE.
NHTSA ODI report, 20120503
MY ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE CAR HAD A RECALL 2 YEARS AGO WHICH I OBEYED, THE RECALL WAS TO PREVENT FIRE ON THE ENGINE, BUT EVEN AFTER I ATTENDED THAT RECALL 2 YEARS AGO, MY ENGINE STILL CAUGHT ON FIRE.
NHTSA ODI report, 20120403
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGES INCREASED AS WELL.
NHTSA ODI report, 20120319
6% of complaints: engine — 45 distinct reports on file.
FIRE INJURYShow complaint excerpts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A CLICKING NOISE. AFTERWARDS, THICK SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD.
NHTSA ODI report, 20190110
WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX TO THE TIRE SHOP IT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD AND TOTALLY DAMAGED THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI report, 20180807
4% of complaints: visibility — 33 distinct reports on file.
SAFETY TIMELINE
OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS
WINDSHIELD WIPER
WINDSHIELD WIPER
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY STOP WORKING DUE TO A SEPARATION BETWEEN THE DRIVE PIN AND CRESCENT IN THE CRANK ARM ASSEMBLY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF A PLASTIC WATER DEFLECTOR AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CRANK ARM AND INSTALL A WATER DEFLECTOR. ON VEHICLES RECEIVING A REPLACEME
Campaign 99V348000 — check if this car was fixed
STEERING RACK AND PINION
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
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
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
Campaign 02V286000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNI
Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
Campaign 07E021000 — check if this car was fixed
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, CREAT
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINEÂS FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINEÂS PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, ALONG
Campaign 08V118000 — check if this car was fixed
DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEM
Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT D
Campaign 09E005000 — check if this car was fixed
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 EQUIPP
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINEÂS FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINEÂS PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE
Campaign 09V116000 — check if this car was fixed
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed
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.
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 engineÂs front valve cover and gasket.
Campaign 15V701000 — check if this car was fixed
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
1997 Pontiac Grand Prix — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for exterior lighting issues (131 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for steering issues (127 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (56 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 99V348000 (visibility) has been completed.
- Verify recall 02V286000 (steering) has been completed.
- Verify recall 07E021000 (fuel system, other) has been completed.
- Verify recall 08V118000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E005000 (steering) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09V116000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL
BEST YEARS
WORST YEARS
FAQ
Is the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix?
The most-reported component is exterior lighting:headlights, accounting for 16% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix have?
9 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.