MYRModel Year Report

1997 Pontiac Grand Prix

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
BUILT 2026-10-10

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.

How is this computed?

Complaints
810
Recalls
9

Campaigns on file for 1997

Investigations
7

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Steering

28% of complaints

Complaints per year

1983: 2 complaints 1983 1984: 3 complaints 1985: 3 complaints 1986: 2 complaints 1987: 2 complaints 1987 1988: 92 complaints 1989: 143 complaints 1990: 177 complaints 1991: 173 complaints 1991 1992: 117 complaints 1993: 132 complaints 1994: 217 complaints 1995: 169 complaints 1996: 79 complaints 1997: 810 complaints 1997 810 1998: 499 complaints 1999: 412 complaints 2000: 461 complaints 2001: 308 complaints 2002: 330 complaints 2003: 106 complaints 2003 2004: 454 complaints 2005: 148 complaints 2006: 239 complaints 2007: 220 complaints 2007 2008: 143 complaints
1983: 2 complaints 1983 1984: 3 complaints 1985: 3 complaints 1985 1986: 2 complaints 1987: 2 complaints 1987 1988: 92 complaints 1989: 143 complaints 1989 1990: 177 complaints 1991: 173 complaints 1991 1992: 117 complaints 1993: 132 complaints 1993 1994: 217 complaints 1995: 169 complaints 1995 1996: 79 complaints 1997: 810 complaints 1997 810 1998: 499 complaints 1999: 412 complaints 1999 2000: 461 complaints 2001: 308 complaints 2001 2002: 330 complaints 2003: 106 complaints 2003 2004: 454 complaints 2005: 148 complaints 2005 2006: 239 complaints 2007: 220 complaints 2007 2008: 143 complaints
1983: 2 complaints 1983 1984: 3 complaints 1985: 3 complaints 1985 1986: 2 complaints 1987: 2 complaints 1987 1988: 92 complaints 1989: 143 complaints 1989 1990: 177 complaints 1991: 173 complaints 1991 1992: 117 complaints 1993: 132 complaints 1993 1994: 217 complaints 1995: 169 complaints 1995 1996: 79 complaints 1997: 810 complaints 1997 810 1998: 499 complaints 1999: 412 complaints 1999 2000: 461 complaints 2001: 308 complaints 2001 2002: 330 complaints 2003: 106 complaints 2003 2004: 454 complaints 2005: 148 complaints 2005 2006: 239 complaints 2007: 220 complaints 2007 2008: 143 complaints

1997: 810 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19800
19810
19820
19832
19843
19853
19862
19872
198892
1989143
1990177
1991173
1992117
1993132
1994217
1995169
199679
1997810
1998499
1999412
2000461
2001308
2002330
2003106
2004454
2005148
2006239
2007220
2008143

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Steering

28% · 228 reports

Most commonly citing rack and pinion and hydraulic power assist system.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH
Show 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, 2002-11-25

No summary. Dt

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-11-20

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-10-17

Exterior lighting

19% · 151 reports

Most commonly citing headlights and concealment devices.

FIRE

Engine and engine cooling

17% · 138 reports

Most commonly citing engine and gasoline.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show 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, 2012-05-03

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, 2012-04-03

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, 2012-03-19

Electrical system

12% · 94 reports

Most commonly citing alternator/generator/regulator and 12v/24v/48v battery.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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, 2018-08-07

Also filed under Engine

Visibility

11% · 86 reports

Most commonly citing windshield wiper/washer and power window devices and controls.

CRASHINJURY

Safety timeline

9 recalls · 7 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    1997Complaint volume 810 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. I
    1998-08-26Recall queryOpen Oversensitive air bag deployments
  3. I
    1999-04-16Preliminary evaluationClosed 1999-08-20 Windshield wiper
  4. I
    1999-08-20Engineering analysisClosed 2000-01-13 Windshield wiper
  5. R
    2000-05-25Visibility99V348000 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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. I
    2001-11-14Preliminary evaluationClosed 2002-04-04 Steering rack and pinion
  7. I
    2002-04-04Engineering analysisClosed 2002-12-10 Power rack and pinion steering failure
  8. I
    2002-06-13Preliminary evaluationClosed 2002-10-22 Engine compartment fires
  9. I
    2002-10-22Engineering analysisClosed 2004-03-09 Engine compartment fires
  10. R
    2003-01-24Steering02V286000 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…

    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.…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2007-04-27Fuel system, other07E021000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2008-04-28Engine and engine cooling08V118000 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…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the engineâ’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engineâ’s plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    2009-02-23Steering09E005000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  14. R
    2009-04-09Engine and engine cooling09V116000 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…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the engineâ’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engineâ’s plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  15. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  16. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  17. R
    2016-02-19Engine and engine cooling15V701000 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 engine’s front valve cover and gasket.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1997 Pontiac Grand Prix — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Steering: 228 reports on file for this year.
  • Exterior lighting: 151 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine and engine cooling: 138 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 99V348000 · Visibility
  • Recall 02V286000 · Steering
  • Recall 07E021000 · Fuel system, other
  • Recall 08V118000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 09E005000 · Steering
  • Recall 09V116000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 15V701000 · Engine and engine cooling
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 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 steering, accounting for 28% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix have?
9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.