CarModelProblems.com

1998 Pontiac Grand Prix Problems & Recalls

Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026

High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Exterior Lighting:headlights — runs 2.4× the fleet median for that category across the 719 model-years tracked on this site.
499Complaints
8Recalls
19Crashes
60Fires
21Injured
1Deaths

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

Is this problem acknowledged?

The most-reported problem — Exterior Lighting:headlights (14.8% of complaints) — is covered by 2 NHTSA recall campaigns.

Exterior Lighting:headlights complaints here are 2.4× the median for that category across the 719 model-years tracked on this site.

5 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 1 rests on owner reports alone.

Complaint categoryReportsOfficial statusReference
Exterior Lighting:headlights74 · 14.8%RecalledRecall 09E012000 · Recall 09E025000
Steering:rack And Pinion51 · 10.2%RecalledRecall 09E005000 · Recall 02V286000
Engine And Engine Cooling37 · 7.4%RecalledRecall 15V701000 · Recall 09V116000 · Recall 08V118000
Engine33 · 6.6%RecalledRecall 15V701000 · Recall 09V116000 · Recall 08V118000
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline28 · 5.6%RecalledRecall 15V701000 · Recall 09V116000 · Recall 08V118000
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls26 · 5.2%Investigation closedEA99024 · PE99028

Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Complaints by component

ENGINE33 · 6.6%
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS26 · 5.2%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP22 · 4.4%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM18 · 3.6%
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION17 · 3.4%
STEERING17 · 3.4%

Percentages are the share of the 499 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.

Recalls — 8 campaigns

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

NHTSA campaign 15V701000 · 2015 · reported 10/26/2015

Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Engine And Engine Cooling

NHTSA campaign 09V116000 · 2009 · reported 04/08/2009

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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Steering

NHTSA campaign 09E005000 · 2009 · reported 02/17/2009

A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Engine And Engine Cooling

NHTSA campaign 08V118000 · 2008 · reported 03/12/2008

CERTAIN UNDERHOOD FIRES MAY BE CAUSED BY DROPS OF ENGINE OIL, FROM SEEPAGE OR SPILLAGE, BEING DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly:pressure Relief Devices

NHTSA campaign 07E021000 · 2007 · reported 03/12/2007

FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Steering:rack And Pinion

NHTSA campaign 02V286000 · 2002 · reported 11/04/2002

IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What owners report

“FRONT HEADLIGHT LENS IS ATTACHED WITH GLUE. GLUE HAS STARTED TO DISSOLVE, CAUSING LENS TO SEPARATE. HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. DEALER HAS BEEN…”NHTSA complaint 883847 — filed 03/22/2001 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
“ON MARCH 10, 2001 I NOTICED THAT MY LEFT HEADLIGHT LENS COVER AND BULB WERE MISSING. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED THE DEALER FOR A…”NHTSA complaint 742444 — filed 03/14/2001 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
“FRONT HEADLIGHT COVER CAME OFF, THEN BULB BLEWOUT BECAUSE IT WAS EXPOSED TO SNOW. TOOK TO DEALER TO GET A HEADLIGHT REPLACED. CONSUMER STATED COVER…”NHTSA complaint 882229 — filed 03/06/2001 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Complaint trend by year filed

2120081812201092201212201422242016522018112020112023

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix?

Exterior lighting:headlights issues are the most-reported category, cited in 74 of 499 NHTSA complaints (14.8%), followed by steering:rack and pinion (51), engine and engine cooling (37), engine (33). Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How many complaints does the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix have?

499 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 19 involved a crash, 60 involved a fire, and 21 reported injuries. 1 deaths were reported.

Does the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix have any recalls?

Yes — 8 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 15V701000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Has NHTSA acted on the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix's reported problems?

5 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.

Is a complaint proof of a defect?

No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.