1995 Pontiac Grand Prix

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 169 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip23
301
Power Train › Automatic Transmission17
000
Air Bags › Frontal11
906
Vehicle Speed Control › Cables8
000
Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights5
101
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine5
000
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage4
202
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Switch/Wiring3
000
Structure › Body › Door3
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor3
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Other › Storage › Tank Assembly › Pressure Relief Devices07E021000
Filed Mar 12, 2007742 vehiclesDelphi

Defect. 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 UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

Risk. FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

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.

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage98V306000
Filed Dec 1, 1998111,470 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR PLATE EXHIBITS STRESS CRACKS.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM CAN FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT SYSTEM.

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage97V065000
Filed Apr 18, 199750,709 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR PLATE EXHIBITS STRESS CRACKS.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM CAN FRACTURE AND INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT CAN OCCUR.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT SYSTEM.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Switch/Wiring97V017000
Filed Feb 11, 1997349,331 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A STRAINED OR SEPARATED WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE.

Risk. THIS CAN CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR IN A SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE OLD DESIGNED WASHER/WIPER SWITCHES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Switch/Wiring
Filed Nov 12, 2008100,000 milesMI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. SHE WAS INFORMED BY AN AUTO PARTS STORE THAT THE NECESSARY PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS INCORRECT AND INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V017000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO PURCHASE THE PART FROM THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN THE PART. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V306000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 120,000. UPDATED 12/15/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/15/08. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 28, 2008150,000 milesVA

PONTIAC RELEASED A RECALL OF 1997-? GRAND PRIX'S DUE TO A SEVERE ENGINE OIL LEAK THAT CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO CATCH FIRE. WE HAVE A 1995 GRAND PRIX WITH A 3.1L ENGINE THAT HAS A SEVERE OIL LEAK ALSO. THE LEAK HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED FROM THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WITH A $1000 REPAIR ESTIMATE. I BELIEVE THE ENGINE IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE ONES USED IN 1997-? MODEL YEARS. PONTIAC SHOULD INCLUDE ALL GRAND PRIX'S WITH THIS ENGINE IN THEIR RECALL! *TR

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch
Filed Mar 9, 2006130,000 milesIN

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HEADLIGHTS DIMMER SWITCH, AND THE TURN SIGNAL ARE ALL CONTROLLED FROM THE SAME CONTROL ARM. IN ORDER FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK ALL OF THE ABOVE FUNCTIONS HAVE TO BE PERFORMED. ONCE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS START WORKING THEY ONLY WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THERE IS NHTSA RECALL # 97V017000 REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WASHER, SWITCH AND WIRING. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED O6/05/2006. *AK

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 14, 2005WI

GRAND PRIX REAR ENDED A SEMI TRAILER. IT APPEARED TO HAVE A DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT INTRUSION INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I SEEMED THE INJURIES COULD HAVE BEEN LESS HAD AN AIR BAG DEPLOYED. UNSURE OF FACTORS LEADING TO NON DEPLOYMENT. REQUESTING INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRBAGS AS TO FAILURE OF SOME MECHANICAL NATURE OR IF THERE WAS SOME FORM OF FRAUD OR OTHER ALTERATION TO THE AIRBAGS. PATIENT WAS TRANSPORTED AFTER BEING SEDATED . UNSURE OF CURRENT CONDITION OF PATIENT. PASSENGER WAS TRANSPORTED TO FROEDERT MEMORIAL LUTHERAN HOSPITAL VIA FLIGHT FOR LIFE FOR LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CARE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Jan 26, 200596,500 milesMN

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WENT OUT ON 1995 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CAR WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHEN THE GASKET WENT; CAUSING THE OIL TO QUICKLY LEAK FROM THE ENGINE AND LEAVING CAR INOPERABLE IN TRAFFIC. DID NOT REALIZE THIS WAS HAPPENING UNTIL CAR SMELLED OF OIL AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IT CREATED QUITE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY. NO PRIOR WARNING OF FAILURE WAS EVIDENT. CAR WAS TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY WHERE BOTH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS WERE REPLACED. VERY LABOR-INTENSIVE AND VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. GM DEALERSHIP AND ASE-CERTIFIED MECHANICS ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THIS FAILURE IS A COMMON PROBLEM.*AK

Air Bags
Filed Jan 21, 2005PA

THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN ALL OF SUDDEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER. *NM

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jan 11, 2005IN

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, WHEREBY CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK AT 45 MPH, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Oct 1, 2004134,281 milesVA

WHILE GETTING INTO TO MY CAR I SAT DOWN THE AND THE SEAT BROKE AND I FELL TO THE BACK. I CHECKED MY SEAT AND FOUND THE METAL BRACKET BROKE THAT SECURES THE SEAT DOWN.*AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Oct 1, 2004VA

WHILE DRIVING FRONT PASSENGER SEAT COLLAPSED FORWARD. C0NSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT HOME. THEN, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module1 injured
Filed Sep 15, 2004150,000 milesOH

ON JULY 26, 2004 MY 1995 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. I WAS EXITING MY GARAGE AND AS I PROCEEDED FORWARD ABOUT 5-10 FEET THE AIR BAGS BOTH WENT OFF SHATTERING MY WINDSHEILD. IT BURNED MY FACE, HANDS AND MY ARMS. I WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND DIAGNOSED WITH MULTIPLE FIRST DEGREE BURNS. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND THAT IF THERE WAS NO COLLISION THAT IT WAS NOT MY INSURANCE RESPONSIBILITY. I THEN CALLED GM AND EXPLAINED TO THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD COME TO CHECK THINGS OUT. MEANWHILE I HAVE TO RENT A VEHICLE. APPROX. 10 DAYS LATER GMS INVESTIGATOR ARRIVED TO TAKE MY STATEMENT, PICTURES AND TOOK THE MDULES FROM THE CAR TO BENCH TEST. AT THAT TIME I WAS TOLD THAT GM WOULD PROBABLY REIMBURSE MY RENTAL EXPENSES. 7 WEEKS INTO THE INVESTIGATION AND NOW GM WANTS TO PURCHASE MY VEHICLE. I STILL TO DATE AM DRIVING A RENTAL AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Cables
Filed Aug 31, 2004104,000 milesMI

ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE TWICE WHILE DRIVING. FIRST IN 1998 WHILE ACCELERATING ON TO I-95 FROM A REST AREA. (MILEAGE 50,000 MILES) SECOND, AUGUST 29, 2004 DRIVING ON MAJOR HIGHWAY IN TROY MICHIGAN. (MILEAGE 104,000) REPAIRED BOTH TIMES FOR ABOUT $150.00 OLD PARTS MAY BE AVAILABLE.*AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Aug 12, 200495,000 milesKY

DEALERSHIP WAS CHARGING THE CONSUMER $260.00 TO REPAIR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAUSE THE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE RECALLED PART AS INDICATED IN WINDSHIELD WIPER RECALL 97V017000.*AK *NM

Air Bags › Side/Window
Filed Aug 4, 2004116,379 milesOK

CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. A DAY BEFORE SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. AIR BAG WAS NOT REPAIRED, AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.*AK

Steering
Filed Jan 17, 2004151,000 milesNC

I HAVE A 95 GRAND PRIX SE AND THE STEERING FEELS LOOSE, BUT THE MECHANIC CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WIRE THE ALIGNMENT. IT MAY HAVE THE SAME DEFECT THE 96 MODELS HAVE. PLEASE CHECK THIS AND LET ME KNOW IF I HAVE THE SAME STEERING SYSTEM. THANK YOU. *CB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 15, 200485,000 milesIL

ALL OF THE PAINT ON THE TRIM MOLDING HAS COME OFF. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO TALK TO THE MANUFACTURER AND TOLD BASICALLY TO GET LOST I GAVE UP AND HAVEN'T PURCHASED ANOTHER PONTIAC SINCE. OF COURSE, OUR FAMILY HAS MADE THREE NEW CAR PURCHASES SINCE THEN BUT NONE OF THEM PONTIAC.

Exterior Lighting › Hazard Flashing Warning Lights › Switch
Filed Nov 7, 2003MI

THE 4 WAY FLASHER SWITCH DOES NOT WORK ON MY 1995 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. MY 2001 CHEVY BLAZER WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN THE SWITCH IS DEPRESSED, THE HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, THEN PREVENTS THE TURN INDICATORS FROM WORKING. *LA

Exterior Lighting › Tail LightsCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 14, 2003TX

EXTERIOR LIGHTING/TAIL LIGHTS - THERE IS MOISTURE BUILD-UP AND HEAVY CONDENSATION IN BOTH TAIL LIGHTS, AGAIN . I'VE ALREADY HAD THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY REPLACED TWICE ON BOTH SIDES, AND HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AGAIN. THE COST FOR JUST ONE (1) TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS IN EXCESS OF $250.00. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM WHICH MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL CAR, THERE'S NO RECALL. THERE'S DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS PROBLEM DURING THE DAYTIME BECAUSE IT CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY FOR OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD WHO CAN'T SEE MY BRAKE LIGHTS. I ALREADY HAVE ONE HERNIATED DISC IN MY NECK DUE TO A REAR-END COLLISION, AND I DON'T NEED ANOTHER ONE! *LA

Steering
Filed Dec 5, 2002MI

CONSUMER STATES THAT THEIR VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT FOR THE POWER STEERING STATED IN RECALL NUMBER 02 V 286 000, BUT THEIR YEAR VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. TS

Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights
Filed Oct 18, 2002TN

SINCE THE GRAND PRIX WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER OF 1994 {1995 MODEL} IT HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO THE DEALER 10 TIMES FOR EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY LEAKING WATER INTO THEM. THE VERY FIRST TIME THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN WAS DECEMBER 5, 1994 FOR THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY TO BE REPLACED. THEN IT JUST CONTINUED ON FOR ANOTHER 4 REPLACEMENTS OF THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THEN THE RIGHT SIDE STARTED TO LEAK. THEN BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. THE LAST TIME IT WAS LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER WAS IN 1999. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN LEAKING ON AND OFF CONSISTANTLY. RECENTLY I TOOK THE ASSEMBLY OUT MYSELF AND FOUND THAT THE INNER MOLDING OF THE ASSEMBLY WAS WARPED. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED PONTIAC OR THE DEALER WITH THIS FINDING, SINCE THE MANUFACTURER TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR A REPAIR. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY FILLS UP WITH WATER AND WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED IT CAUSES A MAJOR FOG AND CONDENSATION IN THE ASSEMBLY, SO THE LIGHTS ARE NOT VISIBLE TO CARS BEHIND YOU. AND THE WATER HAS NO WHERE TO GO SO IT STAYS IN THE ASSEMBLIES AND CONTINUES TO CONDENSATE. I AM FRUSTRATED WITH PONTIAC BECAUSE THEY STATED THE MILEAGE WAS TOO FAR OUT FOR A WARRANTY COVERAGE. I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM A SAFETY POINT AND THAT I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN SO MANY TIMES FOR REPAIR TO BOTH LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. I ALSO FEEL THAT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS A NEW BODY STYLE FOR '95 THERE ARE PROBLEMS THAT THE MANUFACTURER DIDN'T WORK OUT. THE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACE

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Jul 22, 2002IN

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING TURN LIGHT SIGNAL WENT OUT, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

20 of 169 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1997
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2008142131Fatalities reported
20072204182Fatalities reported
20062392210High concern
2005148250Routine
20044549582Fatalities reported
20031067370High concern
20023307961Fatalities reported
2001308101068Fatalities reported
200046191620High concern
199941281252Fatalities reported
19984998601Fatalities reported
199781091082Fatalities reported
199679230Routine
1995 — this page169441Fatalities reported
1994213220Above average
1993131281Fatalities reported
1992114260Routine
1991172640Routine
1990176910Routine

Compare every Grand Prix year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 12, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.