1998 Pontiac Grand Prix complaints

HEADLIGHT PLASTIC COVERS, ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS, FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, PER DEALERSHIP.*AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK IN PONTIAC 1998 3.1 LITER ENGINE. *LA

THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION AS STATED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER LEFT. *TS *JB

THERE ARE OCCASIONS WHEN TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE THAT THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE KEY. *LA

1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAS CONTINUED PROBLEMS WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. WAS TOLD IT IS THE RACK AND PINION STEERING, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALSO TOLD IT IS UNUSUAL FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND COULD BE A DEFECT. *LA

HEADLIGHTS LENSES ARE NOT BONDED CORRECTLY RESULTING IN WATER COLLECTING IN THE HEADLIGHTS. *MR THIS CAUSED THE HEADLAMP TO FOG WHICH REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF ILLUMINATION. THE LEFT HEADLAMP HAD FALLEN OFF. *SCC *JB

POWER WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED (FRONT DRIVER SIDE). *JB

MY 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAS THE SAME WINDSHIELD WIPER PARKING PROBLEMS AS THE 1997 WERE RECALLED FOR. THEY PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING RESTRICTED VISION WHEN DRIVING. GM ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE 1997'S WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX THE 1998'S, AND WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THEM FIXED TWICE. ALSO TWO HEADLIGHT LENSES HAVE POPPED OUT, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO BURN OUT, LEAVING US UNEXPECTEDLY WITH NO LIGHTS AT NIGHT. *NLM

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT COVER BECAME SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY.THE COVER HIT MY WINDSHIELD AND BOUNCED OVER THE TOP OF THE CAR AND THE CAR BEHIND WAS BACK ENOUGH THAT IT HIT THE HIGHWAY FIRST AND THEN FLEW UNDER THEIR CAR.*AK

THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO HONOR RECALL 02V28600 FOR POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY. *AK

BATTERY BLEW-UP AND STARTED SMALL FIRE AFTER I NOTICED THE POSITIVE TERMANAL LEEKING AS I DICONECTED THE BATTERY IT BLEW ACID ALL OVER THE CAR AND MYSELF CAUSING A SMALL FIRE AFTER REPLACING THE FACTERY AC DELCO BATTERY THE TRANSMISION SLIPS WHEN SWITCHING FROM 2ND GEAR TO 3RD GEAR.*AK

I HAVE LOST BOTH LENS COVER TO HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING THE BULBS TO GO OUT. HAD TO PAY $70.00 FOR REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE LIGHT COMPONENT. DEALER SAID LENS COVER WAS NOT AVAILABLE????*AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK.CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED . HE WAS AWARE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL O N THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE.MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WERE CONCERNED, BUT HAVE NOT YET DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *AK

WHILE TURNING ONTO STREET OR HIGHWAY THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, AND THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE. *AK

WHEN SHUTTING THE CAR OFF THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN PARK IF I DON'T HEAR A CLICK, I KNOW THE KEY IS GOING TO BE STUCK IN THE IGNITION. I HAVE TO BACK UP AND DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND POP THE STEERING WHEEL UP AND DOWN SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN THE KEY WILL COME OUT. AND IF IT CHOOSES TO NOT COME OUT NO MATTER WHAT I DO IT LOCKS THE WHOLE CAR UP AND THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY WILL NOT WORK AND IT DRAINS THE BATTERY. ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH HAS SHORTED OUT CAUSING A SLIGHT SHOCK. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR, AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMING ON FOR NO REASON. PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS POPPED OUT AND MADE THE BULB BURST. VERY COSTLY TO HAVE REPLACED. I HAVE CALLED 2 PONTIAC DEALERS ABOUT THE IGNITION AND ALL THE TELL ME IS THAT IT'S GOING TO RUN ME AROUND $800.00 TO HAVE A NEW IGNITION INSTALLED. AND ANOTHER $600.00 TO HAVE THE WIRING REPAIRED OR REPLACED FOR THE WINDOW SWITCH. THE ALTERNATOR WAS $500.00. HEAD LAMP WAS $75.00. AND I HAVE HAD TO HAVE 3 COMPLETE BRAKE JOBS DONE ON THE CAR IN 2 YEARS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A CERTAIN TURN. UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, HIT A TREE, AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

THE DELCO BATTERY IS EITHER FAULTY OR NOT PROPERLY SECURED AND PRONE TO LEAKING. WE HAVE HAD FOUR BATTERIES GO BAD IN FIVE YEARS IN THIS VEHICLE.*AK

BOTH HEADLIGHT LENSES ON MY WIFES 1998 GRAND PRIX WENT FLYING THROUGH THE AIR AT DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH ITS STEERING RACK AND PINION AS STATED IN RECALL 02 V 286 000, BUTTHE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *TT THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND WAS A LITTLE LESS DIFFICULT WHILE IN MOTION. *SCC *JB

RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS SEPARATION. LEFT SIDE LENS HAS WATER INSIDE OF IT. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY GM, BUT GM REFUSES TO ADDRESS IT. THEY HAVE EVEN MFG'D A NEW PART THAT, IN THEORY, DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED, AS THE EXPENSE IN REPAIRING IT IS ROUGHLY 150$ IN PARTS ALONE. IN ADDITION, THIS PROBLEM CAN (AND DID IN MY CASE) CAUSE THE HALOGEN BULB TO EXPLODE FROM WATER IMPACTING IT.

I OWN A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND-PRIX. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP IN THE UP-RIGHT POSITION. THIS HAS CAUSED IMPAIRED VISION. I KNOW THAT THE 1997 MODEL WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME MALFUNCTION. I AM THE MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN AND SAFETY IS MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE WHEN I PURCHASE A CAR. UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND A VERY EXPENSIVE PART TO REPLACE. I DO NOT FEEL THIS SHOULD GO OUT AT ONLY 94,000 MILES. *NLM

THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *JB

SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO. 02V286000: MY 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX IS HAVING THE EXACT SYMPTOMS AS DESCRIBED IN THIS NOTICE, WHICH I OBTAINED FROM THE ODI.NHTSA.DOT WEBSITE. ON 6/4/03, AT 9:48 A.M., I CONTACTED BRALEY & GRAHAM PONTIAC, IN MY HOMETOWN OF SACRAMENTO, CA, AT 916-481-2200 AND SPOKE TO BRIAN AT EXT. 4248. BRIAN CHECKED MY VIN AND TOLD ME, "THERE IS NO RECALL OR OPEN CAMPAIGN ON YOUR CAR". I THEN CONTACTED PONTIAC AT 800-762-2737 AND SPOKE TO SEAN ARMSTRONG, (GM REQUEST NO. 1-105820909) WHO, AT FIRST, COULD FIND NO RECALL AT ALL. WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER AND THEN THE GM RECALL NO (02049), HE PUT ME ON HOLD THEN CAME BACK AND SAID THAT HE HAD, IN FACT FOUND THE RECALL, BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN. I EXPLAINED THAT MY PROBLEM WAS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM LISTED AND HE SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED. HE SUGGESTED I TAKE THE CAR INTO A DEALER AND HAVE THEM CHECK IT, (AT MY OWN EXPENSE), AND POSSIBLY IT COULD BE USED TO EXTEND THE RANGE OF VINS COVERED. I REQUESTED THAT GM PROVIDE A FREE INSPECTION TO DETERMINE THE FACT, RATHER THAN TAKING IT IN AT MY EXPENSE (AND AT MY PERIL, AS I HAVE ALREADY HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH THE LOCAL DEALER THAT CONVINCES ME THAT THEY ARE NOT COMPLETELY HONEST !). HE SAID THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. I THEN TRIED TO CALL NHTSA AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 888-327-4236 TO REQUEST FURTHER ASSISTANCE IN GETTING THIS SAFETY ISSUE RESOLVED. I GOT A RECORDED MESSAGE THAT "DUE TO AN UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY...(THEY WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO ANSWER MY C

TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES WILL START TO MAKE A LOUD WHINING NOISE AND START TO SHIFT HARD AND SUDDEN. DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME,USUALLY AFTER I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A WHILE. ALSO SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE IT IS SURGING. I HEARD THE 3800 TRANSMISSIONS WERE A GOOD TRANSMISSION, I DON'T KNOW. *NLM

DEFECTIVE AC DELCO BATTERIES INSTALLED IN NEW VEHICLES LEAK ACID FROM THE POSITIVE TERMINAL (KNOWN PROBLEM TO DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT) POSING A POSSIBLE EXPLOSION HAZARD IN A CONFINED SPACE (UNDER HOOD). LEAKS CONTRIBUTE TO GASES UNDER HOOD AND OVER TIME BUILD UP OF CORROSION ON THE TERMINAL LEADING TO ARCING. DISCOVERED THIS WHILE INSPECTING VEHICLE DURING ROUTINE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE. AC DELCO AND GM IS UNWILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PRODUCT. *NLM

NHTSA RECALL 02V286000 THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE RACK & PINION, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER THE RECALL, DUE TO THE DATE OF MANUFACTURING. *AK *JB

THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT. *JB

THIS WINTER I HAD NOTICED THAT THE MOISTURE (FOGGING) PROBLEM IN THE HEADLIGHTS WAS PARTICULARLY BAD. WITHIN A 4 WEEKS PERIOD, BOTH HEADLIGHT COVERS CAME OFF AND THE LIGHT BULB BLEW OUT. COST TO REPAIR $160 EACH. *NLM

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BATTERY LEAKED WITH POSITIVE TERMINAL POST FALLING OUT. *NLM

RACK AND PINION GEAR BINDS WHEN TURNING LEFT, DEALERSHIP REPLACED RACK AND PINION. CAR NOT COVERED UNDER NHSTA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000. REQUEST VEHICLE BE INCLUDED IN RECALL. *NLM

THE KEYS HAD TO BE TURNED IN THE IGNITION TWICE, TO START THE VEHICLE. ALSO THE A/C, RADIO, AND DEFROSTER BUTTON MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE IGNITION WIRING WAS LOSE.*JB

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. SCANNER SAYS DO NOT DRIVE. PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. CALLED GM AND THEY SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON AIR BAGS. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 AIR BAGS ON DRIVERS SIDE. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD A COMPLAINT? THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY. *JB

I WALKED OUTSIDE AND NOTICED MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT LENS HAD FALLEN OFF. *JB

DEFECT IN RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR. *AK

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS FELL OFF. *JB

CLEAR PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENS COVER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FELL OFF. IT APPEARS THE ADHESIVE FAILED. THE OTHER HEADLIGHT IS SHOWING SIGNS OF MOISTURE ENTRY. *NLM

1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HEADLAMP FAILURES CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE COVERS. BAD GLUE - DEALER PLAYING DUMB, BUT THE WEB HAS HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. GM'S DAYLIGHT RUNNING LAMPS AND HEADLAMPS ARE PART OF THE CAR'S CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEM. NHTSA SHOULD ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL.*JB

NAR 3-11-03 THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM PONTIAC STATING THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE POWER STEERING GEAR. THE CONSUMER HAD RECENTLY PAID APPROX $1,192.09 FOR REPAIRS TO FIX THE STEERING GEAR ON HIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER THEN SENT IN THE RECEIPTS OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT HIS CLAIMS WERE REJECTED. *CB *JB

RECALL #0 2 V 28 6000. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT HIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THE RECALL REGARDING THE RACK AND PINION DID NOT APPLY TO VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. SC

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A RECALL REGARDING THE RACK AND PINION (RECALL #02 V 286 000). UPON PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NO LONGER IN ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. *JB THE DEALER RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. SCC

RECALL ON 1998 GRAND PRIX GT. (RACK & PINION) PONTIAC REFUSES TO REPAIR THEIR RECALL ON THE 98 GRAND PRIX.... HERE IS A LETTER I SENT THEM.....I BECAME AWARE OF THE CURRENT RECALL AND TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER. THE STEERING GEAR CONDITION HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR. THE RACK AND PINION HAS RELEASED WHICH HAS CAUSED MY CAR TO HAVE NO POWER STEERING TO THE LEFT. THIS OCCURS WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT HAS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THECAR. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT RECALLED AT THIS TIME. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT COGGIN PONTIAC IS AWARE OF THE CONDITION OF THE CAR. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT AND STATED THAT THE CAR HAS THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT IS BEING RECALLED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID WE COULD FIX THE PROBLEM AND GET REIMBURSED FOR THE SERVICE IF THE CAR IS RECALLED. THIS PART IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE THAT THE CAR IS NOT ONE OF THE ONES BEING RECALLED. I TALKED TO PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER ON THE PHONE AND SHE REFERRED ME TO EVERIT HOWELL, I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO CONTACT HIMYET. SHE DID STATE THAT CAR WOULD NOT BE FIXED BECAUSE OF THE VIN NUMBER. I FIND IT STRANGE THAT YOU ARE RECALLING THE SAME CAR I OWN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE BUT BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT REPORTED THE CAR WILL NOT BE FIXED. I LOVE MY PONTIAC AND I WOULD HATE FOR A PROBLEM LIKE THIS TO ENCOURAGE ME TO GO TO A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER FOR MY NEXT CAR. I THINK THEY NEED TO LOOK MORE INTO THIS RECALL. THERE IS NO TELLING HOW MANY OTHER CARS ARE OUT THERE

THE CAR FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS HAS HAD AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM. FIRST IN 2000 THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. 3 MONTHS LATER TROUBLE CAME BACK AND THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. 2 MONTHS LATER OVERHEATING AGAIN AND THIS TIME COOLANT LEAKING. THEY REPLACED A CLAMP ON THE HEAT PUMP HOSE. 6 MONTHS LATER TROUBLE IS BACK AGAIN THIS TIME IT OVERHEATED AND BLEW THE HEATER PUMP HOSE AND COOLANT WENT EVERYWHERE. ALL IN ALL IT COST ME OUT OF POCKET $1600 BECAUSE NONE OF THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY INCLUDED THE EXTENDED I HAD PURCHASED.*JB

WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED MILDEW. *JB

THE ENGINE STALLED, AND THE IGNITION LOCKED UP.*JB

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX FAIL WHEN ICE BUILDS UP UNDER THEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS IS BETWEEN $120.00 AND $140.00. THIS IS HAZARDOUS BECAUSE THE WIPERS STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND OBSTRUCTS THE DRIVER' VISION. I HAVE CONTACTED PONTIAC NUMEROUS TIMES CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM BUT TO NO AVAIL. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS STYLE OF AUTOMOBILE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A LEFT TURN IN THE PARKING LOT, HE HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END AND THE STEERING HAD BECOME HARD. THE STEERING REMAINED HARD TO THE LEFT, BUT EASY TO THE RIGHT. SCC THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *JB

I OWN A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX WHICH EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN 99V348000. IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT GM HAS ADDED THE 1998 MODELS TO THER SERVICE BULLETIN (HTTP://WWW.PACE317.COM/GP/TSB/98WIPERS.HTML) IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THE 1998 MODEL WERE ADDED TO THIS RECALL.

THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT.*JB

NHTSA#02-V-286-000: CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDE DUE TO THE VIN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *AK