1996 Pontiac Grand Prix

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/26/2000· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  BOTH HEADLIGHT LENSES HAVE FALLEN OFF, ONE WAS ORIGINAL THE OTHER WAS REPLACED PREVIOUSLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR THE SAME REASON. NLM

• 12/18/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VECHICLE ABS LIGHT CAME ON ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERNAL LIGHTS DIMMED, ONCE VECHICLE WAS SHUT OFF IT WOULD NOT RESTART. BATTERY WAS REPLACED IT WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK. I WAS INFORMED THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT PUTTING OUT ENOUGH AMPS, SO THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AND 1 WEEK LATER SAME PROBLEM AGAIN SO ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED A 2ND TIME. THAT SAME DAY THE PROBLEM WAS REPEATED. IT SEEMS WHEN THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE POWER FROM THE BATTERY IS DRAINED.

• 11/19/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  INTERMITTENT STALLING.

• 11/12/1997· VISIBILITY

  THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DISENGAGES FROM THE TRACKS AND FALLS INTO THE DOOR PANEL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCASSIONS WHO PROVIDED ONLY A TEMPORARY REMEDY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 11/05/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ABS BRAKES ARE SUBJECT TO INTERMITTENT FAILURE, CAUSING THE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES. *AK *SLC

• 11/05/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  INTERMITTENT STALLING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS WHILE TURNING/ WHEN SLOWLY ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. *AK

• 11/01/1999· STRUCTURE

  BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LINKAGES EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. *MJS

• 10/27/2016· STEERING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXERT FORCE UPON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,998. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

• 10/07/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE INSTALLED WITH WRONG SPARK PLUGS WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PLENIUM PACK.

• 10/05/2005· STEERING

  DT: AROUND SEPTEMBER 21, 2005 THE CONSUMER STARTED EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY TURNING TO THE RIGHT. IT WAS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. THE PROBLEM WAS ONGOING WHEN TRYING TO TURN RIGHT. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED, THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED REPLACED. ALSO TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON HER TYPE OF VEHICLE. THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL 03V527000 AND GM RECALL RECALL 03062. WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY TOLD HER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

• 09/30/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE ROTORS CONTINUALLY FAILING CAUSING NOISE.

• 09/29/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE STALLED IN THE INTERSECTION. YH

• 09/27/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE ON 4TH ALTERNATOR AT 63,000 MILES. ALTERNATOR FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE CAN OCCUR SUDDENLY, WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING, AT ANY SPEED, LEAVING DRIVER WITH LIMITED ABILITY TO CONTROL VEHICLE. VOLUNTARY MANUFACTURER RECALL 8/99, SPARK PLUG WIRES REPLACED TO BETTER HANDLE ELECTRICAL LOADS. PROBLEM IMPROVED BUT NOT RESOLVED. OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE SAME EXPERIENCE AND COMPLAINTS INCLUDING AT NHTSA WEBSITE. VEHICLE MODEL & YEAR WITH 3.4 LITRE ENGINE UNABLE TO SUSTAIN NORMAL ELECTRICAL LOADS. ALTERNATOR FAILURE OCCURS EVERY 1-2 YEARS, ALWAYS WHEN AIR CONDITIONER OPERATING. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO COVER MOST RECENT REPLACEMENT UNDER "SECRET WARRANTY". REPAIRS WITH REBUILT ALTERNATOR COST NEARLY $800 EXCLUDING TOW, CAR RENTAL & CELL PHONE CHARGES. VEHICLE BLOCKING LANE OF TRAFFIC ON MAJOR ARTERIAL DURING RUSH HOUR. FREQUENCY OF ALTERNATOR FAILURE IS CLEARLY NOT NORMAL WEAR OR USE. RECEIVED NO WRITTEN RESPONSE FROM PRIOR WRITTEN COMPLAINTS TO PONTIAC. TS

• 09/27/1999· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WATER IS FILLING UP ON THE REAR TAIL LIGHT LENS WHICH IS CAUSING A ELECTRICAL SHORT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK THE LEFT REAR TAIL LENSE WAS FILLED WITH WATER AND WAS REPLACED. NEXT, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TAIL LENSES WERE REPLACED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. AGAIN, WATER ENTERED THE TAIL LENSE FOR THE THIRD TIME. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND INFACT GM HAD REDESIGNED THE TAIL LENSE BEFORE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *YH

• 09/22/1999· STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,STRUCTURE

  CONSUMER HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH POWER DOORS/LOCKS EVERY SINCE SHE HAS HAD THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS LOCKED INSIDE FOR THIRTY MINUTES. ALSO, POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. SHE HELD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DOWN, JAMMING IT. *AK

• 09/15/2003· SEATS

  WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE SEAT WAS GETTING EXTREMELY WARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRIC SEAT MOTOR WAS BECOMING RED HOT, AND INTERIOR NEARLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN AT PRECISELY THE RIGHT TIME. BY THE TIME THE MECHANIC GOT TO THE MOTOR HE WAS UNABLE TO TOUCH IT WITH HIS BARE HANDS. HE HAD TO PUT ON INSULATED GLOVES AND DISCONNECT THE MOTOR.*AK CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE SEAT AND THATS WHEN SHE DROVE TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC SAW THE SMOKE AND UNPLUGGED THE SEAT WITH SOME PLIERS. THE MECHANIC STATED IF THE CONSUMER WOULD'VE TOOK ANY LONGER GETTING THERE, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. *PH *JB

• 09/12/1997· POWER TRAIN

  CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 65 MPH CAR KICKED INTO NEUTRAL THE ENGINE WAS REVVING. THE TACHOMETER MAXED OUT AND CAR STOPPED. DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

• 09/10/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN

  WAS GOING 30MPH & HAD APPLIED BRAKES. VEHICLE KEPT GOING. LOW TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE HIT ONE CURB & THEN ANOTHER CURB BEFORE COMING TO STOP ON RAMP. SECOND TIME AT 20MPH OFF RAMP. HIT BRAKES, VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. PRESSED HARDER. ABS LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED. HEARD A SNAP & ROTOR BROKE; WHEEL & VEHICLE WENT INTO SPIN. *AK

• 09/08/2005· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS (TWICE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ONCE ON SIDE STREET) MY GAS PEDAL PUSHED DOWN UNDER MY FOOT AND MY CAR ACCELERATED BY IT SELF. I HAD TO HAVE THE MECHANIC DISCONNECT THE CRUISE CONTROL. LUCKY NO ONE WAS HIT BUT IT WAS CLOSE. *JB

• 09/04/1996· STRUCTURE,SEATS

  FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBACKS, WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP THE SEAT WILL MOVE, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR STRICKER IS MISSING.*AK

• 09/01/2009· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE TWICE WHERE DROPS OF ENGINE OIL FELL ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE FIRES OCCURRED THREE DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST OF $2000. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF RECALL# 09V116000, COMPONENT: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD RESEARCH THE FAILURE AND CALL HIM; HOWEVER, HE HAS NOT RECEIVED A CALL. WHEN THE THIRD FIRE OCCURRED THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE; ALTHOUGH, HE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED INOPERABLE AND TO TOW IT TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER ASSUME THE TOWING COST; HOWEVER, THEY DENIED TO DO SO. THERE WAS NO REPORT FILED WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. HE HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO SPEAK WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

• 08/20/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE, FLUCTUATING BETWEEN 40 - 20 MPH.

• 08/16/1999· STEERING

  STEERING RACK FAILURE (40K MILES). STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN LEFT *AT ALL* AT A DEAD STOP; EXTREMELY STUBBORN AT SPEED. NO WARNING(S)/INDICATIONS OF IMPENDING FAILURE. NO BELT SQUEALS, PS FLUID LEVEL OK. L-R TURNING WAS FINE, THEN NOT. COINCIDENTALL

• 07/31/1999· SEATS

  FRONT DRIVER SEAT IS NOT COMPLETELY STATIONARY IT MOVES SLIGHTLY FRONTWARD AND BACKWARD WHEN DRIVER CHANGES POSITION POSSIBLY DUE TO POOR DESIGN. NLM

• 07/30/2003· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE, TWO OF THREE IN BACK SEAT HAVE FAILED IN LAST 4 MONTHS NOW TODAY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FAILED. LUCKLY THESE WERE DISCOVERED BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OR OTHER INCIDENT OCCURRED THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SEVER INJURY OR DEATH TO SOMEONE.

• 07/27/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  HORN WORKS SOMETIMES.

• 07/25/1996· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  DASHBOARD LIGHTS INOPERATIVE.

• 07/22/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

  THE BRAKE CALIPER UPPER RETAINING BOLT WOULD FALL OUT ALLOWING THE BRAKE CALIPER TO LODGE AGAINST AND LOCKUP THE WHEEL.

• 07/22/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CAR ENGINE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING TO ANOTHER LOCATION. *AK

• 07/21/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRES CONSUMER NOTICED REAR BRAKES DID NOT OPERATE DUE TO RUSTED ROTORS AND INOPERATIVE CALIPERS/ PADS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER , AND DEALER REPLACED THE CALIPERS/ROTORS AND PADS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

• 07/21/1997· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVER'S SIDE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SEAT BELT DOES NOT LATCH INTO THE BUCKLE. MANUFACTURER NOT CONTACTED. *AK

• 07/18/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  CONSUMER STATES WHEN BRAKEARE APPLIED THER IS DELAY IN BRAKING, A POPPING NOISE IS HEARD AND THEN THE BRAKE WILL INGAGE. OWNER HAS HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED THROUGH A DEALER . THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM

• 07/16/2000· STRUCTURE

  I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR ON JULY 3RD AND JULY 15TH WE HAD RAIN AND NOW THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE TRUNK IS FLOODED. *AK

• 07/15/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE USES UP TO ONE TO TWO QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. NO OUTWARD SIGNS OF LEAK.

• 07/08/1998· SUSPENSION

  WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5MPH AND TURNING A CORNER, THE LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF. ALSO, THERE WAS NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 07/07/2014· STEERING,POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURECrash

  AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, LOST CONTROL OF STEERING WHILE MAKING LEFT TURN. CAR CONTINUED, RAN OVER A MAIL BOX AND CAME TO REST IN A FLOWER BED. WHEN TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AND PICKED CAR UP, TOW TRUCK DRIVER NOTICED THAT ENGINE CRADLE HAD FALLEN DOWN AND DISABLED THE STEERING. MECHANIC AND INSURANCE ADJUSTER LATER AGREED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS HAD SHEARED OFF. *JS

• 07/01/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING FAILURE.

• 07/01/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,UNKNOWN OR OTHERFire

  ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON.

• 07/01/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  CAR WAS PARKED AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHICH CAME FROM THE TRUCK , PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

• 06/29/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I BEGAN TO HAVE ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE AT 36,000 MILES. I DECIDED TO TRACE THE VIN # THROUGH CARFAX. WHEN I DID I FOUND THAT THE ODOMETER HAS BEEN ROLLED BACK 71,000 MILES OR MORE. THE CAR DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO HANDLE THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 06/26/2003· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A GAS LEAKED. *JB THE GAS TANK STARTED TO LEAK ACROSS THE ENTIRE REAR WELD SEAM AFTER BEING FILLED. GAS DRIPPED FROM THE TANK AT THE CORNER(S), NEXT TO THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE MECHANIC THAT REPLACED THE TANK/PUMP/SENDING UNIT, SAID THE ENTIRE WELD SEAM LEAKED. *SCC *JB

• 06/25/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  HORN REQUIRES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO ACTIVATE.

• 06/23/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  DEALER SAYS REAR ROTORS WERE UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO RUSTING. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THE CAR IS GARAGE KEPT, STILL HAS THE "NEW-CAR LOOK" AND ONLY HAS 17000 MILES ON IT. DEALER CLAIMS "LACK OF USE" AS REASON FOR DETERIORATION OF BRAKE ROTORS. IN MY OPINION, EITHER FAULTY MATERIALS, POOR DESIGN OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH IS WHAT LEAD TO THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. DEALER SAYS PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *AK

• 06/17/2002· STEERING

  WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE INNER TIE ROD ON PASSENGER'S TIRE BROKE OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE INOPERATIVE. *AK *JB

• 06/10/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ABS BRAKE FAILURE, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND ABS LIGHT COME ON YELLOW, LOW TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE PEDAL IS LOW. IN FOR TO REPLACE ABS SENSORS. *AK

• 06/05/2001· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE THROTTLE CABLE BROKE AND THE CAR WAS GOING AS IF IT WAS ON NEUTRAL, AS I COULD NOT CONTROL THE GAS PEDAL ANYMORE, AND MISSED GOING IN TO THE WALL BY ONLY A COUPLE OF INCHES. *AK

• 06/04/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  PROBLEM IS WITH FACTORY PASSENGER'S KEY II SECURITY SYSTEM. VEHICLE WILL MOST OF THE TIME, BUT WILL NOT START AT TIMES. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT IF THIS OCCURS WAIT THREE MINUTES THEN IT WILL START EXACTLY THREE MINUTES LATER. I HAVE TALKED WITH SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE AND HAVE OR HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I SPOKE WITH A SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR AT A PONTIAC DEALER AND HE STATED THAT HE HAS REPLACED A "BARREL FULL" OF THE KEY CYLINDERS AND NOT THE SECURITY SYSTEM MODULE. IT APPEARS THAT IN AN AREA THIS SMALL WITH AN INCIDENT RATE THAT HIGH THAT THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM IN WHICH PONTIAC NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE. *AK

• 06/02/2003· VISIBILITY

  THE POWER WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE KEEPS COMING OFF OF THE TRACK, IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES FOR THIS, AND STILL IS NOT FIXED. ONCE REPAIRED IT WILL LAST FOR 3 TO 6 MONTHS THAN THE WINDOW WILL FALL DOWN INTO THE DOOR.*AK

• 05/31/1996· VISIBILITY

  FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER, WHEN DRIVING IN BAD WEATHER THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER DOES NOT GO DOWN, WIPER STAY IN THE CENTER OF WINDSHIELD. *AK

• 05/24/2001· SEAT BELTS,SEATSCrash

  MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF WERE INVOLVED IN A HIGH IMPACT REAR END COLLISION. DUE TO THE SEAT BACK FAILURE MY SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAINT ME. I AM NOW A GRAND MAUL EPILEPTIC DUE TO MY HEAD INJURIES. I ALSO SUFFER FROM NECK AND SHOULDER PAIN.