FaultScore

1988 Pontiac Grand Prix electrical problems

11 of the 119 complaints about the 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix are about the electrical system — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 154,000 miles.

F

11

Complaints

1

Crashes

2

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Interior/Under Dash 2 18.2%
Electrical System 2 18.2%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 2 18.2%
12V/24V/48V Battery 1 9.1%
Front Underhood 1 9.1%
Ignition 1 9.1%
Starter Assembly 1 9.1%
Rear Compartment/Trunk 1 9.1%

Electrical System across every Pontiac Grand Prix year

1988 11 1.2%
1989 20 2.1%
1990 21 2.2%
1991 24 2.5%
1992 30 3.2%
1993 39 4.1%
1994 31 3.3%
1995 16 1.7%
1996 11 1.2%
1997 95 10.1%
1998 54 5.7%
1999 48 5.1%
2000 66 7.0%
2001 64 6.8%
2002 56 5.9%
2003 21 2.2%
2004 111 11.8%
2005 45 4.8%
2006 66 7.0%
2007 70 7.4%
2008 44 4.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 154,000 miles Hamtramck, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I KEEP LISTENING TO THE NEWS ABOUT THE GM IGNITION SWITCH AND CARS CUTTING OFF. I LIVED IN NJ BOUGHT 1988 GRAND PRIX BRAND NEW WITH ONLY 9 MILES ON IT WHEN I TOOK POSSESSION. THE FIRST TITLE OFF IT HAD 24 MIES ON IT. I TOOK IT BACK TIME AFTER TIME RUNNING UP A SERVICE BILL WHICH EVENTUALLY CONTRIBUTED TO MY BANKRUPTCY BUT NJ HD NO LEMON LAW SO I WAS STUCK IN IT. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GET RID OF IT WITH 154000+ MILES ON IT AND IT WAS STILL CUTTING OFF WHENEVER. IT WAS SCARY TO DRIVE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU TOOK YOUR FOR OFF THE GAS IF THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WOULD FREEZE. I AM REPORTING THIS SO SOMEONE KNOWS THAT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON WAY LONGER THAN GM IS LETTING ON.

NHTSA complaint #10820709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rochester, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

THE CAR HAD WORK DONE ON THE FUEL TANK AND RECALLS CAME BACK AND TWO DAYS LATER A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASH IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING STARTED,THE STARTER WAS STICKING ON AND THAT WAS IT THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED

NHTSA complaint #743341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rochester, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

THE CAR HAD WORK DONE ON THE FUEL TANK AND RECALLS CAME BACK AND TWO DAYS LATER A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASH IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING STARTED,THE STARTER WAS STICKING ON AND THAT WAS IT THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED

NHTSA complaint #743341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Midwest City, OK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK

CAN YOU PROVIDE ME WITH TROUBLE SHOOTING CODES AND A COLOR CODED WIRING DIAGRAM.., I CAN NOT FIND THEM ANYWHERE. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BUT THE POLICE EXCUSED ME SINCE I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND I AM TRYING TO FIX IT. THANKYOU

NHTSA complaint #712668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bethaoto, IL Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE TRIED TO CROSS THE STREET ABOUT 5 MPH ON A RAINY DAY ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT AND HIT GRAND PRIX IN FRONT GRILL AND HOOD. SINCE THEN THE DASHBOARD HAD LOST ELECTRICAL POWER, SUCH AS SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER, ETC.

NHTSA complaint #820974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lodi, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #514835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lodi, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #514835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lodi, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #514835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gerrardsto, WV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #487199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dorchester, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

SPARK PLUGS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #487283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mahomet, 00

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

THE STEERING STARTS TO SMOKE WHEN MAKING A TURN WITH THE TURNING SIGNAL ON AND WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA complaint #969694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix problems

← Full 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix report