21 of the 249 complaints about the 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix are about the electrical system — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 50,000 miles.
21
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
IF YOU USE THE TURN SIGNAL, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL START SMOKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND DEALER DIDN'T WANT TO FIX IT. TURN SIGNALS STILL WORKED WHEN APPLIED.
NHTSA complaint #10143848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY BRAKE FAILURES SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE, INCLUDING ONE COMPLETE WHEN ON ROAD. THE FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN STOPPED, THEN HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES LATER. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT BRAKES AND IGNITION/STEERING FIRES IN THIS VEHICLE. THERE ARE "SISTER" MODELS OF BUICK AND OLDS WHICH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. PLEASE RESPOND.
NHTSA complaint #711213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
THE TURN SIGNAL PROBLEM INVOLVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, SIGNALS DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. THE SMOKE WOULD STOP, THE AFTER SEVERAL DAYS START AGAIN. NOW THE TURN LIGHTS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK. THE PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT HAS REQUIRED REPLACING THE BALL 4 TIMES, DUE TO THE BALL BREAKING OFF AT THE POINT WHERE THE BALL IS ATTACHED TO THE THREADED PART. AT THE PRESENT, THE CAR STALLS MOST OF THE TIME WHEN SLOWING DOWN. AT A STOP IT STALLS AND REQURIRES HOLDING THE ACCELERATOR TO KEEP RPM AT AROUND 1000 TO PREVENT STALLING. AUTO WAS AT A QUALIFIED SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THEY WERE UNABLE TO STOP THE PROBLEM. THEY FELT THEY HAD TRIED EVERY AVENUE POSSIBLE, INCLUDING: CLEANING THROTTLE BODY AND IAC MOTOR, CHANGING MAP SENSOR AND IAC VALVE, CHECKED PROM UPDATE AND PROM, WHICH WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. CODES WERE 35, 44, 45 WERE STORED. CAR STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. RADIO HAS STATIC, CHECK GAGES LIGHT COMES ON AND TURNS OFF. ENGINE SURGES. SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE RUN DIAGNOSTICS AND NO SOLUTION! WE ARE TIRED OF SPENDING MONEY ON IT!
NHTSA complaint #718120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE BROKE 1994; BALL JOINTS BROKE ONCEON STREET; BRAKES WENT OUT COMPLETELY ONCE ON STREET;; REAR MAIN SEAL OUT; COMPLETE REBUILT FRONT END, 1999; SMOKING IN STEERING IS INTERMITTENT.
NHTSA complaint #706485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE PEDAL TO TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE STRUTS WHICH BROKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUCTIONED, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTS TO GO ON AND OFF, AFFECTING VISIBILITY AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #836172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
HEAD LAMPS COME ON BY THEMSELVES. ALSO COURTESY LAMPS INOPERATIVE/REPLACED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #536810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #519093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ENGINE MISSES/LOSS OF POWER CAUSED BY FAILED IGNITION COIL.
NHTSA complaint #519093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
INSTUMENT PANEL/CLUSTER MODULE FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL.
NHTSA complaint #517964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER MODULE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #517551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
BATTERY ALTERNATOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #515886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, FRAME BROKE AND BATTERY FELL OUT.
NHTSA complaint #807748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
COMING TO A STOP THE CAR STALLED , REPAIRED TWO ALTERNATOR S, FIVE WATER PUMPS, ONE NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM AND A TURBO-CHARGER WAS PLACED . PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #803763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
COMING TO A STOP THE CAR STALLED , REPAIRED TWO ALTERNATOR S, FIVE WATER PUMPS, ONE NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM AND A TURBO-CHARGER WAS PLACED . PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #803763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING, STEERING WHEEL SMOKE COMES FROM AREA OF IGNITION SWITCH, CAN SMELL BURNING ODOR, COLUMN AREA GETS REAL HOT; CAUSE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #984855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ENTIRE ELECTRICAL HARNESS UNDER CONSOLE BURNT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #500930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC INTERMITTENTLY. COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #980332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC INTERMITTENTLY. COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #980332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTION, THEY DO NOT COME ON ANY LONGER, NEEDS A REPLACEMENT ELECTRONIC MODULE WHICH CONTROLS THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS. TT
NHTSA complaint #975255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTION, THEY DO NOT COME ON ANY LONGER, NEEDS A REPLACEMENT ELECTRONIC MODULE WHICH CONTROLS THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS. TT
NHTSA complaint #975255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #486783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.