FaultScore

1990 Pontiac Grand Prix suspension problems

13 of the 249 complaints about the 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix are about the suspension — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 105,000 miles.

C

13

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Suspension 4 30.8%
Control ARM 3 23.1%
Rear 3 23.1%
Front 1 7.7%
Macpherson Strut 1 7.7%
Non-Powered Axle Assembly 1 7.7%

Suspension across every Pontiac Grand Prix year

1990 13 11.2%
1997 26 22.4%
1998 13 11.2%
1999 10 8.6%
2000 17 14.7%
2002 12 10.3%
2004 15 12.9%
2006 10 8.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 105,000 miles Dallas, TX Crash 1 injured

SUSPENSION:REAR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40MPH THE LEFT REAR WHEEL STEERED 45 DEGREES TO THE SIDE AND THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH A TREE. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE POLICE TOOK A REPORT AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD AND INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, WHO PROVIDED NO CLEAR DETERMINATION AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. AN ENGINEER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE TRAILING ARM FAILED AND CAUSED THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10156381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indianola, IA

SUSPENSION

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND HITTING A BUMP STEERING COLUMN WILL PULL TO RIGHT OR LEFT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #8011044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pepperel, MA

SUSPENSION

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS SHAKING IN THE FRONT AND NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. *JB CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DRIVE TRAIN WAS SLIPPING. ALSO THE FRONT CONTROL ARM FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #8008913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clio, MI

SUSPENSION:REAR

REAR RETAINER BOLT FAILED DUE TO CORRISION, CAUSING THE FRONT BOLT TO SNAP . DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE IT.

NHTSA complaint #870455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bloomington, MN

SUSPENSION:REAR

LEFT TIRE DRAGGED ON THE WALL AND THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP, DUE TO REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINERS, REAR CRADLE IS NO LONGER SUPPORTED AT THOSE MOUNTING LOCATION. STEERING GEAR BECOMES DISCONNECTED WHEN THE ENGINE DROPS DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #9001324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lakeside, CA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

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.

Lakeside, CA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

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.

Chicago, IL

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

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.

Halifax, MA

SUSPENSION

RECALL 97V058000. THE PARTS HAVE BEEN ON BACK ORDER SINCE THE OWNER CALLED DEALER ON NOVEMBER OF 1997.

NHTSA complaint #824974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wilmot Flat, NH

SUSPENSION:FRONT

CRADLE BOLT/RETAINER RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY OF PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #520771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond Heights, OH

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY

MADE APPOINTMENT FOR THE RECALL TO BE FIXED AND THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #814105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Barnegat, NJ

SUSPENSION

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (97V05800). CALLED DEALER 3 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR APPOINTMENT. WENT FOR APPOINTMENTS. INFORMED EACH TIME NO PARTS. MECHANIC SAID NO PARTS UNTIL AFTER LABOR DAY. *AK REPAIR HAS FINALLY BEEN COMPLETED PER CONSUMER. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #815523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Virginia B, VA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT SEPARATED, CAUSING WHEEL TO COLLAPSE/DAMAGING DRIVE AXLE, RENDERING STEERING/BRAKES INOPERABLE. *DSH

NHTSA complaint #488843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix problems

← Full 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix report