FaultScore

1991 Pontiac Grand Prix electrical problems

24 of the 242 complaints about the 1991 Pontiac Grand Prix are about the electrical system — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 96,000 miles.

C

24

Complaints

0

Crashes

2

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Interior/Under Dash 6 25.0%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 5 20.8%
Front Underhood 4 16.7%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 4 16.7%
Ignition 2 8.3%
12V/24V/48V Battery 1 4.2%
Wiring 1 4.2%
Electrical System 1 4.2%

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.

Lexington, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX STE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START UNLESS THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED IN A CERTAIN POSITION. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK UNLESS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED. AS A RESULT, FUSES HAVE BLOWN AND THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY OVERHEATS. SHE NOTIFIED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL # 92V182000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS). THE ENGINE SIZE, POWERTRAIN, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 150,647.

NHTSA complaint #10192527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lexington, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX STE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START UNLESS THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED IN A CERTAIN POSITION. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK UNLESS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED. AS A RESULT, FUSES HAVE BLOWN AND THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY OVERHEATS. SHE NOTIFIED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL # 92V182000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS). THE ENGINE SIZE, POWERTRAIN, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 150,647.

NHTSA complaint #10192527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 96,000 miles Mccracken, KS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE HEAD AND FOG LIGHTS BECAME DARKENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THERE IS A RECALL # 92V182000, WHICH PERTAINING TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS. THE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10163732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sevenpoints, TX

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

CAR DOES NOT RUN.... CRACKED RADIATOR BAD HEAD GASKET. POSSIBLE WARPED HEAD. HEAD GASKET LEAKS. SOMETHING DRAINING BATTERY.

NHTSA complaint #10069582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hephzibah, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #760253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orlando, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THE ALTERNATOR/STARTER GO OUT EVERY 6 MONTHS, THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED 8 TIMES, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT BLINK, THE BRAKES GO OUT EVERY 6 MONTHS, I THINK THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE POWER STEERING HAS TO BE REFILLED EVERY 100 MILES. THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK. THE WINDOW IS DOWN ABOUT AN INCH AND WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #753865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Goodview, MN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

CHECK GAUGES LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY EVEN THOUGH NOW PROBLEM EXISTS. ONCE IN AWHILE THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. MINUTES ONLY BEFORE COMING BACK ON AND STAYING LIT. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A WARNING A SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT THAT IS DEFECTIVE AND IS NOT BACKED WITH A REPAIR COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA complaint #753055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roseville, MI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

AFTER PLACING VEHICLE IN THE PARK POSITION WHILE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM OUTSIDE. WENT OUTSIDE TO INQUIRE, AND CONSUMER SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM VEHICLE. CAUSE OF FIRE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE DROVE A LONG DISTANCE THAT DAY. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #892438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Maplewood, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

PUFFS OF SMOKE EMIT FROM STEERING COLUMN RANDOMLY.

NHTSA complaint #738336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pittsburgh, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE DRIVING DURING DAY TIME VEHICLE WAS FINE. BUT, AT NIGHT NOTICED VEHICLE WOULD IDLE HIGH & START TO OVERHEAT. VEHICLE WOULD STUTTER LIKE IT WAS STALLING. APPLIED BRAKES & VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. ALSO, SMOKE WOULD BE COMING INSIDE OF VEHICLE FROM UNDER HOOD. PROBLEMS WERE INTERMITTENT.

NHTSA complaint #875432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dearborn, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THE ALTERNATOR FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #553185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boonsboro, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #724670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Enon, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

THIS IS SENCOND GRAND PRIX I HAVE HAD AND THE LOW FUEL LIGHT AND THE ENGINE CHECK GAUGE LIGHTS ARE ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH 99% OF GRAND PRIX. HE SAID IT HAD TO DO WITH THE WIRING IN BEHIND THE TACK BOARD (THE DISPLAY OF SPEED, RPM, TEMP, ETC.) HE SAID IT WAS COMMON BUT IT DOESNT HURT ANYTHING WITH THEM BEING ON. THE PROBLEM IS THAT GETTING FIXED IS VERY EXPENSIVE. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS OR WHAT I HAVE TO DO TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL WORK FOR THIS CAR.

NHTSA complaint #715865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lusby, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

SMOKE IS COMING UP FROM THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING ODORS WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN USING THE BLINKERS / STARTING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #843089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sterling, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE USING THE TURN SIGNAL SMOKE WILL COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. IT IS A BURNING SMELL, BUT NOT A FIRE. ALSO, LOW BEAMS WORK INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #833228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Neenah, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

CIRCIUT UNIT FAILED CAUSING DASH LIGHTS AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO SHOW FAULTY READINGS.

NHTSA complaint #538831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Neenah, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #538831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Eagan, MN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

WHEN APPLYING THE TURN SIGNAL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OCCURS, CAUSING SMOKE TO COME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA complaint #810745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Evansville, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

ELECTRONICS PROBLEM IN DASHBOARD.

NHTSA complaint #505115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Proctorville, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

ENGINE DIES WHILE GOING AROUND CURBS; ACCELERATOR PULSATES WHILE SLOWING DOWN; SPEED 30 MPH AND UNDER. TT

NHTSA complaint #969401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Brookfi, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

LIGHTS ON DASH COME AND THEY SAY SOMETHINGS WRONG WHEN THERE IS NOT. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT DO THE WORK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA complaint #967770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manitowoc, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

PROBLEM WITH ALTERNATOR.

NHTSA complaint #481138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jamaica, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE FAILURE CAUSES CHECK GAUGE LIGHT TO COME ON/STAY ON.

NHTSA complaint #482105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Worth, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

UNDER THE ENGINE FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT IGNITION CAUGHT ON FIRE. TT

NHTSA complaint #958652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1991 Pontiac Grand Prix problems

← Full 1991 Pontiac Grand Prix report