FaultScore

1996 Pontiac Grand Prix engine problems

21 of the 116 complaints about the 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix are about the engine — 18% of everything reported for this model year.

D

21

Complaints

0

Crashes

3

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Gasoline 11 52.4%
Engine 4 19.0%
Emission Control 3 14.3%
GAS Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) 2 9.5%
Radiator Assembly 1 4.8%

Engine & Cooling across every Pontiac Grand Prix year

1989 16 1.1%
1990 20 1.3%
1991 19 1.3%
1992 17 1.1%
1993 15 1.0%
1994 23 1.5%
1995 11 0.7%
1996 21 1.4%
1997 184 12.2%
1998 128 8.5%
1999 207 13.7%
2000 229 15.1%
2001 174 11.5%
2002 148 9.8%
2003 48 3.2%
2004 140 9.2%
2005 20 1.3%
2006 38 2.5%
2007 32 2.1%
2008 24 1.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Socorro, NM Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10282511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Unknown, 00

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THE HEATING SYSTEM HAS BECOME INOPERABLE. INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE LED TO THE DISCOVERY THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE. MECHANIC CAN NOT EXPLAIN WHY THIS OCCURED.

NHTSA complaint #785652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Slidell, LA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED RADIATOR CAP BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE SPRING. THEN, WHEN TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, ENGINE STALLED SUDDENLY. TOOK ALL OF CONSUMER'S EFFORT TO BRING VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT HEAD GASKET WAS CONSIDERED TO BE DEFECTIVE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. PRIVATE MECHANIC WAS CURRENTLY REBUILDING/REMANUFACTURING THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #887918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Slidell, LA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED RADIATOR CAP BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE SPRING. THEN, WHEN TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, ENGINE STALLED SUDDENLY. TOOK ALL OF CONSUMER'S EFFORT TO BRING VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT HEAD GASKET WAS CONSIDERED TO BE DEFECTIVE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. PRIVATE MECHANIC WAS CURRENTLY REBUILDING/REMANUFACTURING THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #887918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dewey, OK

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WOULD BE DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN IT WOULD START TO HESITATE AT 40MPH. PROBLEM WAS SPORADIC. WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR PROBLEM. MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE.

NHTSA complaint #884383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Addison, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

VEHICLE HESITATES ON ACCELERATION DUE TO EGR VALVE FAILURE. YH

NHTSA complaint #548613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Addison, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN IT COMES TO STOP DUE TO MAP AND OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE. YH

NHTSA complaint #548613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Addison, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE STALLED IN THE INTERSECTION. YH

NHTSA complaint #548613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Addison, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

VEHICLE HESITATES ON ACCELERATION DUE TO EGR VALVE FAILURE. YH

NHTSA complaint #548613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Addison, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN IT COMES TO STOP DUE TO MAP AND OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE. YH

NHTSA complaint #548613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Addison, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE STALLED IN THE INTERSECTION. YH

NHTSA complaint #548613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #708017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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

NHTSA complaint #780047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tulsa, OK

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #537676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rancho Santa Margari, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CAR ENGINE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING TO ANOTHER LOCATION.

NHTSA complaint #813567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huber Heig, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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

NHTSA complaint #520815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Keansburg, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

INTERMITTENT STALLING.

NHTSA complaint #511492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Springfield, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #506637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Springfield, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

INTERMITTENT STALLING.

NHTSA complaint #506637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Springfield, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CRANKSHAFT GASKET LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #506637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plainview, NY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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

NHTSA complaint #986353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix problems

← Full 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix report