FaultScore

1997 Pontiac Grand Prix acceleration problems

16 of the 1,064 complaints about the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix are about the throttle and cruise control — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 160,000 miles.

C

16

Complaints

2

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 15 93.8%
Accelerator Pedal 1 6.3%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Pontiac Grand Prix year

1994 21 26.6%
1995 13 16.5%
1997 16 20.3%
1998 11 13.9%
2004 18 22.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Victoria, VA Fire

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN FROM 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING, BUT THEN FAILED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10913989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Peekskill, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA complaint #10811559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Provo, UT

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE SPEED CONTROL DISCONNECTS WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE TURNED ON DURING RAINY CONDITIONS. THIS REPEATEDLY HAPPEND OVER A FOUR DAY PERIOD WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN THROUGH THE MIDWEST. THIS PROBLEM HAS NEVER OCCURRED WHEN THE WIPERS ARE USED TO SIMPLY CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD DURING DRY CONDITIONS.

NHTSA complaint #763121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bloomingdale, NJ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HILL ON HIGHWAY ONTO A SLIGHTLY RAISED BRIDGE AND THE ACCELERATOR IS APPLIED TO GO UP THE NEXT HILL, THE ENGINE ENTERS RACE CONDITION (GOES FROM 2,000 RPMS TO 3,000). RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR STOPS THE CONDITION. HAS OCCURED 3 TIMES ON THIS DAILY COMMUTE OVER THE 4 YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #756763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Knoxville, IA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SEALT BELT INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD MOMENTARY BLINK FOR A FEW MINUTE OR MORE BEFORE GOING OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES CRUISE CONTROL IS INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA complaint #897358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bloomington, MN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND CHANGING LANES VEHICLE SPED UP AND WAS NOT RESPONSIVE TO BRAKE APPLICATION. DRIVER HAD TO PUT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF AND STARTED BACK UP, PROBLEM NO LONGER EXISTED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #893475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallas, TX Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, SLOWED DOWN VEHICLE TO 10 MPH. AT THAT TIME VEHICLE SPED UP, WHEELS SCREECHING. WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, AND VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND LANDED IN DITCH. CONSUMER TRIED TO GET OUT OF DITCH, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AGAIN OPPOSITE WAY. CONSUMER REALIZED HE HAD A FLAT TIRE, DROVE 100-150 FEET TO FIND A FLAT SPOT TO CHANGE TIRE. VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, AND LANDED IN DITCH, HAD TO BE TOWED. REPORTED THIS TO PONTIAC, NO RESPONSE.

NHTSA complaint #880479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Scottsbluff, NE

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL SHUTS OFF WHEN RAINING OR DAMP. REAR MAIN OIL SEAL WAS REPLACED ONCE AT 20290 MILES AND NOW WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED 2 YEARS AND 15000 MILES LATER. OUT OF WARRANTY .

NHTSA complaint #739496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bulter, AL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THROTTLE BODY BLEWOUT WHILE STARTING VEHICLE; DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #878752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Raleigh, NC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. MJS

NHTSA complaint #548901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, VA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED, IT HAD 30,000 MILES ON IT, IT NOW HAS 58,000 MILES, THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP EVERY MONTH OR EVERY TWO MONTHS, I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE DEALERSHIP, THEY IN NO WAY WANT TO HELP ME, I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR UP THERE NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE SAME THINGS UNTIL THEY FINALLY FOUND A PROBLEM WITH MY ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, THEY HAVE REPLACED ALL OF THE WHEEL BEARING ON THIS CAR, THE WHEEL SENSORS, BLOCK ASSEMBLY, FUEL SENDING UNIT, POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE, BODY CONTROL MODULE, I'VE EVEN REPLACED THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP, TENTIONSER, THEY EVEN ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE INTERIOR, WHICH WAS NOT TORN DUE TO ABUSE, ROTORS, THEY FOUND A SHORTAGE UNDERHOOD, AND THEY REPLACED THE UNDERHOOD ELECTRICAL CENTER, WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY, TIE ROD ENDS, WHEEL SPEED SENSOR....AFTER ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR, I HAVE HAD TO COME UP WITH MONEY TO REPAIR THIS CAR, AND THEY FINALLY AGREED TO HELP ME INTO ANOTHER CAR, BUT MY CAR IS VALUED AT $14,995 AND THEY ONLY WANT TO GIVE ME $9,000 FOR MY CAR WHEN THEY KNOW THAT I OWE $14,300, THESE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR HAS CAUSED ME MUCH HARDSHIP AND I'M TRYING TO SAVE MY CREDIT, THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO GET SOME HELP, IF YOU COULD PLEASE LEAD ME IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION WILL GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

NHTSA complaint #711931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

COULD BE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT ANY MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING BY ITSELF WITHOUT THE CONSUMER STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL, CONSUMER WILL HAS TO STEP ON BRAKES PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE OR TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #832274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Darlington, WI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL HARD TO DISENGAGE.

NHTSA complaint #527699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oakville, UN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE DIES WHILE DRIVING IN LEFT LANE; ALSO , FAILS TO START IN THE MORNINGS. IN ADDITION, CRUISE CONTROL FAILED/ ERRATIC OPERATION OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS, MOSTLY IN COLD WEATHER/HORN FAILURE AND FRONT BRAKE ROTORS MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #520865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Apalchian, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT PROPERLY DISENGAGE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AND THEN SLOW DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #810829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, IL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING UNDER NORMAL OPERATION WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE CRUISE CONTROL DUE TO A PITCHED CABLE ON THE WIRING HARNESS, DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE HARNESS.

NHTSA complaint #809647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix problems

← Full 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix report