FaultScore

1998 Pontiac Grand Prix fuel system problems

20 of the 618 complaints about the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix are about the fuel system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 125,408 miles.

D

20

Complaints

0

Crashes

5

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Fuel Pump 4 20.0%
Fuel System, Gasoline 2 10.0%
Fuel System, Other 2 10.0%
Carburetor System 2 10.0%
Hoses, Lines/Piping, AND Fittings 2 10.0%
Fuel/Propulsion System 2 10.0%
Delivery 1 5.0%
Tank Assembly 1 5.0%
Injectors 1 5.0%
Fuel Injection System 1 5.0%

Fuel & Propulsion across every Pontiac Grand Prix year

1997 18 12.3%
1998 20 13.7%
1999 21 14.4%
2000 27 18.5%
2001 24 16.4%
2002 24 16.4%
2004 12 8.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 96,000 miles North Attleboro, MA Fire

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

CAR CAUGHT FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS DESTROYED ON 04/05/2016, ENGINE FIRE. MY DRIVEWAY WAS FRIED, IMPRINT OF CAR STILL THERE. I FILED A CLAIM WITH GM LAST YEAR.,HAVE NOT HEARD A THING SINCE. VEHICLE LOSS WAS $2800 DRIVEWAY REPAIR IS $3200

NHTSA complaint #10992204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rocky TOP, TN

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10680081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 180,000 miles Fremont, NE

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE GAS TANK IS NOT SEALED IN THE MIDDLE ALLOWING GAS AND FUEL VAPOR TO LEAK FROM CAR! ALL THE SWAY BAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS SEPARATED DUE TO THE RACK AND PINION, CAR HAS NO SOUND WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT BUT IF YOU TRY AND TURN THE CAR TO THE LEFT IT IS AS IF THE POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT AND MAKE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND IS GETTING VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT, ALSO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DO NOT WORK PROPER AND CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE RAIN, THE KEY GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION ALL THE TIME,FEEL AS IF MOTOR IS TWISTING OR MOVING FORWARD, WILL BE CONTACTING PONTIAC DUE TO RECALLS AND PROBLEMS ARISING.

NHTSA complaint #10401196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 114,900 miles Sisseton, SD

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

THE FUEL PUMP RESISTOR WENT OUT ON MY 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON 1997-98 GRAND PRIXS AND BUICK REGALS WITH THE L67 SUPERCHARGED MOTOR. THE RESISTOR GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO KILL SECONDS AFTER STARTING. THIS PART WAS RECALLED IN AREAS OF CANADA PER GM CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN #01033.

NHTSA complaint #10277462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milpitas, CA Fire

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER,THEN I MOVED TO A NEW RESIDENTS 2WKS. LATER I PARKED MY CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY WENT INTO THE HOUSE MAYBE 2-3 MIN I NOTICED FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. I RAN AND GOT THE WATER HOSE AND PUT IT OUT. I CALLED THE DEALER THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF A RECALL I HAD TO SHOW PROOF LETTER. I FAXED IT THEN THEY TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALERS GMC WAS CALLED THEY CALLED THE DEALER .04-25-08 I CALLED GMC STATED SINCE THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE THEY NEED TO SEND FIRE INVESTIGATOR OUT. HE CAME TO THE DEALERS TOOK PICTURES AND REPORT AND FEDEX IT TO GMC MICH. THEN THEY GAVE ME ANOTHER ADJUSTER DARLENE CLEMENS. ON MAY 2ND I CALLED GMC AGAIN I WAS GIVEN ANOTHER ADJUSTER WHY SHE WOULDN'T TELL ME JUST GAVE ME THE PERSONS NAME JEMEIA PRICE SINCE THEN I BEEN PLAYING PHONE TAG NO ONE CAN HELP ME I AM WITHOUT A CAR NO LOANER OR ANY CONCERN SINCE MY CAR IS PAID OFF. SINCE THEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT OTHER RECALL THE DEALER SAID NO NOT ON GMC LIST OR WEBSITE THE RECALL#FOR THE CAR IS #07035 AND MY OTHER CONCERNS WERE RECALL# 02V286000 OR 02049 AND#07E021000 IM WORRIED I COULD DIED OR MORE DAMAGE TO MY CAR I KEEP GO CARE OF MY CAR GMC DOESN'T CARE I NEED HELP

NHTSA complaint #10227657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 260,000 miles Barrie, 00 Fire

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

2 DAYS AGO WE HAD A HUGE SNOW STORM. I WAS TRYING TO GET MY CAR UNSTUCK. THE CAR WAS IDLING AND I WAS OUTSIDE DIGGING OUT THE CAR, AND MY GIRLFRIEND WAS SITTING IN THE CAR, SHE SAID IT WAS SMOKEY INSIDE. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS OVERHEATING, AND IT GOT WORSE AND WORSE. I FINALLY THOUGHT, OK THIS JUST ISN'T OVERHEATING, SO I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND POPPED THE HOOD. THE WHOLE REAR OF THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. I GOT THE FIRE OUT AND MANAGED TO SAVE THE CAR. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO I HAD A ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND THE CODE SAID SMALL EVAP LEAK. HE SAID IT WAS MY COLD AIR INTAKE AND MY GAS CAP. SO I REPLACED THE GAS CAP AND DROVE AROUND WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ON, NOT KNOWING THAT THERE WAS A ACTUAL EVAP LEAK. SO IT WAS COINCIDENTAL THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 2 DAYS AFTER I PUT MY INTAKE ON. AND ALSO IT WAS COINCIDENTAL THAT IT HAPPENED ON THE DAY WITH ALL THE SNOW. SO MY MECHANIC SAID, THAT I DID HAVE A PINHOLE LEAK, AND THAT THE SPARKS FROM THE ALTERNATOR IGNITED THE VAPORS. ALSO THE FOAM UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COVER ACTED LIKE A SPONGE SUCKING IN THE ALL FUMES AND THEN BOOM.

NHTSA complaint #10217579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 243,712 miles Isanti, MN Fire

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I DROVE THIS VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK, APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES. PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND WENT IN THE HOUSE, APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES LATER, MY WIFE, DAUGHTER AND I LEFT TO GO OUT TO EAT, WE DROVE 10 MILES TO THE RESTAURANT. WE WERE IN THE RESTAURANT NO MORE LATE 10 MINUTES WHEN SOMEONE COMMENTED THERE WAS A VEHICLE OUT FRONT SMOKING, I REALIZED THAT IT WAS OUR VEHICLE, AND WENT OUTSIDE, I APPROACHED THE CAR AND SMELLED A BURNING SMELL VS. OVERHEATING SMELL. I LIFTED HOOD AND SAW THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE, I PROCEEDED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH NEARBY SNOW, AND WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED TO MAKE SURE FIRE WAS OUT. I THEN A CALLED TOW COMPANY AND THE HAD CAR TOWED BACK TO MY HOME. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. MOST OF FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO ENGINE AREA, NO DAMAGE TO PAINT, AND SOME UNDERHOOD INSULATION CHARRED.

NHTSA complaint #10184723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 132,727 miles Sanbornville, NH Fire

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

I WENT TO THE STORE, DROVE ABOUT 40 FEET AND GOT STUCK IN SNOW. REALIZED I WAS BOTTOMED OUT IN SNOW WHEN I OPENED MY DOOR. I DIDN'T TRY TO GET UNSTUCK. I SHUT OFF ENGINE AND WENT INTO HOUSE. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, I HEARD A NOISE AND LOOKED OUT AND SAW FLAMES SHOOTING FROM UNDER HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS THERE WITHIN 5 MINUTES AND TRUCK WAS THERE WITHIN 10. THEY IMMEDIATELY ASKED ME IF THE CAR WAS LEFT RUNNING AT THE TIME THE FIRE STARTED. I SAID,"NO, I WAS INSIDE AT LEAST 20 MINUTES BEFORE I HEARD THIS NOISE AND LOOKED OUT." THE ENGINE AND FRONT END OF CAR IS A COMPLETE LOSS. CRACKED WINDSHIELD, MELTED LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER OF WINDSHIELD AND FRONT OF INSTRUMENT PANEL. THEIR WERE NO FLAMES THAT REACHED THE INSIDE THRU THE FIREWALL. UNFORTUNATELY I AM NOT INSURED AND WIFE AND I ARE DISABLED, THE CAR BEING OUR ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION. THROUGHOUT THE WEBSITES I RESEARCHED, I SAW SEVERAL DOZEN PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES AS I HAD WITH THEIR GRAND PRIX GTP'S. FIREMAN SAID CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT LOOKS LIKE IT MAY HAVE BEEN ELECTRICAL OR MAYBE FUEL RELATED.

NHTSA complaint #10183831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 118,089 miles Carmel, IN

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

WHILE DRIVING NORTH BOUND ON US 31 HIGHWAY ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 12, 2004, THE CAR SUDDENLY DIED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WITH SOME EFFORT, I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, IT WOULD START AND SUDDENLY DIE AGAIN. HAD CAR TOWED TO NEAREST GM DEALER FOR REPAIR. THERE WAS NO EARLY INDICATION OF A MALFUNCTION (IE. NO WARNING LAMPS OF A POTENTIAL PROBLEM). ROOT CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FUEL PUMP RESISTOR. SEARCHING THIS WEBSITE REVEALED THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN CONDUCTED FOR A CERTAIN REGION REGARDING THIS MALFUNCTION. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A POTENTIALLY FATAL INCIDENT HAD A DIFFERENT SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES BEEN IN PLACE.

NHTSA complaint #10063707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 66,349 miles Clinton, IN

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

CAR DIED WHEN DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. WHEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART, WOULD START, BUT THEN WHEN ACCELERATE, CAR WOULD DIE.

NHTSA complaint #10050917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ANN Arbor, MI

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

WHILE DRIVING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. I MANAGED TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD TURNOVER, BUT THEN IMMEDIATELY LOSE ALL POWER. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILED FUEL PUMP RESISTOR, WHICH WAS CORRODED DUE TO ITS LOCATION AS DESIGNED (IN THE PASSENGER-SIDE WHEEL WELL). APPARENTLY, IN CANADA, OWNERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY GM AND OFFERED A FREE RETROFIT TO THE FIREWALL. I BELIEVE IT IS A REGIONAL RECALL. SHOULDN'T GM DO THE SAME IN THE STATES, I.E. AT LEAST STATES THAT EXHIBIT SIMILAR WEATHER PATTERNS? THE LOSS OF POWER AT HIGH SPEEDS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN. LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AVOID ACCIDENTS AT HIGHER SPEEDS..

NHTSA complaint #760389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stockton, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

COOLANT SYSTEM IS USING A LOT OF COOLANT. MANIFOLD INTAKE HAS A LEAK THAT IS LEAKING OUT THE COOLANT.

NHTSA complaint #899968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Caldwell, NJ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

ON TWO OCCASIONS 3.8 V6 ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK THE FUEL PUMP FUSE IS BLOWING, BUT DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE FUSE TO BLOW AND THEREFORE CAN NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #896021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chester, NJ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN ANTIFREEZE ODOR DURING 2000. ON SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALER, NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE LAST TRIP TO THE DEALER, JUST BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, IS WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS DOCUMENTED (12/26/2000, 15,930 MILES) THE DEALER INDICATES NO LEAK FOUND. WE HAD THE CAR SERVICED AT A LOCAL NON-DEALER FACILITY, AND THEY INDICATED THAT THEY BELIEVED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS THE CAUSE OF THE MINOR LEAK AND ANTIFREEZE SMELL. THE DEALERSHIP NOW INDICATES THAT THE "EXPANSION PLUG" ON THE ENGINE IS FAULTY, AND REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS AS A WARRANTY ISSUE (THEY WILL PAY FOR PARTS BUT THE TOTAL LABOR BILL IS IN EXCESS OF $600, WITH PARTS UNLIKELY TO AMOUNT TO A FRACTION THE LABOR COSTS). THE PONTIAC CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT REFUSES TO INTERVENE. YOUR SITE INDICATES A SERVICE BULLETIN -- SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 010601007, BULLETIN SEQUENCE NUMBER: 191, DATE OF BULLETIN: 0102 , NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: SB619176 , SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON ENGINE COOLANT CONSUMPTION, OR AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK NEAR OR UNDER THE THROTTLE BODY AREA OFTHE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TT. CAN YOU INTERVENE AS THIS IS AN IDENTIFIED PRODUCT ISSUE?

NHTSA complaint #746198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Schnecksvi, PA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

THE FUEL INJECTOR IS INOPERATIVE. NLM

NHTSA complaint #559881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Northwood, OH

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

I FEEL THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN! PLEASE CONTACT ME! NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY.

NHTSA complaint #740874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saugus, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLING/CHARGING

FUEL SENSOR FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #608688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chilton, WI

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE 2 FUEL INJECTORS AFTER HAVING CAR ONLY EIGHT MONTHS; CHILD SAFETY LOCKS BROKE WHEN PURCHASED; MOTOR IN DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW CONTROL PANEL BURNT OUT

NHTSA complaint #712303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

THE FUEL TANK IS SUPPOSE TO HOLD 18 GALLON OF FUEL BUT IT HOLD 14.7 GALLONS. YH

NHTSA complaint #782355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phexi, AZ

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE RUNNING OUT OF FUEL BEFORE THE TANK IS EMPTY. DEALER/MFR. NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS AN 18 GALLON TANK AND RUNS OUT OF FUEL AFTER USING 14-15 GALLONS OF FUEL.

NHTSA complaint #831535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix problems

← Full 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix report