Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Note: I have filed a safely complaint before with the NHTSA about this safety issue on nov 9, 2020 reference number: 11373799. And now due to safety negligence from the investigation department of the NHTSA ..excessive heat coming from the extremely hot oil that's dripping off the extremely hot exhaust manifold that's leaking from the valve cover started a fire under the hood and also leaked into the cylinder causing the piston to slit into numerous pieces then violently being shot back and forth striking the cylinder walls violently then breaking through the engine block and oil pan, then spilling hot oil on the I-105 highway at high way speed coming up on a fork, lost oil compression and stalling out with heavy thick can't see in more then 5 feet in front of you grey/black smoke coming from both ends of the vehicle. Almost costed me my life
The engine leaks oil on the manifold which started a fire and electrical some of my sensor connectors and not working.. The fire started after I pulled in to drive way and I can feel from the inside of the car that the engine was getting real hot so I popped the hood and there was a small fire on the manifold.
Tl* the contact owned a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that the vehicle caught on fire. The vehicle was destroyed. No further details was available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 136,000. The VIN was not available.
At 4:06 pm on nov. 04,2013, my wife parked in a local walmart parking lot. She immediately noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood. Bystanders started yelling for her to exit the car. One bystander called the fire department, located 1.25 miles away. My wife exited the car called the fire department and then called me with her mobile phone by the time the fire engine arrived, the plastic parts on top of and around the engine had been destroyed. The fire department immediately extinguished the fire. I arrived from four miles away, and after surveying the damage, I considered the damage to exceed the value of the car. I called a local towing service and they towed the car to my home. The car had been well maintained and was in excellent condition before the fire. I am 77 years old and my wife is 74 and our memories are failing. …
I own a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix gtp. This car was in perfect condition under the hood and throughout the vehicle. After driving approx. 1 1/2 hours the car was shut off..., security system set and after approx. The car alarm went off only to find my car in flames! This had started under the hood. The car is a total loss. It was lost in a matter of 5 minutes. Air bag from passenger side went off sending it thru the back window and shattering it. GM had an investigator look at my vehicle to determin if it was the fault of a GM. Of course GM said that there was not enough proof that it was a faulty part or anything else. I had this vehicle serviced and inspected less than 2 weeks prior to loss and nothing was visibly wrong. I can't understant what caused this nor am I satisified with was I was told by GM. I would like to know if there as been anyother case like this. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, when the heating system was activated, the contact noticed that the head lights failed without warning. The contact also noticed that the information system in the dashboard would fail when the heat was activated. In addition, the contact stated that the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred. It was unknown if the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 52,300. Updated 04/08/16 the consumer stated the brake module needs to be replaced. Updated 05/16/16.
Dt: the contact states vehicle caught on fire. The vehicle had been sitting for 30 minutes before the fire. The fire department was called to extinguish the fire. The fire marshal inspected the vehicle and concluded the fire was electrical. It started in the dashboard and spread to the engine. There were no prior problems reported on the vehicle. No one sustained any injury due to the fire. The fire department told the contact the police department would not respond since the fire was on her property. The vehicle was a complete loss.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that the ignition switch failed and the vehicle would not start. The contact had to wiggle the key in the ignition in order to start the vehicle. The failure recurred when attempting to start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the ignition switch was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 155,800.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix. While parked in the driveway, the vehicle's hood ignited into flames. The contact observed smoke coming from the hood prior to the fire, but there were no warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The fire department was called to the scene and a report was filed. There was minor property damage. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 130,000.
On the 10th of June in 2016 driving down the freeway at 65 MPH with the cruise control engaged, I noticed a white colored smoke coming from the car. In the process of pulling over to the shoulder of the freeway the engine stopped and the smoke continued. Popped the hood and saw a fire on the middle/ frontfront of the motor. The fore was coming from the cover on the top of motor.
Electrical complaints in other Grand Prix years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix?
NHTSA has 88 complaints about the electrical system of the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix, 11% of the model year's 810 complaints. The component named most often is alternator/generator/regulator (17 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 104,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 26 fires and 1 injury to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.