Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
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).
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. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix. While driving 35 MPH, the exterior lighting on the front driver side caught fire from the inside. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 137,000.
Problems with power steering pump, alternator, rack and pinion, power windows, and head gaskets. The power steering pump had suddenly gone out in traffic, the vehicle stopped abruptly in the middle of traffic(the alternator was replaced), the consumer discovered that the windshield wipers were inoperative upon start due to the failure of the wiper linkage under the cowl, the steering skipped as the consumer made right hand turns(the rack and pinion was replaced along with the power steering pump), the headlight lens had fallen off, the ceramic headgasket had to be replaced, the was a hesitation and alternator had to be replaced for a second time, the air bag warning light had come on due to a short in the wiring harness, the transmission grabbed along with hesitation(a tune up was performed and work was done to the transmission), the vehicle couldn't be taken out of the park …
I have a 1997 pontaic Grand Prix. The headlight lens (glass) comes off while traveling down the road. This creates an unsafe condition being that there is a projectile that could hit another vehicle or a pedestrian and cause serious injury. In calling around to find a replacement lens, I found that this happens a lot and the salavage yards sell them as fast as they get them in. That is a lot of lens covers flying around on the highways. It is even taking a dealership a while to order one, since they also can not keep them in stock. I have no way of knowing it mine hit another vehicle, as it was there when I left and gone when I got to my destination. I heard a noise like a stone or something hitting the car, but was not aware of what it really was. If pontaic knows there is a problem they should be recalled and they should fix the problem.
First of all I love my Grand Prix. I have had both both head light lens fall off within a month of one another. You cant purchease the lens you need to buy the whole unit form Pontiac. Replaced my self each unit was about $100. Gear shift locked up in garage was about $350 plus a tow. Electrical issues with blower motor works on 5 only. Lights will only work when blower motor is off or on 5. Replaced blower resistor and did not help. 2 electrcal widow problems. Alterantor problem approx $350 normal with GM. All issues under 80,000 miles. It appears most people have had the same issues. Very disapointed GM does not make it right with loyal GM owners. The fire issue is very concerning I will be taking my gt to dealer soon.
About 5 months ago on my 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix the passenger side headlight lens cover just fell off of my car. Just the lens cover, that piece of plastic that is directly over the headlight. Where did it fall off? I have know idea. At first I thought somone stole it. When I went to the junk yard to buy just the headlight cover. It cost me $132. I had to buy new because the guy said "there are no used covers because the always fall off". Now just yesturday the headlight cover fell off of my drivers side while I was driving of the highway. Of course I ran it over and then it hit the car behind me. This is going to cost me another hundred dollars. If the wiper blades can be recalled I think the headlights should be too.
My vehicle began to experience electrical outages a month ago which included the headlights, blower motor, and gas sensor. My headlights would shutoff by themselves as would my blower motor, periodically. I noticed that it corresponded to what level my blower was put on. Level 5 would keep the system on but levels 1-4 would promote the outages. I have had the blower motor and blower switch repaired on my car not more than a year ago but yet I am experiencing this problem. I have read many other blogs where people have posted problems with their Pontiac which are identical to mine. I should note that this problem has gotten progressively worse over the past month.
I don't know if anyone else has had this problem or not. I can't believe it is a one time thing. The headlights on my 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix have moisture that forms on the inside of the headlight making the entire inside of the headlight turn black. Makes it very hard to see at night! The only solution I see is an expensive replacement of the entire headlight assembly with no guarantee that it will not do it again. This is a low mile car (less than 30,000 miles) and spends nights inside the garage! This started when the car was probably only a year & a half old on the one lens but now both are that way.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix. While driving various speeds, the headlights would sporadically fail. The contact's visibility was greatly reduced due to the failure. The dealer replaced the wiring harness. Four years later, the failure recurred. He took the vehicle back to the dealer and they replaced the wiring harness and other associated parts at the cost of $852.12. The failure mileage was 95,000 and current mileage was 156,000.
While driving in a rainstorm on the interstate at 70 MPH driver side headlight lens blew off. This resulted in the headlight bulb blowing out when the rain came in contact with the bulb. Passenger side lens fell off the day after. The lens could not be replaced without replacing the entire headlight assembly. The lens fell off because the sealant around the lens dried out. It cost s87.00 to replace each headlight lens.
Headlight complaints in other Grand Prix years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix?
NHTSA has 152 complaints about the lights of the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix, 19% of the model year's 810 complaints. The component named most often is headlights (135 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix headlight problems?
No. NHTSA lists no lights 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 headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 3 fires and 0 injuries to lights 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.