Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
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).
The paint on the rear wheel wells as well as the pain on the running boards all the way back to the rear quarter pannels is rusting out. I found your website and thought that I migh be covered, but apparently I am not and GM said they have changed their plant to oshawa, Canada. They also said that they have changed their paint. When I asked what I should do they said that it is pretty much tough luck. And that is about it. Also the coolent return hose in the engine goes every 2 yrs. And at canadian tire it costs. About 375$ to replace.
2 adults in back seat. Left rear suspension strut tore through the metal of the trunk and came up into the trunk, compromising vehicle handling and potential loss of control and rear brakes, making the vehicle unsafe to operate.
Vehicle windshield wiper arm (drivers) creaking noise (I believe a recall is underway). Loose trim throughout. Rearview mirror replaced, battery died (car was towed), power window failed (dealer replaced), headlights admit moisture, ashtray opens by itself, seat squeaks, dash rattles, rattle also comes from rear of car, vehicle vibration at highway speeds, seatbelts do not retract, leather on seats is cracking, key knob has too short a range, stiching is coming off the leather wrapped steering wheel, also the club lock burns inprints into wheel if left on in the summer sun, headlights turn on in the middle of the day, brakes stop working in heavy rain or when coming out of the car wash, the power door lock swithch on the passengers door fell into the door, various retaining clips have broken off trim, etc.
When exiting driveway, steering wheel locked up, preventing owner from maneuvering vehicle. Owner towed vehicle to covington tire and service. They found that due to rear bearings being chewed up and destroyed, steering was incapacitated. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer for repairs to the pump/hose seal. Returned the next week because the problem with the steering was still present. The vehicle was test driven and consumer was told the vehicle could never lose steering. On the date indicated, the vehicle was not functioning. The vehicle was towed to an independent garage and the rack and pinion replaced. Upon calling GM, consumer was told nothing could be done since the repairs weren't done by Pontiac.
We found the head of the bolt and the washer under the car when it was parked. The head of the bolt had cracked off right where it joins the shaft of bolt. My father bought a new bolt and replaced it. It seemed very unusual the way the bolt head had broken off. The entire face of the shaft and the head where the shaft was were rusted so it appears that this had been broken for some time. We have both pieces of the bolt if you need to have it and a parts display of the rear suspension with the bolt circled if you need them. If yo have questions contact my father at the same number or via e-mail at [email].
Steering: steering handling problems . Vehicle difficult oto handle in breezy conditions when traveling at 50- 60mph. Vehicle wanders to left and right, creating straight line stability problems, must constantly counter steer to keep vehicle on highway.
While driving, consumer lost complete steering ability, steering would not turn left or right. Completely locked up. Dealer installed remanufactured rack and pinion, replaced power steering hose, and a four wheel alignment was also performed.
Vehicle was taken to the dealer for recall 02V286000 repairs concerning power steering assembly. After repairing the defective parts, dealer told the consumer that vehicle had to be aligned, and charged $139.99.
While driving, any speed, rear of vehicle rattles, severely vibrates, could cause crash. According to dealer, rear stabilizar bar is loose, no parts to correct problem, waiting for GM to reconstruct part.
Was doing some maintenance and noticed a split in the metal of my stabilizer shaft front passenger side. Still looks durable, but thought I have you take a look at my pics. Is this a safety risk?
Suspension complaints in other Grand Prix years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the suspension of the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix, 3% of the model year's 810 complaints. The component named most often is rear (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension 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 suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 150,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
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.