Most common 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix problems
Share of the 499 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Pontiac Grand Prix complaints by model year
Best Grand Prix years: 2003, 1996, 2005. Years to avoid: 1997, 1998, 2000, 1999, 2004. Compare all years →
1998 Pontiac Grand Prix recalls (4)
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and gasket.
Engine and engine cooling
General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 Buick regal, my 1998-2003 Chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 Oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 Pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine's plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge.
Engine and engine cooling
GM is recalling 207,542 my 1997-2003 Buick regal and Pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l supercharged v-6 engine. These vehicles have higher front rocker cover gasket temperatures, creating the potential for earlier degradation of the front rocker cover gasket and eventual oil seepage.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine's plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, along with the 1-3-5 spark…
Steering › Rack and pinion
Certain passenger vehicles and Mini vans have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These and some other retainers used in vehicles assembled between January 1, 1996 and October 31, 1997, could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began January 24, 2003.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix:
Windshield wiper
Incidents of wiper failure (owner reports and warranty) are very high, and many of the reports indicate that the failures are still occurring in 1999.
Engine compartment fires
Windshield wiper
By letter dated December 12, 1999, GM notified NHTSA of its plans to conduct a safety related defect campaign to remedy 155,149 of the subject vehicles.the vehicle population for the campaign includes the 1997 Buick regal/century and Pontiac gran prix models built during the period from the start of production through May 1, 1997.GM determined that the wipers installed prior to this date could stop working, usually…
Engine compartment fires
Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with GM?s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a…
Air bag inflator
What 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix owners say
Engine & cooling all 122 →
The contact owns a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that he noticed oil spots on the ground underneath the vehicle. The contact then stated that upon inspection, he checked under the vehicle and noticed that oil was leaking from the valve cover gasket. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that a recall for the failure had been previously performed on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
I have a problem I drop my car off at the Chevy dealership to get a recall done and they only did one value cover when there are two value cover both was leaking so why only one got change that don't make any since when both value cover leaks oil too cause a fire just like the recalls says it will do so something need too get done because if my car caught fire then I'm sueing y'all for it because y'all made the recalls
Lights all 92 →
Service engine problems from the beginning. Almost every exhaust-related component was replaced before a new computer cut down on the problem. I still had an episode or two after that installation, but have had no episodes in two years now. Airbag light came on shortly after warranty expired, but I knew about the technical service bulletin on that one and it was fixed for free. Driver side window button died a few months after purchase, but it was replaced free under warranty. More recently two windows have stopped working when the weather is warm. I am living with my power window problems because I don't want to pay to have two motors replaced. No winter problems in the winter. Most recently my lens cover on the right headlight fell off. It cost me over $100 for an aftermarket replacement and home installation, but GM was going to charge me $250 plus labor.
The exterior lighting lenses of the headlight have fallen out and have broken from the headlight. He states that the vehicle produces projectiles as well. He states that he has contacted the manufacturer and filed a complaint and they have not offered any assistance to him (71532337325-GM complaint case number).he states that there about 20 people that have reported this issue to general motors. He states that when he took the vehicle to the dealer, they stated that there is corrosion on the chrome of the seal of the headlight. According to the contact, the service manager stated that this was a cosmetic concern and that there is nothing that they could do. The failure mileage is 58,000 and the current mileage is 103,000.--ds updated 09/18/07
Steering all 89 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel seized, the vehicle overheated, and there was a burning odor. The failure recurred on various occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 149,000.
There are a lot of recalls on my poniac Grand Prix se. They have affected the safety of myself and my child. The steering fluid leaks from the car after something was replaced on a recall a while back. Recently while I was in traffic my car stopped going and overheated a lot. This car always runs hot. It May have something to do with the most recent recall. But this car will no longer even start up. How do I find out if the recalls are responsible for my car breaking down on me? Also in the letter I received in the mail said to park my car and not drive it. Yet the didn't have the parts in to replace and fix the issue. Is there a way to be compensated for this. I need a reliable car and really wish I hadn't purchased one with so many issues.
1998 Pontiac Grand Prix engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 27 / 21 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 27 / 21 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl turbo supercharged | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix a good car?
Based on 499 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Grand Prix rates avoid: 2.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Grand Prix at the same age. It is one of the Grand Prix years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix?
The engine & cooling — 122 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the lights (92) and steering (89).
How many recalls does the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix have?
There are 4 recalls for the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix, the most recent from October 26, 2015 (manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Pontiac Grand Prix?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2003, 1996 and 2005. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997, 1998, 2000, 1999 and 2004. See the full Pontiac Grand Prix years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 94,000 miles; 13% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.