Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My 17 year old son was driving on ice and started to slide and he slid into a ditch. No damage was done to the outside of the car, he was driving approx. 15 MPH and once the car was pulled out of the ditch it was driven the rest of the way home. Both airbags deployed, the passenger side deployed w/ such force that it shattered the windshield and the drivers side had enough force that it hit my son in the face hard enough to shove his head into the headrest.
I was stopped in traffic when struck from behind by a car traveling well in excess of the 35 MPH limit who never touched his brakes. Upon impact I was driven into a truck stopped about 7 feet in front of me. My car was declared totaled by his insurance company with major damage to the front and rear. Neither of my air bags deployed. I sustained a left shoulder/arm and left side neck injury which I started treatment on the next day. Treatment has hopefully completed as of surgery on 7/16/2001 to remove dics, repair vertebrae, and place a titainum plate in my neck except of course 6-8 weeks of recovery from the surgery. In addition to medical cost, I , due to this accident have been not allowed to work for all but about 6 weeks in the 7 months since the accident and of course the 6-8 weeks left. I feel had the air bags deployed I would have not received any of the injuries I suffered. …
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.
Service air bag light, for the last 5 years, my air bag light has come on in my 1998 Grand Prix gtp. I have searched for recalls and nothing comes up. It would come on for 6 months and then go off for 6 months. For the last year it has stayed on. 5 mechanics have looked and it and computer did not come up with any codes. Finally I went to a new mechanic the other day and they said I have to carry it to the dealer. The dealer called and said the part is $21.00, but the labor will be $500.00. Something about the harness on the passenger side air bag. Said they had the part in stock, because they have already replaced several others. How do you get a recall on these.
I have had two car accidents. In both accidents the air bags did not come out and the seat belts offered no protection either. The design of the neck restrain allowed my neck to go back causing severe injury to a disc. If the saftey system failed one time I wondered. But failed twice the car or design has problems. When first purchasing my car they had to replace the shifter when I bought the car. Again I am having the same problem will not shift out of park.
Car was traveling approx.35-40 MPH and hit two stopped cars. Airbags did not deploy and seat belts did not lock up, causing driver to hit steering wheel suffering from concussion and acute herniated c5-6 in neck. An accident report was filed with manufacturer and the company fixing car did not understand why the airbags did not deploy.
The problem with the air bag harness was fixed on 5/22/2000 and I was charged $172.70 for the repair. My contention is that the fix ought to be free of charge as this is a known documented safety related concern ****dimsii ivoq entry posted on 12/12/02 cut -over to artemis*****724576.
Air bag light stays on. Scanner says do not drive. Passenger side air bag. Called GM and they said there are no recalls on air bags. I noticed that there was a similar problem with the 1999 air bags on drivers side. Has anyone else had a complaint? The air bags should have a lifetime warranty.
SRS air bag light illuminated on dash. Dealer diagnosed (for $85) that driver's side air bag unit needed to be replaced at cost of $1100. Car never in accident. Light just stayed on one morning on start.**** dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over from artemis****760791.
While driving 20 MPH driver's and passenger's airbags deployed, causing injuries and loss of vehicle control. There was no frontal impact or warning light. Manufacturer stated it was not the consumer's fault , but could determine the problem. Please provide further information and VIN #.
NHTSA investigations
Air bag inflator
Airbag complaints in other Grand Prix years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the air bags of the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix, 5% of the model year's 499 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix, though it has 4 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 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 0 fires and 8 injuries to air bags 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.