Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
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).
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
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, smoke emitted from underneath the hood. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road where the contact noticed that flames ignited from the engine compartment area. The contact extinguished the fire himself. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who stated that drops of engine oil deposited onto the exhaust manifold. The mechanic replaced the valve cover gasket, the spark plugs and the belts. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the vehicle was repaired prior to the recall notification being received. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 1998 Pontiac Grand prx. After adding anti-freeze to the vehicle parked in the shed, the contact noticed a small flame under the hood of the vehicle. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. There were no injuries. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part for the recall was unavailable. The contact stated that the failure was directly related to the consequence of the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owned a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix. While driving 67 MPH, the vehicle shook violently. The contact coasted to the side of the road and noticed flames under the hood. The vehicle caught fire, which was extinguished by the contact. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an independent mechanic. There were no injuries and a report was not filed. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 09V116000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 167,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix. After the vehicle was driven 50 miles, it suddenly caught fire soon after being parked. The fire department was called and the fire was extinguished. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. A police report was filed. The contact received a recall notification after the fire occurred for NHTSA campaign number: 08V118000 (engine and engine cooling). The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix. After reversing from the driveway, the contact noticed fluid leaking on the pavement. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that there was a fuel and transmission fluid leakage. As a result, the transmission kit and oil pan were replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 210,000. Updated 02/18/16
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix. While driving 25 MPH, the contact smelled smoke and saw flames under the hood of the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 91,000. Updated 03/10/16 updated 03/14/16.
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.
Returned to work from lunch went inside started back to work with in 10 minutes co workers was telling me my car was on fire fire department arrived minutes later put the fire out fire department said fire started in front part of engine compartment I believe it was caused by the recall on my vehicle that was never completed.
Related recalls
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…
NHTSA investigations
Engine compartment fires
Engine complaints in other Grand Prix years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix?
NHTSA has 122 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix, 24% of the model year's 499 complaints. The component named most often is engine › gasoline (28 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-701 (manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe, Oct 26, 2015); NHTSA recall 09V-116 (engine and engine cooling, Apr 8, 2009); NHTSA recall 08V-118 (engine and engine cooling, Mar 12, 2008). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 119,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 42 fires and 3 injuries to engine & cooling 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.