Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
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).
Car caught fire in my driveway and was destroyed on 04/05/2016, engine fire. My driveway was fried, imprint of car still there. I filed a claim with GM last year.,have not heard a thing since. Vehicle loss was $2800 driveway repair is $3200
I went to the store, drove about 40 feet and got stuck in snow. Realized I was bottomed out in snow when I opened my door. I didn't try to get unstuck. I shut off engine and went into house. Several minutes later, I heard a noise and looked out and saw flames shooting from under hood. I immediately called 911 and fire department was there within 5 minutes and truck was there within 10. They immediately asked me if the car was left running at the time the fire started. I said,"no, I was inside at least 20 minutes before I heard this noise and looked out." the engine and front end of car is a complete loss. Cracked windshield, melted lower left hand corner of windshield and front of instrument panel. Their were no flames that reached the inside thru the firewall. Unfortunately I am not insured and wife and I are disabled, the car being our only source of transportation. …
2 days ago we had a huge snow storm. I was trying to get my car unstuck. The car was idling and I was outside digging out the car, and my girlfriend was sitting in the car, she said it was smokey inside. I just thought it was overheating, and it got worse and worse. I finally thought, OK this just isn't overheating, so I shut the car off and popped the hood. The whole rear of the engine was on fire. I got the fire out and managed to save the car. About 6 months ago I had a engine light come on and the code said small EVAP leak. He said it was my cold air intake and my gas cap. So I replaced the gas cap and drove around with the engine light on, not knowing that there was a actual EVAP leak. So it was coincidental that the engine light came on 2 days after I put my intake on. And also it was coincidental that it happened on the day with all the snow. …
I drove this vehicle home from work, approximately 25 miles. Parked in my garage and went in the house, approximately 10-15 minutes later, my wife, daughter and I left to go out to eat, we drove 10 miles to the restaurant. We were in the restaurant no more late 10 minutes when someone commented there was a vehicle out front smoking, I realized that it was our vehicle, and went outside, I approached the car and smelled a burning smell vs. Overheating smell. I lifted hood and saw the engine was on fire, I proceeded to put out the fire with nearby snow, and with a fire extinguisher. Fire dept was called to make sure fire was out. I then a called tow company and the had car towed back to my home. The car has not been repaired at this time. Most of fire was contained to engine area, no damage to paint, and some underhood insulation charred.
I received a recall letter,then I moved to a new residents 2wks. Later I parked my car in the driveway went into the house maybe 2-3 min I noticed flames coming out of the hood. I ran and got the water hose and put it out. I called the dealer they weren't aware of a recall I had to show proof letter. I faxed it then they towed the car to the dealers GMC was called they called the dealer .04-25-08 I called GMC stated since the car caught on fire they need to send fire investigator out. He came to the dealers took pictures and report and fedex it to GMC mich. Then they gave me another adjuster darlene clemens. On May 2nd I called GMC again I was given another adjuster why she wouldn't tell me just gave me the persons name jemeia price since then I been playing phone tag no one can help me I am without a car no loaner or any concern since my car is paid off. …
While driving north bound on us 31 highway on the morning of March 12, 2004, the car suddenly died in heavy traffic. With some effort, I was able to pull the car over to the side of the road. When I tried to restart the car, it would start and suddenly die again. Had car towed to nearest GM dealer for repair. There was no early indication of a malfunction (ie. No warning lamps of a potential problem). Root cause was determined to be a fuel pump resistor. Searching this website revealed that a recall had been conducted for a certain region regarding this malfunction. My concern is that this could have been a potentially fatal incident had a different set of circumstances been in place.
The gas tank is not sealed in the middle allowing gas and fuel vapor to leak from car! All the sway bar on the driver side has separated due to the rack and pinion, car has no sound when turning to the right but if you try and turn the car to the left it is as if the power steering is going out and make a loud grinding noise and is getting very difficult to turn left, also the windshield wiper do not work proper and cause problems in the rain, the key get stuck in the ignition all the time,feel as if motor is twisting or moving forward, will be contacting Pontiac due to recalls and problems arising.
The fuel pump resistor went out on my 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix gtp. After researching the issue, this seems to be a common occurrence on 1997-98 Grand prixs and Buick regals with the l67 supercharged motor. The resistor goes out without warning, causing the engine to kill seconds after starting. This part was recalled in areas of Canada per GM customer satisfaction campaign #01033.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that there was a fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The vehicle developed an antifreeze odor during 2000. On several trips to the dealer, no problem was found. The last trip to the dealer, just before the warranty expired, is when the problem was documented (12/26/2000, 15,930 miles) the dealer indicates no leak found. We had the car serviced at a local non-dealer facility, and they indicated that they believed the intake manifold gasket was the cause of the minor leak and antifreeze smell. The dealership now indicates that the "expansion plug" on the engine is faulty, and refuses to address this as a warranty issue (they will pay for parts but the total labor bill is in excess of $600, with parts unlikely to amount to a fraction the labor costs). The Pontiac customer relations department refuses to intervene. …
NHTSA investigations
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…
Fuel System complaints in other Grand Prix years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix, 4% of the model year's 499 complaints. The component named most often is delivery › fuel pump (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system 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 fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 133,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 5 fires and 0 injuries to fuel & propulsion system 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.