Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

1997 vs 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 347 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 56.2% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 1997 share 1998 share Share change
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20.6% 16.5% ▼ 4.1 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 3.7% 7.3% ▲ 3.6 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES 14.4% 17.7% ▲ 3.2 pts larger share
AIR BAGS 9.1% 6.1% ▼ 3.0 pts smaller share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2.4% not reported ▼ 2.4 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 1.9% 4.3% ▲ 2.4 pts larger share
VISIBILITY 4.8% 6.7% ▲ 1.9 pts larger share
STEERING 4.3% 6.1% ▲ 1.8 pts larger share
SUSPENSION 4.3% 6.1% ▲ 1.8 pts larger share
ENGINE 13.4% 12.2% ▼ 1.2 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6.2% 7.3% ▲ 1.2 pts larger share
WHEELS 1.6% 0.6% ▼ 1.0 pts smaller share
STRUCTURE 2.1% 1.2% ▼ 0.9 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM 3.5% 4.3% ▲ 0.8 pts larger share
TIRES 1.6% 1.2% ▼ 0.4 pts smaller share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 82.6% 75.6% ▼ 7.0 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

1997 4

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, and FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

1998 3

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, and FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
12 → 5
◆ Injuries
35 → 11