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

1998 vs 1999 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 335 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▲ 405.5% more reports in the equal exposure window

1998 164 complaints 1999 829 complaints

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 1998 share 1999 share Share change
EXTERIOR LIGHTING not reported 6.9% ▲ 6.9 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16.5% 9.9% ▼ 6.6 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 7.3% 1.7% ▼ 5.6 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 7.3% 2.1% ▼ 5.3 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 6.1% 9.8% ▲ 3.7 pts larger share
SEAT BELTS 4.3% 1.7% ▼ 2.6 pts smaller share
STRUCTURE 1.2% 3.6% ▲ 2.4 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES 17.7% 20.0% ▲ 2.3 pts larger share
AIR BAGS 6.1% 7.7% ▲ 1.6 pts larger share
STEERING 6.1% 4.6% ▼ 1.5 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM 4.3% 2.9% ▼ 1.4 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 6.7% 7.5% ▲ 0.8 pts larger share
WHEELS 0.6% 1.2% ▲ 0.6 pts larger share
ENGINE 12.2% 12.8% ▲ 0.6 pts larger share
TIRES 1.2% 0.7% ▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
PARKING BRAKE not reported 0.1% ▲ 0.1 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 75.6% 76.7% ▲ 1.1 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

1998 3

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

1999 6

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, STEERING, and STRUCTURE

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
5 → 13
◆ Injuries
11 → 59