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

1996 vs 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

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 359 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▲ 910.1% more 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 1996 share 1997 share Share change
STEERING 8.9% 23.7% ▲ 14.8 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 3.8% 16.7% ▲ 12.9 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES 16.5% 4.3% ▼ 12.2 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6.3% 1.5% ▼ 4.8 pts smaller share
ENGINE 13.9% 18.6% ▲ 4.6 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 6.3% 2.0% ▼ 4.3 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 5.1% 0.8% ▼ 4.3 pts smaller share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11.4% 7.8% ▼ 3.6 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 5.1% 7.5% ▲ 2.5 pts larger share
AIR BAGS 3.8% 6.0% ▲ 2.2 pts larger share
FUEL SYSTEM 2.5% 1.6% ▼ 0.9 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 3.8% 3.0% ▼ 0.8 pts smaller share
WHEELS 1.3% 0.6% ▼ 0.6 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 2.5% 2.4% ▼ 0.2 pts smaller share
PARKING BRAKE not reported 0.1% ▲ 0.1 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 82.3% 66.3% ▼ 16.0 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

1996 2

Campaign components: FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER and STEERING

1997 9

Campaign components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, STEERING, and VISIBILITY

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
3 → 108
◆ Injuries
6 → 31