1988 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 88 complaints · 12 recalls
Most-reported system: SERVICE BRAKES (39 complaints · 44.3%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 5
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 2
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 1987 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution SERVICE BRAKES appears in 39 of 88 owner complaints (44.3%) in this vehicle snapshot. SERVICE BRAKES: 39 complaints, 44.3% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 39 · 44.3% · 1 crash reports STRUCTURE: 10 complaints, 11.4% of reports STRUCTURE 10 · 11.4% SUSPENSION: 6 complaints, 6.8% of reports SUSPENSION 6 · 6.8% ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 5 complaints, 5.7% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5 · 5.7% · 1 crash reports 1 fire reports ENGINE: 4 complaints, 4.6% of reports ENGINE 4 · 4.6% PARKING BRAKE: 4 complaints, 4.6% of reports PARKING BRAKE 4 · 4.6% · 1 crash reports STEERING: 4 complaints, 4.6% of reports STEERING 4 · 4.6% POWER TRAIN: 3 complaints, 3.4% of reports POWER TRAIN 3 · 3.4% SEAT BELTS: 3 complaints, 3.4% of reports SEAT BELTS 3 · 3.4% · 1 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 75 complaints, 85.2% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 75 · 85.2% · 4 crash reports 1 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
SERVICE BRAKES 39 44.3% 1 crashes · 0 fires
STRUCTURE 10 11.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SUSPENSION 6 6.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5 5.7% 1 crashes · 1 fires
ENGINE 4 4.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
PARKING BRAKE 4 4.6% 1 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 4 4.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 3 3.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SEAT BELTS 3 3.4% 1 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 75 85.2% 4 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 1995; the first recall shown was reported in Mar 1988. 1995-Q1: 24 owner reports 24 1995-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 1995-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 1995-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 1996-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1996-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 1996-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 1996-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 1997-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1997-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 1997-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1998-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1999-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 1999-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 1999-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2000-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2001-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2001-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2002-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2002-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2002-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Mar 1988 Jan 2016 Recall campaign 88V035000 ◆ Recall campaign 88V035000 Recall campaign 88V045000 ◆ Recall campaign 88V045000 Recall campaign 88V049000 ◆ Recall campaign 88V049000 Recall campaign 88V065000 ◆ Recall campaign 88V065000 Recall campaign 88V175000 ◆ Recall campaign 88V175000 Recall campaign 90V054000 ◆ Recall campaign 90V054000 Recall campaign 92V086000 ◆ Recall campaign 92V086000 Recall campaign 94V041000 ◆ Recall campaign 94V041000 Recall campaign 95V115000 ◆ Recall campaign 95V115000 Recall campaign 97V058000 ◆ Recall campaign 97V058000 Recall campaign 00V189000 ◆ Recall campaign 00V189000 Recall campaign 06E043000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E043000 Investigation C89001 ● Investigation C89001 Investigation PE89145 ● Investigation PE89145 Investigation PE90088 ● Investigation PE90088 Investigation PE91072 ● Investigation PE91072 Investigation PE91133 ● Investigation PE91133 Investigation EA91051 ● Investigation EA91051 Investigation EA92024 ● Investigation EA92024 Investigation PE94063 ● Investigation PE94063 Investigation RQ97017 ● Investigation RQ97017 Investigation RQ99002 ● Investigation RQ99002 Investigation RP01001 ● Investigation RP01001
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1995-Q1 Owner reports 24
1995-Q2 Owner reports 7
1995-Q3 Owner reports 2
1995-Q4 Owner reports 8
1996-Q1 Owner reports 2
1996-Q2 Owner reports 4
1996-Q3 Owner reports 2
1996-Q4 Owner reports 3
1997-Q1 Owner reports 2
1997-Q2 Owner reports 1
1997-Q3 Owner reports 3
1997-Q4 Owner reports 1
1998-Q1 Owner reports 2
1998-Q4 Owner reports 1
1999-Q2 Owner reports 1
1999-Q3 Owner reports 2
1999-Q4 Owner reports 1
2000-Q1 Owner reports 2
2000-Q2 Owner reports 1
2000-Q4 Owner reports 5
2001-Q1 Owner reports 2
2001-Q2 Owner reports 2
2002-Q1 Owner reports 2
2002-Q2 Owner reports 3
2002-Q3 Owner reports 2
2003-Q2 Owner reports 1
2004-Q3 Owner reports 1
2016-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 88V035000
Recall campaign 1 88V045000
Recall campaign 1 88V049000
Recall campaign 1 88V065000
Recall campaign 1 88V175000
Recall campaign 1 90V054000
Recall campaign 1 92V086000
Recall campaign 1 94V041000
Recall campaign 1 95V115000
Recall campaign 1 97V058000
Recall campaign 1 00V189000
Recall campaign 1 06E043000
Defect investigation 1 C89001
Defect investigation 1 PE89145
Defect investigation 1 PE90088
Defect investigation 1 PE91072
Defect investigation 1 PE91133
Defect investigation 1 EA91051
Defect investigation 1 EA92024
Defect investigation 1 PE94063
Defect investigation 1 RQ97017
Defect investigation 1 RQ99002
Defect investigation 1 RP01001
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (12)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 00V189000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E043000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
    Remedy:
    HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 88V035000

    Report date
    Component:
    WHEELS
    Consequence:
    WHEEL LUG NUTS COULD LOOSEN AND/OR COME OFF THE WHEELSTUDS. THIS COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN WHEEL SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE.LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
    Remedy:
    INSPECTION OF VEHICLE AND ASSURE PROPER TORQUE REPLACES ANY MISSING LUG NUT OR LOOSE STUD.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 88V045000

    Report date
    Component:
    POWER TRAIN
    Consequence:
    THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION TO BE IN AGEAR OTHER THAN THAT DISPLAYED BY THE SHIFT INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE COULD MOVEIN AN UNEXPECTED DIRECTION AND CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
    Remedy:
    A NEWLY DESIGNED BELLCRANK CLIP WILL BE INSTALLED.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 88V049000

    Report date
    Component:
    SEAT BELTS
    Consequence:
    THIS INTERFERENCE COULD LIMIT THE ROTATION OF THE GUIDELOOP. IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS AND VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IT COULD BEPOSSIBLE FOR THE SHOULDER BELT WELDING TO BE CUT BY THE GUIDE. LOSS OF THESHOULDER BELT FUNCTION DURING A VEHICLE CRASH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OFINJURIES TO OCCUPANTS.
    Remedy:
    A NEWLY DESIGNED GUIDE LOOP NUT AND SPACER WILL BE INSTALLED TO ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR INTERFERENCE CONDITIONS.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 88V065000

    Report date
    Component:
    LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
    Consequence:
    IF PRIMARY LATCH DISENGAGES, HOOD COULD UNEXPECTEDLYOPEN. IF CAR WAS IN MOTION, HOOD COULD CONTACT THE WINDSHIELD, REDUCE THEDRIVERS FORWARD VISION AREA, AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
    Remedy:
    REPLACE SECONDARY LATCH WITH A NEW LATCH.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 88V175000

    Report date
    Component:
    PARKING BRAKE
    Consequence:
    PARKING BRAKE CANNOT BE PROPERLY APPLIED AND VEHICLEWILL NOT MEET THE GRADE HOLDING REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 105.
    Remedy:
    INSTALL A RETAINER ON LEFT REAR CALIPER IF CABLE IS NOT ALREADY RETAINED WITH A COTTER PIN AND ADJUST PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 90V054000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    SEAT BELT MAY NOT SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, AND IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN A PASSENGER, RESULTING IN INCREASED RISK OF GREATER INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT.
    Remedy:
    REPLACE FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT NUTS AND INSTALL NEW GUIDE COVER.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 92V086000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    A TRAILING VEHICLE MAY NOT RECOGNIZE A BRAKING ACTIONIN TIME TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL WILL REENGAGE UPONRELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RESUME THE SET SPEED. IN EITHER CASE, IT COULDRESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
    Remedy:
    INSTALL AN IMPROVED DESIGN STOPLAMP SWITCH.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 94V041000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 95V115000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING DATE CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  12. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 97V058000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 88 complaints · page 1 of 4

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources