1990 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 176 complaints · 9 recalls
Most-reported system: SERVICE BRAKES (83 complaints · 47.2%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 10
  • Fires 2
  • Injuries 11
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 1989 →
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 83 of 176 owner complaints (47.2%) in this vehicle snapshot. SERVICE BRAKES: 83 complaints, 47.2% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 83 · 47.2% · 5 crash reports STRUCTURE: 21 complaints, 11.9% of reports STRUCTURE 21 · 11.9% · 1 crash reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 14 complaints, 8.0% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14 · 8.0% · 2 fire reports ENGINE: 13 complaints, 7.4% of reports ENGINE 13 · 7.4% SUSPENSION: 11 complaints, 6.3% of reports SUSPENSION 11 · 6.3% · 1 crash reports STEERING: 9 complaints, 5.1% of reports STEERING 9 · 5.1% EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 7 complaints, 4.0% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 7 · 4.0% PARKING BRAKE: 5 complaints, 2.8% of reports PARKING BRAKE 5 · 2.8% · 1 crash reports SEAT BELTS: 3 complaints, 1.7% of reports SEAT BELTS 3 · 1.7% · 1 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 148 complaints, 84.1% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 148 · 84.1% · 9 crash reports 2 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 83 47.2% 5 crashes · 0 fires
STRUCTURE 21 11.9% 1 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14 8.0% 0 crashes · 2 fires
ENGINE 13 7.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SUSPENSION 11 6.3% 1 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 9 5.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 7 4.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
PARKING BRAKE 5 2.8% 1 crashes · 0 fires
SEAT BELTS 3 1.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 148 84.1% 9 crashes · 2 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 Feb 1990. 1995-Q1: 19 owner reports 19 1995-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 1995-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 1995-Q4: 15 owner reports 15 1996-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 1996-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1996-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1996-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 1997-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1997-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 1997-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 1997-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 1998-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1998-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 1998-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 1998-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 1999-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 1999-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 1999-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 1999-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2000-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2000-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2000-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2000-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2001-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2001-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2002-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Feb 1990 Oct 2007 Recall campaign 90V036000 ◆ Recall campaign 90V036000 Recall campaign 90V054000 ◆ Recall campaign 90V054000 Recall campaign 90V185000 ◆ Recall campaign 90V185000 Recall campaign 91V005000 ◆ Recall campaign 91V005000 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 PE90088 ● Investigation PE90088 Investigation PE91072 ● Investigation PE91072 Investigation PE91107 ● Investigation PE91107 Investigation EA91049 ● Investigation EA91049 Investigation EA92024 ● Investigation EA92024 Investigation PE93085 ● Investigation PE93085 Investigation PE94063 ● Investigation PE94063 Investigation RQ97017 ● Investigation RQ97017 Investigation EA00011 ● Investigation EA00011 Investigation RP01001 ● Investigation RP01001
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1995-Q1 Owner reports 19
1995-Q2 Owner reports 14
1995-Q3 Owner reports 13
1995-Q4 Owner reports 15
1996-Q1 Owner reports 4
1996-Q2 Owner reports 2
1996-Q3 Owner reports 1
1996-Q4 Owner reports 4
1997-Q1 Owner reports 2
1997-Q2 Owner reports 4
1997-Q3 Owner reports 7
1997-Q4 Owner reports 5
1998-Q1 Owner reports 2
1998-Q2 Owner reports 5
1998-Q3 Owner reports 9
1998-Q4 Owner reports 5
1999-Q1 Owner reports 1
1999-Q2 Owner reports 4
1999-Q3 Owner reports 6
1999-Q4 Owner reports 4
2000-Q1 Owner reports 4
2000-Q2 Owner reports 8
2000-Q3 Owner reports 5
2000-Q4 Owner reports 11
2001-Q1 Owner reports 5
2001-Q2 Owner reports 1
2002-Q2 Owner reports 5
2002-Q4 Owner reports 1
2003-Q1 Owner reports 1
2003-Q2 Owner reports 1
2003-Q4 Owner reports 1
2004-Q1 Owner reports 1
2004-Q2 Owner reports 1
2005-Q1 Owner reports 1
2005-Q4 Owner reports 1
2006-Q1 Owner reports 1
2006-Q2 Owner reports 1
2007-Q4 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 90V036000
Recall campaign 1 90V054000
Recall campaign 1 90V185000
Recall campaign 1 91V005000
Recall campaign 1 94V041000
Recall campaign 1 95V115000
Recall campaign 1 97V058000
Recall campaign 1 00V189000
Recall campaign 1 06E043000
Defect investigation 1 PE90088
Defect investigation 1 PE91072
Defect investigation 1 PE91107
Defect investigation 1 EA91049
Defect investigation 1 EA92024
Defect investigation 1 PE93085
Defect investigation 1 PE94063
Defect investigation 1 RQ97017
Defect investigation 1 EA00011
Defect investigation 1 RP01001
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (9)

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 90V036000

    Report date
    Component:
    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
    Consequence:
    IN THE PRESENCE OF AN EXTERNAL SOURCE OF IGNITION, THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
    Remedy:
    REMOVE REAR EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT SHIELD FROM THE PIPE ASSEMBLY.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. 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 →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 90V185000

    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 →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 91V005000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WEBBING SEPARATION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ANDINCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO BELTED FRONT OUTBOARD OCCUPANTS IN A HIGH ENERGYCRASH.
    Remedy:
    INSTALL A CONTROLLED ROTATION BRACKET ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT GUIDE LOOPS.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. 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 →

  8. 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 →

  9. 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 176 complaints · page 1 of 8

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