NHTSA — Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

1998 Pontiac Grand Prix (Page 2 of 2)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 22
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
65,955 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Pontiac Grand Prix engine problems

engine problem

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1998 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #17

May 242007

Grand Prix

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

There was a fire under the hood of my car. After a about 6 months they recalled my car and the front rocker cover gasket needed replacing, after call GM and talking to 10 different people and 2 months later they had someone come to look at my car and at this point they offered me only 3000. For it. My problem is that I kept this car up I only drove it in the snow once a year, changed the oil when due, just had new struts on it new tires and it is in new condition. I looked up the blue book value of the car and it was 5,600. I fell as though I should get 5,000. For my car.

- Milford, NH, USA

problem #16

May 302008

Grand Prix

  • 209,315 miles
I've owned a 1998 Grand Prix GT for 7yrs and I have often had problems with overheating. Especially when the temperature was 90 degrees or above. On the 30th of may, I was driving home and the engine temperature spiked and smoke began pouring out of the engine compartment. I stopped the car quickly and discovered that the intake manifold gasket was blown and it was spewing water into the oil reservoir and the engine compartment. I have seen multiple complaints on other site about the plastic intake manifold gasket that's included with the 1998 Grand Prix and I thought I should post a complaint. The best estimate I've had for repairing my car is $1000... I think that General Motors should issue a recall for this error and pay for my repairs.

- Lithonia, GA, USA

problem #15

May 022006

Grand Prix

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that his vehicle caught fire while parked. Smoke appeared from the front end of the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the fire and the vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The contact called Pontiac and informed them about the safety issue with the vehicle, but was offered no assistance. He recently received a recall notice after the fire for NHTSA campaign id number 08V118000 (engine and engine cooling). The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #14

Feb 072008

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 260,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2 days ago we had a huge snow storm. I was trying to get my car unstuck. The car was idling and I was outside digging out the car, and my girlfriend was sitting in the car, she said it was smokey inside. I just thought it was overheating, and it got worse and worse. I finally thought, ok this just isn't overheating, so I shut the car off and popped the hood. The whole rear of the engine was on fire. I got the fire out and managed to save the car. About 6 months ago I had a engine light come on and the code said small evap leak. He said it was my cold air intake and my gas cap. So I replaced the gas cap and drove around with the engine light on, not knowing that there was a actual evap leak. So it was coincidental that the engine light came on 2 days after I put my intake on. And also it was coincidental that it happened on the day with all the snow. So my mechanic said, that I did have a pinhole leak, and that the sparks from the alternator ignited the vapors. Also the foam underneath the engine cover acted like a sponge sucking in the all fumes and then boom.

- Barrie, 00, USA

problem #13

Dec 042007

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles
I drove from my work location at 2pm to a store 15 minutes away. The car was running normal. I entered the store for 10 minutes and when I came out, I noticed that the car had smoke coming from under the hood. I also noticed that the rear of the hood had brown discoloration marks. I attempted to put out the fire with an extinguisher but was not able to put out the fire. A police man also attempted to put out the fire with another fire extinguisher but also was not able to put out the fire. The fire department arrived in 9 minutes and put out the fire. The complete front of the car was destroyed.

- Long Valley, NJ, USA

problem #12

Sep 052004

Grand Prix

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
My Pontiac Grand Prix was taken to jiffy lube for an oil change and engine flush. After the work was completed, the employee drove the car out to the parking lot. While he was driving it, the engine compartment caught fire. The employee escaped with minor injuries. The engine was totaled and the car was no longer drivable.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #11

Jun 032007

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 148,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

There are multiple problems with the coolant (dexcool) used in GM vehicles such as the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix GT. That is the car I have. The coolant used iin the vehicle deteriorates the gaskets and allows for coolant to leak into the cylinders which cause engine failure and possibly a fatal crash? GM is aware of this issue and issued fixes for it, but will not take responsibility for their act. The procedure to fix it costs upwards of $800 and isn't covered by warranty, unless its new. I'm sure this isn't the first complaint you received for this problem, just search the Grand Prix club websites and see all the similar problems in the country, it's in the millions.

- Haviland, OH, USA

problem #10

Feb 262007

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 243,712 miles
I drove this vehicle home from work, approximately 25 miles. Parked in my garage and went in the house, approximately 10-15 minutes later, my wife, daughter and I left to go out to eat, we drove 10 miles to the restaurant. We were in the restaurant no more late 10 minutes when someone commented there was a vehicle out front smoking, I realized that it was our vehicle, and went outside, I approached the car and smelled a burning smell vs. Overheating smell. I lifted hood and saw the engine was on fire, I proceeded to put out the fire with nearby snow, and with a fire extinguisher. Fire dept was called to make sure fire was out. I then a called tow company and the had car towed back to my home. The car has not been repaired at this time. Most of fire was contained to engine area, no damage to paint, and some underhood insulation charred.

- Isanti, MN, USA

problem #9

Mar 182006

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
My low coolant light came on during a drive and wouldn't go away even after I filled the reservoir. I took it to be serviced at a aaa facility where they gave me the news that the intake had a leak such that air and oil had mixed in with the coolant. They said that the intake should be recalled because they have had to replace so many of them on this vehicle. It cost $860 plus to fix.

- Colulmbus, OH, USA

problem #8

Sep 232004

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving, the vehicle stalled. The consumer tried to restart the vehicle but was unable to do so. The consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic was unable to duplicated the problem. The consumer informed the mechanic that this problem has occurred more than once and the problem has not been resolved. Please fill in additional information.

- Perris, CA, USA

problem #7

Aug 012004

Grand Prix

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Coolant elbow produced a crack. As a result, anti freeze leaked. The part was replaced twice. However, the problem recurred.

- Carol Stream, IL, USA

problem #6

May 152003

Grand Prix

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles
Back in may of 2003 I noticed water in the passenger side of car in the well. I thought it was a leak in the winshield because I had another car that had a leak and it was the winshield. The autoglass dealer told me it was the vent system and not the winshield. Since then, the air conditioning has just stopped working. I am about to take the car to the dealer but I don't know if it is worth the cost of fixing, do you have any advice?

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #5

Jul 152003

Grand Prix

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles
I don't have the exact dates with me. My vehicle is currently at dealership for repair. Problems: Over the 4 years the vehicle would stall from a stop position usually when at a traffic light our when making a turn from a blvd. In all cases I'm in a panic situation to re-start the car. The car has been into the dealer and they cant diagnose the problem but charged be $80 for the diagnoses. This is an ongoing issue.. I feel very serious. Headlight capsules fell off, left side November 2001 and just now the right side June 2003. I feel this should be considered a recall item. Powerwindow (left rear) motor had to be repalced and the right rear goes on and off at times. Windsheild seal leaks and water runs into the overhead light counsel and over the passenger seat, I'm also told by the dealer that the weather guard is bad around the passager front left door. Dash light for the performance shift doesnt work, but dealer indicates that the shift botton works. I have all of my service records and have used the original selling dealer for all of my service needs since I purchased the vehicle. I'm interested in addressing my mechanical issues. The current mileage for my 1998 gp is 47,000.

- Beverly Hills, MI, USA

problem #4

Mar 252003

Grand Prix

  • 55,000 miles
While driving the vehicle stalls without warning. This occurred 4 times in different driving circumstance. This failure could result in an accident. The dealership has serviced the vehicle 5 times and performed a diagnostic test, but no failure code was found.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #3

Dec 312002

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 61,000 miles
My second rear main seal leaking oil with only 61,000 miles on the car. My first was fixed under warranty at 34,000 miles and 27,000 miles later I have the exact same problem. I was told it would cost me 1100 dollars to fix and that there is nothing they can do about this being the second repair in such a short time. Customer care said all they could do was offer a discount on a brand new vehicle. I thought that was laughable. Will the rest of the problems I've had I will never touch a GM product again. 3 repairs fixed under warranty are now doing the same thing again and need repair.

- Federal Way, WA, USA

problem #2

Dec 012002

Grand Prix

  • 95,000 miles
Consumer states that the rear main engine crankshaft seal is leaking oil. Problem has occurred twice, 1st time at 55K miles and 2nd time at 95K miles.

- Gaylord, MN, USA

problem #1

Feb 132001

Grand Prix

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
In August of 2000, vehicle began overheating, dealer states that the heater core went out, new thermostat was put in, dealer stated there was a chemical reaction between dexcool coolant and engine block causing coolant to rust.

- Marion, NC, USA

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