NHTSA — Exterior Lighting: Headlights Problems

1998 Pontiac Grand Prix (Page 2 of 4)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
9,029 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 lights problems

lights problem

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1998 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #54

Mar 072002

Grand Prix

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

While driving headlight lenses popped off, causing headlights to fail. This could cause and accident. Cause unknown. Dealer notified. Consumer stated that both headlight lenses popped out twice.

- Johnstown, PA, USA

problem #53

Apr 012002

Grand Prix

  • miles
Headlight cover fell of approx. Seven months after I bought the vehicle. Approximatly three weeks later the other cover fell off, and both bulbs were shattered. In calling around to different auto salvage and parts stores it was brought to my attention that all the used headlight kits were unavailable due to the high demand. If the Pontiac Grand Prix has a history of this peticular problem, why was there not a recall for them.

- Moundsview, MN, USA

problem #52

Jun 102002

Grand Prix

  • miles
Lens fell off headlight assembly due to bonding agent failure, other headlight foggy and moisture laden. Bonding appears to be failing on that assembly also. Dealer assumes no knowledge of chronic failure in these headlight lenses.manufacturer has not yet been contacted for their response but they will be.

- Long Valley, NJ, USA

problem #51

Jun 212002

(reported on)

Grand Prix

  • miles

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

Headlight lens separated from vehicle, exposing wires. Dealer has been contacted.

- Oak Park, MI, USA

problem #50

Jun 102002

Grand Prix

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving right headlight cover fell off, .one week later, left headlight cover fell off.

- Clarksville, AR, USA

problem #49

Jun 022002

Grand Prix

  • miles
Headlight lenses fall off while driving. This causes bulb to blowout. Dealer has been contacted.

- Oriskany, NY, USA

problem #48

Nov 302001

Grand Prix

  • miles

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

Plastic headlight cover glue fails, causing the plastic cover to come off. When this happens the headlight will go out. I went to the dealer when I first noticed the covers coming loose when the car wasover 36000 miles and they told me it was a common occurrence on the Grand Prix for the cover to come off. It is expensive to fix $90+ for each one. I had the second one come off this week. Again I was told although common it is not covered under any defect policy with GM. I called GM customer service in detroit. And given a customer complaint # S1-1898506. I was told by them to contact the better business bureau as it was not their problem. I feel that this is a dangerous problem as when the cover falls off the headlights blow. This could cause a accident at night. At the same time since GM knows about the problem they should fix them free of charge.

- Schenectady, NY, USA

problem #47

Nov 012001

Grand Prix

  • miles
Right lens fell off. First Pontiac dealer I contacted, jones motors in savannah, tn, (731-925-4923) told me in Nov. 2001 that I had to buy whole headlight assembly at $225+ labor. Trusting them, I bought and installed an entire aftermarket assembly. Then I found service bulletin 010842004 at NHTSA.org, plus an independent body shop man told me the lens was available by itself. I called jones back today (4/22/02), hoping they had discovered and corrected their mistaken info. They still told me I had to buy the whole thing, but at $100+ labor this time. I don't know why the price had been cut in half. When I asked them about the service bulletin, they claimed total ignorance. The parts man said he did not have access to bulletins. His manager called me back later and offered to get me a lens off "one in the back" but I reminded him it was too late for me--I just wanted to make sure others did not get taken by their misinformation. Then I called mathews' (1-800-wilson go), just to see if a much bigger dealership would not surely be more informed. They also told me the whole assembly was my only option. When I told the fellow about the bulletin, he too claimed to be in the dark about such matters. My question is, why do GM's own people not know about their service bulletins when independent body shop people do" is this a scam, or an inexcusable lack of communication"

- Saltillo, TN, USA

problem #46

Mar 162002

Grand Prix

  • miles
Lenses on headlights keep falling off, causing headlight lamp to fail.

- Hover, AL, USA

problem #45

Mar 052002

Grand Prix

  • miles
Headlight lenses are falling off while driving, and causing loss of headlight operation. Dealer / manufacturer notified. Feel free to provide any further information.

- South Heaven, MI, USA

problem #44

Jul 052000

Grand Prix

  • miles

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

Dealer says there have been many replacements of the same problem so I would like to know why there is no recall on it up to this point. I feel I should not have to pay to replace an obvious defect.no safety defect listed.

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

problem #43

Feb 012002

Grand Prix

  • miles
There is alot of condensation that builds in lenses of headlights which causes poor vision when consumer tries to travel at night.

- Pflugerville, TX, USA

problem #42

Dec 102001

Grand Prix

  • miles
I purchased a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix gtp from van-trow Oldsmobile in Nov 1998. Recently, I noticed that my right headlight lens was missing from my headlight assembly which caused my headlight bulb to blow. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the left headlight lens was also separating from the headlight assembly. The glue or silicon or whatever bonded the plastic lens to the assembly was rotten. I contacted van-trow Oldsmobile to inquire as to whether this was a recall problem. They said there was no recall on the headlights. They said that I would have to purchase two whole new headlight assemblies at a cost of $260 each. I contacted the Pontiac website and asked them why my headlight lens would separate from my headlight assemblies like this. They said that this was due to the milage (93,000) and that this was not a defect and not covered under warranty. I am trying to find out if this problem has occured with other Grand Prix. It seems unlikely that this should happen to a car that is only four years old. I would welcome any input on how to proceed with this problem. Thank you very much for your advice. Sincerely, [xxx] and [xxx]. parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Madison, MS, USA

problem #41

Jan 302002

Grand Prix

  • miles
The left and right headlight covers had fallen off within days of each other, both times it had been raining this made the headlights fail pre-mature. I recovered the left lens and as of now is staying on, I contacted a dealer about the problem and was told to buy a new lens there is no recall! after doing research I have found this lens problem to be wide spread there should be a recall in effect for the defective parts and damage caused. (headlights, wires, ect.

- Middletown, OH, USA

problem #40

Feb 012002

(reported on)

Grand Prix

  • miles
While driving headlight lens fell off vehicle, exposing the light, which had shattered.pleas eprovide further information.

- Sunnyville, CA, USA

problem #39

Feb 012002

(reported on)

Grand Prix

  • miles
While driving headlight lens fell off vehicle, exposing the light, which had shattered. Please provide any furter information.

- Sunnyville, CA, USA

problem #38

Jan 052002

Grand Prix

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer went to get in vehicle and noticed one of the headlights fell out. Contacted dealer.

- Lisbon, CT, USA

problem #37

Apr 012001

Grand Prix

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer stated the drivers side headlight feel out, consumer has contacted dealer.

- Westbury, NY, USA

problem #36

Jul 282001

Grand Prix

  • miles
I was driving on a highway when the driver's side headlight cover flew off. I was lucky to have been driving during daylight hours because if the headlights had gone out at night I would have been driving on an unlit country highway with no way to see. When I contacted two auto body shops in the area, I was told they had had 2-3 complaints of the same problem hapening with Pontiac vehicles. There appears to be a problem the sealant not sealing properly and the cover flies off with no warning. The passenger side headlight has condensation in the inside and I fear the same thing will happen again and I may not be so lucky to be driving during the day. I contatced GM and they refuse to pay for headlamp-stating they are not aware of problem. I explained I have heard of 2-3 incidents in less than month in a town with a population of 8,000. They said it wasn't their problem and I had a problem because I did not purchase my car from an authorizered dealer & the waranty expired 3 months earlier. I just want the GM to pay for the headlamp & replace the other one. I don't believe that is too much to ask considering the casualities that could happen if my headlights go out while I am driving in the dark. Thank you.

- Plymouth, WI, USA

problem #35

Aug 282001

Grand Prix

  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Southfield, MI, USA

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