Complaints
236
Crashes
16
Fires
5
Injuries
15
Fatalities
2
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Pontiac Grand Am Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#115 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
#213 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Avg mileage:108,957 mi
Crash-related:2
#310 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition
Avg mileage:93,462 mi
Fires:3
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 15 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 13 | 2 | — | 108,957 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 10 | — | 3 | 93,462 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 10 | — | — | 64,000 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 9 | 1 | — | 20,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 8 | — | — | 47,000 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 7 | 3 | — | 111,000 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 7 | — | — | 40,000 mi | |
| Airbags | 6 | 1 | — | 154,420 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 6 | 1 | — | 111,245 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 6 | — | — | 120,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 | — | — | 93,500 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
13
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
108,957
Electrical System:Ignition
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
93,462
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
64,000
Automatic Transmission
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
20,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
47,000
Air Bags:Frontal
7
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
111,000
Hydraulic Brakes
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
40,000
Airbags
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
154,420
Electrical Faults
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
111,245
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
120,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
93,500
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Rack And Pinion
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Pontiac Grand Am Years
1998 Pontiac Grand Am — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1998 Pontiac Grand Am has 236 NHTSA complaints, 16 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 15 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (15 complaints); Unintended Acceleration (13 complaints, avg 108,957 mi); Electrical System:Ignition (10 complaints, avg 93,462 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 84,989 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am include 16 crash-related reports, 5 fire reports, 15 injuries, and 2 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1998 Pontiac Grand Am?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Pontiac Grand Am reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Pontiac Grand Am
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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