Complaints
1,064
Crashes
52
Fires
123
Injuries
42
Fatalities
2
Recalls
1
Worst 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#1135 complaints
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Avg mileage:73,258 mi
#2130 complaints
Steering:Rack And Pinion
Avg mileage:84,336 mi
Crash-related:7
#356 complaints
Engine & Cooling
Avg mileage:141,120 mi
Fires:35
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 135 | — | — | 73,258 mi | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 130 | 7 | — | 84,336 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 56 | — | 35 | 141,120 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 45 | — | 27 | 161,818 mi | |
| Airbags | 33 | 4 | — | 87,107 mi | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 33 | — | — | 95,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 32 | 5 | — | 35,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 31 | 1 | 15 | 135,557 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 29 | — | 14 | 123,891 mi | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 29 | 2 | — | 87,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 27 | — | 5 | 96,766 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 24 | 1 | 2 | 115,420 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 20 | — | — | 104,000 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 17 | 8 | — | 190,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 17 | 2 | — | 55,000 mi | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 17 | 1 | — | 72,072 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 15 | 2 | 1 | 160,000 mi | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 14 | 3 | — | — | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack | 13 | 1 | — | 80,070 mi | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 10 | 1 | — | 35,900 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 10 | — | 1 | 94,738 mi | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump | 10 | — | — | 62,500 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 9 | 1 | 7 | 101,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 9 | 1 | — | 34,573 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices | 9 | — | — | 51,096 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 9 | — | — | 185,000 mi | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 7 | — | — | — |
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
135
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
73,258
Steering:Rack And Pinion
130
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
—
Avg Miles
84,336
Engine & Cooling
56
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
35
Avg Miles
141,120
Engine Problems
45
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
27
Avg Miles
161,818
Airbags
33
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
87,107
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
33
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
95,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
32
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
35,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
31
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
15
Avg Miles
135,557
Electrical Faults
29
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
14
Avg Miles
123,891
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
29
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
87,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
27
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
96,766
Steering Defects
24
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
115,420
Automatic Transmission
20
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
104,000
Air Bags:Frontal
17
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
—
Avg Miles
190,000
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
17
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
55,000
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
17
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
72,072
Unintended Acceleration
15
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
160,000
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
14
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
80,070
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
35,900
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
94,738
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
62,500
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
7
Avg Miles
101,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
34,573
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
51,096
Suspension Failures
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
185,000
Visibility:Windshield
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~1,003,556 vehicles.
15V701000Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
~1,003,556 affectedGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Other Pontiac Grand Prix Years
1997 Pontiac Grand Prix — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix has 1,064 NHTSA complaints, 52 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Exterior Lighting:Headlights with 135 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix?
Top reported problems: Exterior Lighting:Headlights (135 complaints, avg 73,258 mi); Steering:Rack And Pinion (130 complaints, avg 84,336 mi); Engine & Cooling (56 complaints, avg 141,120 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 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 97,602 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix include 52 crash-related reports, 123 fire reports, 42 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 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,003,556 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Pontiac Grand Prix reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
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