The 1998 Pontiac Grand Am has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,415,231 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 236 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence
IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO…
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
15
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
13
2crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
10
3fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
10
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
9
1crashes1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
8
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
8
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
7
3crashes2injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
7
AIR BAGS
6
1crashes3injuries
Total complaints236
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“While starting the vehicle, the anti-theft circuitry cuts out the ignition system and prohibits re-starting the vehicle. A 'pass code' light appears on the dashboard. In one instance, the anti-theft circuitry cut out while the vehicle was in motion and could not be re-started. The vehicle could be…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 pontiac grand am. After the vehicle was started, the passenger side air bag deployed inadvertently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 208,000.”
“1998 pontiac grand am. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle engine made an unusual noise, when she started it. *smd the consumer stated she turned the ignition off, thinking the noise would stop, but it did not. She took the keys out of the ignition and it continued to make the sound. The vehicle…”
“I was driving my 1998 gt pontiac grand am from peoria illinois on highway at 65 mph. She completely shut down no power no nothing...pulled over waited approximately 5minutes and she started right up...please help!!! [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5…”
“I was driving my 1998 gt pontiac grand am from peoria illinois on highway at 65 mph. She completely shut down no power no nothing...pulled over waited approximately 5minutes and she started right up...please help!!! [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5…”
“I was driving my 1998 gt pontiac grand am from peoria illinois on highway at 65 mph. She completely shut down no power no nothing...pulled over waited approximately 5minutes and she started right up...please help!!! [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5…”
“1999 engine installed a 1998 car...faulty wires, car leaks when it rains, looks to have been in a fire. Knock sensor bad,egr valve bad...numerous things wrong with the car and leslie reed's auto knew it was a lemon car. It has a salvaged title and leslie reed's auto never got the car repaired…”
“My 1998 pontiac grand am theft system was engaged and the vehicle will not start I was told by the dealer that it was the dash cluster and key switch replaced both vehicle still will not start. *tr”
Defect investigations
InvestigationRQ03001 Opened 2003-01-02 · closed 2003-09-15
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS…
InvestigationRQ03001 Opened 2003-01-02 · closed 2003-09-15
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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