Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 218 complaints with NHTSA about the 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix, and it carries 9 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 98 | 45% |
| Structure | 20 | 9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 18 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 13 | 6% |
| Exterior lighting | 9 | 4% |
| Suspension | 8 | 4% |
| Steering | 7 | 3% |
| Steering | 5 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 2% |
| Seat belts | 4 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
REAR SUBFRAME RETAINERS RUSTED OUT CAUSING ENGINE/TRANSAXLE TO DROP AND STEERING SHAFT TO SEPARATE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHERE THE VEHICLE ENDED UP IN THE ON COMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE RETAINERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT
NHTSA complaint: Steering
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40MPH THE LEFT REAR WHEEL STEERED 45 DEGREES TO THE SIDE AND THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH A TREE. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUS
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
CAR WOULD GET HORRID GAS MILEAGE, OCCASIONALLY STALL, EXHAUST SMELL UNDER HOOD, BLACK EXHAUST. THE CROSSOVER PIPE FROM EACH EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS A COMMON CRACKING ON THE BELLOWS AND MUST BE REPLACED, THEY RUN $2500 FROM
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
IF YOU USE THE TURN SIGNAL, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL START SMOKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND DEALER DIDN'T WANT TO FIX IT. TURN SIGNALS STILL WORKED WHEN APPLIED. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
RECALL CAMPAIGN, HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH RECALLS NEVER RECEIVED. *BF THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION. RECALL# 00V189000. *SC *JB
NHTSA complaint: Structure
CONSUMER INQUIRING ABOUT RECALLS FOR 1990 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. *MR RECALL #'S 90V185000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, 90V036000 FUEL SYSTEM TANK ASSEMBLY, 90V054000 SEAT BELTS, 00V189000 STRUCTURE, AND 94V0410
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE WAITING AT AN ATM ENGINE FELL OUT OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE MECHANIC, WHO SAID THAT THE CRADLE BOLTS RUSTED. CONSUMER INDICATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE.
NHTSA complaint: Structure
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE FELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RETAINER CRADLE BROKE. CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. *NM *MR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGI
Risk: IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
FRONT SHOULDER SAFETY BELT WEBBING MAY SEPARATE AT FRONT BELT UPPER GUIDE LOOPS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FRONT SEAT.
Risk: WEBBING SEPARATION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ANDINCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO BELTED FRONT OUTBOARD OCCUPANTS IN A HIGH ENERGYCRASH.
Fix: INSTALL A CONTROLLED ROTATION BRACKET ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT GUIDE LOOPS.
CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Risk: IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING DATE CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.
| Reliability raw | 80 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 48 | below average |
| Efficiency | 41 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 218 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 98 of them (45%). There are 9 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1990 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.