Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix, and it carries 2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 19 | 19% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 9 | 9% |
| Steering | 7 | 7% |
| Fuel system | 6 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 5% |
| Structure | 5 | 5% |
| Visibility | 4 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXERT FORCE UPON THE STEERING
NHTSA complaint: Steering
AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, LOST CONTROL OF STEERING WHILE MAKING LEFT TURN. CAR CONTINUED, RAN OVER A MAIL BOX AND CAME TO REST IN A FLOWER BED. WHEN TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AND PICKED CAR UP, TOW TRUCK DRIVER NOTICED THAT
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE TWICE WHERE DROPS OF ENGINE OIL FELL ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE FIRES OCCURRED THREE DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBL
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
DT: AROUND SEPTEMBER 21, 2005 THE CONSUMER STARTED EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY TURNING TO THE RIGHT. IT WAS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. THE PROBLEM WAS ONGOING WHEN TRYING TO TURN RIGHT. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK
NHTSA complaint: Steering
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS (TWICE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ONCE ON SIDE STREET) MY GAS PEDAL PUSHED DOWN UNDER MY FOOT AND MY CAR ACCELERATED BY IT SELF. I HAD TO HAVE THE MECHANIC DISCONNECT THE CRUISE CONTROL. L
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS WORKING ON THE VEHICLE NOTICED THAT GAS WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE GAS TANK HAD A LEAK. *AK *MR
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
THE CONSUMEREXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL AND YEAR, HOWEVE THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *NM
NHTSA complaint: Steering
SATURDAY MARCH 8, 2003, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM SHOPPING WITH MY 4-YEAR-OLD SON WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG OF MY 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM EXPLODED IN MY FACE. THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE BAG FORCED MY ARM BACK INTO MY FACE SNA
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1996 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 DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004.
| Reliability raw | 83 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 78 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 40 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 19 of them (19%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (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 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1996 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.