Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 184 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am, and it carries 3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 25 | 14% |
| Service brakes | 24 | 13% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 19 | 10% |
| Air bags | 13 | 7% |
| Power train | 10 | 5% |
| Steering | 10 | 5% |
| Suspension | 9 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 4% |
| Visibility | 7 | 4% |
| Seat belts | 7 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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 WH
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
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.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A
NHTSA complaint: Engine
WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 287 IN NEW JERSEY WHEN ENGINE CUT OFF CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES, POWER STEERING. CAUSED ACCIDENT WHEN RAN OFF ROAD DUE TO LACK OF POWER STEERING AND INABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY BRAKE. TOOK TO DEALER
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
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
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
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
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
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.
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
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
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am. 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 AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMP MODULES / MODULE RESERVOIR ASSEMBLIES (MRA) THAT WERE SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE MRAS VENT AND FUEL RETURN TUBES WERE REVERSED. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE VEHICLE NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY (IDLE ROUGH AND/OR STALL) DUE TO
Risk: A STALLED VEHICLE CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. A FUEL LEAK CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE MRAS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 1-877-335-7443.
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.
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.
Risk: 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 CA
Fix: 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 NECESSAR
| Reliability raw | 80 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 88 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 49 | below average |
| Efficiency | 45 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 184 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 25 of them (14%). There are 3 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 1998 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 72/100. 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.