Engine
2.8L 6-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 70 of 88 complaints with a usable failure date.
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Brakes
59 complaint records2 crash reports
"REAR DISC BRAKE CORRODED WHICH CAUSED THE REDUCTION IN BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND DRAGGING MAKE NOISE AND FRONT BRAKE SAME THING. TT..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse brakes parts in the directory →
Electrical system
11 complaint records2 fire reports1 crash report
"THE STEERING STARTS TO SMOKE WHEN MAKING A TURN WITH THE TURNING SIGNAL ON AND WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse electrical system parts in the directory →
Body & structure
10 complaint records
"PAINT IS PEELING FROM RUST SPOTS ON RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE. WHERE PAINT IS PEELING SEATS ARE FALLING APART DUE TO RUST/CORROSION. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse body & structure parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| RQ99002 opened Mar 1999 | OPEN | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATION - led to recall 97V058000 ON APRIL 1, 1997, GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION FILED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO RECALL THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, REGISTERED IN 14 HIGH CORROSION STATES, TO REPLACE THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS WOULD EITHER FRACTURER OR... |
| RQ97017 opened Oct 1997 | OPEN | Structure | CRADLE BOLT FAILURES - led to recall 97V058000 There is no summary currently available |
| RP01001 opened Nov 2001 | closed Jun 2002 | Structure | STRUCTURE - led to recall 00V189000 There is no summary currently available |
| PE94063 opened Aug 1994 | closed Dec 1994 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | CORRODED REAR DISK BRAKES There is no summary currently available |
| EA92024 opened Jun 1992 | closed Jan 1994 | Vehicle Speed Control | STICKING THROTTLE There is no summary currently available |
Show 6 more closed investigations
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| EA91051 opened Nov 1991 | closed Jun 1992 | Exterior Lighting | BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE - led to recall 92V086000 There is no summary currently available |
| PE91133 opened Oct 1991 | closed Dec 1991 | Structure | W-CAR HINGE PIN FAILURE There is no summary currently available |
| PE91072 opened May 1991 | closed Jul 1991 | Steering | STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION There is no summary currently available |
| PE90088 opened Jun 1990 | closed Oct 1990 | Exterior Lighting | FAILURE STOP LAMP SWITCH - led to recall 90V185000 There is no summary currently available |
| PE89145 opened Jul 1989 | closed Sep 1989 | Parking Brake | PARKING BRAKE CABLE === |
| C89001 opened Mar 1989 | closed Jan 1990 | Vehicle Speed Control | THROTTLE NON-RETURN There is no summary currently available |
Recall campaigns
Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00V189000 | Structure | 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... | Normally free |
| 97V058000 | Structure | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK,... | Normally free |
| 95V115000 | Wheels | CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. | Normally free |
| 94V041000 | Wheels | CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. | Normally free |
| 92V086000 | Exterior Lighting | BRAKE STOPLAMPS MAY NOT ILLUMINATE OR, IN SOME CASES, STOPLAMPS MAY NOT STAY ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED DUE TO A FAULTY STOPLAMP SWITCH. | Normally free |
| 90V054000 | Seat Belts | FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT FASTENER MAY PULL THROUGH DOOR MOUNTED ANCHOR PLATE. | Normally free |
| 88V175000 | Parking Brake | THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE MAY BE DISCONNECTED FROM THE LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER. | Normally free |
| 88V065000 | Latches/Locks/Linkages | THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE. | Normally free |
Show 3 more recall campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88V049000 | Seat Belts | THE FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHED TO THE UPPER REAR CORNER OF THE DOOR MAY INTERFERE WITH THE GARNISH MOLDING. | Normally free |
| 88V045000 | Power Train | AN INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE AND THE BELLCRANK CLIP IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAN RESULT IN DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION CABLE. | Normally free |
| 88V035000 | Wheels | WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED TO SPECIFICATIONS. | Normally free |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001028 2001-02-08 | Suspension | 81,828 | Vehicles located in the high corrosion provinces east of the Manitoba/Ontario border. Certain vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the frame/cradle retainer bolts pull through the retainers due to corrosion of the retainer. |
| 1995100 1995-06-16 | Suspension | 1,193 | On certain vehicles, cracks may develop in the wheel mounting surface, and, should the cracks become severe enough, the wheel could completely separate from the vehicle. |
| 1995010 1995-01-31 | Steering | 82,835 | On certain vehicles, the rear engine cradle bolts may pull through due to corrosion of the retainers. If this should occur, the cradle would no longer be supported at these mounting locations and the steering shaft may separate from the... |
| 1994042 1994-03-01 | Suspension | 13,262 | On certain vehicles, the steel wheels may develop cracks in the wheel mounting surface and, should the cracks become severe enough, the wheel could completely separate from the vehicle. |
| 1991174 1991-12-12 | Engine | 6,155 | NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.3 LITRE ENGINE. IN SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES, MOISTURE FROM THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION SYSTEM COULD CAUSE ICE BUILDUP BEHIND THE THROTTLE BLADE THEREBY PREVENTING THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO IDLE WHEN THE... |
Show 8 more Canadian recalls
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991037 1991-03-05 | Emissions | 23,611 | Certain vehicles may not comply with CMVSS 1103 - Exhaust Emissions. Cracks may develop in the casing of the integrated direct ignition coil. Correction: Ignition coils will be inspected and replaced if necessary. |
| 1990044 1990-03-15 | Seats And Restraints | 42,748 | Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 210 - Seatbelt Assembly Anchorages. Anchor bolt may pull through the upper anchorage plate. |
| 1990043 1990-03-07 | Fuel System | 8,687 | ON VEHICLES WITH QUAD 4 ENGINES, THE FRONT FUEL FEED ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK OR SEPARATE AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE ASSEMBLY, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE UNDERHOOD AREA. |
| 1988157 1988-11-17 | Brakes | 257 | Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 105 - hydraulic brake systems. (grade holding requirements of parking brake.) |
| 1988052 1988-04-14 | Structure | 705 | THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE ON THESE VEHICLES. IF THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH WERE TO DISENGAGE, THE HOOD COULD UNEXPECTEDLY OPEN. |
| 1988047 1988-04-06 | Seats And Restraints | 109 | THE FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHED TO THE UPPER REAR CORNER OF THE DOOR, MAY INTERFERE WITH GARNISH MOULDING ON SOME VEHICLES. |
| 1988045 1988-03-28 | Powertrain | 1,193 | A POTENTIAL INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE AND THE PRNDL BELLCRANK CLIP CAN RESULT IN DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION CABLE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN BALL STUD. |
| 1988022 1988-02-18 | Suspension | 552 | VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH THE WHEEL LUG NUTS NOT TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION. THIS COULD ALLOW THE LUG NUTS TO LOOSEN AND/OR COME OFF THE WHEEL STUDS. |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 990309004 Oct 1999 | Suspension | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF GRINDING / SCRAPING / GROANING NOISE FROM REAR SUSPENSION. *TT | |
| 476147 Dec 1994 | Engine And Engine Cooling | RATTLING NOISE/ENGINE OVERHEATING. *TW |
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Brake hard once from speed on an empty road.A pull to one side, a pulsing pedal, a pedal that sinks at a stop, or an ABS light that stays lit are the brake complaints on this vehicle presenting themselves.
- Sit in it with the engine off and test everything that has a switch.Windows, locks, lights, the cluster, the radio. Electrical faults are this vehicle's story and the hardest to see on a drive: an intermittent no-start waits for the second week of ownership. Ask for the battery's age and whether any control module has been replaced.
- Walk the body slowly in daylight.Panel gaps, rust at the rockers and wheel arches, and cracked trim are this vehicle's structure complaints. Open and close the liftgate or trunk and look at the latch area.
- Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 11 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Pontiac Grand Prix →