1998 Pontiac Grand Prix Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 90about this part
- Share
- 18%of 499 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 109,790miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 90 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix, 18% of the 499 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 109,790 miles. 32 a fire, according to the filers. 3 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.8 litre v6 caught on fire on april 6 2009 and then a couple days later the recall came out. My car is a total loss. I have contacted Pontiac as of 4-16-2009 and I am waiting to hear from them! There is no police report, but there is a fire report due to the fire dept coming to extinguish the flames.”
NHTSA complaint #10265571, filed 2009-04, 176,000 miles“I received a notice in the mail from GM on 5/14/2009 that my vehicle had been recalled over an issue involving a safety recall 09047. This was on thursday and that following saturday my car caught fire. I had not had time to schedule an appointment with a dealership. My car ran fine and had no problems prior to the fire. The fire happened under the hood. I had to call the fire department to have the fire put out.”
NHTSA complaint #10327084, filed 2010-04, 198,000 miles“I've owned a 1998 Grand Prix gt for 7yrs and I have often had problems with overheating. Especially when the temperature was 90 degrees or above. On the 30th of may, I was driving home and the engine temperature spiked and smoke began pouring out of the engine compartment. I stopped the car quickly and discovered that the intake manifold gasket was blown and it was spewing water into the oil reservoir and the engine compartment. …”
NHTSA complaint #10232098, filed 2008-06, 209,315 miles“After taking my car in for a recall (NHTSA id number 08v118000) I notice that the oil leak that I was experiencing would be fixed. When the oil leak returned, I took it back to the dealer to see if the repair was not fixed correctly. I was informed that the back valve cover and manifold was now leaking and the recall only fixed the front valve cover. I was also informed that the leak could cause a fire similar to the one that was the recall was suppose to correct. …”
NHTSA complaint #10260681, filed 2009-03, 51,449 miles“I had my 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix with the l67 supercharged engine serviced under the recall notice last year (NHTSA id number 08v118000), but it is now leaking the same way from the rear valve cover, with the same attendant smoke on shutdown, and I presume, the same fire hazard.. Gm informs me the recall only extended to the front valve cover leakage, but isn't this the same or a related issue? Should I expect an american car to be at risk from bursting into flame through normal use?”
NHTSA complaint #10284172, filed 2009-09, 97,500 milesRelated recalls
- 15V701000Oct 26, 2015General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix…Covers: Pontiac Grand Prix 1997–2004, Buick Regal 1997–2004, Chevrolet Monte Carlo 1998–2004 +3 more
- 09V116000Apr 8, 2009General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 buick regal, my 1998-2003 chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 oldsmobile intrigue, my…Covers: Pontiac Grand Prix 1997–2003, Buick Regal 1997–2003, Chevrolet Monte Carlo 1998–2003 +3 more
- 08V118000Mar 12, 2008Gm is recalling 207,542 my 1997-2003 buick regal and pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l supercharged v-6 engine. These vehicles have higher…Covers: Pontiac Grand Prix 1997–2003, Buick Regal 1997–2003
Related service bulletins
- 10246631Sep 1, 2013Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- 10024787Apr 1, 2008L67 engine oil smell or odor, leak at left or front valve cover (replace valve cover gasket, gromments and spark plug wire retainers for cylinders 1-3-5). *nj updated 7/25/2008
- 10012148Jun 1, 2004New rear main seal and special tool for installation.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 5 | 4% |
| 2007 | 4 | 2% |
| 2006 | 6 | 3% |
| 2005 | 6 | 4% |
| 2004 | 41 | 9% |
| 2003 | 16 | 15% |
| 2002 | 62 | 19% |
| 2001 | 102 | 33% |
| 2000 | 151 | 33% |
| 1999 | 152 | 37% |
| 1998 | 90 | 18% |
| 1997 | 136 | 17% |
| 1996 | 13 | 16% |
| 1995 | 11 | 7% |
| 1994 | 22 | 10% |
| 1993 | 10 | 8% |
| 1992 | 14 | 12% |
| 1991 | 19 | 11% |
| 1990 | 16 | 9% |
| 1989 | 14 | 10% |
| 1988 | 4 | 5% |
Other parts of the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix
90 complaintsSteering
89 complaintsElectrical system
51 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
49 complaintsBrakes
36 complaintsEngine
33 complaintsAir bags
24 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
21 complaintsFuel system
20 complaintsOther or unknown
14 complaintsSeat belts
14 complaintsSuspension
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology