Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Pontiac Grand Am
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Pontiac Grand Am has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 172 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #07E021000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E015000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMP MODULES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V036000 GM/IGNITION SWITCH NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 36 complaints
- Electrical System 33 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 23 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 16 complaints
- Steering 14 complaints
- Suspension 14 complaints
Of the 172 complaints on file, 12 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 172 complaints, owners report 11 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Pontiac Grand Am has an average overall reliability rating. While there are some notable recall campaigns, including issues with fuel system components and the ignition switch, the vehicle has a moderate number of owner complaints concentrated in brakes and the electrical system. The evidence is limited for other issues, suggesting an overall average reliability outlook.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| brakes | 60,000-90,000 miles | $150–$400 | common |
| electrical system | 50,000-80,000 miles | $100–$500 | common |
| engine cooling | 70,000-100,000 miles | $200–$600 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 5,000 miles
- Brake inspection annually
- Replace air filter every 15,000 miles
- Coolant replacement every 2 years
- Transmission fluid change every 50,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Brake pedal feels spongy
- Dashboard warning lights
- Engine overheating
- Unusual electrical flickering
- Stalling or rough idling
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.