1998 Pontiac Grand AM Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1998 Pontiac Grand AM, and owners have filed 172 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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1 safety recall for the 1998 Pontiac Grand AM
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Switch (electrical system)
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.
Remedy: 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 necessary, replace the…
172 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1998 Pontiac Grand AM have filed 172 complaints with NHTSA; 12 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 11 injuries and 2 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 85,338 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 36 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 c”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 15, 2016 · 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 noti”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 11, 2015 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 21–24 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18–20 / 27–30 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.4/3.1 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Pontiac Grand AM model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Pontiac Grand AM model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 Pontiac Grand AM | 3 | 1 |
| 1975 Pontiac Grand AM | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 Pontiac Grand AM | 4 | 0 |
| 1983 Pontiac Grand AM | 0 | 1 |
| 1985 Pontiac Grand AM | 4 | 4 |
| 1986 Pontiac Grand AM | 1 | 11 |
| 1987 Pontiac Grand AM | 2 | 28 |
| 1988 Pontiac Grand AM | 2 | 31 |
| 1989 Pontiac Grand AM | 2 | 44 |
| 1990 Pontiac Grand AM | 0 | 38 |
| 1991 Pontiac Grand AM | 2 | 82 |
| 1992 Pontiac Grand AM | 3 | 168 |
| 1993 Pontiac Grand AM | 1 | 204 |
| 1994 Pontiac Grand AM | 2 | 377 |
| 1995 Pontiac Grand AM | 1 | 409 |
| 1996 Pontiac Grand AM | 4 | 450 |
| 1997 Pontiac Grand AM | 2 | 383 |
| 1998 Pontiac Grand AM | 1 | 172 |
| 1999 Pontiac Grand AM | 3 | 849 |
| 2000 Pontiac Grand AM | 5 | 675 |
| 2001 Pontiac Grand AM | 4 | 538 |
| 2002 Pontiac Grand AM | 1 | 395 |
| 2003 Pontiac Grand AM | 2 | 325 |
| 2004 Pontiac Grand AM | 2 | 293 |
| 2005 Pontiac Grand AM | 2 | 102 |
Checking a specific 1998 Pontiac Grand AM
How do I know if my 1998 Pontiac Grand AM has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1998 Pontiac Grand AM; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Pontiac dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 04V036000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Pontiac models
- G65,889 complaints
- Grand Prix5,426 complaints
- Bonneville1,979 complaints
- Vibe1,865 complaints
- Sunfire1,144 complaints
- Montana1,054 complaints
- Trans Sport973 complaints
- Solstice728 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.