1997 Pontiac Grand Prix reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,064
- 3 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
- 135 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 1
- see below
- Reported harm
- 52 reported crashes · 42 injuries · 2 deaths · 123 fires
What owners report fails — 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS 135
- STEERING:RACK AND PINION 130
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 56
- ENGINE 45
- VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER 33
1 recall on record for the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
- NHTSA 15V701000 · 2016 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix reliable?
NHTSA has 1,064 consumer complaints on record for the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is exterior lighting:headlights (135 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix?
Owners most often report problems with: exterior lighting:headlights (135), steering:rack and pinion (130), engine and engine cooling (56), engine (45). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.