Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗GM/IGNITION SWITCH
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.
- 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 IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (172)
172 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 172 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 38 | 22.1% |
| Electrical system | 33 | 19.2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 23 | 13.4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 16 | 9.3% |
| Steering | 14 | 8.1% |
| Suspension | 14 | 8.1% |
| Visibility | 14 | 8.1% |
| Air bags | 13 | 7.6% |
| Power train | 13 | 7.6% |
| Fuel system | 9 | 5.2% |
How 1998 compares with other Grand Am years
Best and worst Grand Am years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 377 | 2 |
| 1995 | 409 | 1 |
| 1996 | 450 | 4 |
| 1997 | 383 | 2 |
| 1998 | 172 | 1 |
| 1999 | 849 | 3 |
| 2000 | 675 | 5 |
| 2001 | 538 | 4 |
| 2002 | 395 | 1 |
| 2003 | 325 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 24 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,800
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 370 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 24 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 30 / 24 | $2,800 | 370 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 30 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 3.1 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 27 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1998 Grand Am for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1998 Pontiac Grand Am FAQ
How many recalls does the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 04V036000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1998 Pontiac Grand Am problems?
Owners filed 172 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (38), Electrical system (33), Engine and engine cooling (23) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1998 Pontiac Grand Am get?
EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 20 city, 30 highway and 24 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1998 Grand Am compare with other years?
Among the 1994–2003 Pontiac Grand Am model years at least five years old, the 1998 drew the fewest complaints (172) and the 1999 the most (849). The 1998 drew 172. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.