Verdict · NHTSA data
One of the years to avoid
The 1991 Pontiac Grand Prix carries two red flags at once: 242 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA — 2.0× the Grand Prix norm — and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: CRADLE BOLT FAILURES). It is one of the Grand Prix years to avoid. Complainants reported 11 injuries in total across these filings.
Brakes leads the complaint categories with 94 reports (39% of the total).
242
NHTSA complaints
6
Recalls
7
Investigations · 1 open
13
Crash-involved
5
Fires reported
11
Injuries
0
Deaths
—
NCAP overall
| Component | Complaints | Share | vs prior year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 94 | 39% | — flat |
| Body & Structure | 30 | 12% | — flat |
| Electrical System | 25 | 10% | — flat |
| Lighting | 21 | 9% | ▲ up |
| Engine | 19 | 8% | — flat |
| Steering | 13 | 5% | — flat |
| Other | 8 | 3% | ▲ up |
| Fuel System | 8 | 3% | ▲ up |
| Speed Control | 5 | 2% | ▲ up |
| Visibility & Wipers | 4 | 2% | ▲ up |
| Suspension | 4 | 2% | ▼ down |
| Tires & Wheels | 4 | 2% | ▲ up |
| Seats | 3 | 1% | ▲ up |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1% | ▼ down |
| Transmission | 2 | 1% | ▼ down |
6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Defect
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Consequence
FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Remedy
DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
Defect
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy
HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HEAVY. A CONDITION WHERE ONE OR BOTH FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS CAN PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINERS.
Consequence
IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NOT LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
Consequence
IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
Defect
THE FOG LAMPS, LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS, AND HIGH BEAM HEADLAMPS CAN BE OPERATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THIS CAN CAUSE THE HEADLAMP CIRCUIT BREAKER TO OVERLOAD AND TRIP, RESULTING IN LOSS OF HEADLAMPS (LOW AND HIGH BEAM) AND FOG LIGHTS.
Consequence
LOSS OF HEADLAMPS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING REDUCES DRIVERVISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS OR AT NIGHT, AND COULD RESULT IN AVEHICLE ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, THE USE OF MORE THAN FOUR (4) WHITE LIGHTS ON AVEHICLE AT THE SAME TIME VIOLATES THE LAW IN SOME STATES.
Remedy
INSTALL NEW FOG LAMP RELAYS, NEW CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND NEW CIRCUIT BREAKER TERMINALS. ALSO, MODIFY THE LIGHTING CIRCUIT TO PREVENT THE FOG LAMPS AND HIGH BEAM LAMPS FROM OPERATING SIMULTANEOUSLY.
Defect
THE FRONT DOOR SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOPS MAY BE CRACKED AND ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 208.
Consequence
THE SEAT OCCUPANT FACES INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THEEVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy
INSTALL REINFORCING PLATES ON THE CRACKED SHOULDER BELT GUIDES.
RQ97017
CRADLE BOLT FAILURES
There is no summary currently available
Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.
“I ENTERED MY AUTO ON THE EVENING OF 10/4/00 AT 8:10PM AND TURNED KEY TO START. I DID NOT AT ANY TIME DEPRESS GAS PEDAL. AFTER ENGINE STARTED, I ALLOWED RPM'S TO SETTTLE DOWN AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. PUT TRANSMISSION IN "REVERSE" AND LET UP ON THE BRAKE. THE IMMEDIATELY STARTED MOVING IN…”
“THE ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A COLLSION. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DISQUALIFIED DUE TO THE VIN #, IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA THE…”
“AFTER PLACING VEHICLE IN THE PARK POSITION WHILE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM OUTSIDE. WENT OUTSIDE TO INQUIRE, AND CONSUMER SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM VEHICLE. CAUSE OF FIRE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE DROVE A LONG…”
“THE ALTERNATOR/STARTER GO OUT EVERY 6 MONTHS, THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED 8 TIMES, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT BLINK, THE BRAKES GO OUT EVERY 6 MONTHS, I THINK THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE POWER STEERING HAS TO BE REFILLED EVERY 100 MILES. THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW DOES NOT…”
“AFTER PLACING VEHICLE IN THE PARK POSITION WHILE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM OUTSIDE. WENT OUTSIDE TO INQUIRE, AND CONSUMER SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM VEHICLE. CAUSE OF FIRE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE DROVE A LONG…”
NHTSA data argues against it: 242 complaints put the 1991 model at #13 of 39 Grand Prix years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the Grand Prix years to avoid.
According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (94 complaints), body & structure (30 complaints), electrical system (25 complaints).
Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 1991 Pontiac Grand Prix. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.
Yes — an investigation remains open (CRADLE BOLT FAILURES). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.
Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Grand Prix years to avoid are 1997, 2004, 1998, 2000, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 1994, 1990, 1995, 1991, 2005, 1989, 2008, 1993, 1988. The cleanest record among Grand Prix years belongs to 1982.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.