1996 Pontiac Grand Prix Problems, Recalls & Reliability
116 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 10/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Engine leads the reports.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 1996 sits among all Grand Prix years
What owners report
Recalls (2)
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…
Fix: 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.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004.…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 00V171000.
Technical service bulletins
50 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1996 Grand Prix TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix reliable?
The 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix drew 116 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 10/100, scored against the model's worst year (1997).
What are the most common 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix problems?
The top reported problems for the 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix are engine (21 complaints), brakes & stability (19), and electrical (16).
Does the 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.