Rear subframe retainers rusted out causing engine/transaxle to drop and steering shaft to separate causing loss of control where the vehicle ended up in the on coming lane of traffic. The retainers have been replaced at least once before. Replacement parts have the same defect as the original parts. I don't believe that is a solution. One gm dealer (don miller in madison) denied any knowledge of a recall. Another gm dealer said gm will offer a couple hundred dollars and take the car, but there is no repair option. Your person I spoke with at the (888) phone number directed be to a gm (800) number who could not find any information even though I gave them the recall number. In addition to the bolts and retainers that are "covered", the rubber cushions and top retainers were unable to be found and will require replacement. I have ordered the parts at a cost of about $110 and a $60 tow bill plus any labor charge I incur. Looking over the number of these failures on your site, it is amazing to me that no accidents have resulted that have been reported. I wonder how many have occurred and the cause was not discovered. It seems to me that the recall should be continued to inspect vehicles that have been "repaired" with the same defective parts.
The worst 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes95
- Body25
- Electrical17
- Engine16
- Suspension13
- Steering11
- Lights9
- Transmission5
- Seat belts4
- Acceleration3
- Wheels2
- Airbags1
- Fuel system1
- Seats1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix
Recalls 8
Structure
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 00V189000 · Recall details
Structure
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 97V058000 · Recall details
Wheels
- What is wrong
- Cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface. If these cracks become severe enough, the wheel will completely separate from the vehicle.
- Risk
- If wheel separation occurs while the vehicle is in motion, loss of steering and brake control of the vehicle occurs, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the manufacturing date codes stamped on each wheel of the vehicle and if a wheel falls within the specified date code range, the dealer will replace that wheel assembly.
Recall number 95V115000 · Recall details
Wheels
- What is wrong
- Cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface. If these cracks become severe enough, the wheel will completely separate from the vehicle.
- Risk
- If wheel separation occurs while the vehicle is in motion, loss of steering and brake control of the vehicle occurs, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the manufacturing codes stamped on each wheel of the vehicle and if a wheel falls within the specified date code range, the dealer will replace that wheel assembly.
Recall number 94V041000 · Recall details
Seat belts
- What is wrong
- Front shoulder safety belt webbing may separate at front belt upper guide loops on either side of the front seat.
- Risk
- Webbing separation could occur without prior warning andincrease the risk of injury to belted front outboard occupants in a high energycrash.
- Remedy
- Install a controlled rotation bracket on driver and passenger side front seat belt guide loops.
Recall number 91V005000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
- What is wrong
- Brake stoplamps may not illuminate or, in some cases, stoplamps will not stay illuminated all the time when brakes are applied due to a faulty stoplamp switch. Also in vehicles equipped with cruise control, a faulty stoplamp switch can result in resumption of the cruise control function upon release of the brake pedal.
- Risk
- A trailing vehicle may not recognize a braking actionin time to respond appropriately. Also, cruise control will reengage uponrelease of the brake pedal and resume the set speed. In either case, it couldresult in a crash without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Install an improved design stoplamp switch.
Recall number 90V185000 · Recall details
Seat belts
- What is wrong
- Front shoulder belt guide loop attachment fastener may pull through door mounted anchor plate.
- Risk
- Seat belt may not sustain loads required by fmvss 210, and in a vehicle accident, the seat belt may not properly restrain a passenger, resulting in increased risk of greater injury to an occupant.
- Remedy
- Replace front shoulder belt guide loop attachment nuts and install new guide cover.
Recall number 90V054000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly
- What is wrong
- During a rear end collision, the rear exhaust system heat shield, which is welded to the tail pipe assembly, may puncture the fuel tank.
- Risk
- In the presence of an external source of ignition, this could result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Remove rear exhaust system heat shield from the pipe assembly.
Recall number 90V036000 · Recall details
See all 8 recalls for the 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix
Defect investigations
Structure
There is no summary currently available
RP01001
Engine cradle separation
The engine cradle front bolts and/or retainers may fail, allowing the front of the engine cradle to fall, possibly separating the steering intermediate shaft from the steering gear, with complete loss of steering control
EA00011
Cradle bolt failures
There is no summary currently available
RQ97017
Corroded rear disk brakes
There is no summary currently available
PE94063
Wheel failures
There is no summary currently available
PE93085
Sticking throttle
There is no summary currently available
EA92024
Jack failure
===
EA91049
Jack failure
There is no summary currently available
PE91107
Steering wheel separation
There is no summary currently available
PE91072
Failure stop lamp switch
There is no summary currently available
PE90088
Technical service bulletins for the 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix 6
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Customers may complain of grinding / scraping / groaning noise from rear suspension
- Some V6 engines may, on a very infrequent basis, have an oil odor condition that is generally encountered...
- Emission campaign 90-C-52 ignition (i.d.i.) coil housing cracked
- ABS warning light is on
- Rear strut related thumping/squeaking noise
- ABS wire harness for the right front wheel may rub on the brake line causing the ABS warning light to come on
1990 Pontiac Grand Prix fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4‑cyl | FWD | 19 | 27 | 22 |
| 3.1L 6‑cyl | FWD | 15-17 | 23-27 | 18-20 |
What 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 40mph the left rear wheel steered 45 degrees to the side and the vehicle went out of control. The vehicle collided head on with a tree. The driver was wearing a seat belt, but sustained injuries. The police took a report at the scene. The vehicle was towed to a junk yard and inspected by the manufacturer, who provided no clear determination as to what caused the accident. An engineer inspected the vehicle and determined the trailing arm failed and caused the accident.
Car would get horrid gas mileage, occasionally stall, exhaust smell under hood, black exhaust. The crossover pipe from each exhaust manifold has a common cracking on the bellows and must be replaced, they run $2500 from gm which just crack again, or $425 for jeff m one that doesn't crack. The pipe cracks cause fresh air to enter the exhaust and the oxygen sensor thinks the cars running rich, causing horrible gas mileage, oil contamination, and stalling. The extra heat from the car running rich cracks the turbo housing.
If you use the turn signal, the steering wheel will start smoking. Took vehicle to dealer and dealer didn't want to fix it. Turn signals still worked when applied.
Recall campaign, having some problems with recalls never received. *bf the rear cradle bolts pulled through the retainers due to corrosion. Recall# 00v189000. *sc
Consumer inquiring about recalls for 1990 pontiac grand prix. *mr recall #'s 90v185000 exterior lighting brake light switch, 90v036000 fuel system tank assembly, 90v054000 seat belts, 00v189000 structure, and 94v041000 wheels. *sc
Consumer stated that while waiting at an atm engine fell out of vehicle. Consumer had vehicle towed to the mechanic, who said that the cradle bolts rusted. Consumer indicated he never received a recall notice. But when he called gmc he was told that this vehicle was included in the recall.
While driving the engine fell. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was determined that the retainer cradle broke. Consumer never received a recall notice. *nm
When the brakes were applied, the pedal traveled to the floor.
Vehicle's rear brakes were inoperative. Rust accumulated on the surface of the brakes. As a result the rotors and pads did not come in contact.
Compare the 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix
Other model years
1990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008
Questions about the 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix
Is the 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix reliable?
Owners have filed 176 complaints about the 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix, fewer than a typical Grand Prix model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix?
Brakes, with 95 complaints. Next is body (25).
How many recalls does the 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix have?
8 recalls, covering structure, wheels and seat belts.
What year does the Pontiac Grand Prix have bad brakes?
The Pontiac Grand Prix model years with the most brakes complaints are 1990 (95 complaints), 1991 (77 complaints) and 1993 (57 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix get?
Official estimates for the 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix range from 18 to 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.3L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 19 city and 27 highway.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history