Overview & Reviews

Second-generation airbags are newly standard, and option groups are simplified.

• Sporty style for pocket change. Decent performance with manual transmission.

• Aged chassis. Uncomfortable seats. Chintzy interior plastic.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 58.00

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  NOT An Improvement - 1998 Pontiac Grand AM
  By augidog - January 19 - 2:00 am

  After having good luck with a previous Grand Am we bought another. The car is economical and reasonably dependable. Had more troubles with this one than the previous one. Breaks went bad quickly and had to replace everything even though we caught the wear before the pads were gone. Come on GM get it together. Radio went bad twice. Problems with sensors on the ABS and the engine at times would start to accelerate and just keep on accelerating. Turn it off and then on and everythings fine.

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  Fun car to drive expensive to keep - 1998 Pontiac Grand AM
  By carlover - January 15 - 10:50 pm

  Had this car for about a year when problems slowly started appearing. First was the notorious Coolant leak that GrandAMs commonly have.Next the igngition coils blew on 2 cylinders, all this needing about 1200$ to fix.As a poor student, this ate most of my savings. Car is extremely powerful.Just step on the gas pedal and all it asks you is what speed you want to run to. Interior is not well designed..esp the cup holders are awkward.The front cup holder cant be used when gear is in Park.Fuel economy is 15-16 mpg once you reach about 60k miles.ALl I can say is that dont buy the HorsePower you dont need.Go for a Toyota/Honda and keep maintenance minimum and get a good resale value.

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  Best Eight Years Ever and Still Running Strong - 1998 Pontiac Grand AM
  By jake0886 - January 15 - 2:15 am

  Ive owned my 1998 Grand Am SE 3.1L since 2003 and am still driving it today, for an amazing 8 years! I have all installed options as well. Best of all, Ive had zero issues with it. Considering this was my first car during high school, thats quite a feat. Originally it had 48K miles and was a salvage title that cost me $2800 + $700 in parts to rebuild. It survived my pizza delivery days in high school, college days and 8 years later...Im still driving it as it just wont die like many friends and family predict it would. Currently still running with zero issues at 178K. Best $3500 investment ever! I absolutely love this car and would gladly a new Pontiac if they still existed!

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  Not a top choice - 1998 Pontiac Grand AM
  By 95Light - January 9 - 10:00 am

  I am still looking for the excitement that Pontiac talks so much about. The seats are awful and with the SE you are surrounded by hard plastic which doesnt aid in comfort. The engine (4 cyl type) does well and so do the brakes but the chassis lets these down. The transmission broke at 75K miles and the altenator died 1K miles after. All in all I should have bought the Honda or Toyota for a little more money. Very plain car.

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  Unreliable - 1998 Pontiac Grand AM
  By luminitam - December 15 - 10:00 am

  New car was bought in 1998. Despite being very well maintained and with less than 26,000 on board, the car has experienced ongoing problems with the radio/cassette player, wiring and more recently, serious problems with defective ABS system and rear end motor, all which need replacing, costs exceeding $2,000.

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  wehatesit - 1998 Pontiac Grand AM
  By sickofit - October 2 - 2:00 am

  At first sight we loved it, after a year we hate it! The alternator went out twice, along with the battery. This will cause the motor to shut down sei zing your gaershift and ability to retrieve your keys.Fuel pump, fuel injector, abs sensors, four rotors with pads,swing arm all replaced. Trans mission also runs noisy in lower gears.Radio is going bad now and my side view mirror even fell of while washing the car one day! Overall pontiac made a loser when they put this hunk of metal together.

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  Couldnt ask for better so far - 1998 Pontiac Grand AM
  By yomama4 - August 1 - 6:36 pm

  Owned this car for 10 years now, bought it brand new, and it still runs awesome, going to give it to my neice for her first car. Only real problems I noticed over the years were the brakes wear easy, the radio volume changes sometimes...weird, and the ac clutch rattles like crazy. overall good though.

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  SUCKS - 1998 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Pontiacbad - May 16 - 2:00 am

  The first week I had this car the alternator and the battery went bad. Know with many more miles, The car wont shift correctly, it sits in first gear (this is a automatic) and I dont even have to step on the gas to go, it is idealed to high. The worst car I have had looking for a Honda.

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  Engines bearings go bad - 1998 Pontiac Grand AM
  By animalpals2 - February 15 - 4:36 pm

  after 100,000 miles the engines main bearings go bad. they are very quick cars though. im a female and even dodge trucks cant keep up with me , hehehe overall its been very reliable to me i take care of the maintenance on the engine and the bearings still went. its the only downfall in grand ams either the bearings go or the timing belt.

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  My Granny Am - 1998 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Kayla M - September 27 - 2:13 am

  Since getting my Grand Am in 2004, it has been an overall great ride. Although it may not look sporty or "cool", its reliability is pretty good. Thus far the fuel pump, and shifter are the only real problems I have had. In winter, it is pretty amazing, especially since I live in the country and do lots of highway driving. The car is fairly fuel efficient as well.