Overview & Reviews

Pontiac redesigns the Grand Prix for 1997, giving buyers slick new styling, a longer and wider wheelbase and supercharged V6 power on GTP models. Traction control, antilock brakes, dual airbags and side-impact protection are standard. Optional is a built-in child safety seat.

• Styling, performance, standard dual airbags, standard anti-lock brakes, standard traction control

• No traction control when GTP Package is ordered. Base engine could use more oomph.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 101.00

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  Poor mans sports car - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Brent Andrus - September 23 - 11:06 pm

  This is a reliable car when it comes to the powertrain (engine, transmission, etc.). It has pretty good horsepower, a sleek look, and the inside has lots of gadgets and gizmos. But all those ancillary electrical components are very cheaply made. My car is nicknamed "Trixie" because it is just full of "tricks". For example the windsheild wipers are stop in the upright position rather than down, the radio volume dial goes up when it is supposed to go down (and vice versa), several warning lights like "check tire pressure" are always on, and two back windows just gradually fall down and have to be pushed back up. Overall, quite reliable but you have to overlook annoying defects.

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  Not all lemons are in trees - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Roger Linn - November 20 - 2:00 am

  I have spent over $4,000.00 fixing air conditioner compressors, engine oil gakets, alternator, heat and air modulator valve, transmission sensors. This car is my wifes car and only has 44,000 miles. Im done with GM. Hell-O Honda.

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  Good looking car, but not more than this - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By diolta - August 4 - 10:00 am

  Not a reliable car. You never know what will break down next. Constatntly have to fix something, even though I do not drive it too much. Most of the problems happen when it is too cold or too hot. Interior plastic is cheap. Headlight glass on each side just falls down by itself (probably it is a bad glue that GM uses) Dealership sells the lamp and the glass as one piece and charges around $120. I know several people who had the same problem with this car, but GM does not have a recall on them.

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  Awful Build Quality/Reliability - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By cpuuri-3 - April 1 - 2:00 am

  At 6 yrs and 83k miles, I have a few more problems to list. Now the power door lock actuator (front, passenger) works when it feels like it ($52/part). The clear portion of the other headlamp fell off ($72/part). Dealer tried to BS me about WI climate and it not being a frequent problem (Ive done the research). Still losing about a quart of oil/change, and now the high pressure hose coming into the power steering module is leaking. I rarely get above 20 MPG, now. I have reached a dilemma, do I buy a Honda, or use the $3k I have in GM Card earnings?!?!

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  built on a Friday! - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By dave barry penb - September 14 - 2:00 am

  Consistent problems with this well beyond wear and tear. Other owners of Grand Prix have been very satisfied overall, not I. Heres a PARTIAL list: 2 batteries; 1 alternator; 1 condensor; 1 compressor; 2 o2 sensors; 2 fuel filters; 1 steering gear bushing; 1 fuel regulator; 2 heat selector resistors; 1 stereo; 3 wiper arms; 2 sets of spark plugs rated at 160 000 kms I have 114 000; the rocker panels have rusted been repaired and rusted through again; windshield is separating from the car and there is a leak in the tunk so water has left it mildewy and now it is behind the back seat. A lot for 3 years of owning. Expensive.

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  My Last American Car - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By brett44 - March 8 - 2:00 am

  This is a fun car to drive, but a nightmare to own. I purchaced this ride with 49,000 miles in Aug. 2001 and since replaced: water pump, raditor, driver and pass-rear power window motor, driver power seat motor, radio, pass side wheel bearing assy., blower motor, three fog lamps, two headlamps, alternator, all four rotars/brake pads, and finally a battery. Finally I got everything in working order and one hit in the rear from a F-150 later, its a total. Best thing thats happened to the car since I bought it. Next car will be a Nissan or Honda.

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  Driving excitement.... NOT!!!!!! - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Jay1187 - August 24 - 10:00 am

  There are 2 things that are the most important to me when buying a car. Number 1 is the engine and number 2 is the transmission. The 4 speed automatic is excellent. It has clean crisp shifts and any throttle position. Up and downshifts are perfect. I have a serious problem with the 3.8L. How can GM use a huge displacement engine like the 3.8 but only get 195 horsepower? I have 95 Nissan Maximas outperforming me! The Maxima has a 3.0L V6 with 190 horsepower and it still outperforms my 3.8L. The 3800 series II V6 has 51.3 horsepower per liter while the 95 Maxima has 63.3 H.P.P.L. The 2002 Max has a 3.5L with 255HP! Thats almost 80 HPPL!

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  peace of junk - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Clifford H. Leighton - March 17 - 2:00 am

  under warranty 2 radios, 1 set of spark plug wires, water pump, 2 altenators, 1 battery out of warranty 1 battery, the altenator twice (the first replacement was warranteed)1 PS pump, 2 steering racks, the engine and transmission pan gaskets are leaking and the auto-dim rear view mirror is delaminating. GM will not help with any of the out of warranty repairs.

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  Alternators3 - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By NicholsS - January 3 - 10:00 am

  The alternator has been replaced three times( the first two by GM, and the third one by me). Each time the alternator was replaced, I had another electricial problem some place else(The radio , the amp and the light replay switch). GM needs to fix the alternator problem(it may be the location of the unit or the quality of the unit itself). make sure you go to a shop thath will replace the unit as long as you owns the cars.

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  Hunk o Junk - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By yoodle - March 18 - 10:00 am

  In the year that Ive had this car it has been nothing but problems. There is a consistent problem with the steering that three trips to the mechanic have not fixed. I am aware of the recall, but even after my mechnic replaced the entire power steering rack, the problems persist. Things seem to have improved after the struts and a tie rod were replaced though. I also had the fuel pump go, and now there is a stuttering when Im accelerating that seems to indicate a transmission problem. At just over 50000 miles, this car has spent way too much time in the shop. Im staying away from Pontiacs in the future.