PontiacGrand Prix1997Electric/pontiac/grand-prix/1997/electric/

1997 Pontiac Grand Prix

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 Grand Prix.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine Electric

The 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix Electric is a passenger car distinguished by its electric powertrain, yet it is primarily defined by a deeply troubled reliability record. This specific model year amassed 859 owner complaints predominantly focused on steering issues and triggered nine separate recalls. Within the model's broader 1990-2008 history, 1997 stands as the absolute peak for complaints—a stark contrast to 1996, which logged a mere 102—meaning researchers must view this electric variant as the most problematic and least dependable milestone in the nameplate's lifespan.

Model year200820072006200520042003200220011997

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 78 · 690 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 78 · 690 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205-70R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731175 alt 25322835
Engine air filter19166106
Fuel filter25121293 discontinued
Spark plug12681664 alt 19301813
Front wiper blades19120758
Serpentine belt19244951 alt 19355283
Thermostat24505924 alt 24507563

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length196.5 in
Overall width72.8 in
Overall height54.7 in
Wheelbase110.6 in
Curb weight3397 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)65/35

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs.

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub151 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.88 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity8.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance690 cca
Optional BCI Group Number78

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature194-206 °F
Pressure Test15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket137 ft-lbs / 32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle100 ft-lbs / 92 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.27 in / 0.43 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.27 in / 0.43 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.25 in / 0.41 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel System (inspect) · Supercharger Assembly (inspect fluid condition)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1997 Grand Prix stands out as the worst year in the generation by a wide margin, with 859 complaints—more than eight times the 1996 total of 102 and nearly double the next-highest year (1998’s 535). Recalls also jumped to 9, compared to just 2 in 1996, and investigations rose to 7 from 3. The top complaint areas—steering (188), exterior lighting (128), engine and engine cooling (114), and visibility (57)—along with 110 fire complaints and 36 crash complaints, indicate multiple serious trouble spots, though the data does not specify root causes. This spike is an outlier in an otherwise moderate-to-high complaint arc that began in the early 1990s and remained elevated through the early 2000s. Given the dramatic increase in complaints, recalls, and investigations in 1997 relative to surrounding years, this is a poor year to buy; you would be better served by a 1996 or a later model with a lower complaint count.

9
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
110
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
7
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
859
Owner complaints
36 involved a crash · 110 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 859 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering188
Exterior Lighting128
Engine & Engine Cooling114
Visibility57
Electrical System47
Air Bags39
Engine31
Service Brakes, Hydraulic24

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 9 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V701000Engine And Engine Cooling:EngineReported 26/10/2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo… Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve…

09V116000Engine And Engine CoolingReported 08/04/2009

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINE’S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 110 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIP4723F2022-01-14Service Brakes, HydraulicThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D2020-01-31Electrical SystemThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
19NA2732019-12-02Electrical SystemThis informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to…
PIC4696E2019-11-22EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
17NA0732019-09-18EquipmentThis warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…

VIN tools

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VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Grand Prix. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 1997 Grand Prix have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.