1997 Ford Thunderbird vs 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1997 Ford Thunderbird | 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 169 | 810 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 107 | 102 |
| Investigations | 0 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 11 | 34 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 109 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–19 | 19–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 71,084 mi | 105,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Thunderbird | Pontiac Grand Prix |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 9 | 216 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 54 | 136 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 149 |
| Electrical System | 4 | 88 |
| Visibility | 7 | 78 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 22 | 42 |
| Air Bags | 6 | 56 |
| Power Train | 17 | 32 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 18 | 0 |
| Overheating | 13 | 11 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 34 |
| Stalling | 0 | 24 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 24 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 12 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 9 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 9 |
1997 Ford Thunderbird
1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
Compare all Ford Thunderbird vs Pontiac Grand Prix years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.