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1990 Pontiac Grand Prix

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1990 Grand Prix.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine Electric

The 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix Electric was a passenger car equipped with an electric powertrain, representing GM's early experimentation with electric propulsion in a conventional mid-size platform; the model accumulated 218 total owner complaints across its production span, with Service Brakes, Hydraulic emerging as the most frequently cited problem area, while nine recalls were issued to address various defects. Within the broader complaint history covering 1990 through 2008—a period during which annual complaints ranged from a low of 102 in 1996 to a high of 859 in 1997—the 1990 model's 218 total complaints positions it well below the peak trouble years, suggesting that while early electric vehicle technology presented distinct challenges, the platform's most significant reliability issues developed and peaked several model years later rather than at launch.

Model year2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 1990

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	194.1 in
Overall width	70.9 in
Overall height	52.8 in
Wheelbase	107.5 in
Curb weight	3172 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.1 / 57.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	65/35

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 3,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 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 3,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 7,500 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · PCV System (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

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 1990 Grand Prix opens its generation with the highest investigation count (11) and a recall tally (9) matched only by the 1997 redesign year, while its 218 complaints exceed the subsequent 1992–1993 dip (142 and 159) but sit well below the 1994–1995 rise and the post-1997 surge. Complaints fall sharply after 1991, suggesting early production teething issues that largely resolve by 1992–1993 before climbing again mid-generation. Nearly half of 1990's complaints (98 of 218) concentrate in Service Brakes, Hydraulic, with Structure (20), Engine & Engine Cooling (18), and Electrical System (13) trailing; the data does not specify root causes for the brake dominance. The year also records 13 crash complaints and 2 fire complaints. TSBs remain low at 10, rising steadily across the generation to 57 by 1996. A 1990 purchase warrants thorough brake-system inspection and verification of all nine recall remedies, making it a conditional buy only with documented service history.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

218

Owner complaints

13 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 218 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic98

Structure20

Engine & Engine Cooling18

Electrical System13

Exterior Lighting9

Suspension8

Steering7

Steering,Structure5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 9 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION…

00V189000StructureReported 11/07/2000

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… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 10 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
990941004	2000-01-01	Air Bags	INFORMATION REGARDING SWITCHES TO TURN OFF AND ON FRONTAL AIR BAGS FOR PASSENGER CARS AND…
990940004	2000-01-01	Seats	GENERAL MOTORS BEGAN PROVIDING CHILD RESTRAIN SEAT TOP TETHER HARDWARE PACKAGES TO…
990866002A	2000-01-01	Latches/Locks/Linkages	THIS BULLETIN INFORMS DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THE TRAP RESISTANT REAR COMPARTMENT (TRUNK) KIT…
990309004	1999-10-01	Suspension	CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF GRINDING / SCRAPING / GROANING NOISE FROM REAR SUSPENSION. *TT
876002A	1998-07-01	Engine And Engine Cooling	SOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS…

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.

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs Maintenance schedules

Frequently asked

Does the 1990 Grand Prix have open recalls?

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