1992 Pontiac GRAND AM problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
88 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
88,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 88 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 15 | 17.0% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 9.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 3.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 16 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 11 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 7 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 5 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 16; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 11; Electrical System:Ignition: 7; Structure:Body:Door: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 83 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 29 |
| 1996 | 11 |
| 2000 | 21 |
| 2001 | 16 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
1995: 29; 1996: 11; 2000: 21; 2001: 16; 2002: 3; 2003: 4; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2007: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10039987 · 2003-11-18 (November 18, 2003)
COOLANT LEAKED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR HOSE HAD A SPLIT IN IT. THE SAME WEEK THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE BRAKE LINE BROKE. ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE INCORRECT BRAKE PARTS WERE INSTALLED AND THAT THE RADIATOR CLAMPS WERE LOOSE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INVOICES FROM THE DEALER …
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040622 · 2003-11-17 (November 17, 2003)
THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SLOWED DOWN, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *NLM THIS WAS DUE TO THE BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT IN WHICH THE WRONG PART WAS INSTALLED. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184914 · 2007-03-12 (March 12, 2007)
THE STEERING ON MY 1994 GRAND AM IS BROKEN. THE BOLTS THAT MOUNT THE STEERING GEAR TO THE CRADLE HAVE RUSTED AND BOTH ARE SEPARTED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY 89 GRAND PRIX AND I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON MY 92 CORSICA. 8JB
Owner-reported narrative. 201,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481604 · 1995-02-28 (February 28, 1995)
CONTINUOUS STEERING PROBLEMS, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE BETWEEN 60-70 MPH. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481604 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482900 · 1995-04-04 (April 4, 1995)
TRANSMISSION MAKES NOISE WHEN TRYING TO PUT IN REVERSE GEAR, ALSO IS HARD TO PUT INTO FIRST GEAR.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482900 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501579 · 1996-02-07 (February 7, 1996)
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501579 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 565460 · 2002-04-29 (April 29, 2002)
WIRING HARNESS, IGNITION KEY HOUSING AND STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY MELTED DOWN. CONSUMER BELIEVES 1992 MODELS HAD SIMILAR FAILURES AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 565460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 742917 · 2001-03-23 (March 23, 2001)
ON MARCH OF 1999, THE FIRST PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE OCCURED. THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY, NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, AND IT BEGAN TO TRY TO START BY ITSELF. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THIS, AND BY THE TIME IT FINISHED, MY BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY. THE SECOND TIME I HAD AN IGNITION PROBLEM WAS IN NOVEMBER OF 2000 WHEN MY CAR WOULDN'T START UNLESS IT WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL GEAR. I HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED, AND SIX WEEKS LATER, THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED WITH TRYING TO START THE CAR. EVER SINCE I PURCHASED…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 742917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 864361 · 2000-06-28 (June 28, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE HESITATES WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK FORWARD. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER MANY TIMES, BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 864361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 897748 · 2001-10-15 (October 15, 2001)
VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED/ ANY TIME AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 897748 at NHTSA ↗