1994 Pontiac GRAND AM problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
253 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
123,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 27 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 28 of 253 complaints (11.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 53 | 20.9% |
| Braking behavior | 51 | 20.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 4.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 2.0% |
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 | 28 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 20 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 19 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 18 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 17 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 13 |
| Steering:Column | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 11 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 28; Air Bags:Frontal: 20; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 19; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 18; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 17; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 13; Steering:Column: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 8
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 226 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 | 41 |
| 1996 | 21 |
| 2000 | 51 |
| 2001 | 75 |
| 2002 | 25 |
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
1995: 41; 1996: 21; 2000: 51; 2001: 75; 2002: 25; 2003: 12; 2004: 14; 2005: 5; 2006: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2013: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 53 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 51 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 18 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 10011038 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
THE TILT PINS AND THE SPRING CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. 1 MONTH LATER THE TILT FINGURES BROKE AND WILL NOT CATCH. CAUSING THE TILT NOT TO WORK. THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES UP AND DOWN AND LEFT TO RIGHT. VIN # 1G2NE153XRM19022. EST. COST TO FIX 300.00
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018577 · 2003-05-12 (May 12, 2003)
TILT STEERING BUSHING ARE NOT PROPERLY PUNCH SET FROM MFG. (PUNCH MISSES MARK OR NOT SET PROPERLY) RESULTING IN ONE OR BOTH PINS FALLING OUT OVER TIME. RESULT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CAN CRASH! *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018577 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075859 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)
PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES, EXHAUST, TIRES, SHOCKS, AND SUSPENSION ON 1994 PONTIAC GRAND AM. *MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE ALSO NEEDED A COMPRESSOR. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10075859 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10535722 · 2013-08-16 (August 16, 2013)
I HAVE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE. WAS BOUGHT AS A USED VEHICLE, PAST OWNER CLAIMS HIS DAUGHTER DROVE IT TO AND FROM COLLEGE. IT IS AN ABS CAR WITH THE 2.3 4 CYLINDER, AUTO TRANS, FWD SE. THE ABS SYSTEM IS MESSED UP AND WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP THE TIRES LOCK-UP ON YOU, THE CAR WILL SLIDE ESPECIALLY IF THE ROADS ARE WET AND THIS IS AT A SPEED OF NOT MORE THAN 15 MPH. LUCKILY WE HAVE AVOIDED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, BUT THERE IS GOING TO COME A TIME WE AREN'T THAT LUCKY. ALSO THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS WORK WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT. THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10535722 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065148 · 2004-03-29 (March 29, 2004)
CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO COME ON. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 104,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065148 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131473 · 2005-08-03 (August 3, 2005)
THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON MY 94 GRANDAM TOOK IT TO STUART PONTAIC IN ENID,OK TO HAVE THE RECALL FIXED THEY PUT A RELAY ON THE CAR BUT DIDN'T CHANGE THE IGNITION SWITCH ON THE CAR CAUSING THE CARE TO LOOSE POWER WHEN THE CAR WAS DRIVEN IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY CAUSING THE CAR TO LOOSE POWER AND DIE WHEN GOING OVER 40 MPH,CONTACTED PONTAIC AND THEY MADE THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE THE WIRING GOING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH IF NOT REPLACED WOULD OF CAUSED THE CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE …
Owner-reported narrative. 225,620 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069976 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
PURCHASED VEHICLE, HEATING DID NOT WORK - AIR WOULD BLOW OUT COLD. DEALER BLEW OUT HEAT CORE AND REPLACED THERMOSTAT. MINIMAL AMOUNT OF HEAT. ENGINE STARTED TO STUTTER AND STALL. FUEL INJECTOR IN 5TH CYLINDER BAD. MECHANIC FLUSHED INJECTED AND GAVE TUNE UP. RAN OK FOR A WEEK AND THEN CONSTANT STUTTER AND SHAKE AT 50 MPH. MECHANIC REPLACED 1 INJECTOR. STUTTER GONE. NO OVERHEATING, BUT ANTIFREEZE LEAK X 1. REPLACED WATER PUMP. 1 WEEK LATER CONSTANT OVERHEATING AND PUDDLE OF ANTIFREEZE AROUND ENGINE BLOCK. THEN THE ENGINE STALLED AND I…
Owner-reported narrative. 108,970 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069976 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096644 · 2004-10-12 (October 12, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLEW AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10096644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10027041 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED TRANSMISSION ON JULY 22, 1996 AT 13,830 MILES, AGAIN WERE REPLACE ON MAY 4, 2001 AT 51,125 MILES. CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AT 63,000 MILES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482151 · 1995-02-27 (February 27, 1995)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482151 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157054 · 2006-05-09 (May 9, 2006)
MY CAR, WHICH IS A 94 GRAND AM, IS A GOOD RUNNING CAR BUT I BEEN WORKING ON IT HARD TIME FOR 5 WEEKS TRYING TO GET IT TO RUN. IT HAS SOME PROBLEM WHERE THE FUEL PUMP FUSE KEEPS ON BLOWING ON IT. I REPLACE SPARK PLUG COIL, FUEL INJECTORS, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, UNDER THE HOOD WIRING HARNESS, CONTROL MODULE, IGNITION SWITCH, VACUUM LINES, AND THE LITTLE BOX THAT SOUNDS OFF YOUR ALARM WHEN YOU LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON AND/OR KEYS IN THE IGNITION WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR DOOR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO I AM TIRED OF BUSTING MY BUTT ON IT. IT TAKES A LOT F…
Owner-reported narrative. 208,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157054 at NHTSA ↗