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U.S. public vehicle records

Pontiac GRAND AM problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

4,654 owner complaints analyzed

40 distinct recall campaigns

75,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1973 to 2005 model years. Data snapshot: . 2,020 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 654 of 4,654 complaints (14.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior81417.5%
Steering behavior48710.5%
Electrical and battery issues3748.0%
Engine operation2515.4%
Fuel system concerns1663.6%
Transmission and shifting1292.8%

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.

Electrical System
654
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
239
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
234
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
193
Air Bags:Frontal
185
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
179
Engine And Engine Cooling
174
Exterior Lighting
170
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System654
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip239
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine234
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch193
Air Bags:Frontal185
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls179
Engine And Engine Cooling174
Exterior Lighting170

Electrical System: 654; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 239; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 234; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 193; Air Bags:Frontal: 185; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 179; Engine And Engine Cooling: 174; Exterior Lighting: 170

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
198
25,000 to 49,999
369
50,000 to 74,999
429
75,000 to 99,999
389
100,000 to 149,999
441
150,000 and above
194
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000198
25,000 to 49,999369
50,000 to 74,999429
75,000 to 99,999389
100,000 to 149,999441
150,000 and above194

Under 25,000: 198; 25,000 to 49,999: 369; 50,000 to 74,999: 429; 75,000 to 99,999: 389; 100,000 to 149,999: 441; 150,000 and above: 194

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (441). 2,634 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.

1995
198
1996
123
2000
463
2001
493
2002
419
2003
468
2004
543
2005
294
2006
225
2007
224
2008
217
2009
116
2010
138
2011
91
2012
71
2013
61
2014
239
2015
114
2016
60
2017
29
2018
25
2019
20
2020
8
2021
2
2022
3
2023
9
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
1995198
1996123
2000463
2001493
2002419
2003468
2004543
2005294
2006225
2007224
2008217
2009116
2010138
201191
201271
201361
2014239
2015114
201660
201729
201825
201920
20208
20212
20223
20239
20251

1995: 198; 1996: 123; 2000: 463; 2001: 493; 2002: 419; 2003: 468; 2004: 543; 2005: 294; 2006: 225; 2007: 224; 2008: 217; 2009: 116; 2010: 138; 2011: 91; 2012: 71; 2013: 61; 2014: 239; 2015: 114; 2016: 60; 2017: 29; 2018: 25; 2019: 20; 2020: 8; 2021: 2; 2022: 3; 2023: 9; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 814 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 487 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 374 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 958898 · 1995-01-19 (January 19, 1995)

DISC BRAKES FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE EFFECTIVELY, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING/INOPERATIVE.EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL DOWNHILL INTO A CAR.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958898 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 859434 · 2000-03-30 (March 30, 2000)

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH, IN A PARKING LOT ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO ABOUT 45-50 MPH. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES VERY HARD, BUT WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO PARK, AND KEY WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION BEFORE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO OWNER'S HOME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 859434 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 485557 · 1995-06-28 (June 28, 1995)

STEERING RACK FAILED. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485557 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 985023 · 1996-05-30 (May 30, 1996)

LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL, USUALLY AT SLOW SPEEDS AND/OR DURING COLD WEATHER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 985023 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 959744 · 1995-02-08 (February 8, 1995)

POWER DOOR LOCK DOES NOT WORK, REPLACED ELECTRICAL PARTS AND SWITCH TWICE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959744 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 484890 · 1995-08-11 (August 11, 1995)

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484890 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 743711 · 2001-04-08 (April 8, 2001)

I KILLED IT AT A SERVICE STATION GONNA GET SOME WATER AND IT HAS NEVER STARTED SINCE THEN. THE GAS COMES OUT OF HOSE WHEN DISCONNECTED FROM INJECTOR BUT CONNECT THE LINE BACK AND THE FUEL INJECTION DOESNT GET GAS. I AM A SINGLE MOTHE WHO CAN NOT AFFORD THIS TYPE OF THING. A MAN PULLED IN SERVICE STATION AND SAID HE HAD SAME PROBLEMS WITH HIS 89 GRAND AM. I ALSO LOOKED IN MY HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER AND LOTS OF 89 GRAND AMS FOR SALE WITH NON WORKING MOTORS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 743711 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 970458 · 1995-08-15 (August 15, 1995)

FUEL TANK FAILURE, BUILT ON FUEL LEAVING FUEL REGULATOR IS FAULTY, CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO COLLAPSE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 970458 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 973031 · 1995-10-04 (October 4, 1995)

CAR IS 6 CYLINDER 3. LITRE REPLACE IGNITION MODULE ABOUT FOUR TIMES WITHIN A YEAR AND THREE MONTHS . TT TRANSMISSION LEAK. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 973031 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 489260 · 1995-04-05 (April 5, 1995)

TRANSMISSION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING ENGINE TO SMOKE/INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AW

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489260 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1989
2
1990
0
1991
2
1992
3
1993
1
1994
2
1995
1
1996
4
1997
2
1998
1
1999
3
2000
5
2001
4
2002
1
2003
2
2004
2
2005
2
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19892
19900
19912
19923
19931
19942
19951
19964
19972
19981
19993
20005
20014
20021
20032
20042
20052

1989: 2; 1990: 0; 1991: 2; 1992: 3; 1993: 1; 1994: 2; 1995: 1; 1996: 4; 1997: 2; 1998: 1; 1999: 3; 2000: 5; 2001: 4; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 2

Year-by-year records

Pontiac GRAND AM model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
197313Not available
197501Not available
197804Not available
198514Not available
198671-3
1987152+1
19882220
19892320
1990230-2
1991452+2
1992883+1
19931171-2
19942532+1
19952861-1
19962784+3
19972652-2
19981271-1
19997773+2
20006745+2
20015384-1
20023951-3
20033252+1
200429320
200510220