1994 Pontiac GRAND AM: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10009799 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
WHILE THE CONSUMER MERGED ON THE HIGHWAY AN EXPLOSION OF SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009799 at NHTSA ↗
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 10018935 · 2003-05-19 (May 19, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING IN FAIRLY HEAVY RAIN, THE TURN SIGNALS STOP FUNCTIONING. AFTER 2-3 DAYS OF DRY WEATHER, THEY BEGIN FUNCTIONING AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. IT'S HORRIFYING. DURING MY OWNERSHIP, THIS HAS HAPPENED NO LESS THAN 14 TIMES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019776 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOVED VERY SLOW. THE ONLY TIME THE WIPER WORKED PROPERLY WAS WHEN THE MOTOR WAS PLACED ON FAST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSTALLED A NEW ARM BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. *NLM *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019887 · 2003-05-14 (May 14, 2003)
THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019887 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 10030449 · 2003-07-30 (July 30, 2003)
HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SMASHED WINDSHIELD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 119,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030449 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V287000 · Electrical System:Starter Assembly
Reported: 2000-10-02 (October 2, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE STARTER FAILS TO ENGAGE AND THE DRIVER HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRODUCING HEAT THAT CAN MELT SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence: A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT AND VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION (ADEQUATE RESERVE CAPACITY, OR COLD CRANKING AMPS). THIS CAMPAIGN DOES NOT COVER BATTERY REPLACEMENT OR UNRELATED STARTING SYSTEM OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIRS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗94V122000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 1994-07-01 (July 1, 1994)
THESE VEHICLES WERE CONSTRUCTED WITH WELDS IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT PAN ASSEMBLY THAT ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO FUEL TANK LEAKAGE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT COLLISION. THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLIES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF A VEHICLE FIRE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT COLLISION.
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL RIVETS ADJACENT TO THE LOCATIONS WHERE THE SUSPECT WELDS ARE LOCATED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗