1997 Pontiac GRAND AM: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
265 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
95,550 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 67 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 265 complaints (12.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 43 | 16.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 30 | 11.3% |
| Steering behavior | 29 | 10.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 4.9% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 4.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 32 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 19 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 19 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 19 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 16 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 32; Electrical System:Ignition: 19; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 19; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 19; Air Bags:Frontal: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling: 14; Vehicle Speed Control: 13; Electrical System: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 12
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 198 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 59 |
| 2001 | 42 |
| 2002 | 68 |
| 2003 | 33 |
| 2004 | 20 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 59; 2001: 42; 2002: 68; 2003: 33; 2004: 20; 2005: 8; 2006: 9; 2007: 6; 2008: 9; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2016: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 43 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 30 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 29 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 10000315 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)
THE CAR HAS A HARD START BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR THAT HAS HAPPENED FOR THE PAST 60K AND NO ONE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS NOW AT 96K AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING A P1870 CODE WHICH TRIGGERS THE LIGHT AND IS CAUSED BY A WORN TCC APPLY VALVE ON THE 4T60E GM TRANSMISSIONS. HAVE HEARD FROM SEVERAL OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS ON THEIR 1997 4T60E TRANSMISSIONS. THIS ITEM SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE IT IS ONLY THE CONTROL VALVE BODY WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED WITH A…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,498 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000315 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000318 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS OUT OF DRIVE TO NEUTRAL GEAR. I FOUND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #677164 WHICH THE DEALER SAID WAS NOT A RECALL NOTICE AND WOULD NOT HONOR IT. THE NOTICE STATES TO REPAIR THE CONTROL VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY. THE POWER LOSS RESULTED IN A REEVE OF THE ENGINE AT 70 MILES PER HOUR ON INTERSTATE 10 IN ARIZONA AND ALSO WHILE DRIVING LOCALLY OFF HIGHWAY 101 AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR GEARS SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL GEAR. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE IT CAUSES INJURY. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 95,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000318 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000319 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)
WHILE IN THE DRIVE POSITION AND STOPPED ON AN INCLINE WITH THE BREAK DEPRESSED, UPON RELEASE OF THE BRAKE THE CAR MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 52,124 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000319 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001544 · 2002-12-27 (December 27, 2002)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH LEAKAGES ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO STATED THAT THE HEATHER BEEN ON WILL MAKE THE VEHICLE OVERHEAT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001544 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003976 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)
PRIOR TO OCTOBER 1999 VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE LEFT TURNS. ON ONE OCCASION CONSUMER WAS COMING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY WHEN STEERING LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE CURB. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED SOME MINOR DAMAGE TO BUMPER. *NLM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003976 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008769 · 2002-04-16 (April 16, 2002)
SENSOR IN TRANSMISSION FAILED. DRIVER'S WINDOW HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED/ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. NOW, HAVING PROBLEMS IN THE OTHER WINDOWS/AND THE ONE REPLACED.**** DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****760764. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009297 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
OIL LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009707 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
VEHICLE COLLIDED HEAD-ON WITH A DEER WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH. THE DEER DIED ON IMPACT AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *NLM *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 148,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009707 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.
02V070000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 2002-03-06 (March 6, 2002)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V059000 · Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
Reported: 1997-04-08 (April 8, 1997)
THE PROTECTIVE COVER FOR THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER WAS OMITTED. WITHOUT THIS COVER, THE POSITIVE TERMINAL BOLT ON THE FUSE BLOCK IS EXPOSED AND CAN CONTACT THE INSULATED NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. IF THE INSULATION ON THE NEGATIVE CABLE BECOMES SUFFICIENTLY WORN, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN THE POSITIVE TERMINAL AND NEGATIVE CABLE RESULTING IN EXTREMELY HIGH CURRENT FLOW.
Consequence: THIS HIGH CURRENT FLOW CAN CAUSE ARCING AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE PROTECTIVE COVER AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER TO THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗