2002 Pontiac GRAND AM: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
395 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
73,393 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 270 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 100 of 395 complaints (25.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 53 | 13.4% |
| Steering behavior | 47 | 11.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 36 | 9.1% |
| Engine operation | 28 | 7.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 21 | 5.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 100 |
| Exterior Lighting | 39 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 26 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 21 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 21 |
| Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch | 20 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 16 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | 13 |
Electrical System: 100; Exterior Lighting: 39; Engine And Engine Cooling: 26; Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module: 21; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 21; Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch: 20; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 16; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 51 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 63 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 58 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 49 |
| 150,000 and above | 25 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 51; 50,000 to 74,999: 63; 75,000 to 99,999: 58; 100,000 to 149,999: 49; 150,000 and above: 25
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (63). 125 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 24 |
| 2003 | 31 |
| 2004 | 42 |
| 2005 | 38 |
| 2006 | 42 |
| 2007 | 41 |
| 2008 | 28 |
| 2009 | 20 |
| 2010 | 24 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 38 |
| 2015 | 20 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2002: 24; 2003: 31; 2004: 42; 2005: 38; 2006: 42; 2007: 41; 2008: 28; 2009: 20; 2010: 24; 2011: 10; 2012: 7; 2013: 9; 2014: 38; 2015: 20; 2016: 10; 2017: 2; 2018: 4; 2019: 4; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 53 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 47 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 36 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 10000674 · 2003-01-01 (January 1, 2003)
I HAVE A 2002 PONTIAC GRANDAM GT. I PURCHASED IT IN THE END OF 2001. WITHIN MY CAR REACHING 10000 MILES THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH IT. THE CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND THERE WERE PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS. AFTER TAKING IT IN I WAS TOLD THE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WAS ON BACK ORDER. THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE MANIFOLD AFTER TWO WEEKS. BUT THE CAR HAS NOT PERFORMED THE SAME. THE CAR STILL SLIGHTLY OVERHEATS AND THE DEALERSHIP MENTIONS THAT IT IS OKAY THAT THE CAR RUNS SLIGHTLY WARM. AND AT TIME I SMELL THE COOLANT WHEN THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,396 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000674 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001200 · 2002-12-19 (December 19, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP RAN A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE, AND INDICATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND MAIN COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001200 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002642 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE1 SEDAN WITH THE ECOTEC 2.2L ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WAS SOME SNOW AND MAYBE A SLIGHT AMOUNT OF ICE IN AREAS. AND THE CAR INFRONT OF ME LOST CONTROL. IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING IT I HAD TO MAKE A SHARP LEFT HAND TURN. WHILE MAKING THIS LEFT HAND TURN I HAD MY POWER STEERING DISSENGAGE. MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS ALL THEN LIT UP AND THE ENGINE AND ALL THE VEHICLES POWER WENT DEAD. I ENDED UP GOING OFF THE ROAD AND WAS AIRBORNE AND CAME FLYING DOWN INTO THE METAL HIGHWAY DIVIDER. CAUSING SEVERE …
Owner-reported narrative. 11,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002642 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002928 · 2003-01-18 (January 18, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE RIGHT KNUCKLE SEPARATED CAUSING THE RIGHT WHEEL TO BREAK AND TURN ONTO ITS SIDE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAPABILITY OF STEERING WAS GONE AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CAR TURNED OVER ONTO ITS TOP IN A DITCH. THIS ACCIDENT TOTALED THE VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,145 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006747 · 2003-02-07 (February 7, 2003)
WHEN THE CONSUMER OPENED THE TRUNK, AND THE LATCHING BRACKET HAD SHOT OUT AND HIT THE CONSUMER. PH SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 11,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006747 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008075 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT START IN TWO TO THREE DAYS, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS SOME HOW DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY ON THREE OCCASIONS SO FAR. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT STARTED WITHIN TEN DAYS, THE BATTERY WILL LOSE ITS CHARGE. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS, THE REMOTE LOCKS WILL NOT WORK. THERE IS NO POWER TO ANY OF THE INSTRUMENT PANELS. CAR WILL NOT START. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008075 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008141 · 2003-02-26 (February 26, 2003)
I RENTED A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM ON FEB. 04, 2003. IT WAS VERY COLD, AT NIGHT, AND SNOWING HEAVILY. I TURNED ON THE REAR DEFOGGER. IT FAILED TO CLEAR THE REAR WINDOW, AND I TURNED IT ON AGAIN AFTER NOTICING THAT IT HAD TURNED OFF. ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED; THERE WAS NO PROJECTILE FOUND. MY WIFE, WHO WAS WITH ME WHEN IT HAPPENED, AND I BELIEVE IT HAS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT, AND WE SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE, YET WE ARE BEING CHARGED BY BUDGET, WHO WAS CHARGED BY THE DEALER, FOR THE REPAIR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008141 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008644 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
THE TIRES VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH AND ABOVE, THE VIBRATION WAS INTERMITTENT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008644 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
14V400000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 2014-07-03 (July 3, 2014)
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
NHTSA campaign record ↗