IllustrationWATER COLLECTION UNDER PLASTIC BODY MOLDINGS IS CAUSING BODY PANEL TO RUST.
1986 Pontiac Grand Am
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Grand Am years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 11 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Interior Lighting. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
11 reportsDASH LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. *AK
DASHBOARD LIGHTS INOPERATIVE.
UNDER THE HOOD COMPARTMENT FIRE, DRIVING THE VEHICLE SMELLED FUEL FUMES AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE , VEHICLE COMPLETELY BURNED, WILL PROVIDE FIRE REPORT. *AK
VEHICLE HIT A BUMP ON THE ROAD RESULTING IN VEHICLE EXPLOSION. *SD
LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL, USUALLY AT SLOW SPEEDS AND/OR DURING COLD WEATHER. *AK
THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND CAUSED THE OWNER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND THE CAR CRASHED AND EXPLODED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
FAILURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, BELT WILL NOT RETRACT.
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS HAVE FAILED, REPLACED ENTIRE SEAT BELT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT RETRACT. TT
CAR IS 6 CYLINDER 3. LITRE REPLACE IGNITION MODULE ABOUT FOUR TIMES WITHIN A YEAR AND THREE MONTHS . TT TRANSMISSION LEAK. *SLC
Official recalls
187V124000 · Structure
Aug 10, 1987
SMALL CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN THE BODY PILLAR AROUND THE DOOR STRIKER BOLT HOLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CRACKS WOULD INCREASE LEADING TO DIFFICULTY IN CLOSINGTHE DOOR AND MIGHT ALLOW DOOR TO COME OPEN DURING A CRASH, INCREASINGLIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.
Remedy: INSTALL INNER AND OUTER REINFORCEMENT PLATE ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT BODY PILLARS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA91045 · Seat Belt Separation
Opened Nov 7, 1991 · Closed Oct 26, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE91099 · Safety Belt Cut At D-RING
Opened Jul 15, 1991 · Closed Nov 7, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available