IllustrationMASS AIRFLOW SENSOR FAILED. ALSO REPLACED ELECTRONIC IGNITION/WATER PUMP/ALTERNATOR/CRANKSHAFT/LOCKED TORQUE CONVERTER. *AK
1987 Pontiac Grand Am
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1987 Pontiac Grand Am do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 82.
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 28 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
28 reportsWHILE TRAVELING ALONG A 4-LANE STREET, THE GAS PEDAL WENT TO FULL THROTTLE, VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM 50 MPH TO PASS A BUS. ENGINE WAS THEN TURNED OFF, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. UNABLE TO STEER, VEHICLE BRUSHED UP AGAINST ANOTHER VEHICLE , WENT UP ON CENTER OF MEDIAN AND STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A SIGN POST.*AK
THE RACK AND PINION MALFUNCTION. VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO STEER.
BOTH FRONT SEATS HAVE SEPARATED FROM TRACKING, FELL ONTO REAR SEATS. *AK
THERMOSTAT FAILED.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM BELT BUCKLE AFTER PRESSING THE RED RELEASE BUTTON. *AK
'COLD POWER STEERING' PREVENTS RIGHT HAND TURN FOR FIRST FIVE MINUTES OF VEHICLE OPERATION. *DH
STEERING GETS REAL TIGHT WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY AND FIRST STARTING VEHICLE CANNOT TURN STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
THE DRIVER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS NOT WORKING RIGHT . TT
STEERING COLUMN IS COMING LOOSE, EQUIPPED WITH TILT STEERING. TT
Official recalls
288V032000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Mar 15, 1988
THE FUEL FEED OR FUEL RETURN HOSE AT THE ENGINE MAY RUB AGAINST A SHIFT LEVER ON THE 5 SPEED TRANSAXLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN TIME A HOLE COULD BE RUBBED THROUGH THE HOSE AND FUELLEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS COULD REUSLT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE THE FUEL FEED AND RETURN HOSE/PIPE ASSEMBLIES.
87V184000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Dec 1, 1987
THE FUEL FEED AND/OR RETURN HOSE/PIPE ASSEMBLIES COULD CRACK OR SEPARATE, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE UNDERHOOD AREA.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE, WITHOUT PRIORWARNING, AND CAUSE INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.
Remedy: REPLACE BOTH FUEL FEED AND RETURN HOSE/PIPE ASSEMBLIES.
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
3EA91045 · 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
EA90041 · Brake Performance
Opened Aug 29, 1990 · Closed Mar 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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EA89010 · Brake Ineffectiveness
Opened Jan 17, 1989 · Closed May 8, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available