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1989 Pontiac Grand Am

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1989 Pontiac Grand Am do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 82.

About this comparison →
44Owner complaints

Model-year median: 82

2Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
11
198628
198731
198844
198938
199082
1991168
1992
Compare all Grand Am years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
23Electrical System
10Fuel System, Gasoline
5Steering
5Vehicle Speed Control
4
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Structure
3Power Train
2Seats
2Suspension
2Tires
2Unknown Or Other
1

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: 1 of 44 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 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports

Power Train complaints

2 reports
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113,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainCrash

TRANSMISSION LOCKING TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID DOES NOT ALLOW TORQUE CONVERTER TO UNLOCK RESULTING IN ENGINE STALL WHEN STOPPING. REPLACED SOLENOID. REPLACED SLAPPING TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN GUIDES. CHANGED OIL AFTER REPAIR. DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 100 MILES WHEN 3 ROD BEARINGS SPUN. ONE HALF OF THE BEARING SPUN INTO THE OTHER…

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TRANSMISSION LOCKING TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID DOES NOT ALLOW TORQUE CONVERTER TO UNLOCK RESULTING IN ENGINE STALL WHEN STOPPING. REPLACED SOLENOID. REPLACED SLAPPING TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN GUIDES. CHANGED OIL AFTER REPAIR. DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 100 MILES WHEN 3 ROD BEARINGS SPUN. ONE HALF OF THE BEARING SPUN INTO THE OTHER HALF RESULTING IN CRANKSHAFT DAMAGE AND PISTON TIPPING. REPLACED ENGINE WITH USED WHICH I REPAIRED BEFORE REPLACING. LOOKED LIKE OIL PUMP FAILURE. WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD BETWEEN 145-150 COMPRESSION.

NHTSA ODI #10070435

Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 1997
Power Train

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE, THE TORQUE CONVERTER WILL LOCK UP, WILL NOT DISENGAGE WHEN COMING TO A STOP. HARD TO START AFTER STOPPING. WHEN SOLENOID COOLS, CONVERTER WILL RELEASE AND VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #808113

Official recalls

2

92V150000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Oct 19, 1992

FRONT FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK OR SEPARATE AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD RESULT IN ANUNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE FRONT FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY.

90V042000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Mar 5, 1990

FRONT FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK OR SEPARATE AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: LEAKING FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE FRONT FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY.

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

1

EA91055 · W-CAR Hinge Pin Failure

Opened Dec 5, 1991 · Closed Aug 17, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available