IllustrationREAR SUSPENSION THAT HOLDS STRUTS IS ROTTED. SMOKES WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED. IF USED LONG TERM, THE FRAME MAY CRACK AND THE TIRES MAY COME COMPLETELY OFF. MANY MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS.
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 →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: 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
What owners actually said
44 reportsI HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING OF A BUMPING AND GRINDING IN THE STEERING AT SLOW SPPEDS SINCE 1992. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND ALL THIS TIME UNTIL MAJOR FAILURE IN DEC. 1999. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. AFTER REPLACEMENT ANOTHER PROBLEM AROSE WHICH CAUSED THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR TO VIBERATE WHEN TURNIN…
Read full complaint
I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING OF A BUMPING AND GRINDING IN THE STEERING AT SLOW SPPEDS SINCE 1992. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND ALL THIS TIME UNTIL MAJOR FAILURE IN DEC. 1999. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. AFTER REPLACEMENT ANOTHER PROBLEM AROSE WHICH CAUSED THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR TO VIBERATE WHEN TURNING. I WAS TOLD A POWER STEERING HOSE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR DEALER THAT THEY CHECKED WITH PONTIAC TECH. ASS. AND FOUND THE HOSE INSUFFICENT TO HANDLE THE HIGH PREASURE RETURN TO THE POWER STEERING UNIT. WOULD THIS CONDITION CAUSE THE RACK AND PINION TO FAIL IN THE FIRAT PLACE OR DID I GET ANOTHER RUN AROUND. *AK
NO SUMMARY
NO SUMMARY
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, REAR CRADLE BOLTS BROKE, CAUSING THE REAR OF THE ENGINE TO FALL OUT. ALSO, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF STEERING DUE TO STEERING SHAFT BREAKING. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE SENSOR WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE DISTRUTOR AND WHICH IS USED FOR BETTER GAS MILEAGE MALFUNCTIONED,CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING OR COMING TO A STOP, WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. MECHANIC DISCONNECTED THE SENSOR. PROBLEM NEVER REOCCURRED. ALSO SAME PROBLEMS ON THE GRAND PRIX'S. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILED. *YC
THE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED AND AFTER NUMEROUS REPAIRS STILL DIDN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY. RUNS ROUGH, DOESN'T IDLE PROPERLY, FUEL INJECTION DOESN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY, OIL TURNS FOAMY.
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT.
STEERING GEAR MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO, THERE IS AN EXTREME JERKING WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND VEHICLE IS SITTING STILL. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT JERKING IS DUE TO RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE.
Official recalls
292V150000 · 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
1EA91055 · 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