VEHICLE FIRE. NAR 06/18/2003. *MR DAMAGES TO THE HOOD, ENGINE, BUMPER, AND WHEELS. *CB
1990 Pontiac Grand Am
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 Pontiac Grand Am are lower than the model-year median of 82.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →Model-year median: 82
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1990 Pontiac Grand Am
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 38 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 14 reports
- Power Train: 7 reports
- Structure: 5 reports
- Electrical System: 3 reports
- Seat Belts: 3 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Grand Am years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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 38 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 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
14 reportsVEHICLE STARTED LEAKING ANTIFREEZE WHILE LEAVING DEALERSHIP, AND BEGAN SMOKING.*AK
THERE IS A NOISE IN LEFT FRONT DOOR, MECHANIC STATED WINDOW RUN CHANNEL WAS LOOSE, GLUED DRIVERS DOOR RUN CHANNEL AT TOP RIGHT.*JB CONSUMER STATES AFTER 4000 MILES THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUST, CONSUMER STATES IT IS GETTING WORSE, A REPAIR SHOP INFORMED CONSUMER OF A WHITE FOAM MATERIAL BETWEEN THE METAL AND THE FRAME WHICH ABSORB…
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THERE IS A NOISE IN LEFT FRONT DOOR, MECHANIC STATED WINDOW RUN CHANNEL WAS LOOSE, GLUED DRIVERS DOOR RUN CHANNEL AT TOP RIGHT.*JB CONSUMER STATES AFTER 4000 MILES THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUST, CONSUMER STATES IT IS GETTING WORSE, A REPAIR SHOP INFORMED CONSUMER OF A WHITE FOAM MATERIAL BETWEEN THE METAL AND THE FRAME WHICH ABSORBED THE WATER. *SLC
ON HE MORNING OF JAN 17, 2001 I STARTED THE CAR AND HEARD A LOUD POP IN ENGINE. THE CARD WOULD NOT START. TOWED CAR TO HAVE A MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. TWO OTHER MECHANICS CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND BASICALLY SAID THE SAME THING. THEY ALL AGREED THAT THIS ENGINE HAS A HISTORY …
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ON HE MORNING OF JAN 17, 2001 I STARTED THE CAR AND HEARD A LOUD POP IN ENGINE. THE CARD WOULD NOT START. TOWED CAR TO HAVE A MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. TWO OTHER MECHANICS CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND BASICALLY SAID THE SAME THING. THEY ALL AGREED THAT THIS ENGINE HAS A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS AND THAT THEY HAVE EITHER RECEIVED INFORMATION OR HAVE HEARD IT AT SEMINARS. I CONTACT MY DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY COMPLIANTS ABOUT THAT ENGINE OR YEAR CAR. I ALSO CONTACT GM AND BASICALLY GO THE SAME ANSWER. MY PROBLEM IS I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS CAR SINCE ITS PURCHASED AND HAVING ONLY 47K MILES I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD BE FACED WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT WILL TAKE A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX. EVERYONE HAS TOLD ME TO CONTACT THIS ORGANIZATION TO SEE WHAT THEY FIND. IF THE CAR WAS ABUSED AND HAD OVER 100K MILES THEN I WOULD SAY OK BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED AND WITH ONLY 47K MILES IT SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. I GUESS I AM LOOKING TO FIND IF ANY RECALLS OR NOTICES PERTAINING TO POSSIBLE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WERE EVER ISSUED AND IF SO WHY I NEVER RECEIVED THE NOTICES AND WHAT RECOURSE TO I HAVE. ALL I THESE MECHANICS FEEL THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF GM WOULD HAVE SENT A NOTICE ADVISING OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS THAT LEAD TO THIS , I WOULD HAVE HAD THIS CAR CHECKED OUT. UP IN TILL JAN 17, 2001 I WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEMS THAT WERE NOT TAKEN CARE OF. ANY HELP OR ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *AK
THE STRUT TOWER ON THE PASSENGER WHEEL WALL HAD RUSTED OUT CAUSING NOISE, THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE RUSTING, SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT THIS PROBLEM AND STATED THAT IT'S NOT NORMAL . *SLC
WHILE TRAVELING THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. SHORTLY, THE ENGINE CUT OFF. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILED DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. GENERAL MOTORS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FROM 5 YEARS AND 50000 MILES TO SIX YEARS AND 60000 MILES. *AK
THE VEHICLE JUMPS WHILE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE AND THEN IT STALLS.
ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED/REPLACED. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED, DEALER ADMITS A HIGH RATE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Recall campaigns
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.
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