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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 →
38Owner complaints

Model-year median: 82

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View 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

    Other model years Selected year
    28
    1987    31
    1988    44
    1989    38
    1990    82
    1991    168
    1992    204
    1993
    Compare all Grand Am years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Engine And Engine Cooling
    14    Power Train
    7    Structure
    5    Electrical System
    3    Seat Belts
    3
    All reported categories
    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    3    Steering
    3    Tires
    3    Seats
    2    Unknown Or Other
    2    Vehicle Speed Control
    2    Wheels
    2    Equipment
    1    Fuel System, Gasoline
    1    Suspension
    1    Visibility
    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: 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.

    3 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

    3 reports
    Clear category filter
    Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2001
    Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicStructure

    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…

    Read full complaint

    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

    NHTSA ODI #562547

    Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 1999
    EquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

    WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS AND TRY TO STOP THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM AS IF THE CAR IS GOING TO STOP. IT TAKES A MUCH LONGER TIME THAN IT SHOULD. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED MANY TIMES, AND YET THIS KEEPS OCCURRING. THIS IS NOT HAPPENING WITH OUR OTHER CAR…

    Read full complaint

    WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS AND TRY TO STOP THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM AS IF THE CAR IS GOING TO STOP. IT TAKES A MUCH LONGER TIME THAN IT SHOULD. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED MANY TIMES, AND YET THIS KEEPS OCCURRING. THIS IS NOT HAPPENING WITH OUR OTHER CAR, SO IT IS NOT BAD BRAKING HABITS. I FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTERM AND IT IS SCARY. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #707225

    Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 1997
    Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

    WHILE DRIVING 15MPH THE DEFECTIVE FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #817163

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No 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

    0

    No 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.