WIRING HARNESS, IGNITION KEY HOUSING AND STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY MELTED DOWN. CONSUMER BELIEVES 1992 MODELS HAD SIMILAR FAILURES AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL. *TT
1992 Pontiac Grand Am
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Grand Am years
Owner complaints for the 1992 Pontiac Grand Am are substantially higher than 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: 5 of 168 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 62 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
28 reportsIGNITION SYSTEM MELTED RESULTING IN TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF STARTING SYSTEM. IGNITION SYSTEM DID NOT IGNITE BUT DID CONTINUE TO EMMIT NOXIOUS FUMES AND SMOKE. RESEARCHED PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT ALL MODELS MADE THE YEAR AFTER MY CAR, WERE RECALLED FOR SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, MY RADIO, CLOCK, CRUISE CONTROL, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING. THIS WOULD USUALLY HAPPEN WHEN I WOULD USE THE TURN SIGNALS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A FUSE, BUT LATER REALIZED IF I JIGGLED THE KEY IN THE INGNITION, THESE THINGS WOULD START WORKING AGAIN. THE IGNITION SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT OF PLAY, AS IF I…
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WHILE DRIVING, MY RADIO, CLOCK, CRUISE CONTROL, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING. THIS WOULD USUALLY HAPPEN WHEN I WOULD USE THE TURN SIGNALS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A FUSE, BUT LATER REALIZED IF I JIGGLED THE KEY IN THE INGNITION, THESE THINGS WOULD START WORKING AGAIN. THE IGNITION SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT OF PLAY, AS IF IT NEEDS TO BE TIGHTENED. I CAN ALMOST TURN THE IGNITION ALL THE WAY AROUND WITHOUT TOUCHING THE KEY.
THE PAINT IS CHIPPING ON MY HOOD. IT STARTED IN 1995. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALERSHIPS THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL ON PAINT. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY GM, AND WHEN I LAST ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THEM THE SRVC REP SAID THEY REMEMBERED A RECALL BUT COULDN'T FIND IT NOW. ALSO, EVERY WINTER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR THE HORN GOWS OFF IN THE MID…
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THE PAINT IS CHIPPING ON MY HOOD. IT STARTED IN 1995. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALERSHIPS THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL ON PAINT. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY GM, AND WHEN I LAST ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THEM THE SRVC REP SAID THEY REMEMBERED A RECALL BUT COULDN'T FIND IT NOW. ALSO, EVERY WINTER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR THE HORN GOWS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN IT GETS BELOW FREEZING. MY POWER DOOR LOCKS KEEP GOING OUT. ARE THEY RELATED TO THE HORN? SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LOCKS IN UPRIGHT POSITION BUT DOES NOT SLIDE BACK INTO PLACE IF THE LEVER IS USDE ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT. IS THERE A TSB? I FOUND A TSB ON YOUR WEB-SITE FOR THE HORN AND POSSIBLY FOR THE DOOR LOCKS. WHAT DO I DO?*AK
ON MARCH OF 1999, THE FIRST PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE OCCURED. THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY, NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, AND IT BEGAN TO TRY TO START BY ITSELF. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THIS, AND BY THE TIME IT FINISHED, MY BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY. THE SECOND TIME I HAD AN IGNITION PROBLEM WAS IN …
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ON MARCH OF 1999, THE FIRST PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE OCCURED. THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY, NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, AND IT BEGAN TO TRY TO START BY ITSELF. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THIS, AND BY THE TIME IT FINISHED, MY BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY. THE SECOND TIME I HAD AN IGNITION PROBLEM WAS IN NOVEMBER OF 2000 WHEN MY CAR WOULDN'T START UNLESS IT WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL GEAR. I HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED, AND SIX WEEKS LATER, THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED WITH TRYING TO START THE CAR. EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD IT IN THE REPAIR SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES, AND FRANKLY I BELIEVE THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE, SOLD ME A LEMON.*AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED. WENT TO PUT KEY IN IGNITION IT ACTED VERY ROUGH. WENT TO TURN KEY, IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN, WAS NOT ABLE. WHEEL LOCKED IN LEFT POSITION. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. *AK
NOTICED SEIZED SPARK PLUG AT 90,000, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, POOR IDLE, COOLANT CONSUMPTION, TWO ADDITIONAL SEIZED PLUGS APPEARED LATER. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, AT SLOW SPEED, ACCELERATING FROM STOP, WILL START AFTER A 15 MINUTE DELAY, HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO DEALER 5 TIMES AND ALL REPAIRS HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM.
MULTIPLE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED: (1) CIGARETTE LIGHTER FUSE BLOWS CONSTANTLY. (2) ENGINE HAS A CRACKED CYLINDER WHICH ALLOWS COOLANT INTO THE OIL SYSTEM. (3) STARTER COIL FAILED. (4) WINDOW MOTOR/SWITCH FAILED. (5) FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DOESN'T ALWAYS LOCK IN PLACE, AND ALLOWS THE SEAT TO SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. (6) IN CO…
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MULTIPLE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED: (1) CIGARETTE LIGHTER FUSE BLOWS CONSTANTLY. (2) ENGINE HAS A CRACKED CYLINDER WHICH ALLOWS COOLANT INTO THE OIL SYSTEM. (3) STARTER COIL FAILED. (4) WINDOW MOTOR/SWITCH FAILED. (5) FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DOESN'T ALWAYS LOCK IN PLACE, AND ALLOWS THE SEAT TO SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. (6) IN COLD WEATHER THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HORN CONTRACTS AND CAUSES THE HORN TO SOUND CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE FUSE IS REMOVED. (7) FRONT BRAKES WEAR QUICKLY DURING NORMAL OPERATION. (8) ALTERNATOR FAILED AT 90,000 MILES. (9) OIL PRESSURE SENSOR FAILED AT 107,000 MILES. (10) SPARK PLUGS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 18 MONTHS DUE TO A RECURRING STUMBLING PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE. ONE SPARK PLUG CANNOT BE REMOVED. (11) THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT HAS BEEN FILLED WITH CONDENSATE FROM THE A/C SYSTEM MULTIPLE TIMES, RUINING ANY PAPERWORK AND THE OWNERS' MANUAL. (12) THE SCREWS ON BOTH INTERIOR DOOR FRAMES HAVE FALLEN OUT AND MUST BE REPLACED.
NO SUMMARY
Official recalls
392V106000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Jul 17, 1992
THE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN INCORRECT SUSPENSION UPPER SPRING SEAT AT THE RIGHT-REAR POSITION. IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A REAR IMPACT ACCIDENT, THE RIGHT-HAND REAR WHEEL HOUSE FLANGE COULD SEVER THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE AND SPILL FUEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 301,FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY. SPILLED FUEL IN A LOW SPEED ACCIDENT CAN RESULT IN AFIRE.
Remedy: INSPECT AND REPLACE INCORRECT UPPER SPRING SEAT WITH THE CORRECT PART.
91V204000 · Suspension:rear
Nov 19, 1991
THE BOLTS AND NUTS WHICH ATTACH THE BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLY TO THE REAR AXLE FLANGE ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED ON SOME VEHICLES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS WOULD ALLOW EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE BEARING-HUBASSEMBLY RELATIVE TO THE REAR AXLE FLANGE AND COULD CAUSE ELONGATION ANDEVENTUAL SEPARATION OF THE ATTACHING BOLTS FROM THE REAR AXLE FLANGE. IF THISWERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE AFFECTED TIRE AND WHEEL COULDTRACK ERRATICALLY, EVENTUALLY CAUSING FAILURE OF THE OTHER ATTACHING BOLTS. THETIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN AVEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: TIGHTEN REAR AXLE BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLY FASTENERS, AND REPLACE ALL THE FASTENERS ON A WHEEL IF TWO OR MORE BOLTS ARE FOUND TO BE LOOSE.
91V182000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
Oct 21, 1991
THE PASSENGER'S SIDE EASY-ENTRY SEAT ADJUSTER MAY FAIL FULLY LOCK INTO POSITION AFTER THE SEAT BACK HAS BEEN TILTED FORWARD AND THE SEAT SLID FORWARD, THEN RETURNED TO ITS ORIGINAL POSTITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SEAT ADJUSTER FAILS TO LOCK INTO POSITION, THEPASSENGER SEAT WOULD SLIDE FORWARD IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.OCCUPANTS OF THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD FACE INCREASED RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY.
Remedy: REPLACE THE ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY ON THE SEAT.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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