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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 →

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.

12 crash reports4 fire reports8 injury reports

Power Train complaints

16 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2001
Electrical SystemPower Train

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

NHTSA ODI #742917

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2000
Power Train

I HAVE REBUILTED MY TRANSMISSION FOR THE SECOND (2) TIME (EACH TIME COSTING OVER $1200.00). SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG HOW THEY ENGINEERED THE TRANSMISSION. I ALWAYS CHANGE MY TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERY 20,000-30,000. I DO NOT DRAG RACE WITH MY VEHICLE OR MISTREAT MY VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #735064

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2000
Power Train

THIS SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER HAS BEEN REPLACED THE TOTAL OF FOUR (4) TIMES AND IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT GRABS THE DRIVERS ATTENTION AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #735059

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1999
Power TrainCrash

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 35 MPH AXLE CAME APART, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, HITTING OTHER CARS AND CRASHING INTO A TRUCK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #848889

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

PONTIAC PRIDES ITSELF ON DRIVING EXCITEMENT, IT SHOULD ACTUALLY BE THAT IT IS A DRIVING NIGHTMARE. THIS CAR HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE LIST OF CURRENT AND PAST PROBLEMS WHICH INCLUDES: THE TRUNK LEAKS/ INCORRECT SPEEDOMETER THAT CAUSED TWO SPEEDING TICKETS/DRIVER'S FLOOR AND UNDER THE FRONT RIGHT SEAT ARE ALWAYS WET…

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PONTIAC PRIDES ITSELF ON DRIVING EXCITEMENT, IT SHOULD ACTUALLY BE THAT IT IS A DRIVING NIGHTMARE. THIS CAR HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE LIST OF CURRENT AND PAST PROBLEMS WHICH INCLUDES: THE TRUNK LEAKS/ INCORRECT SPEEDOMETER THAT CAUSED TWO SPEEDING TICKETS/DRIVER'S FLOOR AND UNDER THE FRONT RIGHT SEAT ARE ALWAYS WET. ALSO,REPLACED BATTERY TWICE/ALTERNATOR/STARTER/ RADIATOR AND ALL HOSES AFTER A SUDDEN "EXPLOSION." IN ADDITION, THERMOSTAT HAD BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST 4 TIMES AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR ONCE. THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER NO LONGER WORKS, RIGHT SIDE POWER WINDOW DOES NOT GO BACK UP/THE TAPE DECK IS BROKEN, FRONT LUMBAR I SEAT BROKE AROUND 40,000 MILES. THE FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT WHEEL BEARINGS HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES/TIE RODS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE ON THE RIGHT AND TWICE ON THE LEFT/ ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND FRONT BRAKES WORE OUT WITH IN 15,000 (TYPICAL OF MOST PONTIACS JUST GOING BY THE COMMENTS OF OTHER PONTIAC OWNERS THAT I KNOW. THIS LIST IS QUITE LONG AND EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CAR IS NOT PAID FOR YET AND ONLY HAS 125,000 MILES ON IT AND IS A 1992 MODEL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/55/R16 )

NHTSA ODI #704874

Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 1999
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON FOUR OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ODI #543269

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 1999
Power Train

ON 12/17/1998, THE FRONT AXLE OF MY 1992 PONTIAC GRAND AM BROKE. FORTUNATELY, I HAD JUST PULLED INTO THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED AND WAS NOT GOING OVER 5 MPH. THE TRAFFIC ON THIS FOUR-LANE ROAD WAS HEAVY, AND I WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT THE CAR MIGHT BE HIT AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BEFORE IT COULD BE TOWED. I DID NOT HIT A POTHOL…

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ON 12/17/1998, THE FRONT AXLE OF MY 1992 PONTIAC GRAND AM BROKE. FORTUNATELY, I HAD JUST PULLED INTO THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED AND WAS NOT GOING OVER 5 MPH. THE TRAFFIC ON THIS FOUR-LANE ROAD WAS HEAVY, AND I WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT THE CAR MIGHT BE HIT AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BEFORE IT COULD BE TOWED. I DID NOT HIT A POTHOLE OR ANY OBJECT IN THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO WARNING. IF I HAD BEEN GOING ANY FASTER, IT WOULD HAVE LIKELY BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR & TEAR, AND WE FEEL IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #701882

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 1998
Power Train

WHEN PURCHASED VEHICLE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT RIGHT. AT STOP SIGN IT WOULD DIE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT DISENGAGING. SPECIALIST AT NAPPA AUTO STATED A SOLENOID IN TRANSMISSION FAILED. NEEDED A MODIFICATION KIT TO REMEDY. DEALER CONTACTED AND HAS NOT RETURNED CALL TO REMEDY PROBLEM. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832828

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 1998
Power Train

THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION MALFUCTIONED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. HAD 4 REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS FROM PONTIAC PUT IN, BUT ALL BROKE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832118

Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 1998
Power Train

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. HAD WHOLE TRANSMISSION REBUILT

NHTSA ODI #700662

Official recalls

3

92V106000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.