IllustrationTHE VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED ENGINE HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CYLINDER HEAD, WATER PUMP, SPARK PLUGS, THERMOSTAT, SERPENTINE BELT(S) WERE ALL REPLACED AND ONE GALLON OF ANTI FREEZE WAS ADDED. *SCC *JB
1993 Pontiac Grand Am
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Grand Am years
Owner complaints for the 1993 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: 11 of 204 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 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports20 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
204 reportsWHILE DRIVING, SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS *JB
WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE AND THEN FLAMES EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *AK
THE CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE OIL, AND THE MECHANIC STATED THE OIL WAS VERY MILKY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED WATER HAD GOT INTO THE OIL. AS A RESULT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
A COMPONENT IN THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED WHICH CAUSED TURN SIGNALS TO GO OUT. THE MECHANIC CHANGED A BULB AND WITHIN AN HOUR THE BULB WAS OUT AGAIN. *NLM
WHEN IT RAINED WATER LEAKED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
MY BROTHER'S (JOHN STURGILL) 1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND WITH THE IGNITION OFF. MY BROTHER HAD JUST DRIVEN THE CAR HOME FROM WORK. HE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION WENT INTO HIS HOME. JUST 10 MINTUES LATER HIS WIFE SAW SMOKE COMING BY THE WINDOW. THEY IMMEDIATELY WALKED OUTSIDE AND SAW THE CAR COMPLET…
Read full complaint
MY BROTHER'S (JOHN STURGILL) 1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND WITH THE IGNITION OFF. MY BROTHER HAD JUST DRIVEN THE CAR HOME FROM WORK. HE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION WENT INTO HIS HOME. JUST 10 MINTUES LATER HIS WIFE SAW SMOKE COMING BY THE WINDOW. THEY IMMEDIATELY WALKED OUTSIDE AND SAW THE CAR COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THEY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT THE CAR BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE OUTER VINYL SIDING ON 2 SIDES OF THE HOUSE, DAMAGED A BRAND NEW CARPORT, COMPLETELY BURNED A 2 YEAR OLD RIDING LAWN MOWER AND DESTROYED A STORAGE BUILDING WITH OVER $2,000 IN PERSONAL BELONGINGS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CAR BURN THAT QUICKLY AND WITH THAT MUCH FORCE. IT WAS THE SCARIEST DAY OF MY LIFE.IF MY BROTHER AND HIS WIFE HAD DRIVEN 10 MORE MINUTES THEY WOULDN'T BE HERE WITH ME TODAY. I SHUDDER THE THOUGHT THAT SOMEWHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE STILL DRIVING 1993 PONTIACS WITH THEIR LIVES AT RISK ALSO.
SUDDEN SPEED WHILE DRIVING OVER 60 MPH. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING 45MPH HAD EXTENDED STOPPING. TS
MECHANICS KNOW THIS GOES BAD IN GRAND AM'S, HAS HAD MANY COMPLAINTS. -------- DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS--------769744. *AK
Official recalls
193V153000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Sep 14, 1993
THE NEUTRAL START SAFETY SWITCH COULD HAVE BEEN FRACTURED DURING INSTALLATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FRACTURED SWITCH CAN RESULT IN A NO-START CONDITION.ALSO, A VEHICLE WITH A FRACTURED SWITCH CAN BE STARTED IN GEAR, CAUSING THEVEHICLE TO MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE NEUTRAL START SWITCH. THE MANUAL SWITCH OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF AN OVERSIZED CONDITION EXISTS.
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.