SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1994 Pontiac Grand Am

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Grand Am years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Pontiac Grand Am are substantially higher than the model-year median of 82.

About this comparison →
377Owner complaints

Model-year median: 82

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
82
1991168
1992204
1993377
1994409
1995450
1996383
1997
Compare all Grand Am years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
73Electrical System
71Service Brakes, Hydraulic
60Steering
56Air Bags
38
All reported categories
Exterior Lighting
23Power Train
22Visibility
21Suspension
15Fuel System, Gasoline
12Seat Belts
12Seats
12Structure
10Latches/locks/linkages
8Vehicle Speed Control
8Unknown Or Other
6Equipment
5Tires
5Service Brakes, Air
4Fuel System, Other
2Wheels
2Back Over Prevention
1Electronic Stability Control
1Engine
1Interior Lighting
1Parking Brake
1Service Brakes
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: 27 of 377 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 73 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 71 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

58 crash reports28 fire reports38 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

23 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2001
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 00V287000/ ENGINE STARTER. ALSO, EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED EXTERIOR LIGHTS OF VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONING. EXTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD STOP OPERATING WHEN SWITCHING BETWEEN DIM AND BRIGHT. AT TIMES, THERE WAS SMELL OF BURNING WIRES. *AK PING OF TILT ON STEERING COLUMN BACKED OU…

Read full complaint

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 00V287000/ ENGINE STARTER. ALSO, EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED EXTERIOR LIGHTS OF VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONING. EXTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD STOP OPERATING WHEN SWITCHING BETWEEN DIM AND BRIGHT. AT TIMES, THERE WAS SMELL OF BURNING WIRES. *AK PING OF TILT ON STEERING COLUMN BACKED OUT TWICE. THE REPLACEMENT NEW SWITCH FAILED. THE DASH LIGHTS WERE OUT. THE WINDOW BRACKETS WERE WEAK. THE FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS FAILED FREQUENTLY. *YH

NHTSA ODI #880869

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

SINCE PURCHASED NEW THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. NOW THERE IS A SWITCH RECALL IN 2001. WHY HASN'T SOMETHING BEEN DONE ABOUT ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS. LAST WEEK THE CRANKSENSOR WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING 55MPH. CAR STOPPED RUNNING

NHTSA ODI #740744

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2001
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS GO OFF, DIMMING WILL BRING THEM BACK ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740728

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2001
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT CONSUMER HAD ON HIGH BEAMS, AND WHEN SWITCHING TO LOW BEAMS ALL LIGHTS WENT OUT, CONSUMER HAD TO SWITCH BACK AND FORTH, AND THEN LIGHTS CAME BACK ON.*AK

NHTSA ODI #878825

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2001
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING VARIOUS DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH LOW BEAMS NOT WORKING. ALSO, HAZARD LIGHTS STAY ON, AND HIGH BEAMS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER NOTED PROBLEM MAY BE LINKED TO PONTIAC'S MOST RECENT RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #877600

Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2000
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING WITH LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD, HEADLIGHTS WOULD CONSTANTLY GO OUT, AND AT THIS TIME, WERE NOT WORKING. ALSO, TAIL LIGHTS WORKED ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT LIGHTS. IN ADDITION, STARTER AND BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #877009

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2000
Exterior LightingSeatsVisibility

THE HEADLIGHT TROUBLE ALMOST CAUSED VEHICLE TO LEAVE ROAD AT HIGH SPEED. I FOUND THAT WHEN THEY CUT OUT, I NEED TO PUT HIGH BEAMS ON & THEN SWITCH BACK TO LOW BEAMS. SEATBACKS FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS WILL FLY FOWARD DURING HEAVY BRAKING. A MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THE SEAT BACKS WERE SUPPOSED TO MOVE FOWARD LIKE THIS, I WOULD LIKE…

Read full complaint

THE HEADLIGHT TROUBLE ALMOST CAUSED VEHICLE TO LEAVE ROAD AT HIGH SPEED. I FOUND THAT WHEN THEY CUT OUT, I NEED TO PUT HIGH BEAMS ON & THEN SWITCH BACK TO LOW BEAMS. SEATBACKS FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS WILL FLY FOWARD DURING HEAVY BRAKING. A MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THE SEAT BACKS WERE SUPPOSED TO MOVE FOWARD LIKE THIS, I WOULD LIKE THIS FIXED. AS FOR THE DRIVER WINDOW, MANY OTHER GRAND AM OWNERS TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE SAME PROBLEM - THIS ONE HAS COST ME OVER $100 IN DRYING OUT MY VEHICLE INTERIOR AND REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #720728

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 1999
Exterior LightingVisibility

WINDSHIELD WIPER'S ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND ALSSO WORK OCCASIONALLY WHEN CONSUMER USES THE TURN SIGNAL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849845

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 1999
Exterior LightingLatches/locks/linkagesSteering

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, INDICATING A FAILURE IN THE POWER STEERING WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. ALSO, PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER'S DOOR LATCH WHICH WON'T OPEN FROM THE INSIDE/HIGH BEAM IN THE HEADLIGHTS IS INOPERATIVE/STRUTS MALFUNCTIONED TOO EARLY, AND WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE HE…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, INDICATING A FAILURE IN THE POWER STEERING WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. ALSO, PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER'S DOOR LATCH WHICH WON'T OPEN FROM THE INSIDE/HIGH BEAM IN THE HEADLIGHTS IS INOPERATIVE/STRUTS MALFUNCTIONED TOO EARLY, AND WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE HESITATES WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #838921

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingSteering

THERE IS A WIRING SHORT AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL GO OFF AND SOMETIMES THE HEADLIGHTS. USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN USING TURN SIGNAL. ALSO WHEN TURNING ON FLASHERS THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. THE RIGHT INTERIOR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON. ALSO THE STEERING COLUMN VINYL COVERING OVER THE AIRBAG HAS SPLIT DOWN THE PONTI…

Read full complaint

THERE IS A WIRING SHORT AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL GO OFF AND SOMETIMES THE HEADLIGHTS. USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN USING TURN SIGNAL. ALSO WHEN TURNING ON FLASHERS THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. THE RIGHT INTERIOR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON. ALSO THE STEERING COLUMN VINYL COVERING OVER THE AIRBAG HAS SPLIT DOWN THE PONTIAC SYMBOL EXPOSING THE AIRBAG.

NHTSA ODI #704331

Official recalls

2

00V287000 · Electrical System:starter Assembly

Oct 2, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE STARTER FAILS TO ENGAGE AND THE DRIVER HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRODUCING HEAT THAT CAN MELT SWITCH PARTS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT AND VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION (ADEQUATE RESERVE CAPACITY, OR COLD CRANKING AMPS). THIS CAMPAIGN DOES NOT COVER BATTERY REPLACEMENT OR UNRELATED STARTING SYSTEM OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIRS.

94V122000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Jul 1, 1994

THESE VEHICLES WERE CONSTRUCTED WITH WELDS IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT PAN ASSEMBLY THAT ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO FUEL TANK LEAKAGE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT COLLISION. THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLIES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF A VEHICLE FIRE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT COLLISION.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL RIVETS ADJACENT TO THE LOCATIONS WHERE THE SUSPECT WELDS ARE LOCATED.

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

2

EA00007 · Steering Column Fires

Opened Mar 3, 2000 · Closed Feb 7, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

PE99063 · Steering Column Fire

Opened Oct 7, 1999 · Closed Mar 3, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

ODI HAS EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF ITS INVESTIGATION OF STEERING COLUMN FIRES TO INCLUDE ALL MODELS BUILT ON THE N-PLATFORM.GM HAS INDICATED IN ITS RESPONSE THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A ROTARY IGNITION SWITCH THAT HAS BEEN IN USE IN A NUMBER OF VEHICLE MODELS SINCE 1991 ON BOTH THE N AND J-PLATFORMS.HOWEVER, THE 1994-1995 N-PLATFORM IS OVER REPRESENTED ACCOUNTING FOR 83 (81%) OF THE COMBINDED TOTAL OF 102 REPORTS DESPITE BEING ONLY 14.2% OF THE COMBINED POPULATION. OF THE 10 NEW REPORTS RECEIVED SINCE OPENING EA99-063, 7 INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF A NO START CONDITION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE STARTER.A FIRE IS CLAIMED TO HAVE ENSUED IN THE STEERING COLUMN IMMEDIATELY THERAFTER.GM ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) (NO. 433203) JULY 1994 WHIICH ADDRESSED OWNER COMPLAINTS THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY NOT RETURN TO THE RUN POSITION AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED.THE TSB ADVISES THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MOUNTING SCREWS MAY BE EXCESSIVELY TORQUED RESULTING IN DISTORTION OF THE SWITCH HOUSING.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS WARRANTED TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE(S) AND TO DETERMIN IF A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS.