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
What owners actually said
377 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2001
Visibility
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY IT STARTED TO RAIN, CONSUMER TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND AFTER A LITTLE WHILE , PASSENGER'S WINDSHIELD WIPER STARTED TO RUN INTO OTHER WIPER. CONSUMER HAD TO TIE IT DOWN. FEW DAYS LATER, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED TO ACT THE SAME, AND THEN PASSENGER'S WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS WORKING…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY IT STARTED TO RAIN, CONSUMER TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND AFTER A LITTLE WHILE , PASSENGER'S WINDSHIELD WIPER STARTED TO RUN INTO OTHER WIPER. CONSUMER HAD TO TIE IT DOWN. FEW DAYS LATER, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED TO ACT THE SAME, AND THEN PASSENGER'S WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS WORKING OKAY. HAS NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER YET.*AK
NHTSA ODI #879204
Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #740007
Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WITH QUAD 4 ENIGNE , POOR DESIGN OF HEAD GASKET CAUSED PREMATURE CRACKING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #879067
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2001
Electrical SystemStructure
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMD TO HAVE SHORTED OUT. DOOR LOCKS AND HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. ONE DOOR WILL BE LOCKED WHILE THE REST WAS LOCKED. SOME OF WIRES WERE BURNT OUT UNDER STEERING. A RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE PUT ON . STARTER & ALTERNATOR HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. DEALER WAS TRYING TO REMEDY PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #878921
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 23, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKED COOLANT. NLM
NHTSA ODI #784991
Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2001
Electrical System
WHILE TRAVELING 35-40 MPH VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AND STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #878723
Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2001
Steering
TOWED TO PONTIAC DEALER (ADAMS PONTIAC IN ANNAPOLIS, MD) THEY SAY WILL COST ME ABOUT $400 "NEEDS NEW HOUSING". I FEEL MANUFACURING DEFECT, IE A STEERING WHEEL SHOULD NOT LOCK UP..COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #739752
Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire
I STARTED MY CAR AND IT DIDN'T START. IT THEN SMELLED LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. IT THEN STARTED AFTER THAT, BUT EVER SINCE IT DID NOT WORK WELL. A FEW DAYS LATER I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ABOUT FIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER THE FIRE, MY CAR WOULD START THEN DIE A FEW MINUTES LATER. I HAD TO KEEP JUMPING IT…
Read full complaint
I STARTED MY CAR AND IT DIDN'T START. IT THEN SMELLED LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. IT THEN STARTED AFTER THAT, BUT EVER SINCE IT DID NOT WORK WELL. A FEW DAYS LATER I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ABOUT FIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER THE FIRE, MY CAR WOULD START THEN DIE A FEW MINUTES LATER. I HAD TO KEEP JUMPING IT TO GET IT TO THE DEALER TO BE FIXED. THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND SERPENTINE BELT. I HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED JUST A YEAR AGO BECAUSE OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM BUT WAS UNAWARE OF THE RECALL THEN. I CALLED GM AND THEY TOLD ME "TOUGH LUCK" IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY. I DON'T THINK IT IS A COINCIDENCE THAT AFTER THE FIRE EVERYTHING WENT WRONG. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY, AND I FEEL GM SHOULD REIMBURSE ME. ALSO, SINCE WE CAN'T GET THIS RECALL FIXED UNTIL MARCH, I AM WORRIED THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT THE FIRE COULD HAVE AFFECTED THESE OTHER AREAS, AND SINCE IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, I DON'T THINK I OR OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY.
NHTSA ODI #739675
Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET IS CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INTO ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY ALSO CAUSING OTHER RELATED DAMAGE . *AK
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.
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.
1994 Pontiac Grand Am Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration