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 · Sep 5, 2000
Service Brakes, Air
MY BRAKES ARE STILL FAILING AFTER BEING FIXED BY THE PONTIAC DEALER IN MY HOME TOWN. THIS CONCERNS ME BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT TAKING ANT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR WORK AND AFTER ABOUT A YEAR 1/2 AND 300 DOLLARS LATER THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME AGAIN TO FIX MY BRAKES. I KNOW THEIR IS A RECALL ON THESE TYPES OF BRAKES AND MY CAR HAS THE S…
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MY BRAKES ARE STILL FAILING AFTER BEING FIXED BY THE PONTIAC DEALER IN MY HOME TOWN. THIS CONCERNS ME BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT TAKING ANT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR WORK AND AFTER ABOUT A YEAR 1/2 AND 300 DOLLARS LATER THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME AGAIN TO FIX MY BRAKES. I KNOW THEIR IS A RECALL ON THESE TYPES OF BRAKES AND MY CAR HAS THE SAME SYMPTONS AS THE RECENT SCHOOL BUS SITUATION. I HAVE A GREAT CONCERN OF THE SAFETY OF OTHERS AND MYSELF. I FEEL THAT PONTIAC GM IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY ARE TRYING TO CHARGE ME AGAIN FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. I JUST HOPE I DON'T GET INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF MY BRAKE FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #730230
Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED AT 48,000 MILES CAUSING COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE ENGINE OIL. PONTIAC'S ATTITUDE IS THAT "THE PROBLEM IS MINE, NOT THEIRS" AND UNWILLING TO RESOLVE.
NHTSA ODI #729694
Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2000
Suspension
LOWER CONTROL ARM AND STABILIZER PINS FAILED. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #554133
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2000
Air Bags
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #868887
Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2000
Steering
THERE ARE TWO PINS HOLDING THE ADJUSTABLE STEERING WHEEL TO THE COLUMN AND THESE PINS HAVE COME OUT 4 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST CAUSE AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN IN THAT THE PINS ARE HEAVY METAL THAT GO INTO ALUMINUM AND THE ALUMINUM EXPANDS WITH REPEATED MOVEMENT FROM ADJUSTING THE STEERING WH…
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THERE ARE TWO PINS HOLDING THE ADJUSTABLE STEERING WHEEL TO THE COLUMN AND THESE PINS HAVE COME OUT 4 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST CAUSE AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN IN THAT THE PINS ARE HEAVY METAL THAT GO INTO ALUMINUM AND THE ALUMINUM EXPANDS WITH REPEATED MOVEMENT FROM ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL UP AND DOWN. CONSEQUENTLY, THE PINS NO LONGER STAY IN. THIS IS LIKELY TO CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT EXPECTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO COME LOOSE. I HAVE HAD BOTH PINS COME OUT WITHIN MINUTES OF EACH OTHER.
NHTSA ODI #729111
Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2000
Unknown Or Other
EXTERIOR:PAINT PEELING ON HOOD ( ONLY AREA)
NHTSA ODI #728834
Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS RECENTLY IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, BUT MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIRBAG DID NOT SMOKE, IT DID NOTHING.
NHTSA ODI #728696
Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH BRAKES ON THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT SAFELY. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT A HIGHER SPEED VEHICLE WOULD HAVE WENT INTO A TAIL SPIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY SERVICE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT REPORTED TO A PONTIAC DEALERSHIP .*AK
NHTSA ODI #866492
Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. 30-45 MINUTES LATER, THICK BLACK SMOKE FOLLOWED BY FLAMES BURST FROM STEERING COLUMN. FIRE DESTROYED DASBOARD, WINDSHIELD AND CEILING BEFORE BEING EXTINGUSHED. *YH
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
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