IllustrationCONSUMER INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING VISUAL INJURY VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *ML
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 →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: 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 reportsHEATER STOPPED WORKING AT 65,000 MILES, 1 YEAR AGO. PART WAS REPLACED. LAST MONTH IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AND ANTIFREEZE HAS LEAKED INTO THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE INSIDE OF THE CAR! *AK
FRONT HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT DURING DRIVING OR WHEN LIGHTS ARE SWITCHED BETWEEN BRIGHTS AND LOW BEAMS. LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT COMPLETELY AND WILL NOT COME ON RENDERING THE CAR USELESS FOR NIGHT DRIVING.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )
TRANSMISSION WILL GO IN REVERSE, LOW GEAR WILL SHIFT INTO GEAR AFTER IT STARTS MOVING FASTER. *MJS
ENGINE HEAD CRACKED BETWEEN SPARK PLUG & REAR OF HEAD; OIL ON TOP OF PLUG; COOLANT LEAKS ONTO EXAUST MANIFOLD--CATALYTIC CONVERTER BEING PLUGGED UP CAUSES EXAUST PIPE TO SEPERATE FROM REAR OF ENGINE & VERY HOT EXAUST GOES DIRECTLY INTO ATMOSPHERE & MELTS INSULATION AROUND WIREING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKED OUT COOLANT, AND THE CASTING CRACKED, SPILLING COOLANT ON THE WIRES. *AK
STEERING COLUMN FAILED RESULTING IN FIRE.
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, NOTICED VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. ALSO, THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS WILL LOCK ONLY WITH VEHICLE IS PUT INTO MOTION; AND WHEN TRYING TO USE THE SWITCH ON THE DOOR, IT DOESN'T WORK. WHEN PUTTING ON HIGH HIGH BEAMS THEY WILL WORK, BUT WHEN CUTTING THE HIGH BEAM OFF, THE REGULAR LIGHTS WON'T WORK. IT T…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, NOTICED VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. ALSO, THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS WILL LOCK ONLY WITH VEHICLE IS PUT INTO MOTION; AND WHEN TRYING TO USE THE SWITCH ON THE DOOR, IT DOESN'T WORK. WHEN PUTTING ON HIGH HIGH BEAMS THEY WILL WORK, BUT WHEN CUTTING THE HIGH BEAM OFF, THE REGULAR LIGHTS WON'T WORK. IT TAKES ALONG TIME FOR THE CONSUMER TO GET THE LIGHTS TO WORK. *AK
THE BRAKES OPERATE AT A SLOW SPEED OR STOP. THE BRAKES WILL SLIP LOWER, PRESSURE IS LOOSE, BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN LOWER, CAR WILL SLIDE, UNDER 20 MPH. DEALER CONTACTED AND MADE REPAIRS FOUR TIMES AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
VEHICLE WOULD'NT START. AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, THE CONSUMER'S CO-WORKER NOTICED A HORN BLOWING, WENT TO INVESTIGATE AND THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS ON FIRE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANU…
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VEHICLE WOULD'NT START. AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, THE CONSUMER'S CO-WORKER NOTICED A HORN BLOWING, WENT TO INVESTIGATE AND THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS ON FIRE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK
Official recalls
200V287000 · 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
2EA00007 · 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.