IllustrationCONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO COME ON. *AK
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 reportsI BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AT A DEALERSHIP, I.E., BILL KELLEY CHEVROLET, AND WAS NOT GIVEN INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALLS . THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO WORK PROPERLY AND THE DEALER WHO SOLD US THE CAR REFUSES TO GIVE US ANY HELP. MY SON PAID AN ADDITIONAL 300 TO GET THE CAR IN WORKING ORDER AND 3 DAYS LATER IT IS STILL NOT WORKIN…
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I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AT A DEALERSHIP, I.E., BILL KELLEY CHEVROLET, AND WAS NOT GIVEN INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALLS . THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO WORK PROPERLY AND THE DEALER WHO SOLD US THE CAR REFUSES TO GIVE US ANY HELP. MY SON PAID AN ADDITIONAL 300 TO GET THE CAR IN WORKING ORDER AND 3 DAYS LATER IT IS STILL NOT WORKING. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE INFORMED US OF THE RECALL NOTICES TO REPAIR SAID CAR.*AK
I OWNED A 1994 PONTIAC GRAND AM THAT CAUGHT FIRE APPROXIMATELY 9/30/02 AND I RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH ON CERTAIN MODELS BECAUSE OF FIRE THAT COULD OCCUR. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO TO FILE A CLAIM SINCE I LOST MY VEHICLE DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE FIRE THAT OCCURED. T…
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I OWNED A 1994 PONTIAC GRAND AM THAT CAUGHT FIRE APPROXIMATELY 9/30/02 AND I RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH ON CERTAIN MODELS BECAUSE OF FIRE THAT COULD OCCUR. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO TO FILE A CLAIM SINCE I LOST MY VEHICLE DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE FIRE THAT OCCURED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER MY PRIOR NAME OF ZOBEIDA DIAZ. THAT WAS THE NAME ON THE TITLE. TITLE IS HELD BY FIRST FIDELITY BANK OF OKLAHOMA CITY SINCE I STILL OWE ON THE LOAN FOR THIS VEHICLE.*AK
STEERING COLUMN TILT PINS BECAME LOOSE, ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL UPPER ASSEMBLY BROKE LOOSE FROM STEERING COLUMN AND LANDED IN DRIVERS LAP, HELD ON ONLY BY THE WIRES. VEHICLE WAS FORTUNATELY MOVING AT A SLOW SPEED AND DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP WITH OUT INJURY. VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STEERED AT ALL. *AK
I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALER IN FEBRUARY 2000 WITH 8000 MILES ON IT. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WINDOW ENGINE REPLACED 3 TIMES. EACH TIME THEY TELL ME THE MOTOR OR TRACK SYSTEM HAS BROKEN AND SINCE THEY ARE ONE UNIT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR THE HOOD OF THE CAR HAS STARTED TO PE…
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I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALER IN FEBRUARY 2000 WITH 8000 MILES ON IT. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WINDOW ENGINE REPLACED 3 TIMES. EACH TIME THEY TELL ME THE MOTOR OR TRACK SYSTEM HAS BROKEN AND SINCE THEY ARE ONE UNIT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR THE HOOD OF THE CAR HAS STARTED TO PEEL SEVERELY, IT IS NOW UP BOTH SIDE OF THE HOOD FROM THE NOSE TO THE TOP BY THE WINDOW. MAACO SAYS THEY WILL NEED TO SAND THE HOOD DOWN AND REPAINT THE ENTIRE CAR AND THAT IS ABOUT $900. WHAT CAN I DO????
PURCHASED VEHICLE, HEATING DID NOT WORK - AIR WOULD BLOW OUT COLD. DEALER BLEW OUT HEAT CORE AND REPLACED THERMOSTAT. MINIMAL AMOUNT OF HEAT. ENGINE STARTED TO STUTTER AND STALL. FUEL INJECTOR IN 5TH CYLINDER BAD. MECHANIC FLUSHED INJECTED AND GAVE TUNE UP. RAN OK FOR A WEEK AND THEN CONSTANT STUTTER AND SHAKE AT 50 MPH. …
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PURCHASED VEHICLE, HEATING DID NOT WORK - AIR WOULD BLOW OUT COLD. DEALER BLEW OUT HEAT CORE AND REPLACED THERMOSTAT. MINIMAL AMOUNT OF HEAT. ENGINE STARTED TO STUTTER AND STALL. FUEL INJECTOR IN 5TH CYLINDER BAD. MECHANIC FLUSHED INJECTED AND GAVE TUNE UP. RAN OK FOR A WEEK AND THEN CONSTANT STUTTER AND SHAKE AT 50 MPH. MECHANIC REPLACED 1 INJECTOR. STUTTER GONE. NO OVERHEATING, BUT ANTIFREEZE LEAK X 1. REPLACED WATER PUMP. 1 WEEK LATER CONSTANT OVERHEATING AND PUDDLE OF ANTIFREEZE AROUND ENGINE BLOCK. THEN THE ENGINE STALLED AND I CHECKED THE OIL TO FIND THE DIPSTICK SHOWED TWICE THE AMOUNT OF OIL AFTER SITTING FOR 8 HOURS. JUST HAD OIL CHANGED 1 WEEK AFTER REPAIRS, I HAD THE OIL CHANGED, THAT IS WHEN THE OIL APPEARED OVERFULL AND THE CAR STAULED.
STEERING COLUMN: PIN KEEP FALLING OUT, FILE COMPLAINT 2 TIMES. YOU KNOW WHAT PONTIAC CORP. ASK ME. THEY ASKED WHAT DID I WANT THEM TO DO?
STERING LOCK THAT ADJUSTS THE LOCATION OF THE WHEEL GAVE WAY WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE UP AND DOWN WHILE DRINING. DANGEROUS ON I95 AT 65MPH... LOSING SOME LEVEL OF CONTROL.
AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT. ON OCTOBER 25, 2003 MY DAUGHTER WRECKED HER 1994 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE FRONTAL RIGHT DRIVERS IMPACT. THE POLICE REPORT STATES SHE WAS TRAVELING A 55 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE IMPACT. WE, HOWEVER, WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME FROM THE TOWING LOT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. IS THERE A PLACE IN CENTRAL O…
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AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT. ON OCTOBER 25, 2003 MY DAUGHTER WRECKED HER 1994 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE FRONTAL RIGHT DRIVERS IMPACT. THE POLICE REPORT STATES SHE WAS TRAVELING A 55 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE IMPACT. WE, HOWEVER, WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME FROM THE TOWING LOT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. IS THERE A PLACE IN CENTRAL OR SOUTHEAST OHIO THAT CAN DOWNLOAD THE CRASH DATA RECORDER TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY OR IF THE SPEED WAS LESS THAT REPORTED? *LA
1994 PONTIAC WITH QUAD 4 ENGINE HAS A CRACKED HEAD. IT SEEMS THERE ARE SEVERAL OCCURRENCES OF THIS DEFECT, AND PONTIAC SHOULD RECALL.*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.