PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (00V287000) CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TWO ALTERNATOR FAILURES. *JB
1995 Pontiac Grand Am
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Grand Am years
Owner complaints for the 1995 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: 33 of 409 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 120 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. 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.
Electrical System complaints
120 reportsCONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION (00079) BUT FEELS IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR HIM TO HAVE TO MISS 4 HOURS OF WORK, TO BRING VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S INCOMPETENCE. *JB
PRIOR TO RECALL 00V287, CONSUMER HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH STARTING VEHICLE, THE STARTER, IGNITION SWITCH, SAFETY SWITCH, AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM KEPT COMING BACK, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS PRIOR TO RECALL WORK. *SLC
PRIOR TO RECALL 00V287, VEHICLE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT START, IT FINALLY STARTED AND WENT A BLOCK THEN STOPPED AGAIN, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, DEALER MADE REPAIRS AND STATED THE CAUSE WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER DEALER STATED RECALL PROBLEM AND HER VEHICLE …
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PRIOR TO RECALL 00V287, VEHICLE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT START, IT FINALLY STARTED AND WENT A BLOCK THEN STOPPED AGAIN, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, DEALER MADE REPAIRS AND STATED THE CAUSE WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER DEALER STATED RECALL PROBLEM AND HER VEHICLE PROBLEM WERE NOT RELATED, CONSUMER FEELS OTHERWISE. *SLC
CONSUMER TOOK CAR IN FOR A RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCH RELAY KIT. THEY REPLACED KIT. HOURS LATER ,CONSUMER TRIED TO START CAR AND ALL LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH, AND IT WENT DEAD. THEN, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING INTO CAR AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK
KEY COULD NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION AND STEERING COLUMN COULD NOT LOCK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN HAZARD LIGHTS OR BLINKERS ARE ACTIVATED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL FREEZE UP. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK
POWER WINDOW ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WENT OUT. HAD WINDOW REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, BUT IS CONTINUOUS. MANUFACTURER INDICATED CURRENTLY, VEHICLE'S WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK A MECHANIC IN A REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE PART IS SENSITIVE AND THAT IT BENDS EASILY. POWER DOOR LOCK REPLACED. THE WINDOW REGULATOR ASS…
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POWER WINDOW ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WENT OUT. HAD WINDOW REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, BUT IS CONTINUOUS. MANUFACTURER INDICATED CURRENTLY, VEHICLE'S WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK A MECHANIC IN A REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE PART IS SENSITIVE AND THAT IT BENDS EASILY. POWER DOOR LOCK REPLACED. THE WINDOW REGULATOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. IGNITION SWITCH RELAY KIT WAS INSTALLED DUE TO HIGH ELECT CURRENT. *SLC
CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITNG FOR 3 MONTHS TO HAVE RECALL 00V287000 PERFORMED. DEALER CLAIMED THERE WERE NO PARTS, AND NO FUTURE DATE WAS GIVEN.*AK CONSUMER FINALLY HAD RECALL REPAIR DONE, HOWEVER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR PRIOR WORK DONE TO THE EGR VALVE REGARDING SAME PROBLEMS AS IN THE RECALL. *SLC
VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT; BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES AND ALTERNATER TWICE, AND 1 STARTER AND WIRING REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES A FAULTY SWITCH CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL FAILURES. *SLC
Official recalls
100V287000 · 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.
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.
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