IllustrationWHILE DRIVING INTERIOR OF VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, DASHBOARD AND INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE BURNED. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30 MPH, SMELLED SMOKE, AND THEN SAW SMOKE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER NOTED THAT IT HAD TO DO WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM. *AK
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.
59 crash reports41 fire reports45 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
120 reportsTHERMOSTAT IS FLUCTUATING, GAS LEVEL GOES UP AND DOWN, KEEPS BLOWING FUSES.
CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL NOTIVE 00V-287 FOR A FAULTY STARTER WHICH COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE, THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE FAILS TO ENGAGE ON A REGULAR BASIS AND MANY COMPONENTS AND BEEN REPAIRED/REPLACED IN AN ATTEMPT REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT WITH NO SUCCESS, CONSUMER CONTACTED GMC WHO SAID THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNTIL…
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CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL NOTIVE 00V-287 FOR A FAULTY STARTER WHICH COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE, THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE FAILS TO ENGAGE ON A REGULAR BASIS AND MANY COMPONENTS AND BEEN REPAIRED/REPLACED IN AN ATTEMPT REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT WITH NO SUCCESS, CONSUMER CONTACTED GMC WHO SAID THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNTIL MARCH 2001. NLM
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS PRIOR TO RECALL 00V287, WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL, THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, THE STARTER, AND THE IGNITION SWITCH, AFTER ALL THE REPAIR WORK VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING MANY OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITHT ALL OF THE…
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CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS PRIOR TO RECALL 00V287, WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL, THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, THE STARTER, AND THE IGNITION SWITCH, AFTER ALL THE REPAIR WORK VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING MANY OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITHT ALL OF THE LIGHTS, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RECALL REPAIR, RENTAL CAR EXPENSES, AND THE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE. *SLC
GOT IN VEHICLE STARTED IT AND FIRE RUSHED THROUGH THE CAR IMMEDIATELY BURNING ENTIRE CAR TO FRAME.*AK
CONSUMER HAD REPLACED FUEL PUMP THREE TIMES DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WIRE. WIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE DUE TO A VOLTAGE REGULATOR. *AK
THE RECALL 00V-287 FOR THE STARTER HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NO PARTS AVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH 2001, THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED TWO BATTERIES AND ONE ALTERNATOR AND THINKS THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REIMBURSE HER FOR THE ALTERNATOR. NLM
CAR WAS PARKED, CONSUMER TRIED TO START CAR AND COULD HEAR A CLICKING NOISE IN STEERING, AND THEN THERE WAS NOTHING. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER WENT INTO HOUSE FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, CAME BACK OUT, AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. THEN, SAW FLAMES ON STEERING. TOWED VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC. *AK
RECALL 00V287000/ IGNITION SWITCH: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH A CLICKING SOUND UPON STARTING VEHICLE,AND ASKED DEALER TO INSPECT VEHICLE. SERVICE MANGER MR. RON CAPALDI REPLIED THAT IF DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED THAT PROBLEM WAS NOT PART OF RECALL CONSUMER WOULD BE BILLED FOR THAT INSPECTION. THIS HAPPENED AT BURNS PONTAIC I…
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RECALL 00V287000/ IGNITION SWITCH: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH A CLICKING SOUND UPON STARTING VEHICLE,AND ASKED DEALER TO INSPECT VEHICLE. SERVICE MANGER MR. RON CAPALDI REPLIED THAT IF DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED THAT PROBLEM WAS NOT PART OF RECALL CONSUMER WOULD BE BILLED FOR THAT INSPECTION. THIS HAPPENED AT BURNS PONTAIC IN MARLTON, NJ; PHONE # 856/ 983-1115. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
IGNITION MELTED WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE. BUT, PONTIAC STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 00V287000 ALTHOUGH IT HAD SAME PROBLEM, CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 1 WEEK AFTER THE DEALER STATED THE RECALL WAS VIN NUMBER SPECIFIC, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *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.