Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting
1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM OVERHEATING. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT FOUR TIMES AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKETS WARPED. PAID FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND CALLED GENERAL MOTORS. MEDIATOR WAS OF VERY LITTLE HELP. TOOK IT BACK UNDER THE REPAIR WARRANTY, THEN THE RADIATOR BLEW BECAUSE THEY HAD REPLACED THE RADIA…
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1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM OVERHEATING. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT FOUR TIMES AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKETS WARPED. PAID FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND CALLED GENERAL MOTORS. MEDIATOR WAS OF VERY LITTLE HELP. TOOK IT BACK UNDER THE REPAIR WARRANTY, THEN THE RADIATOR BLEW BECAUSE THEY HAD REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP WITH A HIGHER PRESSURE RATING. WE TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR, HOSES, HEATER CORE AND NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS. IT CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. IN GENERAL WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $2500.00 AND STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, WE NOW HAVE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMING ON OCCASIONALLY AND I FOUND SOME ENGINE WIRES TWISTED UP OVER THE MANIFOLD. I HAVE SINCE MOVED THEM BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION AND HAD TO USE ELECTRICAL TAPE ON ANOTHER WIRE CONNECTION THAT THE LOCK (SNAP) WAS BROKE OFF. SINCE DOING THIS I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR OVERHEATING AS OFTEN. ADDITIONALLY SINCE REPAIRS WERE MADE, WE NOW HAVE HEAVY CONDENSATION ON THE INTERIOR WINDSHIELD, (WINDOW WIPERS ON THE INSIDE COULD BE A SOLUTION...) ALONG WITH PUDDLES OF WATER ON THE PASSENGER FLOOR AND IN THE TRUNK....GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THEY DID TO MY CAR AFTER I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS, EVERYTHING JUST SEEMED TO GET WORSE FROM THERE.. COINCIDENCE, I THINK NOT. THEY ARE NOW BANKRUPT SO THERE IS NO RECOURSE IN MY CASE OF RETRIEVING MONEY NEEDLESSLY SPENT ON REPAIRS THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED PROPERLY IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND WHILE I'M AT IT, I WONDER IF THEY EVER TOOK CAR OF THAT IGNITION RECALL? I AM STILL DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT IS BEHAVING BUT I HAVE BEEN HAVING TO HOLD THE IGNITION SWITCH TO GET THE CAR TO START WHICH I HADN'T HAD TO DO BEFORE... ARE THEY WAITING FOR MY CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE DUE TO THIS IGNITION PROBLEM? THE SMARTEST THING WOULD BE TO TAKE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE BUT NO ONE WANTS TO TOUCH THE CAR AFTER FINDING OUT IT WAS AT THE OTHER DEALERSHIP SO WHERE DO I GO NOW? AND A REPLY ON THAT SURE WOULD BE A BIG HELP! *JB
NHTSA ODI #10144193
101,000 miles · Nov 11, 2004
Exterior Lighting
THE ORIGINAL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND I DID NOT HAVE ANY DASH LIGHTS OR TAIL-LIGHTS. THE SECOND SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED TOO AND THE HEADLIGHTS NOW GO OUT WHEN I TRY TO CYCLE THEM FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM OR DON'T COME ON UNTIL I CYCLE THEM AGAIN. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10098669
156,632 miles · Oct 6, 2004
Exterior Lighting
MY VEHICLE'S (1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM) DIMMER SWITCH IS MALFUNCTIONED. THE HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT IF YOU TRY TO CYCLE FROM HIGH BEAM TO LO BEAM. I ALSO KNOW OF ANOTHER PERSON WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.I RECENTLY EXPERINCED THIS PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *AK
WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOWS NOT WORKING. WE'VE HAD TO PUSH UP THE WINDOW WITH OUR HANDS WHILE PUSHING THE POWER WINDOW BUTTON AND IT DOESN'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY. NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. ALSO WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS STAYING ON. WE NOTICED IF WE PLAY WITH THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH (LIKE TURNING THE HI…
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WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOWS NOT WORKING. WE'VE HAD TO PUSH UP THE WINDOW WITH OUR HANDS WHILE PUSHING THE POWER WINDOW BUTTON AND IT DOESN'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY. NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. ALSO WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS STAYING ON. WE NOTICED IF WE PLAY WITH THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH (LIKE TURNING THE HIGH BEAMS ON AND OFF) THEN THE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON AFTER A FEW TRIES. WE RECENTLY REPLACED ALL 4 BRAKES AND NOW THE ABS LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. DEALER STATED THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ABS BRAKES.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10088876
78,000 miles · Dec 2, 2003
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
THE COMBINATION SWITCH FOR THE HEAD LIGHTS/TURN SIGNAL, AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. AS A RESULT, WHILE DRIVING THE HEAD LIGHTS SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. *AK HEADLIGHTS REPEATEDLY WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. *PH
NHTSA ODI #10046137
Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2003
Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train
WOULD HAVE KNOCKING UNDER THE VEHICLE WHEN CHANGING GEARS. ALSO, THERE WOULD BE SOME LOOSE WIRES THAT WOULD NEED TO BE PLACED ON THE BATTERY TO GET VEHICLE TO START. THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AT THE WRONG TIME. VEHICLE ALSO WILL BE SQUEAKING. THE LIGHTS FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. HAVE TAK…
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WOULD HAVE KNOCKING UNDER THE VEHICLE WHEN CHANGING GEARS. ALSO, THERE WOULD BE SOME LOOSE WIRES THAT WOULD NEED TO BE PLACED ON THE BATTERY TO GET VEHICLE TO START. THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AT THE WRONG TIME. VEHICLE ALSO WILL BE SQUEAKING. THE LIGHTS FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO ARBITRATION. THE DEALERSHIP WAS SUPPOSE TO DO REPAIRS ON THE PROBLEMS, BUT FAILED TO DO SO. PROBLEMS STILL EXIST.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10027165
Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2003
Exterior Lighting
MY HEAD LIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE DARK AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WENT OUT ON IT. I ALMOST WRECKED DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION.(HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH) I NOW HAVE IT IN A GARAGE GETTING FIXED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10014068
Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2003
Exterior LightingService Brakes, Air
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THEN STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN,THE VEHICLE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP. ALSO CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS DOES NOT WORK ONLY HIGH BEAMS. TS
NHTSA ODI #10002385
Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2001
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES ARE OF A BAD DESIGN OR HAVE A WIRE IN THE WRONG PLACE (CAUSING IT TO GET CUT) . THE HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT AT ANY TIME, POSSIBLY CAUSING A CRASH. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER GRAND AM OWNERS AND THEY TOO ARE HAVING OR HAVE HAD A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO MINE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #755477
Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2001
Exterior Lighting
THE HEAD LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT WHEN YOU TURN THEM ON. THEY ALSO GO OUT WHILE YOU ARE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. MIGHT BE A DEFECTIVE SWITCH. TO GET THE LIGHTS TO COME BACK ON YOU HAVE TO SWITCH FROM DIME TO BRIGHT AND BACK TO DIME.*AK
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
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.
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