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
What owners actually said
409 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2001
Electrical System
IN EARLY SPRING OF 2000, THE HORN STARTED BY ITSELF. IT WOULD START BLAIRING AT ANY TIME. IT HAPPENED OFF AND ON DURING THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. I WOULD ESTIMATE 3-4 TIMES, WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. THE ONLY WAY I COULD STOP IT WAS TO TAP ON THE HORN. IN LATE JUNE, IT HAPPENED 5 - 6 TIMES IN ONE WEEK. …
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IN EARLY SPRING OF 2000, THE HORN STARTED BY ITSELF. IT WOULD START BLAIRING AT ANY TIME. IT HAPPENED OFF AND ON DURING THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. I WOULD ESTIMATE 3-4 TIMES, WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. THE ONLY WAY I COULD STOP IT WAS TO TAP ON THE HORN. IN LATE JUNE, IT HAPPENED 5 - 6 TIMES IN ONE WEEK. I FINALLY PULLED THE FUSE AND TOOK IT TO STAN OLSEN PONTIAC HERE IN OMAHA. THEY REPLACED THE HORN MODULE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS BENT, BUT THEY COULD NOT TELL ME HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THIS BENT PLATE WAS PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE AIR BAG, AND I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE BAG NEVER DEPLOYED, OTHERWISE, I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH PROBABLE WOULD HAVE BEEN QUITE SERIOUS. I PAID A TOTAL OF $692.74 TO HAVE THIS REPLACED. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN GREAT CARE OF MY CAR, BUT AS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THIS IS OF GREAT CONCERN. AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH I HAD REPLACED, I BECAME CONCERNED THAT MAYBE THIS MODULE COULD HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #746634
Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2001
Electrical System
CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE JUST STOPPED COMPLETELY AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN, CONSUMER HAD BEEN AWAITING PARTS FOR RECALL ON RELAY KIT, CONSUMER HAD CAR FIXED AT OWN EXPENSE AND WAS TOLD SHE WOULD BE REIMBURSED MONIES PAID OUT OF POCKET. *JG
NHTSA ODI #561519
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2001
EquipmentFire
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON HIGHWAY AND SMELLED SMOKE. SHE HAD WINDOW ROLLED DOWN. SHE LOOKED DOWN AT TAPE DECK AND NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM TAPE DECK. VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #889823
Mileage unknown · May 31, 2001
Equipment
ON HOT DAYS WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS ON AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT WE GET A GASS ODER BAD ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU SICK.*AK
NHTSA ODI #746227
Mileage unknown · May 31, 2001
Electrical System
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR 00V287, DEALER STATED REPAIRS WOULD TAKE ABOUT 3 HOURS, HOWEVER REPAIRS WERE NEVER COMPLETED ON THAT DAY, CONSUMER HAS TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER DAY OFF WORK FOR RECALL WORK TO BE COMPLETED. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #561418
Mileage unknown · May 18, 2001
Electrical System
PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (00V287000) IN WHICH CONSUMER STATES SHE DID NOT RECEIVE, EXPERIENCED UNUSUAL CAR TROUBLE, CONSUMER STATES AS SHE TURNED THE KEY TO THE START POSITION NOTHING HAPPENED, AFTER A THIRD TIME OF TRYING TO START VEHICLE SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD/STEERING COLUMN AREA CONSUMER THEN REMOVED…
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PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (00V287000) IN WHICH CONSUMER STATES SHE DID NOT RECEIVE, EXPERIENCED UNUSUAL CAR TROUBLE, CONSUMER STATES AS SHE TURNED THE KEY TO THE START POSITION NOTHING HAPPENED, AFTER A THIRD TIME OF TRYING TO START VEHICLE SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD/STEERING COLUMN AREA CONSUMER THEN REMOVED KEY FROM IGNITION AND EVACUATED THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND CONSUMER WAS ADVISED ABOUT RECALL AND REPAIRS THAT WERE PERFORMED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #561270
Mileage unknown · May 11, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
BRAKES WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN APPYING BRAKES VEHICLE WILL SHAKE BADLY. ACCIDENT DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE $ 4000. *AK *JB
NHTSA ODI #888025
Mileage unknown · May 11, 2001
Electrical System
BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON ALL THE TIME. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 8 TIMES. DEALER SAID THAT WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SLC
NHTSA ODI #888024
Mileage unknown · May 11, 2001
Electrical System
WHILE TRYING TO START VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE MADE A TERRIBLE SOUND AND CONSUMER COULD SMELL BURNING AROUND THE IGNITION, THE STARTER AND IGNITION SWITCH WERE REPLACED, A WEEK LATER CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL P00079-S, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #561178
Mileage unknown · May 10, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility
THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT USED IN 1998, IT IS A 1995. WE HAVE REPLACED HEATER CORE AND THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR. THE POWER WINDOW WAS TAKEN CARE OF BY THE DEALER, ONCE ALREADY. IT IS FAULTY STILL. NOW WE CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR, DUE TO THE POSSIBLE BLOWN HEAD GASKET. TWO TRUSTED MECHANICS HAVE TOLD US IF WE HAVE TO REPAIR INSTEAD O…
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THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT USED IN 1998, IT IS A 1995. WE HAVE REPLACED HEATER CORE AND THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR. THE POWER WINDOW WAS TAKEN CARE OF BY THE DEALER, ONCE ALREADY. IT IS FAULTY STILL. NOW WE CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR, DUE TO THE POSSIBLE BLOWN HEAD GASKET. TWO TRUSTED MECHANICS HAVE TOLD US IF WE HAVE TO REPAIR INSTEAD OF REPLACE, WE REALLY SHOULD REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE, A COST OF 5600, WITH AN EXPECTED LIFE OF 3 YEARS. HAVEN BEEN TAKEN BY THE DEALER, WE STILL OWE 5400. WE CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR, OR THE REPAIRS. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO AFFORD THE REPAIRS AND A RENTAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
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.
1995 Pontiac Grand Am Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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