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 · Oct 3, 2001
Electrical SystemStructure
WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN JUNE OF 2001. THE CAR HAD PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY WITH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCKS AND THE SIGNAL LIGHTS. THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK AFTER USING THEM ONCE EACH TIME THE CAR STARTED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SIGNAL LIGHTS. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2001 THE CAR BEGAN HESITATING TO START. IT SOMETIMES TAKES AN EX…
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WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN JUNE OF 2001. THE CAR HAD PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY WITH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCKS AND THE SIGNAL LIGHTS. THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK AFTER USING THEM ONCE EACH TIME THE CAR STARTED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SIGNAL LIGHTS. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2001 THE CAR BEGAN HESITATING TO START. IT SOMETIMES TAKES AN EXTRA FEW SECONDS TO BEGIN TO START. ONE DAY IT REFUSED TO START AFTER SOME ERRANDS. IT ALSO HAD A VERY FOUL SMELL. THAT EVENING IT STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO CHECKED THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND OTHER MISC. IDEAS AND COULDN'T FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. IT'S STILL HESITATING TO START MOST OF THE TIME. THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS ALSO SHORT OUT NOW.*AK
NHTSA ODI #752873
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MASTER CYLINDER HAVE BEEN REPLACE TWICE.
NHTSA ODI #9004581
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2001
Electrical SystemFire
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE STARTING AT STEERING COLUMN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #896337
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES I HEAR A RAPID CLICKING SOUND AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IMMEDIATELY RELEASES AND GOES TO THE FLOOR. AT THAT POINT THE CAR IS WITHOUT BRAKES, AN OBVIOUSLY UNSAFE AND UNACCEPTABLE SITUATION. I HAVE TAKEN THE …
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I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES I HEAR A RAPID CLICKING SOUND AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IMMEDIATELY RELEASES AND GOES TO THE FLOOR. AT THAT POINT THE CAR IS WITHOUT BRAKES, AN OBVIOUSLY UNSAFE AND UNACCEPTABLE SITUATION. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE LOCAL PONTIAC DEALERSHIP ( MASTER PONTIAC BUICK GMC) TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND ARE THEREFORE UNABLE TO FIX THE CAR. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER HE AGREED THAT THE CLICKING SOUND THAT PRECEDES THE LOSS OF BRAKING COULD INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH A RELAY. HOWEVER HE INSISTS THAT THEY CANT DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM WITH A RELAY UNTIL IT FAILS COMPLETELY. I SINCERELY DOUBT THAT I AM THE ONLY PERSON OWNING A 1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM WHO HAS EVER HAD THIS BRAKING PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #751863
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
NHTSA ODI #751560
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2001
Power Train
TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, BEFORE ENGAGING INTO GEAR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #750829
Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2001
Electrical System
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 00V287000 IN MAIL, AND DEALERSHIP PERFORMED SERVICE. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT RELEASE VEHICLE UNTIL CONSUMER PAYS A $60.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #893785
Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2001
Electrical System
THE FAULTY STARTER CAUSED THE IGNITION COIL TO BURN, THIS FAILURE OCCURED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-287, THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMT BUT HAS NOT RECIEVED ANY COMPENSATION YET. NLM
NHTSA ODI #562251
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF DEALERSHIP FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR THREE WEEKS BEFORE IT HAD TO BE PUT BACK IN THE SHOP FOR A BROKEN WATER PUMP. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR AT NO CHARGE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHUR DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #891473
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2001
Electrical System
CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS TOWED INTO DEALERSHIP DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS BEING RECALLED FROM MANUFACTURER, CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL STATED THAT THE NEW SWITCH WOULD BE REPLACED AND INSTALLED FREE OF CHARGE, DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE AND STATED THEY WOULD HONOR RECALL, ON JUNE 13,2001 VEHICLE WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP AN…
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CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS TOWED INTO DEALERSHIP DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS BEING RECALLED FROM MANUFACTURER, CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL STATED THAT THE NEW SWITCH WOULD BE REPLACED AND INSTALLED FREE OF CHARGE, DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE AND STATED THEY WOULD HONOR RECALL, ON JUNE 13,2001 VEHICLE WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP AND CONSUMER WAS GIVEN A BILL FOR $311.31 CONSUMER STATES THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN NO CHARGE FOR LABOR OR PARTS BECAUSE THE INSTALLATION WAS FREE, THE CHEMICAL AND MATERIAL DISPOSAL FEE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHARGED BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE ASKED TO BE GIVEN BACK, AN OIL FILTER WAS REMOVED IN THE PROCESS IN ORDER TO REACH CERTAIN WIRES, BUT A CHARGE FOR DISPOSING IT AND ITS OIL IS COVERED BY THE RECALL BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THE OVERALL INSTALLATION, CONSUMER FEELS SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BILLED FOR A RECALL.*JB
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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