Illustration1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM. DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. *TR
1996 Pontiac Grand Am
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Grand Am years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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: 78 of 450 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 122 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 104 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
32 crash reports14 fire reports52 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
104 reports1996 PONTIAC AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE STARTING THE CAR. CUSTOMER STATES AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON HE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT FIXED SOMETIME LATER HIS DAUGHTER WAS STARTING THE CAR UP AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MINOR BURNS**SB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS DAUGHTER WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR ANYMORE…
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1996 PONTIAC AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE STARTING THE CAR. CUSTOMER STATES AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON HE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT FIXED SOMETIME LATER HIS DAUGHTER WAS STARTING THE CAR UP AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MINOR BURNS**SB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS DAUGHTER WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR ANYMORE DUE TO THE FACT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND INJURED HER. THE CONSUMER STATED HE CAN'T AND WON'T SELL TO ANYONE AND WOULD LIKE THE DEALER TO PAY OFF THE ADDITIONAL $1,200 STILL OWED ON THE CAR AND WARN OTHERS ABOUT THE DEFECT. *TR
MY DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE AIR BAG CAME ON. WE MADE A APPOINTMENT WITH THE GARAGE. MEANWHILE ON THE WAY TO WORK SHE TURNED THE KEY ON AND THE AIR BAG WENT OFF. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. *AK
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THREE OF THE CUSTOMERS CHILDREN WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THEY DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES AND SOME ABRASIONS FROM THE AIR BAG , INCLUDING A MINOR INJURY …
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TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THREE OF THE CUSTOMERS CHILDREN WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THEY DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES AND SOME ABRASIONS FROM THE AIR BAG , INCLUDING A MINOR INJURY TO HIS EYE WHEN A PIECE OF PLASTIC POPPED OFF. GMC OFFERED THE CONTACT $3,000 FOR THE VEHICLE, AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD ASSUME LIABILITY. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 95,000. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HER DAUGHTER ALSO SUSTAINED MINOR BURNS AND INJURIES. UPDATED 10/16/07 *TR
I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, STARTED TO CREEP FORWARD TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I PROCEEDED TO GO AND I HEARD A LOUD SOUND LIKE A GUN SHOT. LOOKED OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND MY AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON AND NO WARNING. PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE DID NOT. AIRBAG LIGHT WAS NOT …
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I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, STARTED TO CREEP FORWARD TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I PROCEEDED TO GO AND I HEARD A LOUD SOUND LIKE A GUN SHOT. LOOKED OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND MY AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON AND NO WARNING. PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE DID NOT. AIRBAG LIGHT WAS NOT ON. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING HEAD ON AND THE ROAD WAS CLEAR. NO REASON FOR AIR BAG TO GO OFF. *JB
I WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON AND HIT ME IN MY FACE. I CALLED PONTIAC AND THE INSPECTOR IS COMING TOMORROW TO CHECK MY VEHICLE. IT IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AIRBAGS AND I AM HOPING PONTIAC REPLACES THEM FOR ME AS THIS WAS NOT MY FAULT....IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *JB
I WAS DRIVING DOWN NYS ROUTE 193 IN WOODVILLE, NY WHEN MY AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING. I RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES AND MY PASSENGERS VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY SO SHE WAS OK, BUT AN AIR BAG SHOULD NOT DEPLOY FOR NO REASON. *NM
I WAS DRIVING IN MY SUBDIVISION ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, WHEN SUDDENLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG IN MY 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM WENT OFF. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS, AND MY FIANCE AND I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. ABOUT THIRTY SECONDS LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG GOES OFF. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS …
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I WAS DRIVING IN MY SUBDIVISION ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, WHEN SUDDENLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG IN MY 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM WENT OFF. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS, AND MY FIANCE AND I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. ABOUT THIRTY SECONDS LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG GOES OFF. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR ON A MAIN ROAD OR ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. MY FIANCE'S MOTHER AND I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GENERAL MOTORS FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS NOW. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN VERY HELPFUL WITH MY SITUATION, AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, AND I AM NOT TO BLAME FOR THIS. I HAVE READ SIMILAR CASES ON THE INTERNET, AND THIS MAY BE DUE TO A CORRODED WIRE IN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. GM SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER CALLING A RECALL ON THESE AIRBAG SYSTEMS BEFORE THEIR CUSTOMERS GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR WORSE AS A RESULT OF GM'S NEGLIGENCE. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON SLIPPERY ROADS BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO CRASH OR ROAD DEBRIS. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS. BOTH OCCUPANTS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE DEPLOYMENT. *NM UPDATED 0…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON SLIPPERY ROADS BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO CRASH OR ROAD DEBRIS. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS. BOTH OCCUPANTS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE DEPLOYMENT. *NM UPDATED 02/21/06. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 15 TO 20 MPH ON A DIRT ROAD BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD AND DESTROYED THE DASHBOARD. AFTER THE DEPLOYMENT THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND LEFT HAND.*AK
Official recalls
402V070000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Mar 6, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
98V027000 · Interior Lighting
Feb 17, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE INTERIOR LAMPS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE INTERIOR LAMPS COMING ON UNEXPECTEDLY COULD STARTLE A DRIVER CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE LAMP CONTROL MODULE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.
96V249000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar
Dec 17, 1996
THE STEERING COLUMN LOWER PINCH BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN UNDERTORQUED PINCH BOLT CAN RATTLE AND CAUSE LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. IF THE PINCH BOLT BACKED OUT OF THE JOINT COMPLETELY, ROTATION OF THE STEERING SHAFT AGAINST THE CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE INCREASING LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING COLUMN PINCH BOLT FOR CORRECT TORQUE AND, IF NECESSARY, TIGHTEN THE BOLT TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE.
96V250000 · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights
Dec 17, 1996
THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (FOUR-WAY FLASHERS) DO NOT FLASH WHEN THE HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THESE LAMPS WERE NOT FLASHING, OTHER VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS OR VEHICLE OWNERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER FUNCTION OF THE HAZARD WARNING LAMPS. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD LAMP SWITCH.
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
2RQ03001 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Jan 2, 2003 · Closed Sep 15, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
RQ98013 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployments
Opened Aug 26, 1998 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
ON JUNE 26, 1998, GENERAL MOTORS BEGAIN A SAFETY RECALL, 98V-146, TO RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) IN THE 1996 AND SOME 1997 J BODY CARS, CAVALIER AND SUNFIRE.DUE TO CERTAIN CALIBRATIONS IN THE AIR BAG SDM, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN A LOW SPEED CRASH OR WHEN AN OBJECT STRIKES THE FLOOR PAN.THE RECALL POPULATION CONSISTS OF 675,302 VEHICLES BUILT FROM APRIL 1995 THROUGH MAY 1997.ODI HAS RECEIVED 8 OWNER REPORTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT A CRASH.THE PURPOSER OF THE RQ IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER GM SHOULD EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE THESE VEHICLES.CLOSING RESUME NOTE:AS OF AUGUST 5, 1999, ODI RECEIVED ONE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT REGARDING THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THE INCIDENT RATES FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ABOUT ONE-THRID OF THE RATES OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES (WHEN THE RECALL WAS INITIATED).BASED ON THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOSE NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES.