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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 →

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

Seat Belts complaints

5 reports
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62,000 miles · Jul 8, 2005
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

A TECH ISSUE MEMO ISSUED FROM PONTIAC/GM DATED APRIL, 1998 STATED THAT OWNERS MAY CLAIM WATER LEAKING INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE CAR DUE TO AN INFERIOR ADHESIVE USED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS ON THE TOP VENT GRILLE... WAS GIVEN TO ME BY MY MECHANIC, AFTER I DISVOERED WATER LEAKAGE ON MY PASSENGER AREA FL…

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A TECH ISSUE MEMO ISSUED FROM PONTIAC/GM DATED APRIL, 1998 STATED THAT OWNERS MAY CLAIM WATER LEAKING INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE CAR DUE TO AN INFERIOR ADHESIVE USED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS ON THE TOP VENT GRILLE... WAS GIVEN TO ME BY MY MECHANIC, AFTER I DISVOERED WATER LEAKAGE ON MY PASSENGER AREA FLOOR FOR 2 YEARS (WHICH I ATTRIBUTED TO MY NEGLIGENCE ONLY) UNTIL THIS WATER LEAKAGE FINALLY CAUSED A SHORT IN MY AIR BAG MODULE (LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT) WHICH CAUSED ALL OF THE OTHER CAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO SHORT OUT. SEAL TO THE TOP VENT GRILLE WAS REPLACED, SHORT REPAIRED, AIRBAG MODULE WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE AIRBAG MODULE WILL BE REPLACED AT A LATER DATE WHEN I CAN AFFORD IT. THIS TOTALS $956.99 (INCLUDING NY SALES TAX) WHICH I REQUESTED PONTIAC REIMBURSE ME FOR. THEY STEADFASTEDLY REFUSE TO REIMBURSE ME DUE TO BASICALLY 4 THINGS: (1) THE WARRANTY TIME EXPIRED ON THE CAR, (2) THE AGE OF THE CAR, (3) THE FACT THAT I DIDN'T BRING IT DIRECTLY TO PONTIAC TO FIX IT (4) THE FACT THAT IT WASN'T A RECALL... MY ARGUEMENT IS: (1) THE WARRANTY EXPIRING SHOULDN'T ABSOLVE GM/PONTIAC OF RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEFECT, (2) THE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THIS CAR (IN SPITE OF IT'S AGE) WOULDN'T HAVE PRODUCED THIS WATER DAMAGE IF THE TOP VENT GRILLE WAS PROPERLY SEALED IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS BY PONTIAC IN THE FIRST PLACE (3) I DIDN'T KNOW THAT PONTIAC CAUSED THIS PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THE DAMAGE WAS DONE AND MY MECHANIC TOLD ME ABOUT THE TECH ISSUE MEMO (I HAVE A COPY) AND (4) WHY WASN'T THIS A RECALL? I SENT A LETTER TO PONTIAC'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER IN DETROIT, MI ON OR ABOUT JUNE 27, 2005 WITH ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTATION BACKING UP MY CLAIM (YOURS FOR THE ASKING), WHO CALLED ME BACK TODAY, REFUSING TO REIMBURSE ME ON THIS CLAIM. I KNOW THAT NEGLIGENCE BY PONTIAC CAUSED SOME MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY CAR OF WHICH I BELIEVE I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR.

NHTSA ODI #10128133

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 1999
Seat Belts

MALE COMPONENT OF THE SEAT BELT HAD A PLASTIC CLIP THAT HAS FALLEN OFF CAUSING THE BELT CLIP TO SPIN ON THE BELT AND NOT GRIP TIGHTLY. NLM

NHTSA ODI #547397

Mileage unknown · May 17, 1999
Seat BeltsSeatsInjury

WHEN MAKING SUDDEN STOP WHILE GOING ONLY 5 MPH, FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MOVED FORWARD A FEW INCHES ON ITS TRACK WHILE OCCUPANT WAS IN IT. OCCUPANT WAS BELTED AS WELL, AND THE SEATBELT DID LOCK UP (LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE), BUT HOWEVER, THE SEAT MOVING FORWARD ON ITS TRACK CAUSED OCCUPANT IN THAT SEAT TO BE "PUSHED" AGAINST THE LOCKED …

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WHEN MAKING SUDDEN STOP WHILE GOING ONLY 5 MPH, FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MOVED FORWARD A FEW INCHES ON ITS TRACK WHILE OCCUPANT WAS IN IT. OCCUPANT WAS BELTED AS WELL, AND THE SEATBELT DID LOCK UP (LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE), BUT HOWEVER, THE SEAT MOVING FORWARD ON ITS TRACK CAUSED OCCUPANT IN THAT SEAT TO BE "PUSHED" AGAINST THE LOCKED UP SEATBELT (CAUSING SOME STOMACH PAIN). WORRIED THAT IN A REAL CRASH, SEAT WILL MOVE FORWARD AND CAUSE BELTED OCCUPANT TO BE INJURED MORE THAN IF THE SEAT STAYED IN POSITION LIKE IT SHOULD (TRANSLATION: OCCUPANT COULD BE KILLED IN AN OTHERWISE SURVIVABLE ACCIDENT FOR VEHICLE TYPE). NOTICED THAT FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT WAS A LITTLE WOBBLY WHEN YOU WOULD SIT IN IT WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT, BUT DEALER SAID IT WAS "NORMAL" FOR THIS CAR. WILL REQUEST DEALER TO REPLACE SEAT WITH NEW ONE.

NHTSA ODI #706555

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 1998
Seat Belts

WHILE DRIVING SEAT BELT COMES LOOSE WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY STATED THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE DEFFECT WITHOUT ANY COST TO THE CONSUMER. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #824498

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 1996
Seat BeltsInjury

SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN DRIVER DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURY.

NHTSA ODI #512229

Official recalls

4

02V070000 · 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

2

RQ03001 · 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.