IllustrationWATER GETTING INTO VEHICLE SOMEWHERE BEHIND FIREWALL. STARTED APPROXIMATELY 1YR. AGO. CAUSED ALL LIGHTS ON DASH TO LIGHT UP, NOW VEHICLE WILL NOT START, COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE PONTIAC FIX, ALTHOUGH THEY DID ISSUE A WARNING REGARDING ISSUE, BUT WILL NOT HELP WITH REMEDY. *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
Structure complaints
24 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE DRIVER SIDE HAD TWO INCHES OF RAIN IN THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. THE THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE RESPONDED AS IF IT WERE STOLEN WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTAC…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE DRIVER SIDE HAD TWO INCHES OF RAIN IN THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. THE THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE RESPONDED AS IF IT WERE STOLEN WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD A LOT OF MAJOR COMPONENTS REPAIRED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST WITH THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS CURRENTLY 141,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
I HAVE A 1996 PONITAC GRAND AM THAT HAS WATER IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. GM SENT A LETTER STATING THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE COULD DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS WITH WARNING WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT A CRASH OR WHEN THE KEY IS TURN ON. THIS HAS MANY COMPLAINTS BUT NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING. AS A AUTO TECH FOR MY OWN SAFETY AS WELL OF OTHERS …
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I HAVE A 1996 PONITAC GRAND AM THAT HAS WATER IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. GM SENT A LETTER STATING THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE COULD DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS WITH WARNING WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT A CRASH OR WHEN THE KEY IS TURN ON. THIS HAS MANY COMPLAINTS BUT NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING. AS A AUTO TECH FOR MY OWN SAFETY AS WELL OF OTHERS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND OF THE EFFECTIVE YEARS OR 96-98 GRAND AMS. THEY SAID INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED ALREADY. *TR
DRIVERS SIDE INTERIOR FLOOR KEEPS GETTING EXTREMELY WET. JUST THE OTHER DAY THERE WAS ABOUT AN INCH OF STANDING WATER ON THE BACKSEAT DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR BOARD. ALL WINDOWS ARE ALWAYS UP AND THERE IS EVEN WATER ON THE FLOOR BOARDS WHEN IT DOESN'T RAIN.*TR
EVERY TIME IT RAINS I GET WATER ON THE FLOOR OF MY CAR, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BECAUSE IT WENT OUT ON ME WILE DRIVING BECAUSE THE WIRES BEHIND ON THE FIREWALL ARE WET.*TR
06/05 WATER UNDER THE DASH MADE ME THINK THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING-AN AUTO GLASS DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS NOT LEAKING AND AGREED TO TAKE OUT THE CARPET-HE DISCOVERED THE FIREWALL WAS NOT SEALED PROPERLY FROM THE FACTORY- I PAID HIM TO SEAL IT & DRY & REPLACE THE CARPET...09/07 I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ALL THE ALARM LIGHTS ON THE…
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06/05 WATER UNDER THE DASH MADE ME THINK THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING-AN AUTO GLASS DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS NOT LEAKING AND AGREED TO TAKE OUT THE CARPET-HE DISCOVERED THE FIREWALL WAS NOT SEALED PROPERLY FROM THE FACTORY- I PAID HIM TO SEAL IT & DRY & REPLACE THE CARPET...09/07 I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ALL THE ALARM LIGHTS ON THE DASH COMING ON---AFTER TURNING OFF &RESTARTING THE CAR--THE ONLY LIGHT LEFT ON WAS THE AIR BAG LIGHT----06/17/08 I RECEIVED AN 'OWNER MANUAL SUPPLEMENT' TO ADD TO MY OWNERS MANUAL TELLING ME THE "AIR BAG CONTROLLER" MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH OR EVEN WITHOUT WARNING....THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT ...THERE ARE 1000'S OF THE THESE TIME BOMBS GOING DOWN THE SAME HIGHWAYS WE ARE TRAVELING-GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL & REPLACE THESE---GM IS NOT ABLE TO NOTIFY EVERY OWNER OF THIS PROBLEM AFTER 12 YEARS-PEOPLE ARE DRIVING THESE VEHICLES 60 AND 70 MILES AN HOUR DOWN THE HIGHWAYS & THEIR AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING--THE POTENTIAL FOR HORRIFIC ACCIDENTS EVEN DEATHS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE INEVITABLE-PLEASE FORCE GM TO TAKE RECALL NOT PRINT INSERTS FOR THE OWNERS MANUALS. *TR
THERE IS WATER ON ALL FOUR FLOORS OF MY CAR (FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER/BACK SEAT TWO BOTH PASSENGER SIDES). THE REAR LEFT FLOOR HAS PARTICULARLY HEAVY WATER SATURATION. MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ALSO STAYED ON FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS. YESTERDAY, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROLLER ON THE 1996 PONTIAC…
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THERE IS WATER ON ALL FOUR FLOORS OF MY CAR (FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER/BACK SEAT TWO BOTH PASSENGER SIDES). THE REAR LEFT FLOOR HAS PARTICULARLY HEAVY WATER SATURATION. MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ALSO STAYED ON FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS. YESTERDAY, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROLLER ON THE 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM IS MOUNTED ABOVE THE FLOOR PAN BENEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, AND THAT IF THE VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO SIGNIFICANT WATER ENTERING THE INTERIOR AND SOAKING THE CARPET, THE AIR BAG CONTROLLER CAN BE SOAKED AND DAMAGED. THE DAMAGED CONTROLLER CAN MAKE THE AIR BAGS DEFLATE, EVEN WITHOUT IMPACT OR CRASH. CONVERSELY, THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY AT ALL BECAUSE OF THE CONTROLLER DAMAGE. THIS LETTER WAS SENT BY GM AS AN OWNER MANUAL SUPPLEMENT AND THEY WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM. AT THIS POINT, NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. BECAUSE I AM UNEMPLOYED, I HAVE NO MONEY TO REPAIR THE CAR, AND AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT. HENCE, I NOW HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION AS WELL AS NO MONEY OR JOB. GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. IF THEY ARE AWARE ENOUGH OF A PROBLEM AS TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF THIS CAR, THEY SHOULD BE PAYING FOR REPAIRS TO A CAR THAT IS SATURATED WITH WATER. *TR
DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS, WATER WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE VEHICLE FIRE WALL ONTO THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS LEADING INTO THE TAILLIGHTS. THE CONSUMER HAS A CONCERN THAT THE CONDITION MAY LEAD TO A ELECTRICAL SHORT. *JB
DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR GETS A PUDDLE WHEN IT RAINS. *AK
THE WIRING MUST BE SHOT BECAUSE ANY THING THAT IS ELECTRIC IS ALWAYS GOING OUT. DT
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.