IllustrationVEHICLE LEAKING COOLANT FROM LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. LEAK WAS BOTH INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR. *JB
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
What owners actually said
450 reportsWHILE DRIVING AND AT ANY BRAKING CONDITIONS WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES PEDAL WAS DELAYED WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
EARLY 2002 PAINT STARTED PEELING OFF MY REAR QUARTER PANELS OF MY 1996 BLACK GRAND AM. NOT LONG AFTER THE FRONT QUARTER PANELS STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. AT THE TIME, THE AREAS WHERE THE PAINT WERE STARTING TO PEEL WERE SMALL BUT AS TIME WENT BY THE AREA STARTED PEELING MORE. NOW, I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 1998 WITH ONLY 26,0…
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EARLY 2002 PAINT STARTED PEELING OFF MY REAR QUARTER PANELS OF MY 1996 BLACK GRAND AM. NOT LONG AFTER THE FRONT QUARTER PANELS STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. AT THE TIME, THE AREAS WHERE THE PAINT WERE STARTING TO PEEL WERE SMALL BUT AS TIME WENT BY THE AREA STARTED PEELING MORE. NOW, I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 1998 WITH ONLY 26,000 KM ON IT AND THE PAINT WAS FINE (ORIGINAL PAINT). I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY CAR RUST PROOFED EVERY YEAR AS WELL IN THE SPRING AND FALL I GET A COMPLETE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SHAMPOO AND WAX DONE ( I TAKE CARE OF IT). THE PAINT DID NOT RUST FIRST....IT JUST STARTING PEELING. AT THE PRESENT TIME SEPTEMBER 2003 IT ONLY AS 93,000KM ON IT. BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, BEING THAT I BOUGHT IT USED AND DID NOT HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY TO BUY BEYOND THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY THAT WAS LEFT ON THE CAR, I COULD NOT AFFORD TO TAKE IT TO GET REPAINTED. ALSO I HAD JUST BEEN PROMOTED TO A NEW JOB WITHIN MY COMPANY AND MY HOURS WERE CRAZY. LATE FALL OF 2002 I BECAME VERY ILL AND FROM JANUARY TILL MARCH 2003 I WAS HOSPITALIZED AND WAS NOT SURE IF I WAS GOING TO PULL THROUGH...I DID. BUT IN JUNE OF 2003 I WAS BACK IN HOSPITAL HAVING MAJOR SURGERY AND AM NOW AT HOME STILL RECOVERING FROM IT. THE REASON I AM TELLING YOU THIS IS BECAUSE THAT IS WHY I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROCEED WITH THE PEELING PAINT ON MY CAR. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PAINT DELAMINATING ON THE GM CARS, WHICH INCLUDES THE YEAR OF MY CAR. I CALLED GM AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. I FOUND OUT ON THE INTERNET ABOUT COURT CASES HERE IN ONTARIO, WHICH WERE RELATED TO THE SAME PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. I WENT TO A GM DEALERSHIP...THEY TOOK PICTURES, SENT AND CALLED THE GM REPRESENTATIVE FOR THIS AREA AND THE ANSWER WAS NO...THEY WERE NOT GOING TO REPAINT THE CAR...END OF DISCUSSION. NOW I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO BECAUSE SURFACE RUST HAS STARTED TO APPEAR. I WANT TO PAINT IT BEFORE I RUSTPROOF IT BECAUSE BY NEXT SPRING IT WILL RUST THROUGH WHICH WILL BE A MORE EXPENSIVE SITUATION.
MY MAIN PROBLEM IS THE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN IT IS TIME TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION IT GETS STUCKS. YOUR UNABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT UNTIL THE CAR WANTS TO LET IT GO. SOMETIMES THIS ENDS UP TO BE A 45 MINUTE TO AN HOUR WAIT. THE PLACE I BOUGHT IT FROM SAID THEY FIXED IT. OF COURSE, AFTR THE WARRANTY WAS UP SO WASN'T THE K…
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MY MAIN PROBLEM IS THE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN IT IS TIME TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION IT GETS STUCKS. YOUR UNABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT UNTIL THE CAR WANTS TO LET IT GO. SOMETIMES THIS ENDS UP TO BE A 45 MINUTE TO AN HOUR WAIT. THE PLACE I BOUGHT IT FROM SAID THEY FIXED IT. OF COURSE, AFTR THE WARRANTY WAS UP SO WASN'T THE KEY ONCE AGAIN GETTING STUCK. HAD THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED FOR ABOUT $500.00 NO PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND NOW ONCE AGAIN KEY IS GETTING STUCK.
WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING TO THE LEFT THERE WAS NO STEERING. ALSO, BRAKE FAILED, AND VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. *AK
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT 25 MPH TO MAKE A TURN, THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. PLEASE DESCRIBE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM
REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE IMMOBILE. EVERY 15,000 MILES, THE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. SINCE LAST REPORTED, THE CONSUMER CHANGED THE ROTORS, SENSORS AND BRAKE DRUM'S. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *PH *JB
THE CHECK OIL LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DRIVER REQUESTED THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TO LOOK AT VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS ON RECALL A YEAR AGO. *AK
NHTSA RECALL 02-V-070-000: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AND THE DRIVER HELD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLEW THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCED ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS. THIS RECALL FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK…
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NHTSA RECALL 02-V-070-000: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AND THE DRIVER HELD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLEW THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCED ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS. THIS RECALL FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK CONSUMER HAD BACKED UP APPROX. FIVE FEET IN AN PARKING LOT WHEN THE ENGINE DIED AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. AT FIRST THE CONSUMER COULDN'T GET THE KEYS OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN "PARK". AFTER WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEYS THE SMOKE STOPPED. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ARRIVED, HE COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD TO DISCONNECT THE LINKAGES. *PH *JB
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT A RECALL PERFORMED ON IGNITION WIRING HARNESS. STATED THAT AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE THE BATTERY DRAINED INTO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF RECALL REPAIRS DONE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THE ONLY THING THAT WAS WRONG WAS THAT THE BATTERY DRAINED, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*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.