IllustrationVEHICLE WOULD SURGE FROM A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN WHEN FOOT WAS OFF BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAS SUNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK *SLC
1997 Pontiac Grand Am
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Grand Am years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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: 67 of 383 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 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 69 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 reports12 fire reports29 injury reports
What owners actually said
383 reportsTHE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR IGNITION LOCK BINDING. SEVERAL DEALERS WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE RECALL PART. THE CONSUMER HAS SPENT OVER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. BATTERY INDICATOR LAMP WAS FLASHING. *YH
I HAVE PUT TEN NEW WINDOW MOTORS IN MY CAR IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY RECALLS THEY LAUGHED AND SAID OF COURSE NOT. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALSO ALWAYS ON FOR NO REASON. ARE THESE TWO PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE WIRING HARNESS RECALL. *AK
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTORS IN THE WINDOWS EACH TWICE AND I AM GOING ON THE THIRD TIME FOR THE DRIVER FRONT AND REAR. THIS WILL MAKE 10 WINDOW MOTORS. WHEN I ASKED MY DEALERSHIP IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY KIND OF A RECALL THE SAID NO. ALSO, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. ARE THESE THINGS RELATED TO THE WIRING HARNES…
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I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTORS IN THE WINDOWS EACH TWICE AND I AM GOING ON THE THIRD TIME FOR THE DRIVER FRONT AND REAR. THIS WILL MAKE 10 WINDOW MOTORS. WHEN I ASKED MY DEALERSHIP IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY KIND OF A RECALL THE SAID NO. ALSO, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. ARE THESE THINGS RELATED TO THE WIRING HARNESS RECALL. *AK
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN UNLESS MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY CAN SHIFT SIDEWAYS A COUPLE INCHES BEFORE IT HITS AND THEN STARTS TURNING THE WHEEL, MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE UPPER STUD INTO THE FIREWALL HAD BROKEN OFF AND THE CALMP HOLDING THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WAS BENDING ON…
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CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN UNLESS MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY CAN SHIFT SIDEWAYS A COUPLE INCHES BEFORE IT HITS AND THEN STARTS TURNING THE WHEEL, MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE UPPER STUD INTO THE FIREWALL HAD BROKEN OFF AND THE CALMP HOLDING THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WAS BENDING ON THE LOWER STUD UNTIL IT FINALLY BROKE OFF. *ET
WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT FRONT ALUMINUM MAG WHEEL BLEW OUT ON THE INSIDE AND CRACKED NEARLY ALL THE WAY AROUND, THE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE WERE UNDAMAGED, CONSUMER REPLACED THE WHEEL. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON A SMOOTH ROAD BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
AFTER APPLYING, CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE, THE CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WITH BRAKING, NEED TO TURN OFF CAR TO SLOW DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, BARELY AVERTED CRASH.*AK
IDENTICAL TO ODI ID: 727560. CONTINUING PROBLEM DESPITE BRAKE REPLACEMENT, ADJUSTMENT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE ATTEMPTED TO START ITSELF AT 6:01AM (MDT). KEY WAS NOT IN IGNITION NOR WAS IGINITION SWITCH ENGAGED. VEHICLE CRANKED FOR APPROX. 4 MINUTES WHILE OWNER ATTEMPTED TO DISCONNECT BATTERY. FOLLOWING APPROX 4 MINUTES OF ENGINE CRANKING VEHICLE STOPPED ON ITS OWN. OWNER THEN ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE TO MOVE O…
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VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE ATTEMPTED TO START ITSELF AT 6:01AM (MDT). KEY WAS NOT IN IGNITION NOR WAS IGINITION SWITCH ENGAGED. VEHICLE CRANKED FOR APPROX. 4 MINUTES WHILE OWNER ATTEMPTED TO DISCONNECT BATTERY. FOLLOWING APPROX 4 MINUTES OF ENGINE CRANKING VEHICLE STOPPED ON ITS OWN. OWNER THEN ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE TO MOVE OUT OF GARAGE IN THE EVENT OF ANOTHER OCCURRENCE. VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. OWNER ALSO NOTICED STRONG ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR. VEHICLE WOULD ALSO NOT DISENGAGE FROM PARK DUE TO TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. IGNITION SWITCH IDENTIFIED AS FAILURE (PART RETAINED BY VEHICLE OWNER). WHILE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD, OWNER HAS SERIOUS CONCERN REGARDING FIRE POTENTIAL TO VEHICLE AND SURROUNDING STRUCTURES IF FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AT A TIME WHERE VEHICLE HAD BEEN UNATTENDED OR UNNOTICED.
Official recalls
202V070000 · 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.
97V059000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood
Apr 8, 1997
THE PROTECTIVE COVER FOR THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER WAS OMITTED. WITHOUT THIS COVER, THE POSITIVE TERMINAL BOLT ON THE FUSE BLOCK IS EXPOSED AND CAN CONTACT THE INSULATED NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. IF THE INSULATION ON THE NEGATIVE CABLE BECOMES SUFFICIENTLY WORN, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN THE POSITIVE TERMINAL AND NEGATIVE CABLE RESULTING IN EXTREMELY HIGH CURRENT FLOW.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS HIGH CURRENT FLOW CAN CAUSE ARCING AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE PROTECTIVE COVER AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER TO THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER.
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.