IllustrationWAS DRIVING MY 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM DOWN A TWO LANE ROAD GOING SOUTH ANOTHER CAR WAS COMING GOING NORTH HE CROSSED OVER THE YELLOW LINE AND HIT ME HEAD ON..HIS AIR BAG DEPLOYED MINE DID NOT. *TR
2002 Pontiac Grand Am
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Grand Am years
Owner complaints for the 2002 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
240–25K
5125–50K
6350–75K
5875–100K
49100–150K
25150K+
270 reports with mileage · 125 unknown
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 148 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 97 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
22 crash reports3 fire reports16 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
19 reportsAUTO ACC. 2002 POTIAC GRAND AM CRASHED INTO SIDE OF 1985 BUICK LASABRE 4 DOOR AT 30 M P H AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FULL EXTENT OF INJURIES HAVE NOT BEEN DETERMINED . 1. POSITIVE DIAGNOSES IS CERVICAL INJURY HYPEREXTENSIONFLEXION 2. KNEES MRI SCHEDULED
FRONTAL AIR BAGS DI NOT DEPLOYE WHEN I WAS IN ACCIDENT. *AK
AIRBAGS DIN'T DEPLOY WHEN I WAS IN AN ACIDENT. *JB
I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60-70 MILES PER HOUR AND LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I SLAMMED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE CRASH TOTALLY PUSHED THE FRONT END OF THE CAR UP TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD. NEITHER AIR BAG CAME OUT AND I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE WRECK OR WHAT CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR. FIGHT FOR LIFE HAD T…
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I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60-70 MILES PER HOUR AND LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I SLAMMED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE CRASH TOTALLY PUSHED THE FRONT END OF THE CAR UP TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD. NEITHER AIR BAG CAME OUT AND I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE WRECK OR WHAT CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR. FIGHT FOR LIFE HAD TO FLY ME OUT AND MY JAW WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. I ALSO HAD NO BRUISING OR INJURIES FROM MY SEAT BELT. I DON'T BELIEVE MY SEAT BELT RESTRAINED ME EITHER. *NLM
CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A TREE AT 30-35 MPH IMPACT AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A RETAINER WALL AT 55 MPH. UPON IMPACT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *JB CONSUMER WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND HIT THE RETAINING WALL, THEN TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO GET CONTROL AND THEN BACK LEFT WHERE AT THAT POINT THE VEHICLE STRAIGHTENED AND W…
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VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A RETAINER WALL AT 55 MPH. UPON IMPACT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *JB CONSUMER WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND HIT THE RETAINING WALL, THEN TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO GET CONTROL AND THEN BACK LEFT WHERE AT THAT POINT THE VEHICLE STRAIGHTENED AND WENT HEAD FIRST INTO THE CEMENT RETAINING WALL. THE CONSUMER LOCKED BOTH ARMS HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL, AND BRACED HIMSELF UPON IMPACT. *SCC
FRONT CRASH AT 35 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS 6-7000 DOLLARS. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAS EXPERIENCED INTENSE BACK PAINS (TO A CONDITION THAT ALREADY EXISTS). *SCC
MY WIFE AND SISTER IN LAW WERE IN A HEAD ON ACCIDENT YESTERDAY IN WHICH BOTH WERE WEARING THERE SEATBELTS AND THE OTHER DRIVER PASSED OUT AND CAME ACROSS THE CENTER LINE AND HIT THEM HEAD ON EACH WERE DOING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, AND NEITHER ONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CARS AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*AK
Official recalls
114V400000 · Electrical System:ignition
Jul 3, 2014
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
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
1PE05055 · Turn Signal Failures
Opened Sep 27, 2005 · Closed Jan 13, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:switch
IN DECEMBER 2004, GM ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. THE POLICY COVERED TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURRED FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. GM SENT LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING DECEMBER 30, 2004.IN JANUARY 2006, GM WILL UPDATE THE SPECIAL POLICY TO INCLUDE MY 2002 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V-327.THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH.GM WILL SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING LATE APRIL 2006.THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch
IN DECEMBER 2004, GM ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. THE POLICY COVERED TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURRED FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. GM SENT LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING DECEMBER 30, 2004.IN JANUARY 2006, GM WILL UPDATE THE SPECIAL POLICY TO INCLUDE MY 2002 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V-327.THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH.GM WILL SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING LATE APRIL 2006.THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:switch
IN DECEMBER 2004, GM ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. THE POLICY COVERED TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURRED FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. GM SENT LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING DECEMBER 30, 2004.IN JANUARY 2006, GM WILL UPDATE THE SPECIAL POLICY TO INCLUDE MY 2002 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V-327.THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH.GM WILL SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING LATE APRIL 2006.THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.