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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 →
395Owner complaints

Model-year median: 82

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
849
1999675
2000538
2001395
2002325
2003293
2004102
2005
Compare all Grand Am years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
148Exterior Lighting
97Engine And Engine Cooling
54Service Brakes, Hydraulic
29Visibility
23
All reported categories
Steering
22Air Bags
19Power Train
13Tires
12Engine
11Equipment
11Suspension
10Service Brakes
9Unknown Or Other
9Structure
8Wheels
8Fuel System, Gasoline
7Fuel/propulsion System
6Seats
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Latches/locks/linkages
4Seat Belts
4Electronic Stability Control (esc)
3Parking Brake
3Fuel System, Other
2Interior Lighting
2Service Brakes, Air
2

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

395 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2004
Electrical System

THE BLINKER SWITCH WILL KEEP TICKING LIKE THE TURN SIGNALS ARE ON BUT THERE IS NO FLASHING JUST THE SOUND WHILE YOUR DRIVING.IT EVENTUALLY LED TO COMPLETE FAILURE OF OF ALL DASH CONTROLS AND LIGHTS COULD NOT EVEN START MY CAR.SOMETIMES IT WOULD EVEN SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING.I HAD THE BLINKER SWITCH REPLACED AFTER BEING IN T…

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THE BLINKER SWITCH WILL KEEP TICKING LIKE THE TURN SIGNALS ARE ON BUT THERE IS NO FLASHING JUST THE SOUND WHILE YOUR DRIVING.IT EVENTUALLY LED TO COMPLETE FAILURE OF OF ALL DASH CONTROLS AND LIGHTS COULD NOT EVEN START MY CAR.SOMETIMES IT WOULD EVEN SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING.I HAD THE BLINKER SWITCH REPLACED AFTER BEING IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES.THE BLINKER SWITCH COMES WITH A 2000 MILE WARRENTY.IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 3 OR 4 THOUSAND NOW AND IT IS GOING OUT AGAIN.IT IS A $130 PART.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10102213

55,000 miles · Nov 24, 2004
Steering

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY SNAPPED UPWARD, AS IF HITTING THE TILT LEVER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. NOW THE TILT LEVER IS NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL AND WHEEL IS LOCKED IN THE UPWARD POSITION.

NHTSA ODI #10100482

52,000 miles · Nov 23, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

I REPLACED THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IN MY PONTIAC GRAND-AM (2002) AT A COST OF $700. THE PROBLEM WAS WELL-KNOWN AMONGST THE MECHANICS I SAW AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THE MECHANICS COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT GM HAD NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO FAULTY GASKETS AND THAT THE…

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I REPLACED THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IN MY PONTIAC GRAND-AM (2002) AT A COST OF $700. THE PROBLEM WAS WELL-KNOWN AMONGST THE MECHANICS I SAW AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THE MECHANICS COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT GM HAD NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO FAULTY GASKETS AND THAT THE QUALITY OF GASKET USED WAS QUITE POOR. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND RAN INTO NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS COMMON TO THE V-6 3.1L AND 3.4L ENGINES. IT CAUSES RAPID OIL LOSS AND COOLANT LEAKS. THIS MADE THE CAR UNDRIVABLE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. MY CAR IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND THIS DAMAGE HAPPENED OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY. I WAS TREATED RATHER RUDELY BY PONTIAC AND OFFERED NO HELP. THIS ISSUE IS RIPE FOR A CLASS-ACTION OR RECALL SCENARIO. VERY DANGEROUS TO THE DRIVER AND CAR. HIGH COST OF REPAIRS FOR A TWENTY DOLLAR GASKET. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, BUT WAS STRANDED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10100381

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2004
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

AFTER BEING REARENDED MY SEATBELT DETACHED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10100082

29,900 miles · Nov 12, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL NOT START. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND. MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WILL MAKE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER VEHICLE WAS SERVICED WHEN THE DEALER FOUND THE SAME DEFECT TWO YEARS AGO, AND CURRENTLY THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10099862

59,000 miles · Nov 12, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON A SIDE STREET STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING BELT BROKE, WHICH SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10099860

62,027 miles · Nov 10, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN BRAKING THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10099787

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2004
Visibility

I HAVE A 2-DOOR MODEL GRAND AM AND THE WINDOW SUPPORT CLIPS ON BOTH SIDE WINDOWS HAVE BROKEN WITHIN A MONTH. THE WINDOWS WILL NOT STAY UP AS A RESULT AND THE DEALER HAS QUOTED $400 PER WINDOW TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE ENTIRE GLASS HAS TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE CLIP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10098222

48,155 miles · Oct 28, 2004
Visibility

1: CLOSING WINDOW; 2:PASSENGER WINDOW FELL OUT OF TRACK 3: PONTIAC DEALER WILL NOT FIX, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FELL ON MONDAY 10-25-04. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10097920

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2004
Wheels

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED A NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT TIRES. WHEN MOVING AT HIGH SPEEDS CONSUMER COULD NOT HEAR IT. TIRES CONTINUOUSLY DEFLATED. THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL CRACKED, WHICH PUNCTURED THE TIRE. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT RIMS. HOWEVER, THE NOISE DID NOT START OFF LOUD, IT GOT LOUDER AS DRIVING. WHEN…

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WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED A NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT TIRES. WHEN MOVING AT HIGH SPEEDS CONSUMER COULD NOT HEAR IT. TIRES CONTINUOUSLY DEFLATED. THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL CRACKED, WHICH PUNCTURED THE TIRE. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT RIMS. HOWEVER, THE NOISE DID NOT START OFF LOUD, IT GOT LOUDER AS DRIVING. WHENEVER IT RAINED AND THE VEHICLE WAS WET CONSUMER WOULD NOT HEAR THE NOISE. PONTIAC WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10097460

Official recalls

1

14V400000 · 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

1

PE05055 · 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.