IllustrationWHILE DRIVING CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK IT WAS STATED THAT POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. *LA
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
What owners actually said
395 reportsI HAVE HAD MY CAR IN NUMEROUS TIMES TO DEALERSHIP AND STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM. WHEN I TRAVEL DOWN INTERSTATE THE RPM LOCKS IN AT AROUND 2.6--EVERY SO OFTEN IT WILL KICK OUT AND MOVE PAST 3. THIS CAUSES A JERKING MOTION IN CAR THAT IS QUITE NOTICEABLE BY EVERYONE IN CAR. I HAVE ASSISTED MY DEALERSHIP IN FINDING …
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I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN NUMEROUS TIMES TO DEALERSHIP AND STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM. WHEN I TRAVEL DOWN INTERSTATE THE RPM LOCKS IN AT AROUND 2.6--EVERY SO OFTEN IT WILL KICK OUT AND MOVE PAST 3. THIS CAUSES A JERKING MOTION IN CAR THAT IS QUITE NOTICEABLE BY EVERYONE IN CAR. I HAVE ASSISTED MY DEALERSHIP IN FINDING THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, BY HAVING A MECHANIC TAKE IF FOR TEST DRIVES, APPLYING SCANNING TOOL, AND A DATA RECORDER TO ENGINE. I HAVE PUT ON OVER 600 MILES TRYING TO DIAGNOSIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE SYMPTOMS, BUT THINK IT MAY A PROGRAMMING ERROR. THEY STATE THAT THE COMPUTER CONTROLLING THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEY STATE GMC HAS APPROX 13 OTHER CARS IN US THAT IS DOING THIS, BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM OR HOW TO FIX IT. THEY ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A FIX---BUT THIS MAY TAKE YEARS SINCE ANY CHANGES MADE, HAVE TO GO THROUGH GOV. IN THE MEAN TIME I AM SUPPOSE TO CONT TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND LIVE WITH THE SUDDEN QUICK JERKS THAT I GET EVERY 1-2 MILES GOING DOWN ROAD, WAIT FOR THE COMP UPGRADE, AND HOPE THAT THIS IS THE CAUSE!! IF NOT WE START OVER. I AM REAL FRUSTRATED WITH THIS WHOLE PROCESS AND THE WAY THIS HAS BEEN HANDLED AT MY DEALERSHIP. I WANT A RESOLUTION TO THIS ASAP. THE CAR ONLY HAS 27,000 MILES ON, AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS MUCH PROBLEMS. AT THIS POINT I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MY SERVICE I HAVE RECEIVED AND IN THE WHOLE GMC TECHNICIAN STAFF, AND PRODUCT. *JB
WHILE DRIVING FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
ON A RAINY DAY, LIGHT PULSATING WAS FELT WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES. *LA THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE. THE BRAKES ONLY PERFORMED THAT WAY IN THE WINTER AND ON RAINY DAYS. THERE WAS A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ABS MOTOR AND PUMP. *JB
MY 2002 GRAND AM SE WAS NOT ACCELERATING. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD JUMPED. DEALER SAID IT WAS MY FAULT DUE TO NOT ENOUGH OIL CHANGES AND SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. I CALLED PONTIAC FOR ASSISTANCE AND WAS TREATED RUDELY! UPON TAKING THE GRAND AM TO ANOTHER MECHANIC (NON-DEALER) IT WAS FOUND THAT…
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MY 2002 GRAND AM SE WAS NOT ACCELERATING. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD JUMPED. DEALER SAID IT WAS MY FAULT DUE TO NOT ENOUGH OIL CHANGES AND SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. I CALLED PONTIAC FOR ASSISTANCE AND WAS TREATED RUDELY! UPON TAKING THE GRAND AM TO ANOTHER MECHANIC (NON-DEALER) IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO JUMP. YET THE DEALER DID NOT CATCH THIS. NEW MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANY TRACE OF SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE CAUSING THE PROBLEM AS THE DEALER SAID. WHILE IT WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION, THE DEALER CAUSED MORE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE BY STARTING IT WITH A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN.*AK
PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2001. OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES AND ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE. AT 40,000 MILES LOWER INTAKE GASKET BEGAN LEAKING. REPLACED MYSELF, FOLLOWED MANUAL PRECISELY. UPON REASSEMBLY ENGINE BEGAN NOCKING. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY CITED BAD LIFTERS AND REPLACED THEM.*AK
BRAKE PULSATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. HAD VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP SIX TIMES. ROTORS REPLACED. PROBLEM BLAMED ON OVER-TORQUING OF LUG NUTS EVEN THOUGH CAR HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED AT PONTIAC DEALERSHIPS. ALSO, CAR CONSTANTLY "FLOATS" FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND INTERMITTENT FRONT END "CLANGING". SIX REPAIR ATTEMPTS AS WELL. *LA
MY WHEEL BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING, HAD NO STEERING AND NO BRAKES, NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT LET GO, WAS TOLD COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THEN AFTER THE CAR WAS FIXED BY THE DEALERSHIP THE DEALERSHIP SAID I HAD TO PAY, AS THIS COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. COMPANY SIDED WITH DEALERSHIP AND SAID WOULD HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE COMPANY MEET WITH …
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MY WHEEL BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING, HAD NO STEERING AND NO BRAKES, NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT LET GO, WAS TOLD COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THEN AFTER THE CAR WAS FIXED BY THE DEALERSHIP THE DEALERSHIP SAID I HAD TO PAY, AS THIS COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. COMPANY SIDED WITH DEALERSHIP AND SAID WOULD HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE COMPANY MEET WITH ME AND LOOK INTO THE MATTER BUT HAS NOT. I'VE BEEN WAITING SINCE NOV02.
THIS IS THE 2ND GRAND AM I HAVE OWNED AND BOTH TIMES THE INTAKE GASKET HAS STARTED LEAKING THE FIRST ON STARTED LEAKING AT 74.000 MILES AND MY NEW ONE STARTED LEAKING AT 30.000 MILES... WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE GASKETS THE FIRST ONE WAS A 1999 AND THE NEW ONE IS A 2002. *CB
2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. 62.000 MILES, REPAIRS SO FAR AS FOLLOWS. 1. FRONT BRAKES REPLACED,ROTORS,PADS,CALIPER INSP,28,000 MILES. 2. FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AGAIN, ROTORS TURNED FEW MONTHS LATER. 3. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS REPLACED.*AK 4.TIRES REPLACED DUE TO SLIPPING ON THE WHEEL , DEALER STATED THIS IS COMMON AND NOT UNSAFE! …
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2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. 62.000 MILES, REPAIRS SO FAR AS FOLLOWS. 1. FRONT BRAKES REPLACED,ROTORS,PADS,CALIPER INSP,28,000 MILES. 2. FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AGAIN, ROTORS TURNED FEW MONTHS LATER. 3. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS REPLACED.*AK 4.TIRES REPLACED DUE TO SLIPPING ON THE WHEEL , DEALER STATED THIS IS COMMON AND NOT UNSAFE! 5. STERRING RACK AND PINION REPLACED. 6. FUEL PUMP REPLACED. 7. STERRING ALIGNMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE AND CAR STILL PULLS RIGHT. I WILL GIVE THE GM ZONE MANAGER A OPPRITUNITY TO BUY BACK THE CAR 23 JAN 04. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND A PAIN TO OWN. THERE ARE SEVERAL KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE GRAND AM 107 TSB'S ALONE AND AT LEAST THAT MANY COMPLAINTS, GM HAS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS ATTENTION ASAP.
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.