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Pontiac
Grand AM
1989
Engine & Cooling

1989 Pontiac Grand AM engine problems

44 of the 88 complaints about the 1989 Pontiac Grand AM are about the engine — 50% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 113,000 miles.

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 28 63.6%

Emission Control 5 11.4%

Gasoline 4 9.1%

Cooling System 3 6.8%

Engine AND Engine Cooling 2 4.5%

Radiator Assembly 1 2.3%

FAN 1 2.3%

Engine & Cooling across every Pontiac Grand AM year

1987 15 1.3%

1988 13 1.2%

1989 44 3.9%

1990 17 1.5%

1991 30 2.7%

1992 72 6.5%

1993 64 5.7%

1994 82 7.3%

1995 65 5.8%

1996 83 7.4%

1997 91 8.2%

1998 26 2.3%

1999 155 13.9%

2000 125 11.2%

2001 85 7.6%

2002 66 5.9%

2003 42 3.8%

2004 29 2.6%

2005 12 1.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Filed 22 Apr 2004 at 113,000 miles Caldwell, ID Crash

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TRANSMISSION LOCKING TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID DOES NOT ALLOW TORQUE CONVERTER TO UNLOCK RESULTING IN ENGINE STALL WHEN STOPPING. REPLACED SOLENOID. REPLACED SLAPPING TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN GUIDES. CHANGED OIL AFTER REPAIR. DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 100 MILES WHEN 3 ROD BEARINGS SPUN. ONE HALF OF THE BEARING SPUN INTO THE OTHER HALF RESULTING IN CRANKSHAFT DAMAGE AND PISTON TIPPING. REPLACED ENGINE WITH USED WHICH I REPAIRED BEFORE REPLACING. LOOKED LIKE OIL PUMP FAILURE. WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD BETWEEN 145-150 COMPRESSION.

NHTSA complaint #10070435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 14 May 2002 Clyoe, OH Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

AFTER THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-90-577)

NHTSA complaint #564044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 31 Jan 2002 Clyoe, OH Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

AFTER THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-90-577)

NHTSA complaint #564044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 1 Dec 2000 Tabor, IA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT SIDE OF HOUSE. CONSUMER WENT BACK INTO HOUSE, AND A FEW MINUTES LATER, A NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON DOOR NOTIFYING HIM THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE CARPARTMENT. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED, AND THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION. NO INJURIES TO REPORTED.

NHTSA complaint #875878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 20 Nov 2000 Unknown, UN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

THE ENGINE, RADIATOR AND OVERFLOW BUCKET WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #783723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 20 Nov 2000 Unknown, UN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE ENGINE, RADIATOR AND OVERFLOW BUCKET WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #783723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 23 Jun 2000 West DES Moines, IA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A QUAD 4 ENGINE. THROUGHOUT THIS PAST YEAR, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE. IN ADDITION, I SPENT ROUGHLY $2000 TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET AND CYLINDER HEAD. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #723658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 23 Jun 2000 West DES Moines, IA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

NHTSA complaint #723658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 22 May 2000 Philadelph, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL. YH

NHTSA complaint #552135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 22 May 2000 Philadelph, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #552135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 15 May 2000 Philadelph, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL. YH

NHTSA complaint #552135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 15 May 2000 Philadelph, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #552135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 8 Sep 1999 Unknown, UN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

PAINT FLAKES OFF. DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET.

NHTSA complaint #515591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 24 Mar 1999 Lees Summi, MO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #545032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 24 Mar 1999 Lees Summi, MO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE.

NHTSA complaint #545032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 21 Jan 1999 Utica, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED AND AFTER NUMEROUS REPAIRS STILL DIDN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY. RUNS ROUGH, DOESN'T IDLE PROPERLY, FUEL INJECTION DOESN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY, OIL TURNS FOAMY.

NHTSA complaint #702456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 3 Sep 1998 Vandalia, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT.

NHTSA complaint #540558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 8 Jan 1998 Houston, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CRACKED ENGINE GASKET.

NHTSA complaint #527983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 11 Dec 1997 Westlake, LA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED LEAKING COOLANT/ SHAKES AND IS VERY HARD TO TURN. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL/VINYL COVERING BUBBLED AND CAME LOOSE ON BACKSEAT UP TO ROOF.

NHTSA complaint #526840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 11 Dec 1997 Westlake, LA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET FAILED, LEAKS OIL. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND IS VERY HARD TO TURN WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD/MAKES NOISE. IN ADDITION, VINYL COVERING BUBBLED, AND CAME LOOSE ON BACKSEAT ARMREST UP TO ROOF.

NHTSA complaint #526881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 28 Aug 1997 Unknown, UN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #515502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 28 Aug 1997 Unknown, UN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

THE COOLANT SWITCH FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #515502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 28 Aug 1997 Unknown, UN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE TENSIONER/TIMING KIT FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #515502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 28 Aug 1997 Unknown, UN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #515502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 21 Aug 1997 Unknown, UN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #515591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 21 Aug 1997 Unknown, UN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

COOLANT SWITCH FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #515591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 21 Aug 1997 Unknown, UN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TIMING SYSTEM FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #515591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 21 Aug 1997 Unknown, UN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #515591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 24 Jul 1997 Palm Beach, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CYLINDER HEAD GASKET FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #519187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 24 Jul 1997 Palm Beach, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TIMING CHAIN FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #519187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Exactly what failed

Engine & Cooling across every Pontiac Grand AM year

What owners said

Other 1989 Pontiac Grand AM problems