35 of the 304 complaints about the 1992 Pontiac Grand AM are about the electrical system — 12% of everything reported for this model year.
35
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WIRING HARNESS, IGNITION KEY HOUSING AND STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY MELTED DOWN. CONSUMER BELIEVES 1992 MODELS HAD SIMILAR FAILURES AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #565460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION SYSTEM MELTED RESULTING IN TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF STARTING SYSTEM. IGNITION SYSTEM DID NOT IGNITE BUT DID CONTINUE TO EMMIT NOXIOUS FUMES AND SMOKE. RESEARCHED PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT ALL MODELS MADE THE YEAR AFTER MY CAR, WERE RECALLED FOR SAME EXACT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #748870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING, MY RADIO, CLOCK, CRUISE CONTROL, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING. THIS WOULD USUALLY HAPPEN WHEN I WOULD USE THE TURN SIGNALS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A FUSE, BUT LATER REALIZED IF I JIGGLED THE KEY IN THE INGNITION, THESE THINGS WOULD START WORKING AGAIN. THE IGNITION SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT OF PLAY, AS IF IT NEEDS TO BE TIGHTENED. I CAN ALMOST TURN THE IGNITION ALL THE WAY AROUND WITHOUT TOUCHING THE KEY.
NHTSA complaint #747095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE PAINT IS CHIPPING ON MY HOOD. IT STARTED IN 1995. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALERSHIPS THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL ON PAINT. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY GM, AND WHEN I LAST ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THEM THE SRVC REP SAID THEY REMEMBERED A RECALL BUT COULDN'T FIND IT NOW. ALSO, EVERY WINTER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR THE HORN GOWS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN IT GETS BELOW FREEZING. MY POWER DOOR LOCKS KEEP GOING OUT. ARE THEY RELATED TO THE HORN? SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LOCKS IN UPRIGHT POSITION BUT DOES NOT SLIDE BACK INTO PLACE IF THE LEVER IS USDE ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT. IS THERE A TSB? I FOUND A TSB ON YOUR WEB-SITE FOR THE HORN AND POSSIBLY FOR THE DOOR LOCKS. WHAT DO I DO?
NHTSA complaint #743789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ON MARCH OF 1999, THE FIRST PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE OCCURED. THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY, NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, AND IT BEGAN TO TRY TO START BY ITSELF. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THIS, AND BY THE TIME IT FINISHED, MY BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY. THE SECOND TIME I HAD AN IGNITION PROBLEM WAS IN NOVEMBER OF 2000 WHEN MY CAR WOULDN'T START UNLESS IT WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL GEAR. I HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED, AND SIX WEEKS LATER, THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED WITH TRYING TO START THE CAR. EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD IT IN THE REPAIR SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES, AND FRANKLY I BELIEVE THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE, SOLD ME A LEMON.
NHTSA complaint #742917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE WAS PARKED. WENT TO PUT KEY IN IGNITION IT ACTED VERY ROUGH. WENT TO TURN KEY, IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN, WAS NOT ABLE. WHEEL LOCKED IN LEFT POSITION. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER.
NHTSA complaint #855468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
NOTICED SEIZED SPARK PLUG AT 90,000, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, POOR IDLE, COOLANT CONSUMPTION, TWO ADDITIONAL SEIZED PLUGS APPEARED LATER.
NHTSA complaint #717390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, AT SLOW SPEED, ACCELERATING FROM STOP, WILL START AFTER A 15 MINUTE DELAY, HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO DEALER 5 TIMES AND ALL REPAIRS HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #714308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
MULTIPLE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED: (1) CIGARETTE LIGHTER FUSE BLOWS CONSTANTLY. (2) ENGINE HAS A CRACKED CYLINDER WHICH ALLOWS COOLANT INTO THE OIL SYSTEM. (3) STARTER COIL FAILED. (4) WINDOW MOTOR/SWITCH FAILED. (5) FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DOESN'T ALWAYS LOCK IN PLACE, AND ALLOWS THE SEAT TO SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. (6) IN COLD WEATHER THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HORN CONTRACTS AND CAUSES THE HORN TO SOUND CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE FUSE IS REMOVED. (7) FRONT BRAKES WEAR QUICKLY DURING NORMAL OPERATION. (8) ALTERNATOR FAILED AT 90,000 MILES. (9) OIL PRESSURE SENSOR FAILED AT 107,000 MILES. (10) SPARK PLUGS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 18 MONTHS DUE TO A RECURRING STUMBLING PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE. ONE SPARK PLUG CANNOT BE REMOVED. (11) THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT HAS BEEN FILLED WITH CONDENSATE FROM THE A/C SYSTEM MULTIPLE TIMES, RUINING ANY PAPERWORK AND THE OWNERS' MANUAL. (12) THE SCREWS ON BOTH INTERIOR DOOR FRAMES HAVE FALLEN OUT AND MUST BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #711806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
MULTIPLE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED: (1) CIGARETTE LIGHTER FUSE BLOWS CONSTANTLY. (2) ENGINE HAS A CRACKED CYLINDER WHICH ALLOWS COOLANT INTO THE OIL SYSTEM. (3) STARTER COIL FAILED. (4) WINDOW MOTOR/SWITCH FAILED. (5) FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DOESN'T ALWAYS LOCK IN PLACE, AND ALLOWS THE SEAT TO SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. (6) IN COLD WEATHER THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HORN CONTRACTS AND CAUSES THE HORN TO SOUND CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE FUSE IS REMOVED. (7) FRONT BRAKES WEAR QUICKLY DURING NORMAL OPERATION. (8) ALTERNATOR FAILED AT 90,000 MILES. (9) OIL PRESSURE SENSOR FAILED AT 107,000 MILES. (10) SPARK PLUGS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 18 MONTHS DUE TO A RECURRING STUMBLING PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE. ONE SPARK PLUG CANNOT BE REMOVED. (11) THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT HAS BEEN FILLED WITH CONDENSATE FROM THE A/C SYSTEM MULTIPLE TIMES, RUINING ANY PAPERWORK AND THE OWNERS' MANUAL. (12) THE SCREWS ON BOTH INTERIOR DOOR FRAMES HAVE FALLEN OUT AND MUST BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #711806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
MULTIPLE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED: (1) CIGARETTE LIGHTER FUSE BLOWS CONSTANTLY. (2) ENGINE HAS A CRACKED CYLINDER WHICH ALLOWS COOLANT INTO THE OIL SYSTEM. (3) STARTER COIL FAILED. (4) WINDOW MOTOR/SWITCH FAILED. (5) FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DOESN'T ALWAYS LOCK IN PLACE, AND ALLOWS THE SEAT TO SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. (6) IN COLD WEATHER THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HORN CONTRACTS AND CAUSES THE HORN TO SOUND CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE FUSE IS REMOVED. (7) FRONT BRAKES WEAR QUICKLY DURING NORMAL OPERATION. (8) ALTERNATOR FAILED AT 90,000 MILES. (9) OIL PRESSURE SENSOR FAILED AT 107,000 MILES. (10) SPARK PLUGS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 18 MONTHS DUE TO A RECURRING STUMBLING PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE. ONE SPARK PLUG CANNOT BE REMOVED. (11) THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT HAS BEEN FILLED WITH CONDENSATE FROM THE A/C SYSTEM MULTIPLE TIMES, RUINING ANY PAPERWORK AND THE OWNERS' MANUAL. (12) THE SCREWS ON BOTH INTERIOR DOOR FRAMES HAVE FALLEN OUT AND MUST BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #711806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #709655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
PONTIAC PRIDES ITSELF ON DRIVING EXCITEMENT, IT SHOULD ACTUALLY BE THAT IT IS A DRIVING NIGHTMARE. THIS CAR HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE LIST OF CURRENT AND PAST PROBLEMS WHICH INCLUDES: THE TRUNK LEAKS/ INCORRECT SPEEDOMETER THAT CAUSED TWO SPEEDING TICKETS/DRIVER'S FLOOR AND UNDER THE FRONT RIGHT SEAT ARE ALWAYS WET. ALSO,REPLACED BATTERY TWICE/ALTERNATOR/STARTER/ RADIATOR AND ALL HOSES AFTER A SUDDEN "EXPLOSION." IN ADDITION, THERMOSTAT HAD BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST 4 TIMES AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR ONCE. THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER NO LONGER WORKS, RIGHT SIDE POWER WINDOW DOES NOT GO BACK UP/THE TAPE DECK IS BROKEN, FRONT LUMBAR I SEAT BROKE AROUND 40,000 MILES. THE FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT WHEEL BEARINGS HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES/TIE RODS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE ON THE RIGHT AND TWICE ON THE LEFT/ ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND FRONT BRAKES WORE OUT WITH IN 15,000 (TYPICAL OF MOST PONTIACS JUST GOING BY THE COMMENTS OF OTHER PONTIAC OWNERS THAT I KNOW. THIS LIST IS QUITE LONG AND EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CAR IS NOT PAID FOR YET AND ONLY HAS 125,000 MILES ON IT AND IS A 1992 MODEL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/55/R16 )
NHTSA complaint #704874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
PONTIAC PRIDES ITSELF ON DRIVING EXCITEMENT, IT SHOULD ACTUALLY BE THAT IT IS A DRIVING NIGHTMARE. THIS CAR HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE LIST OF CURRENT AND PAST PROBLEMS WHICH INCLUDES: THE TRUNK LEAKS/ INCORRECT SPEEDOMETER THAT CAUSED TWO SPEEDING TICKETS/DRIVER'S FLOOR AND UNDER THE FRONT RIGHT SEAT ARE ALWAYS WET. ALSO,REPLACED BATTERY TWICE/ALTERNATOR/STARTER/ RADIATOR AND ALL HOSES AFTER A SUDDEN "EXPLOSION." IN ADDITION, THERMOSTAT HAD BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST 4 TIMES AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR ONCE. THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER NO LONGER WORKS, RIGHT SIDE POWER WINDOW DOES NOT GO BACK UP/THE TAPE DECK IS BROKEN, FRONT LUMBAR I SEAT BROKE AROUND 40,000 MILES. THE FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT WHEEL BEARINGS HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES/TIE RODS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE ON THE RIGHT AND TWICE ON THE LEFT/ ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND FRONT BRAKES WORE OUT WITH IN 15,000 (TYPICAL OF MOST PONTIACS JUST GOING BY THE COMMENTS OF OTHER PONTIAC OWNERS THAT I KNOW. THIS LIST IS QUITE LONG AND EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CAR IS NOT PAID FOR YET AND ONLY HAS 125,000 MILES ON IT AND IS A 1992 MODEL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/55/R16 )
NHTSA complaint #704874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN WOULD NOT SHUT OFF - PULLED FUSE TO TURN OFF - LOW-NOTE HORN WENT OUT BEFORE FUSE PULLED -
NHTSA complaint #703236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSING FUSES TO BLOW AND ENGINE TO CUT OFF.
NHTSA complaint #543206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ECM COMPUTER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #543206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #543206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DESIGN OF THE ALTERNATOR/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR DAMAGE OF OTHER COMPONENTS WHEN THE ALTERNATOR FAILS (DRAINING BATTERY AND DESTROYING ECM COMPUTER AND IGNITION MODULE).
NHTSA complaint #513810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WHEN THE WEATHER IS REALLY COLD THE RUBBER ENCLOSURE AROUND THE HORN CONTRACTS, CAUSING THE HORN TO SOUND UNITL IT SHORTS A CIRCUIT OR THE HORN BURNS OUT. DEALER IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.
NHTSA complaint #830865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #781287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #516667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.
NHTSA complaint #514342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN FAILED, CAUSING FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #514342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN USING HEATER AND DEFROSTER ALONG WITH OTHER COMPONENTS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN, RESULTING IN SHUT DOWN OF VEHICLE POWER.
NHTSA complaint #807561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILS TO HOLD CHARGE.
NHTSA complaint #506121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
CAR CRANKS SLOWLY.
NHTSA complaint #506121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS/HESITATES/STUMBLES.
NHTSA complaint #803203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN SHORTS, CAUSING IT TO GO OFF UNTIL FUSE IS PULLED.
NHTSA complaint #505923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
STARTER WILL NOT START IN VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #985669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.