FaultScore

1994 Pontiac Grand AM steering problems

57 of the 515 complaints about the 1994 Pontiac Grand AM are about the steering — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 100,000 miles.

C

57

Complaints

4

Crashes

4

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Steering Wheel/Handle BAR 32 56.1%
Column 15 26.3%
Steering 7 12.3%
Hydraulic Power Assist System 1 1.8%
Gear BOX (Other Than Rack AND Pinion) 1 1.8%
Shaft Sector 1 1.8%

Steering across every Pontiac Grand AM year

1992 15 4.4%
1993 14 4.1%
1994 57 16.6%
1995 13 3.8%
1996 20 5.8%
1997 22 6.4%
1998 14 4.1%
1999 75 21.8%
2000 34 9.9%
2001 26 7.6%
2002 25 7.3%
2003 14 4.1%
2004 15 4.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 82,000 miles Topeka, KS

STEERING

STEERING COLUMN HAS COME LOOSE. TOOK TO A PONTIAC DEALER TO HAVE REPAIRED AND THEY REPLACED A PIN IN THE COLUMN. REPAIR WORKED FOR A YEAR AND A HALF BUT THE STEERING COLUMN HAS COME LOOSE AGAIN AND THE ENTIRE UNIT HAS FALLEN IN THE DRIVERS LAP WHILE DRIVING. HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUSH THE PIN BACK IN SEVERAL TIMES, BUT IT DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE. HAVE NOT TAKEN BACK TO LOCAL DEALER BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPENSIVE AND DO NOT SEEM OVERLY COMPETENT.

NHTSA complaint #10239402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Pembroke, NC Fire

STEERING:COLUMN

WHILE PULLING IN A PARKING LOT, THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. NO INJURIES REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10079272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arlington, VA

STEERING

STERING LOCK THAT ADJUSTS THE LOCATION OF THE WHEEL GAVE WAY WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE UP AND DOWN WHILE DRINING. DANGEROUS ON I95 AT 65MPH... LOSING SOME LEVEL OF CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #10068815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Gaffney, AL

STEERING

STEERING COLUMN: PIN KEEP FALLING OUT, FILE COMPLAINT 2 TIMES. YOU KNOW WHAT PONTIAC CORP. ASK ME. THEY ASKED WHAT DID I WANT THEM TO DO?

NHTSA complaint #10069475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 158,824 miles Madison, WI

STEERING:COLUMN

STEERING COLUMN TILT PINS BECAME LOOSE, ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL UPPER ASSEMBLY BROKE LOOSE FROM STEERING COLUMN AND LANDED IN DRIVERS LAP, HELD ON ONLY BY THE WIRES. VEHICLE WAS FORTUNATELY MOVING AT A SLOW SPEED AND DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP WITH OUT INJURY. VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STEERED AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #10056500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 124,000 miles Inverness, FL Crash

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL COLLAPSED AND CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA complaint #10038628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gaffney, SC

STEERING:COLUMN

THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10019887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,000 miles Cincinnati, OH Crash

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

TILT STEERING BUSHING ARE NOT PROPERLY PUNCH SET FROM MFG. (PUNCH MISSES MARK OR NOT SET PROPERLY) RESULTING IN ONE OR BOTH PINS FALLING OUT OVER TIME. RESULT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CAN CRASH! *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10018577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Lawrence, KS

STEERING:COLUMN

THE TILT PINS AND THE SPRING CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. 1 MONTH LATER THE TILT FINGURES BROKE AND WILL NOT CATCH. CAUSING THE TILT NOT TO WORK. THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES UP AND DOWN AND LEFT TO RIGHT. VIN # 1G2NE153XRM19022. EST. COST TO FIX 300.00

NHTSA complaint #10011038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Bloomfield, MI

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

WHILE DRIVING STEERING COLUMN CAME LOOSE AND DROPPED INTO CONSUMER'S LAP. DEALER REPLACED STEERING COLUMN. STEERING COLUMN CAME LOOSE TWO MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. *AKCONSUMER CALLED THE GM CUSTOMER SEVICE NAD THE REP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.

NHTSA complaint #8012052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yonkers, NY

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. EACH TIME I'VE PAID $400.00 TO REPAIR. THE STEERING CULUMN GETS LOOSE WHILE I AM DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #751187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD

STEERING:COLUMN

THE DRIVER'S SIDE PIN IN THE TILT STEERING CAME LOOSE RESULTING IN THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY LOOSE. IN 1999, THE PASSENGER SIDE PIN OF THE SAME MECHANISM CAME LOOSE. THIS WAS ALSO REPORTED TO YOU.

NHTSA complaint #750282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Colchester, CT

STEERING:COLUMN

SUDDEN IMMEDIATE FAILURE OF STEERING WHEEL TILT MECHANISM. CAUSED VEHICLE TO SWERVE TO SIDE BUT I WAS ABLE TO RECOVER WITHOUT IMPACT. FOLLOWING INCIDENT VEHICLE WAS BARELY DRIVEABLE DUE TO STEERING WHEEL PLAY.

NHTSA complaint #750355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gilbert, SC

STEERING:COLUMN

PINS CAME LOOSE ON TILT STEERING SECTION, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO BE LOOSE. CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE ADD VIN.

NHTSA complaint #893407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

OAK Ridge, NJ

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

THIS PART FELL OUT WHILE ACCELARATING ONTO INTERSTATE 80 WHILE APPROACHING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SLIGHT LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO LOOSE STEERING WHEEL/

NHTSA complaint #748773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Burmingham, AL

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE AND FITS POORLY ON STEERING COLUMN. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK WHILE DRIVING, PINS INSIDE STEERING WHEEL BROKE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #892973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooke Springs, PA

STEERING:COLUMN

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WHEN PIN FELL OUT OF TILT MECHANISM ON THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, WAS ABLE TO START IT AND DRIVE TO A MECHANIC. HAD DISASSEMBLED STEERING COLUMN, AND REPLACED RETAINER & SPRING KIT. MECHANIC ALSO PUSHED PIN BACK IN TILT. JAMES COLEMAN AT GM 5/17/01.

NHTSA complaint #889318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbia, SC

STEERING:COLUMN

THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME LOOSE AT THE TILT SECTION, WHEN THE DEALER DISASSEMBLED THE STEERING COLUMN HE FOUND TILT PINS COMING OUT OF THE COLUMN. NLM

NHTSA complaint #560625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glendale, AZ

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #559387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Liberty, KY

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 00V287000/ ENGINE STARTER. ALSO, EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED EXTERIOR LIGHTS OF VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONING. EXTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD STOP OPERATING WHEN SWITCHING BETWEEN DIM AND BRIGHT. AT TIMES, THERE WAS SMELL OF BURNING WIRES. *AK PING OF TILT ON STEERING COLUMN BACKED OUT TWICE. THE REPLACEMENT NEW SWITCH FAILED. THE DASH LIGHTS WERE OUT. THE WINDOW BRACKETS WERE WEAK. THE FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS FAILED FREQUENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #880869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Edgewater, MD

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

TOWED TO PONTIAC DEALER (ADAMS PONTIAC IN ANNAPOLIS, MD) THEY SAY WILL COST ME ABOUT $400 "NEEDS NEW HOUSING". I FEEL MANUFACURING DEFECT, IE A STEERING WHEEL SHOULD NOT LOCK UP..COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #739752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arlington, TX

STEERING:COLUMN

TILT ADJUSTER ON THIS 1994 GRAND AM AS WELL AS MY WIFE'S1995 GRAND AM VIN# [XXX] HAVE BROKEN WITHIN 5 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. WHEN DRIVING YOU ARE ABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL UP AND DOWN. I TOOK ONE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $275.00 FOR THE REPAIR. I FEEL THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BEING THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH GRAND AM'S.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #739238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Livonia, MI Fire

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

EA00007; A FIRE STARTED IN STEERING COLUMN. THERE SEEMED TO BE AN EXPLOSION. TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA complaint #876589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cadillac, MI

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #873988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grand Island, NE Crash

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

PIN FELL OUT OF STEERING COLLUMN AND LOST CONTROL OR STEERING, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH A FRONT END COLLISION ENSUED.

NHTSA complaint #734079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sedalia, MO

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS CLAIMS FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE, BRAKE FAILURE, AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHY HASN'T PONTIAC FIXED THESE PROBLEMS? THESE ARE SAFETY PROBLEMS. ARE THERE ANY WARRANTIES AVAILBLE? ALSO HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF ALL SAFETY RECALLS HAVE BEEN COMPLETE ON MY CAR. MY LOCAL DEALER DID NOT CALL ME BACK ON THIS. I NEED TO KNOW IF THE GAS TANK REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE ON THIS CAR.

NHTSA complaint #730857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baraboo, WI

STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR

GAS CAP DOOR DOES NOT OPEN. DEFECT IN RELEASE LATCH LOCATED AT DRIVER'S SEAT ON FLOOR.

NHTSA complaint #731046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sedalia, MO

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS CLAIMS FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE, BRAKE FAILURE, AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHY HASN'T PONTIAC FIXED THESE PROBLEMS? THESE ARE SAFETY PROBLEMS. ARE THERE ANY WARRANTIES AVAILBLE? ALSO HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF ALL SAFETY RECALLS HAVE BEEN COMPLETE ON MY CAR. MY LOCAL DEALER DID NOT CALL ME BACK ON THIS. I NEED TO KNOW IF THE GAS TANK REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE ON THIS CAR.

NHTSA complaint #730857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbia, MD

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

THERE ARE TWO PINS HOLDING THE ADJUSTABLE STEERING WHEEL TO THE COLUMN AND THESE PINS HAVE COME OUT 4 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST CAUSE AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN IN THAT THE PINS ARE HEAVY METAL THAT GO INTO ALUMINUM AND THE ALUMINUM EXPANDS WITH REPEATED MOVEMENT FROM ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL UP AND DOWN. CONSEQUENTLY, THE PINS NO LONGER STAY IN. THIS IS LIKELY TO CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT EXPECTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO COME LOOSE. I HAVE HAD BOTH PINS COME OUT WITHIN MINUTES OF EACH OTHER.

NHTSA complaint #729111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marquette Hgts, IL

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

2 PINS THAT HOLDS STEERING WHEEL TO COLUMN KEEP FALLING OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER KEEPS PUSHING PINS BACK IN, BUT DEFECT KEEPS REOCCURRING.

NHTSA complaint #862803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1994 Pontiac Grand AM problems

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