FaultScore

1997 Pontiac Grand AM headlight problems

13 of the 600 complaints about the 1997 Pontiac Grand AM are about the lighting — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 128,728 miles.

A

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Headlights 7 53.8%
Exterior Lighting 1 7.7%
Switch 1 7.7%
Interior Lighting 1 7.7%
Tail Lights 1 7.7%
FOG Lights 1 7.7%
Switch 1 7.7%

Lights across every Pontiac Grand AM year

1994 27 3.7%
1995 37 5.1%
1996 26 3.6%
1997 13 1.8%
1999 84 11.5%
2000 182 25.0%
2001 109 15.0%
2002 106 14.5%
2003 70 9.6%
2004 60 8.2%
2005 15 2.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 128,728 miles Shawano, WI Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND ON THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP AND DOWN PROPERLY UNLESS CONTROLLED BY THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL SWTICH. THE FOG LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AS WELL AND THE FUSES ARE CHARRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 128,728.

NHTSA complaint #10217821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Niagra Falls, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

OWNER WASHING VEHICLE WHEN FRONT HEADLIGHT LENS COVER FELL OFF WHILE PARKED. THIS CAUSED THE LIGHT BULB TO BE EXPOSED.

NHTSA complaint #865632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elkview, WV

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CONDENSATION GETTING INTO THE HEADLIGHT LENS, CAUSING DISCOLORATION AND POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT WOULD ONLY BE DONE AT CONSUMER'S COST.

NHTSA complaint #863123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Modesto, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH DAY RUNNING LIGHTS AND HEAD LIGHTS GOING OUT. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL GOES UNRESOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #854535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clare, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

HAD THE SUNROOF MOTOR REPLACED 2 TIMES, LEFT FRONT WHEEL NOISE, DEALER SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM ALWAYS MAKES GRINDING NOISE LEFT FRONT AFTER CAR SITS ALL NIGHT , WHEN YOU FIRST PUT CAR IN REVERSE THE NOISE IS NOTICEABLE, HAD TOO HAVE LEFT REAR TAILLGHT REPLACED WHEN NEW,CAR TRUNCK GETS DUST INTO AT RIGHT SIDE OF REAR SEAT WHERE IT FOLDS DOWN , DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLE, STILL NOT REPAIRED ,CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY.HAS COOLANT LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ,HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR APROX 15,000 MILES AGAIN OUT OF WARRANTY THIS WAS MY FIRST NEW CAR I HAVE EVER BOUGHT AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GENERAL MOTORS CAR AGAIN, AND I WORK FOR GENERALMOTORS. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. I HAD A SALVAGE BUICK CENTRY I SOLD TOO PURCHASE THIS NEW ONE AND IT WAS A VERY NICE CAR NEVER HAD THE PROBLEMS WITH THAT CAR AND IT WAS WRECKED. NO MORE GENERAL MOTORS FOR ME .

NHTSA complaint #716332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Belem, NM

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT DOWN. ALSO THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE FAULT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #843659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Poughkeepsie, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #708902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Maria, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

WHEN DECELERATING HEADLIGHTS BEGIN TO FLICKER ON/OFF. DEALER SAYS THAT IT'S NORMAL OPERATION FOR THE HEADLIGHTS.

NHTSA complaint #841835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rochester, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE POWER SUNROOF HAS FAILED, EACH TIME IT FAILS IN THE EXACT SAME MANNER, THE WINDOW IS OPENED SLIGHTLY TO VENT AND THEN THE UNIT FAILS, AND IT WON'T OPEN OR CLOSE. THE SECOND TIME, THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A WEEK, THEN I HAD TO WAIT A MONTH FOR A PART TO COME IN. IN THE MEANWHILE, I COULD NOT USE THE SUNROOF EITHER. THE HEADLIGHTS STAY ON MOST OF THE TIME WHEN THE CAR IS ON. THE SENSOR SEEMS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. ON BRIGHT, SUNNY DAYS, THE HEADLIGHTS COME ON. ON CLOUDY, RAINY DAYS, WHEN THE LIGHTS SHOULD BE ON, THEY DON'T COME ON. THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA complaint #707013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Auburn, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH

HAZARD SWITCH HALF WAY BETWEEN ON AND OFF POSITION CAUSING TURN SIGNAL NOT TO WORK.

NHTSA complaint #535984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cumming, GA

INTERIOR LIGHTING

ON ITS OWN THE DOOR WOULD LOCK/UNLOCK. WHEN IGNITION IS ENGAGED OR SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, WILL NOT LOCK AT ALL. INTERMITTENT. DOME LIGHT FLASHES ON/OFF DURING DAY/NIGHT, RAIN/SHINE. CHIMES ON SEAT BELT WOULD SOUND WHEN SEAT BELT IS WORN. TAKING TO DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #821865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hastings, MN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

BRAKES: WHEN DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE CAR, HAS TO PUSH PEDAL COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE CAR WILL STOP. BEGINNING TO MAKE GRINDING NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. IN ADDITION, HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT CPME ON ON CERTAIN TIMES/SEAT BELT TWISTS ALL THE TIME AND TICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE AREA. *AK

NHTSA complaint #819901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stratford, CT

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

DAYTIME SENSOR LIGHTS FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #526972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Pontiac Grand AM problems

← Full 1997 Pontiac Grand AM report