FaultScore

1998 Pontiac Grand AM airbag problems

15 of the 236 complaints about the 1998 Pontiac Grand AM are about the airbag system — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 135,678 miles.

F

15

Complaints

4

Crashes

0

Fires

5

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 7 46.7%
AIR Bags 6 40.0%
Sensor/Control Module 1 6.7%
Inflator Module 1 6.7%

Airbags across every Pontiac Grand AM year

1994 38 8.6%
1995 47 10.6%
1996 108 24.3%
1997 41 9.2%
1998 15 3.4%
1999 80 18.0%
2000 31 7.0%
2001 14 3.2%
2002 19 4.3%
2003 20 4.5%
2004 21 4.7%
2005 10 2.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 208,000 miles Murphy, NC

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000.

NHTSA complaint #10747908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 154,000 miles Ticonderoga, NY 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SEATED IN THE PARKED VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED AND STRUCK HER IN THE FACE. SHE WAS BADLY BRUISED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS CORRODED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

NHTSA complaint #10223678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,000 miles Williamsburg, VA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. A FEW MONTHS LATER, SHE RETURNED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE LIGHT WOULD NOT DIM. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED, WHICH COULD PREVENT THE AIR BAGS FROM DEPLOYING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 100,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA complaint #10193795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Moultrie, GA 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

PONTIAC GRAND AM AIR BAGS ARENT SAFE AT ALL MINE BUSTED OUT FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER IT BURNED MY ARM AND LEFT A BRUISE AND COULD'VE CAUSED A WRECK!

NHTSA complaint #10128604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Millerton, NY

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

PONTIAC GRAND AM 1998, PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON, SHATTERED WINDSHIELD. *BF

NHTSA complaint #10115763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 61,000 miles Millerton, NY

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK AIR BAG DEPLOYED IT CRACKED THE DASH BOARD AS WELL AS WINDSHIELD. REPLACED AIRBAG, WINDSHIELD AND DASH BOARD. GENERAL MOTORS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE CONSUMER BECAUSE VEHICLE WASN'T TAKEN TO DEALER. *BF

NHTSA complaint #10113202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 135,678 miles Siloam Springs, AR Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THROUGH A SCHOOL ZONE GOING LESS THAN 25 MPH AND CRUISE CONTROL KICKED IN. THE VEHICLE CROSSED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE AND IT WASN'T UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPPED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED THEY BLACKED THE PASSENGERS EYES. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10089196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glenville, WV Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH, FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE AFTER THE CRASH. CONSUMER SUSTAINED BRUISES SINCE THE AIR BAGS WERE LATE DEPLOYING.

NHTSA complaint #10087175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 161,000 miles Alburg, VT Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. AS A RESULT, THE DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10049805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Nashville, TN

AIR BAGS

98 PONTIAC GRAND AM AIR BAG NOT WORKING, WATER LEAKS ON FLOOR BOARD WHEN AC IS ON, RUNS HOT, STOPS RUNNING, ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10023957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Holly Hill, FL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP , VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, AIR BAG WENT OFF ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WITH SUCH FORCE THAT PASSENGER'S NECK WAS BROKEN. AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH OCCUPANT WAS WEARING SEAT BELT.

NHTSA complaint #856249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hope, AR

AIR BAGS

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON, PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT ACTIVATE. MJS

NHTSA complaint #549200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hope, AR

AIR BAGS

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON, PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT ACTIVATE. MJS

NHTSA complaint #549200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hope, AR

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON, PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT ACTIVATE. MJS

NHTSA complaint #549200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rolette, ND

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #824532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Pontiac Grand AM problems

← Full 1998 Pontiac Grand AM report