216 of the
8,105 complaints filed about the Pontiac Grand AM
are about the throttle and cruise control —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1997.
216
Complaints
3%
Share of all complaints
27
Crashes
0
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
The gas gauge will show full then without warning quickly drop to “E” and the low fuel indicator will ding and the light will come on then just as quickly as it started it will go back to full or 2/3rds the slow creep back to the full position. (The tank was not full) While driving all the electrical components start going wild, everything goes on and off quickly. The accelerator will rev(while foot is on or off accelerator) and drop over and over (as if there were bad gas in it) then go back to normal. This happens while I’m on the road and is a massive hazard. I’m so afraid this will cause an accident that leads to loss of life.
NHTSA complaint #11525143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Electrical wiring mess with air for air or heating up I was trying to make it work while driving and then all of suddenly dashboard light went out, car slowed down and stopped. Turned the car off then turned back on dashboard light wouldn't work, windshield wipers stop working. Got stuck middle of nowhere after I pulled over to check with the car won't turn back on till fuse change and engine start working again after put in mismatch fuse box supposed to match but it different fuse for fuse box
NHTSA complaint #11463011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
**THIS IS NOT A STANDARD 2003 PONTIAC, SINGLE OWNER CURRENT MILEAGE OF 70,000** UPON VEHICLE REACHING OPERATING TEMPERATURE IT EXHIBITS THE SYMPTOMS OF RECALL #04092 124/ ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM.FAILURE RESULTS IN LOSS OF RPM AND SPEED CONTROL.THIS ITEM WAS ADDRESSED ON 1-11-2004 BY APPROVED DEALER. CAR LAST FAILURE OCCURRENCE WAS ON 1/12/2020. THIS VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN RECALL#14350 IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN FAILURE OCCURS LOSS OF POWER,SPEED,AIR BAGS,ECT.. INITIAL RECALL REPAIR WAS ON 3-07-2014. AT THAT TIME A NEW KEY WAS CUT TO RESOLVE ISSUE. FAILURE HAS REOCCURED, LAST TIME BEING 12-23-19 WHILE DRIVING MID DAY NO EXCESSIVE TEMP OR DRIVING CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #11299042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AS THE TRANSMISSION MADE AN ABNORMALLY LOUD SOUND. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A FUEL STATION, RAISED THE HOOD, AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT WAITED A WHILE AND THEN DROVE HOME WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS A MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #11222967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE BY RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE PEDAL FAILED TO RETRACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (GETTEL CHEVROLET BUICK GMC, 1901 TAMIAMI TRAIL, PUNTA GORDA, FL 33950), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CASE NUMBER: 8-446-6959426 WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,345.
NHTSA complaint #11115306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 GRAND AM AND I WAS SITTING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON AN HWY AND IT WAS HOT OUTSIDE THAT DAY AND WHEN I LET MY FEET OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL MY CAR START TO ACCELERATE BY ITS SELF VERY FAST AND I IMMEDIATELY PRESS MY BREAK TO THE FLOOR AND MY ANTI-LOCK BREAKS KICKED IN AND THE CAR CONTINUED SKID AND ACCELERATE FAST AND I HAD PUT MY CARS TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND THE MOTOR CONTINUED TO REV EVEN AFTER MY TRANSMISSION WAS IN NERAL. I ENDED UP SKIDDING UP A SIDE WALK TO AVOID A SERIOUS CRASH OR BEING KILLED IN A BAD CRASH. I BELIEVE IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
NHTSA complaint #11025278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIOLENTLY ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 11/07/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE THROTTLE WAS STICKING AND NOT DECELERATING/ A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE THROTTLE/BRAKE ASSEMBLY. UPDATED 12/07/16.*JB UPDATED 12/12/16.
NHTSA complaint #10902990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST AND LEFT KNEE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
NHTSA complaint #10839880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY WIFE'S 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM AND THE ACCELERATOR STUCK, ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED, IT NOW FAILS TO RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION, REQUIRING ONE TO PHYSICALLY PULL THE PEDAL BACK UP. AFTER THE NEAR ACCIDENT, MY DAUGHTER DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR STICKING ACCELERATOR ON THE 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM, BUT WE HAVE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE RECALL. I CALLED PONTIAC ON THE TOLL FREE NUMBER LISTED ON THE RECALL NOTICE ON YOUR SITE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER ASKING TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR SEVERAL TIMES, I WAS FINALLY CONNECTED TO THE SUPERVISOR WHO ALSO SAID THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. I TOLD HER THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL AND SHE SAID THERE WASN'T A RECALL FOR THE ACCELERATOR ON A 2003 GRAND AM. I GAVE HER THE RECALL NUMBER AND SHE SAID SHE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING ON THAT RECALL, AND THAT THE CAR WAS TOO OLD SO PONTIAC WASN'T GOING TO PAY ANYTHING TO HAVE IT FIXED. SHE SAID I WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF AND IF THEY EVER DID ISSUE A RECALL AND I KEPT THE RECEIPTS, THEY WOULD ISSUE A REFUND. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THERE ARE MANY MORE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MODEL CAR WHOSE LIVES MAY WELL BE IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10712677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE PEDAL STUCK AND DID NOT RETURN BACK UP. INSTEAD IT STAYED DOWN AS THOUGH IT WAS STILL BEING DEPRESSED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV. I HAD TO PHYSICALLY GRAB THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND PULL IT TOWARDS ME TO TRY AND RETURN IT BACK TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND I HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY REPLACED, I CALLED GM ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE RECALL ON THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WAS FOR THE 03 GRAND AM MODELS, NOT THE 05 MODELS. I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE GM DECIDES THEY ARE BETTER OFF FINANCIALLY TO RECALL THE 05 MODELS?
NHTSA complaint #10680087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 2/24/15*CN UPDATED 9/12/2017
NHTSA complaint #10669629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR HAS AN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. IN SAID RECALL IT DESCRIBES THAT IN THE EVENT OF IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE MY AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN IN MY CAR 99% OF THE TIME AND THIS MAKES ME EXTREMELY NERVOUS. I CALLED A NUMBER TO GET A RENTAL CAR UNTIL MINE CAN BE FIXED DUE TO THE FACT NO DEALER HAS THE PARTS AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL BE. THE MAN ON THE PHONE TOLD ME I DIDN'T QUALIFY BECAUSE IT WASN'T THAT BIG A DEAL. I FEEL THAT IT IS A BIG DEAL AND BECAUSE I HAVE CHILDREN AND I SHOULD ENTITLED TO A RENTAL COURTESY OF GM. I AM VERY DISPLEASED AND HOPE THAT THIS SITUATION CAN BE RECTIFIED. I WILL GO TO THE LOCAL NEWS AND EXPRESS MY CONCERN IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10633122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED BUT RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTION WHEN THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #10616838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 60 MPH INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL ACCELERATION AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT OFFER A REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,594.
NHTSA complaint #10608850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT THE CAR A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT HAVEN'T BEEN DRIVING IT VERY MUCH AS IT WAS GOING TO BE FOR MY DAUGHTER, WHO DOES NOT HAVE A LICENSE YET. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT KEPT ACCELERATING. I DID NOT EVEN HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT GOT UP TO 60 MPH. I PUT ON THE BRAKES VERY HARD AND SWITCHED IT INTO NEUTRAL WHEN I GOT IT SLOWED DOWN, THEN INTO PARK. I PUMPED THE GAS AND IT WENT DOWN TO IDLE SPEED. JUST A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THAT I NOTICED I HAD TO PRESS REALLY HARD ON THE BRAKE TO GET IT TO STAY STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. I KNOW CARS CAN IDLE A LITTLE FAST SOMETIMES AND MOVE SOME, BUT I WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE REALLY HARD AND WAS ON AN INCLINE.
NHTSA complaint #10606861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAD 2 KIDS IN THE CAR,THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK,CAR KEPT SPEEDING UP.. I WAS USING BOTH FEET ON BRAKE & ER BRAKE AS WELL!! I WAS SWERVING IN & OUT OF TRAFFIC,RUNNING RED LIGHTS & PRAYING FOR OUR LIVES,WE GOT UP TO 85 MILES PER HOUR IN A 35MPH ZONE!! THE CAR WAS REVVING OUT OF CONTROL & BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD! I MANAGED TO SLAM IT INTO PARK & WE ALL JUMPED OUT & RAN,VERY FRIGHTENING & ALMOST ENDED IN A COLLISION. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CRACKED AT 1YR OLD AND 10,000 MILES,THE TIRES NEEDED RESEALING AT 5000 MILES. RIDICULOUS!!
NHTSA complaint #10596041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WELL I OWN A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE COUPE, AND I NOTICED ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO AT 50-60 MPH (OR 2000 RPMS), THE CARS SPEED AND RPMS WOULD DECREASE ABOUT 2 MPH AND THE RPMS WOULD DECREASE ABOUT 500 RPMS, THEN IT WOULD RETURN AND IT WOULD DO THIS EVERY TIME I WAS AT THAT SPEED, ALSO NOW WHEN I ACCELERATE TO 60 AND IF I LET THE CAR DECREASE SPEED THE TEMP GAUGE WOULD SKYROCKET AND AFTER ABOUT 1/8 A MILE IT WOULDN'T LET ME INCREASE SPEED ALONG WITH THAT MY ELECTRIC FANS IN THE CAR HAVE NEVER ENGAGED, I LOVE THIS CAR AND I DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF IT. ALSO I HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED AND ITS NOT THAT.
NHTSA complaint #10592120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGAGED CLUTCH TO START ENGINE/CAR - HEARD POP AND CLUTCH PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. PLASTIC JOINT ON CLUTCH ROD SNAPPED OFF. APPEARS MAY ONLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY A 40K MILE LIFE ON THIS PART. IF HAD BROKEN WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS MAY HAVE CAUSED CRASH OR INJURY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED ON THIS VEHICLE. PART HAS BEEN REPLACED EACH TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10574795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 GT PONTIAC GRAND AM FROM PEORIA ILLINOIS ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. SHE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN NO POWER NO NOTHING...PULLED OVER WAITED APPROXIMATELY 5MINUTES AND SHE STARTED RIGHT UP...PLEASE HELP!!! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10565453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.