1,119 of the 8,105 complaints filed about the Pontiac Grand AM are about the engine — 14% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1999.
1,119
Complaints
14%
Share of all complaints
19
Crashes
40
Fires
ENGINE
Engine has lost power from 150hp @ 3K RPM and 200ft·lb @ 4K RPM. It is now 50hp @ ½K RPM & 75ft·lb @ 2K revolutions per minute. Gear Shift Button has seperated from globe. Radio needs to be replaced or reset daily. Rear window defroster has seperated from window, and won’t retain position. Tire Pressure Monitoring System hasn’t worked to no avail. Turn signals are showing discrepancies when activated from switch.
NHTSA complaint #11556788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
The ignition is faulty. My ignition allows my radio to turn on randomly. I could have the car off, I'm not in it at all. If I get inside to go somewhere and the radio is already on before I put the key in. Most times it's not a big deal. The car starts and I go about my business. Recently I've been experiencing needing to get a jump because the battery gets run down over the radio being on. When I'm inside the car and it's running I'm able to pull the key completely out of the ignition and the car stays running until I put my key in and turn it to the off position. I've gotten the recall cards since I bought the car 5 years ago. On the card it lists the cause as "unintended ignition key rotation". I scheduled a appointment for this to get fixed. Low and behold they cut 2 keys for me and that's it! I can make the car available for inspection at any time requested in advance.
NHTSA complaint #11452144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
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.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE VEHICE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANI, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DEALER. THE FAILURE WOULD COST BETWEEN $600 AND $700 TO REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #11163307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
DURING STARTING OR REGULAR DRIVING, THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL COME ON. SOON AFTER, THE CAR MAY SHUT DOWN OR WILL NOT START AT THE NEXT IGNITION CYCLE. THIS IS DUE TO A WIDELY-KNOWN FAILED PASSLOCK OR VATS SYSTEM. IT IS NOT DUE TO USER ERROR, AND IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IF NOT FATAL AT THE WRONG TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11101258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
EVERY YEAR THAT WE FIX THE INTAKE VALVE ON THE CAR NOT EVEN A MONTH LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME BACK ON AND IT WILL BE THE SAME INTAKE VALVE. THIS CLOGS ALL THE VALVES IN THE SYSTEM CAUSING THE CAR TO SOMETIMES IT'S SLOW OR CUT OFF. CAR WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS EVEN AFTER YOU FIX THIS ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THIS ISSUE AND THEY STATE THAT IT'S NOT AN ISSUE. ALSO THE BLINKERS WILL STOP WORKING YOU HAVE TO HIT THE HAZARDOUS BLINKERS FOR THE BLINKERS TO START WORKING AGAIN THIS COULD CAUSE A REAR-END ACCIDENT I ALSO TOLD THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE NOT WANTING TO FIX IT.
NHTSA complaint #11092248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
CAR OVERHEATED CUZ OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET FAILURE I HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE
NHTSA complaint #11084544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND THEN BLOWN MOTOR
NHTSA complaint #11015044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING FELT ABNORMAL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED AT 50 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS BEING HELD ON BY A SINGLE BOLT AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. ..UPDATED 06/21/17 *BF
NHTSA complaint #10966315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOSES POWER ,ENGINE SHUTS OFF) WHILE DRIVING! STARTS RIGHT BACK UP , BUT CONSIDERABLE DANGER AS IT STOPS WITH NO WARNING OF ANY KIND, HAVE BEEN VERY CLOSE TO BEING HIT BY VEHICLE BEHIND ME NOT KNOWING THAT I HAD NO POWER TO DO ANYTHING, AFTER CAR COMES TO STOP, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTART.. MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN SLOWING DOWN, OR TAKING FOOT OFF OF ACCELERATOR. GOING DIFFERENT SPEEDS, HAPPENED 6 TIMES JUST TAKING IT TO SHOP VEHICLE HAS 134300MI , HAPPENED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #10945865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
OIL LEAK OIL LEAKING ON HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING FIRE WHILE EITHER RUNNING OR DRIVING MAY CAUSE ENGINE FIRE DON'T SEEM SAFE TO ME SOMEONE OWNNG AND DRIVING THIS CAR AS I SMELL OIL BURNING WHEN I SHUT OFF CAR NOT SAFE TO ME IF GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT'S THE WAY I WANNA GO CAR FIRE SAFTY ISSUE HMMMM.
NHTSA complaint #10906775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE IDLING ROUGHLY AND DECELERATING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE MISFIRED; HOWEVER, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFCATURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.
NHTSA complaint #10897243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
OIL LEAK OIL LEAKING ON HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING FIRE WHILE EITHER RUNNING OR DRIVING MAY CAUSE ENGINE FIRE DON'T SEEM SAFE TO ME SOMEONE OWNNG AND DRIVING THIS CAR AS I SMELL OIL BURNING WHEN I SHUT OFF CAR NOT SAFE TO ME IF GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT'S THE WAY I WANNA GO CAR FIRE SAFTY ISSUE HMMMM.
NHTSA complaint #10884814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH WENT OUT CAUSING ME TO LOSE A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL.
NHTSA complaint #10874327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
WILL NOT TURN OVER UNLESS YOU LEAVE THE KEY ON FOR 8 MINUTES-PASS LOCK ISSUE I AM TOLD AND IS QUITE PREVALENT.....WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL????
NHTSA complaint #10872181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS REMAINED ON AND ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS SUPPOSED TO SHUT OFF ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE EMITTED A FUEL ODOR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.
NHTSA complaint #10854062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
REGULAR OCCURRENCES STARTED AT 120K MILES, THESE ARE ALL ISSUES WHICH PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED BY CURRENT 2004 GRAND AM OWNERS BUT HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED AND I HAVE CALLED EVERY 6 MONTHS FILING THESE COMPLAINTS. 1) GAS FUMES ARE COMING IN THE CAR WHEN IT IS RUNNING OR SITTING STILL IDLING, 2) BLINKERS START BLINKING ON THEIR OWN AROUND 80 DEGREES F OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE, MECHANIC SAID IT WAS BECAUSE GREASE IN STEERING COLUMN BECOMES THIN AND SHORTS OUT OTHER WIRING CAUSING THE SMOKE (FIRE) WHICH COMES FROM STEERING COLUMN, THIS OCCURS EVERY SUMMER TO FALL WHEN TEMPS ARE 80 DEGREES OR HIGHER), 3) HORN DOES NOT WORK, MECHANIC REPLACED HORN MECHANISM BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE & I AM CONCERNED THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WON'T WORK EITHER SINCE THEY ARE INTER TWINED IN THE STEERING COLUMN, 4) THE DASH IS WARPING, CRACKING AND BREAKING HORRIBLY, IT CAUSES A STICKY HAZE (GAS) ON MY WINDSHIELD CAUSING ISSUES WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, I CONTINUALLY WIPE OFF BUT IT DOES NOT HELP, 5) THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR 2K MILES, THE MECHANIC STATES IT IS A FUEL SYSTEM INDICATOR CODE, INDICATING THE FUEL CAP IS NOT FITTING CORRECTLY, WHICH HE HAS CONFIRMED IS INCORRECT. STARTING AT 142K THE CAR OVERHEATS (I JUST GOT THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT CHANGED), THE CAR SHAKES TREMENDOUSLY AND SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING WHEN TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS INDICATING THIS OVERHEATING, LEAVING THE CAR UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN SINCE NO POWER STEERING ETC, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PARTS HAS NOT CORRECTED THE ISSUE. I AM VERY TIRED AND WORRIED ABOUT MY FAMILY'S SAFETY IN THIS CAR. PLEASE ASSIST AS I HAVE BEEN CALLING SINCE 2013 ABOUT THE #'D ISSUES. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10853618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS BECAME INOPERABLE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE HOOD WAS RAISED AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. A PEDESTRIAN EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SMOKE INHALATION THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10852261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
NHTSA complaint #10850191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
KEEP HAVING TO CHANGE IGNITION SWITCH AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10849666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.