Pontiac Grand AM Problems by Year
NHTSA has 4,591 owner complaints and 17 safety recalls on file for the Pontiac Grand AM, across 11 model years (1995–2005). The 1999 model year has the most complaints (849). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
Pontiac Grand AM years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Grand AM year: 1999. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1999 Grand AM: 849 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2000 Grand AM: 675 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2001 Grand AM: 538 complaints, 4 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2005 Grand AM: 102 complaints, 2 recalls
- 1998 Grand AM: 172 complaints, 1 recall
- 2004 Grand AM: 293 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Pontiac Grand AM problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 1,336 | 11 | 34 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 672 | 11 | 39 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 651 | 11 | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 615 | 11 | 6 |
| Air Bags problems | 395 | 11 | 212 |
| Visibility problems | 327 | 11 | 2 |
| Suspension problems | 268 | 11 | 19 |
| Steering problems | 254 | 11 | 36 |
| Power Train problems | 194 | 11 | 10 |
| Structure problems | 187 | 11 | 12 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 186 | 11 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 176 | 11 | 20 |
| Equipment problems | 139 | 11 | 3 |
| Engine | 91 | 9 | 8 |
| Tires | 86 | 10 | 11 |
| Seat Belts | 72 | 11 | 22 |
| Seats | 57 | 10 | 7 |
| Wheels | 53 | 10 | 4 |
| Fuel System, Other | 47 | 9 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 42 | 10 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 38 | 7 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 35 | 6 | 11 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 33 | 9 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 25 | 6 | 2 |
| Interior Lighting | 21 | 10 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Pontiac Grand AM problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2004: electrical system (140) · exterior lighting (53)
- 2003: electrical system (134) · exterior lighting (65)
- 2002: electrical system (148) · exterior lighting (97) · engine and engine cooling (54)
- 2001: electrical system (232) · exterior lighting (98) · engine and engine cooling (75) · service brakes, hydraulic (59)
- 2000: exterior lighting (157) · electrical system (130) · service brakes, hydraulic (118) · engine and engine cooling (111)
- 1999: service brakes, hydraulic (203) · engine and engine cooling (133) · electrical system (132) · suspension (107) · visibility (88) · air bags (76) · steering (70) · exterior lighting (68)
- 1997: electrical system (105) · engine and engine cooling (83) · service brakes, hydraulic (69)
- 1996: electrical system (122) · air bags (104) · engine and engine cooling (74) · service brakes, hydraulic (59)
- 1995: electrical system (120) · service brakes, hydraulic (75) · engine and engine cooling (60)
All Pontiac Grand AM model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Grand AM | 102 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2004 Grand AM | 293 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2003 Grand AM | 325 | 2 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2002 Grand AM | 395 | 1 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2001 Grand AM | 538 | 4 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2000 Grand AM | 675 | 5 | — | Exterior Lighting | More complaints than other years |
| 1999 Grand AM | 849 | 3 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1998 Grand AM | 172 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1997 Grand AM | 383 | 2 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1996 Grand AM | 450 | 4 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1995 Grand AM | 409 | 1 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
More from Pontiac: all Pontiac models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Pontiac Grand AM years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1999 (849) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Grand AM year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Pontiac Grand AM?
Electrical System, with 1,336 complaints across 11 model years.
How many recalls does the Pontiac Grand AM have?
17 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.