1997 Pontiac Grand AM Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Grand AM years
- About as many complaints as other years 7th of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 383 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Pontiac Grand AM. That ranks 7th out of 11 Grand AM model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (105 complaints, 27%), typically at around 106,358 miles. Complaints mention 32 crashes, 12 fires, 37 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 383owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 32complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Pontiac Grand AM problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 105 | 27% | 106,358 | “ignition switch” (30%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 83 | 22% | 89,500 | “intake manifold” (6%) | $4,400 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 69 | 18% | 85,000 | “applying brakes” (13%) | — |
| Air Bags | 41 | 11% | 111,877 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 36 | 9% | 84,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 34 | 9% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 26 | 7% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 22 | 6% | 82,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 21 | 5% | 113,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 19 | 5% | 104,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 16 | 4% | 79,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 13 | 3% | 43,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 | 3% | 128,728 | — | — |
| Structure | 11 | 3% | 70,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 10 | 3% | 113,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 10 | 3% | 118,653 | — | — |
| Seats | 8 | 2% | 2,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 1% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 1% | 74,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1% | 121,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Pontiac Grand AM recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles. If the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts.
Risk: If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed.
Fix: Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch. Owner notification began march 27, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, buick at 1-800-521-7300, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
Electrical system:wiring:front underhood
Problem: The protective cover for the underhood fuse center was omitted. Without this cover, the positive terminal bolt on the fuse block is exposed and can contact the insulated negative battery cable. If the insulation on the negative cable becomes sufficiently worn, an electrical short circuit can occur between the positive terminal and negative cable resulting in extremely high current flow.
Risk: This high current flow can cause arcing and result in an underhood fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect these vehicles for the presence of the protective cover and, if necessary, install a protective cover to the underhood fuse center.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Oversensitive air bag deployments (RQ98013) — opened Aug 26, 1998, still open, led to recall 98V146000.
- Power rack and pinion steering failure (RQ03001) — opened Jan 2, 2003, closed Sep 15, 2003.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The theft warning system keeps the ignition switch from engaging. The car will not start unless the key is in the "on" position for fifteen minutes and resets the system. *tr
When trying to start the car the steering locks up and you have to move the steering wheel back and forth for it to catch and finally will start like it keeps locking up. My son bought this car as his first car so no sure how long it has been like this doing this as we purchased from a friend and…
The ignition on this college students 97 pontiac grand am randomly defaults. It will get stuck in on or off position. Car sometimes continues running. Keyes will lock in the ignition and can not be removed. Lights remain on while keys are stuck in ignition. Ignition gets warm. *js
I cannot drive car with out speedometer. There was a service bulletin #66-83-04a i feel the dealer should repair this at there cost. It is not safe driving it without being able to see speed. The dealer says it cost 450.00 the vss is working fine. I buy a lot of cars. *tr
The most recent of problems is my steering went out on me while turning in to a parking lot. Had my mechanic look at it and he said it was the rack and pinion seal that caused it to pour out the fluid. I have also had many other problems such as gas leaking even though all lines were replaced…
Other Pontiac Grand AM years
← 1996 Grand AM · 1998 Grand AM →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Grand AM | 102 | 2 |
| 2004 Grand AM | 293 | 2 |
| 2003 Grand AM | 325 | 2 |
| 2002 Grand AM | 395 | 1 |
| 2001 Grand AM | 538 | 4 |
| 2000 Grand AM | 675 | 5 |
| 1999 Grand AM | 849 | 3 |
| 1998 Grand AM | 172 | 1 |
| 1997 | 383 | 2 |
| 1996 Grand AM | 450 | 4 |
| 1995 Grand AM | 409 | 1 |
See all Pontiac Grand AM problems by year, every Pontiac model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Pontiac Grand AM?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 105 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Pontiac Grand AM?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Pontiac Grand AM a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Grand AM model years, the 1997 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.