1997 Pontiac Grand AM Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 105 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 1997 Pontiac Grand AM, 27% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 106,358 miles. The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (30% of reports).
- 105electrical system complaints
- 106,358median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 7%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 32 of 105 complaints (30%)
- Provide further: mentioned in 7 of 105 complaints (7%)
- Power windows: mentioned in 6 of 105 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 22 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 105 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 8 a fire, 2 an injury.
Pontiac Grand AM electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Grand AM | 40 | 39% | 87,814 |
| 2004 Grand AM | 140 | 48% | 92,000 |
| 2003 Grand AM | 134 | 41% | 75,000 |
| 2002 Grand AM | 148 | 37% | 80,795 |
| 2001 Grand AM | 232 | 43% | 85,000 |
| 2000 Grand AM | 130 | 19% | 85,000 |
| 1999 Grand AM | 132 | 16% | 79,000 |
| 1998 Grand AM | 33 | 19% | 74,899 |
| 1997 Grand AM | 105 | 27% | 106,358 |
| 1996 Grand AM | 122 | 27% | 107,350 |
| 1995 Grand AM | 120 | 29% | 126,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are 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
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
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1997 Pontiac Grand AMs have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 105 owner complaints about electrical system for the 1997 Pontiac Grand AM (27% of the 383 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Pontiac Grand AM electrical system?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 106,358 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 1997 Pontiac Grand AM?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 32 of 105 complaints, followed by “provide further” (7).
Other 1997 Pontiac Grand AM problems
See all 1997 Pontiac Grand AM problems or electrical system problems across all Grand AM years.