Pontiac Grand AM Steering Problems
Owners have filed 254 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Pontiac Grand AM across 11 model years. The 1999 model year has the most (70). The words owners use most often: “rack pinion” (13% of reports).
- 254steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 36mention a crash
- 16mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 26%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.
- Rack pinion: mentioned in 33 of 254 complaints (13%)
- Steering pump: mentioned in 19 of 254 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 101 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 254 complaints, 36 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 16 an injury.
Pontiac Grand AM steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Grand AM | 8 | 8% | 99,786 |
| 2004 Grand AM | 15 | 5% | 95,000 |
| 2003 Grand AM | 14 | 4% | 60,806 |
| 2002 Grand AM | 22 | 6% | 70,000 |
| 2001 Grand AM | 24 | 4% | 94,000 |
| 2000 Grand AM | 34 | 5% | 75,932 |
| 1999 Grand AM | 70 | 8% | 72,750 |
| 1998 Grand AM | 14 | 8% | 92,000 |
| 1997 Grand AM | 21 | 5% | 113,000 |
| 1996 Grand AM | 19 | 4% | 69,000 |
| 1995 Grand AM | 13 | 3% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Model years: 1999
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The steering wheel can come loose from the steering shaft because the steering wheel retaining nut could have been improperly tightened.
Risk: This condition could cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the steering wheel retaining nut for correct tightness and tighten if necessary.
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Model years: 1996
Problem: The steering column lower pinch bolt was not properly tightened during assembly.
Risk: An undertorqued pinch bolt can rattle and cause looseness in the steering system. If the pinch bolt backed out of the joint completely, rotation of the steering shaft against the connector could cause increasing looseness in the steering system and result in loss of steering and an accident.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the steering column pinch bolt for correct torque and, if necessary, tighten the bolt to the specified torque.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Recall n140350 october ,2019 ignition stop working while on highway. Had to get towed. Won't turn anymore i almost crash because of it.
I was driving and my rack and pinion broke loose from the sub frame causing me to lose all steering and i almost hit another car head on this is a week after i replaced it for the same reason i noticed the subframe welds are broke lose causing the problems this is very hazardous and needs fixed…
I was driving my vehicle on a city street and as i turned right i heard a loud pop and my steering wheel froze making me unable to steer in any direction. I had my vehicle towed to a repair shop and after inspection i was informed that my steering rack had broken off of the subframe. Before this…
Takata recall transmission - shifts hard, went out with out any warning lights. Was at a stop light when i tried to go, it wouldn't go past 10 mph and went all the way up to 4th rpm. Power steering leaks bad.
Fuel system recall , strong gas smell inside car exterior lighting recall, hard to see while driving car at night eletrical sytem ignition recall power cuts on and off
Frequently asked questions
Do all Pontiac Grand AMs have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 254 owner complaints about steering for the Pontiac Grand AM. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Pontiac Grand AM steering?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Pontiac Grand AM?
The most frequent phrase is “rack pinion”, in 33 of 254 complaints, followed by “steering pump” (19).
Other Pontiac Grand AM problems
- Electrical System problems (1,336)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (672)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (651)
- Exterior Lighting problems (615)
- Air Bags problems (395)
- Visibility problems (327)
- Suspension problems (268)
- Power Train problems (194)
See all Pontiac Grand AM problems.