Pontiac Grand Am Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.
Own a Pontiac Grand Am? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Pontiac Grand Am — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Verdict | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths | Top Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005Best | Excellent | 3 | 61 | 9 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2004 | Good | 3 | 166 | 19 | 13 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2003 | Good | 3 | 233 | 16 | 16 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2002 | Caution | 2 | 294 | 14 | 13 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2001 | Caution | 3 | 360 | 11 | 10 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2000 | Avoid | 4 | 513 | 43 | 29 | 4 | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 1999Worst | Avoid | 4 | 668 | 51 | 54 | 4 | Service Brakes / Hydraulic | Full report → |
| 1998 | Good | — | 132 | 13 | 13 | — | Service Brakes / Hydraulic | Full report → |
| 1997 | Caution | 1 | 330 | 25 | 18 | — | Service Brakes / Hydraulic | Full report → |
| 1996 | Caution | 3 | 363 | 25 | 45 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 1995 | Caution | — | 326 | 47 | 47 | 9 | Service Brakes / Hydraulic | Full report → |
| 1994 | Caution | 1 | 302 | 42 | 40 | 1 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Full report → |
| 1993 | Good | 1 | 149 | 6 | 8 | 2 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Full report → |
| 1992 | Good | 3 | 184 | 6 | 7 | 2 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Full report → |
14 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.
Most Common Pontiac Grand Am Problems
Based on 4,081 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.
Grand Am Years to Avoid
Best Grand Am Years to Buy
Not enough data to identify standout low-problem years.
Years with fewest complaints and recalls.
Pontiac Grand Am Problems by Year
Frequently Asked Questions — Pontiac Grand Am Reliability
What year Grand Am has the most problems?
Based on NHTSA data, the 1999 Pontiac Grand Am had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 668 complaints and 4 safety recalls. See the full 1999 report for specific defects.
Is the Pontiac Grand Am reliable?
The Pontiac Grand Am has accumulated 4,081 owner-filed complaints and 31 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. There have been 22 reported deaths associated with complaints. The 2005 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used Grand Am.
What are the most common Grand Am problems?
The most frequently cited problem areas are: Electrical System (828 reports), Engine And Engine Cooling (530 reports), Service Brakes / Hydraulic (526 reports), Exterior Lighting (349 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.
How do I check if my Grand Am has an open recall?
Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Check a Specific Pontiac Grand Am VIN
Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Run a Free Pontiac Grand Am VIN Report →No account required · Instant results · Updated daily