Pontiac Grand Am Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Q: What year Grand Am should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, the 1999 Pontiac Grand Am has the most documented problems with a problem score of 808 — driven by 4 recalls, 668 complaints, and 4 reported deaths.

Q: What is the best year Grand Am to buy?

The 2005 Pontiac Grand Am is the best-scoring year in our analysis with a problem score of only 76, meaning 3 recalls and 61 complaints on record.

Q: Which Grand Am has the fewest problems?

The 2005, 1998, 1993 model years have the fewest reported problems in the NHTSA database. Always verify a specific vehicle's history with a VIN report before purchasing.

Every Pontiac Grand Am model year (1992–2005) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Years Tracked

Total Recalls

4081

Total Complaints

316

Reported Injuries

Reported Deaths

Pontiac Grand Am Years to Avoid

#1 WORST

1999

4 recalls · 668 complaints

54 reported injuries

4 reported deaths

Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

Problem score: 808

#2 WORST

2000

4 recalls · 513 complaints

29 reported injuries

4 reported deaths

Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Problem score: 603

#3 WORST

1995

0 recalls · 326 complaints

47 reported injuries

9 reported deaths

Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

Problem score: 465

Best Pontiac Grand Am Years to Buy

#1 BEST

2005

3 recalls · 61 complaints

Main area: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Problem score: 76

#2 BEST

1998

0 recalls · 132 complaints

Main area: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

Problem score: 158

#3 BEST

1993

1 recall · 149 complaints

Main area: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Problem score: 178

Found the right year? Verify that specific Grand Am with a free VIN report.

Pontiac Grand Am — Year-by-Year Problem Report

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Injuries	Deaths	Problem Score	Verdict
2005	3	61	3	—	76	Excellent
2004	3	166	13	—	201	Good
2003	3	233	16	—	274	Good
2002	2	294	13	—	326	Caution
2001	3	360	10	—	389	Caution
2000	4	513	29	4	603	Avoid
1999	4	668	54	4	808	Avoid
1998	0	132	13	—	158	Good
1997	1	330	18	—	369	Caution
1996	3	363	45	—	462	Caution
1995	0	326	47	9	465	Caution
1994	1	302	40	1	390	Caution
1993	1	149	8	2	178	Good
1992	3	184	7	2	217	Good

All 14 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.

Pontiac Grand Am Shopping Guide by Era

Pre-2013

Proceed with Caution

Older Grand Am models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year Grand Am should I avoid?+

Avoid the 1999 Pontiac Grand Am if possible. It has 4 recalls, 668 owner complaints, and 4 reported deaths. The overall problem score is 808 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year Grand Am to buy?+

The 2005 Pontiac Grand Am is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 76. It has only 3 recalls and 61 complaints on record with NHTSA.

Which Grand Am has the fewest problems?+

The 2005, 1998, 1993 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.

More Pontiac Grand Am Research

Reliability Score

Overall reliability rating and score breakdown for the Pontiac Grand Am.

Common Problems

Full breakdown of every reported defect for the Pontiac Grand Am.

Check a Specific Pontiac Grand Am VIN

Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.

Run a Free VIN Report →