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1978 Pontiac Grand Am

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

No component reports in this snapshot.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 0 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

0 reports

No matching complaints in this snapshot.

Official recalls

4

85V048000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:drum:wheel Cylinders

Apr 29, 1985

EXCESSIVE ENLARGEMENT OF THE WHEEL CYLINDER PILOT HOLE IN THE REAR BRAKE BACKING PLATE COULD ALLOW THE WHEEL CYLINDER TO ROTATE AND CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID LEADS TO LOSS OF REAR BRAKE ACTION, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. FRONT BRAKES WOULD REMAIN OPERATIONAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: ADD A PART TO PREVENT WHEEL CYLINDER FROM ROTATING.

78V139000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan

Jun 13, 1978

THE HUB PORTION OF THE FAN BLADE ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK DUE TO HIGH STRESS LEVELS GENERATED DURING ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS. EVENTUALLY, THE BLADE COULD BREAK APART AT THE HUB AND BLADE PIECES COULD BE PROPELLED INTO THE ENGINE. IF THE HOOD IS OPEN WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, THE FRAGMENTS WOULD BE FREE TO FLY FROM THE VEHICLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE FAN BLADE ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

78V115000 · Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint

May 24, 1978

INCORRECT HEAD RESTRAINTS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACTS".

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE INCORRECT HEAD RESTRAINTS WITH IMPROVED HEAD RESTRAINTS.

77V181000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:drum:wheel Cylinders

Oct 17, 1977

THE REAR BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER RETAINER ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED. SHOULD THE WHEEL CYLINDER RETAINER BECOME COMPLETELY DISENGAGED, THE WHEEL CYLINDER COULD MOVE OUTBOARD CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND A LOSS OF REAR BRAKING ACTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPOSITION THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER RETAINERS, FREE OF CHARGE, ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA86006 · Brake Backing Plate

Opened Nov 27, 1985 · Closed Nov 28, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SUMMARY:GM IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN (85V-048)INVOLVING 2,136,826 VEHICLES. THE RECALL IS LIMITED TO VEHICLES BUILT ATCERTAIN ASSEMBLY PLANTS WHICH, ACCORDING TO GM, OVERTORQUED THE BRAKEPIPE NUT,THEREBY OVERSTRESSING THE WHEEL CYLINDER SUPPORT AREA OF THEBACKING PLATE.ANALYSIS:FRONT BRAKES PROVIDE SUFFICIENT BRAKING FOR PASSENGER CARSIN MOST NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. ALL AFFECTED TRUCKS ARE INCLUDED INTHE CURRENT RECALL.IN MOST CASES THE PROBLEM IS DISCOVERED DURING BRAKEMAINTENANCE.THE RECALL APPEARS TO COVER THOSE GROUPS OF CARS WITH THEHIGHEST FAILURE RATES.STATUS:ANALYZING GM IR RESPONSE AND NEW COMPLAINT DATA. DRAFT CLOSINGREPORT BY 5/15/88.===