IllustrationENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. *AK
1988 Pontiac Grand Am
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 Pontiac Grand Am do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 82.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Grand Am years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 31 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.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
12 reportsAS STALLING EPISODES CONTINUED AND I COMPLETED NORMAL MAINTENANCE SERVISES, FINALLY A LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER DID COMPHREHENSIVE TESTS AND CHECKED WITHOUT CONCLUSIVE ANSWER TO PROBLEM . ON OCT.13TH.99. THE CAR BROKE DOWN , BACK FIRED, COULD NOT BE RESTARTED, WAS TOWED TO A PONTIAC DEALER WHO SAID HEAD GASKET HAD 1-1/2 INCH RUPTURE.…
Read full complaint
AS STALLING EPISODES CONTINUED AND I COMPLETED NORMAL MAINTENANCE SERVISES, FINALLY A LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER DID COMPHREHENSIVE TESTS AND CHECKED WITHOUT CONCLUSIVE ANSWER TO PROBLEM . ON OCT.13TH.99. THE CAR BROKE DOWN , BACK FIRED, COULD NOT BE RESTARTED, WAS TOWED TO A PONTIAC DEALER WHO SAID HEAD GASKET HAD 1-1/2 INCH RUPTURE. NO REPAIR WAS DONE. CAR OPERATES AGAIN,AND CONTINUIES TO STALL. CAN IT BE ELECTRICAL CONECTION PROBLEM OR WHAT?
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE.
INTERMITTENT STALLING FOLLOWED BY ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD
ENGINE HEAD FAILED 2 TIMES. *SD
ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN IN THE QUAD 4 ENGINE, ALSO THERE IS FUEL LINE FAILURE. TT
BLEW THE HEAD GASKETS. TT
HEAD GASKET FAILED. *AK
STARTED ENGINE, CHECK GAUGE LIGHT CAME ON; CHECK GAUGES; SHOWED NO OIL PRESSURE; ENGINE COULD HAVE SEIZED UP. ALSO, IGNITION COIL COVERS GOES BAD. GIVE DETAILS.
ENGINE HEAD BLEW OUT, CAUSING WHITE SMOKE TO BE EMMITED THROUGH EXHAUST PIPES. RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO AGE AND MILEAGE OF VEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
292V150000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Oct 19, 1992
FRONT FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK OR SEPARATE AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD RESULT IN ANUNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY.
90V042000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Mar 5, 1990
FRONT FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK OR SEPARATE AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LEAKING FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY.
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
4EA91055 · W-CAR Hinge Pin Failure
Opened Dec 5, 1991 · Closed Aug 17, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
EA91005 · Rear Wheel Bearings Fail
Opened Oct 31, 1990 · Closed Dec 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
EA90041 · Brake Performance
Opened Aug 29, 1990 · Closed Mar 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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EA89010 · Brake Ineffectiveness
Opened Jan 17, 1989 · Closed May 8, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available