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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

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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

What owners actually said

31 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS, OWNER INDICATED THAT SHE HAS HAD WORK DONE ON THIS VEHICLE, INCLUDING REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #808678

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 1996
Structure

PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #512140

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 1996
Seat Belts

THE DRIVER'S SIDE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT RETRACT OUT OF THE DOOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #801973

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 1996
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

DURING IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #982267

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

INTERMITTENT STALLING FOLLOWED BY ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD

NHTSA ODI #503121

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 1996
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

FUEL THROTTLE STUCK IN BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURE CAUSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO STICK. TT

NHTSA ODI #979151

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HEAD FAILED 2 TIMES. *SD

NHTSA ODI #501070

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN IN THE QUAD 4 ENGINE, ALSO THERE IS FUEL LINE FAILURE. TT

NHTSA ODI #978077

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 1995
Engine And Engine Cooling

BLEW THE HEAD GASKETS. TT

NHTSA ODI #975438

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 1995
Seat Belts

SEAT BELTS DO NOT RESTRAIN WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. TT

NHTSA ODI #972011

Official recalls

2

92V150000 · 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

4

EA91055 · 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

===

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