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1989 Pontiac Grand Am

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1989 Pontiac Grand Am do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 82.

About this comparison →
44Owner complaints

Model-year median: 82

2Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
11
198628
198731
198844
198938
199082
1991168
1992
Compare all Grand Am years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
23Electrical System
10Fuel System, Gasoline
5Steering
5Vehicle Speed Control
4
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Structure
3Power Train
2Seats
2Suspension
2Tires
2Unknown Or Other
1

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: 1 of 44 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 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 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 reports3 fire reports1 injury reports

Steering complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2000
Steering

I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING OF A BUMPING AND GRINDING IN THE STEERING AT SLOW SPPEDS SINCE 1992. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND ALL THIS TIME UNTIL MAJOR FAILURE IN DEC. 1999. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. AFTER REPLACEMENT ANOTHER PROBLEM AROSE WHICH CAUSED THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR TO VIBERATE WHEN TURNIN…

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I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING OF A BUMPING AND GRINDING IN THE STEERING AT SLOW SPPEDS SINCE 1992. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND ALL THIS TIME UNTIL MAJOR FAILURE IN DEC. 1999. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. AFTER REPLACEMENT ANOTHER PROBLEM AROSE WHICH CAUSED THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR TO VIBERATE WHEN TURNING. I WAS TOLD A POWER STEERING HOSE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR DEALER THAT THEY CHECKED WITH PONTIAC TECH. ASS. AND FOUND THE HOSE INSUFFICENT TO HANDLE THE HIGH PREASURE RETURN TO THE POWER STEERING UNIT. WOULD THIS CONDITION CAUSE THE RACK AND PINION TO FAIL IN THE FIRAT PLACE OR DID I GET ANOTHER RUN AROUND. *AK

NHTSA ODI #717054

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 1999
SteeringStructure

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, REAR CRADLE BOLTS BROKE, CAUSING THE REAR OF THE ENGINE TO FALL OUT. ALSO, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF STEERING DUE TO STEERING SHAFT BREAKING. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #840843

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 1998
Steering

STEERING GEAR MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO, THERE IS AN EXTREME JERKING WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND VEHICLE IS SITTING STILL. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT JERKING IS DUE TO RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #534770

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingSeatsSteering

HEAD GASKET FAILED, LEAKS OIL. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND IS VERY HARD TO TURN WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD/MAKES NOISE. IN ADDITION, VINYL COVERING BUBBLED, AND CAME LOOSE ON BACKSEAT ARMREST UP TO ROOF.

NHTSA ODI #526881

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingSeatsSteering

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED LEAKING COOLANT/ SHAKES AND IS VERY HARD TO TURN. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL/VINYL COVERING BUBBLED AND CAME LOOSE ON BACKSEAT UP TO ROOF.

NHTSA ODI #526840

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

1

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