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
What owners actually said
44 reports
113,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainCrash
TRANSMISSION LOCKING TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID DOES NOT ALLOW TORQUE CONVERTER TO UNLOCK RESULTING IN ENGINE STALL WHEN STOPPING. REPLACED SOLENOID. REPLACED SLAPPING TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN GUIDES. CHANGED OIL AFTER REPAIR. DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 100 MILES WHEN 3 ROD BEARINGS SPUN. ONE HALF OF THE BEARING SPUN INTO THE OTHER…
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TRANSMISSION LOCKING TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID DOES NOT ALLOW TORQUE CONVERTER TO UNLOCK RESULTING IN ENGINE STALL WHEN STOPPING. REPLACED SOLENOID. REPLACED SLAPPING TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN GUIDES. CHANGED OIL AFTER REPAIR. DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 100 MILES WHEN 3 ROD BEARINGS SPUN. ONE HALF OF THE BEARING SPUN INTO THE OTHER HALF RESULTING IN CRANKSHAFT DAMAGE AND PISTON TIPPING. REPLACED ENGINE WITH USED WHICH I REPAIRED BEFORE REPLACING. LOOKED LIKE OIL PUMP FAILURE. WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD BETWEEN 145-150 COMPRESSION.
NHTSA ODI #10070435
Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
AFTER THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-90-577) *YH
NHTSA ODI #564044
Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline
I KILLED IT AT A SERVICE STATION GONNA GET SOME WATER AND IT HAS NEVER STARTED SINCE THEN. THE GAS COMES OUT OF HOSE WHEN DISCONNECTED FROM INJECTOR BUT CONNECT THE LINE BACK AND THE FUEL INJECTION DOESNT GET GAS. I AM A SINGLE MOTHE WHO CAN NOT AFFORD THIS TYPE OF THING. A MAN PULLED IN SERVICE STATION AND SAID HE HAD SAME PROB…
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I KILLED IT AT A SERVICE STATION GONNA GET SOME WATER AND IT HAS NEVER STARTED SINCE THEN. THE GAS COMES OUT OF HOSE WHEN DISCONNECTED FROM INJECTOR BUT CONNECT THE LINE BACK AND THE FUEL INJECTION DOESNT GET GAS. I AM A SINGLE MOTHE WHO CAN NOT AFFORD THIS TYPE OF THING. A MAN PULLED IN SERVICE STATION AND SAID HE HAD SAME PROBLEMS WITH HIS 89 GRAND AM. I ALSO LOOKED IN MY HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER AND LOTS OF 89 GRAND AMS FOR SALE WITH NON WORKING MOTORS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #743711
Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2000
Electrical System
EVEN REPLACEMENT STOP SWITCH SMOKES(FAILS). RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED , SAME RESULT. REPLACEMENT SWITCH STILL NO GOOD!!!!*AK
NHTSA ODI #737587
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT SIDE OF HOUSE. CONSUMER WENT BACK INTO HOUSE, AND A FEW MINUTES LATER, A NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON DOOR NOTIFYING HIM THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE CARPARTMENT. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED, AND THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION. NO INJURIES TO REPORTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #875878
Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2000
TiresCrash
WHILE TRAVELING N ON I-295 BETWEEN I-10 AND COMMONWEALTH AVE, RR TIRE STARTED VIBRATING AND BOUNCING. TREAD THEN SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, THROWING ME INTO A LEFT HAND CIRCLE. I WENT FROM OUTSIDE NORTH BOUND LANE INTO GRASSY MEDIUM, CROSSING THREE LANES AND DOING A COMPLETE 360 DEGREE SPIN. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR JUST SHORT O…
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WHILE TRAVELING N ON I-295 BETWEEN I-10 AND COMMONWEALTH AVE, RR TIRE STARTED VIBRATING AND BOUNCING. TREAD THEN SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, THROWING ME INTO A LEFT HAND CIRCLE. I WENT FROM OUTSIDE NORTH BOUND LANE INTO GRASSY MEDIUM, CROSSING THREE LANES AND DOING A COMPLETE 360 DEGREE SPIN. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR JUST SHORT OF ENTERING THE ONCOMMING TRAFFIC OF THE SOUTH BOUND LANES. THE TREAD PEELED COMPLETELY AWAY, VERY SIMILAR TO THE FIRESTONE TIRES. I KEPT THE TIRE AND HAVE IT IN MY GARAGE. IF YOU WANT IT, IT IS YOURS.*AK (DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRESIZE: P195/70R14)
NHTSA ODI #733617
Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2000
Suspension
INNER REAR SUPPORT THAT HOLDS VEHICLE UP RUSTED AROUND THE SPRING AND STRUT. VEHICLE HAD NO SUPPORT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #871554
Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A QUAD 4 ENGINE. THROUGHOUT THIS PAST YEAR, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE. IN ADDITION, I SPENT ROUGHLY $2000 TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET AND CYLINDER HEAD. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #723658
Mileage unknown · May 4, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
ALTERNATOR FAILED. YH
NHTSA ODI #552135
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE, RADIATOR AND OVERFLOW BUCKET WERE REPLACED.*ET
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.
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
1989 Pontiac Grand Am Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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