IllustrationCYLINDER HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP AFTER RELEASING A PUFF OF SMOKE.
1992 Pontiac Grand Am
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Grand Am years
Owner complaints for the 1992 Pontiac Grand Am are substantially higher than 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: 5 of 168 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 62 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports4 fire reports8 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
62 reportsENGINE CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSING FUSES TO BLOW AND ENGINE TO CUT OFF.
HEAD GASKET FAILED; COOLANT MIXED WITH OIL IN CYLINDER #1; DEALERSHIP REMARKED THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN 1992 AND GASKETS WERE REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY. SINCE THAT TIME CRACKED HEADS ONLY ARE REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER (WHERE WARRANTY NO LONGER APPLIES). KNOWN GASKET PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED; HAD I DRIVEN VEHI…
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HEAD GASKET FAILED; COOLANT MIXED WITH OIL IN CYLINDER #1; DEALERSHIP REMARKED THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN 1992 AND GASKETS WERE REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY. SINCE THAT TIME CRACKED HEADS ONLY ARE REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER (WHERE WARRANTY NO LONGER APPLIES). KNOWN GASKET PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED; HAD I DRIVEN VEHICLE LONGER I COULD HAVE CRACKED HEAD; MY QUICK TURNAROUND TO FIX COST $893. HAD THE HEAD CRACKED IT WOULD BE PAID IN FULL BY PONTIAC. I FEEL THE HEAD GASKET IS A COMPONENT OF THE HEADS AND SHOULD ALSO BE COVERED.
CRACKED HEAD, CRACKED BLOCK. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE QUAD FOUR ENGINE
NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER
ENGINE HEAD/HEAD GASKET DEFECTIVE CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO OIL. CALLED GM THE TOLD ME THEY HAVE A "SPECIAL POLICY" # 57-61-26 TO COVER THE SINGLE CAM QUAD 4 ENGINES BECAUSE OF DEFECT. HOWEVER MY QUAD 4 ENGINE HAS A DUAL CAM THEREFORE THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE POLICY FOR FREE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURE …
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ENGINE HEAD/HEAD GASKET DEFECTIVE CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO OIL. CALLED GM THE TOLD ME THEY HAVE A "SPECIAL POLICY" # 57-61-26 TO COVER THE SINGLE CAM QUAD 4 ENGINES BECAUSE OF DEFECT. HOWEVER MY QUAD 4 ENGINE HAS A DUAL CAM THEREFORE THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE POLICY FOR FREE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURE IS THE SAME AS THE SINGLE CAM ENGINES.
ENGINE COOLANT IS MIXING WITH THE OIL. FOR THREE YERARS THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING. IN 1996 CONSUMER'S HEAT WAS NOT HEATING AND THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE OIL. HE FOUND COOLANT MIXED IN THE OIL. MECHANIC CHANGED THE OIL. 6 MONTHS LATER THE COOLANT WAS MIXED IN THE OIL AGAIN. *AK
ENGINE HEAD CRACKED AT 82,000 AND WAS REPLACED, CRACKED AGAIN AT 102,000...
I HAVE HAD 2 TIMES WHERE I HAVE HAD WATER IN MY OIL. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS IN 12/97. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ME $1,800.00 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET AND BOLTS IN MY VEHICLE. I REPLACED THE ENTIRE MOTOR BECAUSE IT WAS CHEAPER TO DO IT THIS WAY. IT IS NOW 11/98, AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET AG…
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I HAVE HAD 2 TIMES WHERE I HAVE HAD WATER IN MY OIL. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS IN 12/97. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ME $1,800.00 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET AND BOLTS IN MY VEHICLE. I REPLACED THE ENTIRE MOTOR BECAUSE IT WAS CHEAPER TO DO IT THIS WAY. IT IS NOW 11/98, AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET AGAIN. I CANNOT GO BACK ON THE PERSON WHO REPAIRED MY CAR, BECAUSE I TOOK HIM TO COURT TO REPAIR IT RIGHT, AND ENDED UP TAKING IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THIS AGAIN. IT IS A COSTLY AND TIME CONSUMING JOB, AND I OBJECT. I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE TO DO THIS WITH A GRAND AM QUAD 4 ENGINE. THEY ARE JUNK AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED AND I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER GM PRODUCT.
THE QUAD 4 ENGINE IN THIS CAR IS DEFECTIVE. THE BLOCK CRACKED AND COOLANT LEAKED OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT I HAVE TALKED TO. PONTIAC SHOULD REIMBURSE THE OWNERS OF THE CARS THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
Official recalls
392V106000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Jul 17, 1992
THE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN INCORRECT SUSPENSION UPPER SPRING SEAT AT THE RIGHT-REAR POSITION. IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A REAR IMPACT ACCIDENT, THE RIGHT-HAND REAR WHEEL HOUSE FLANGE COULD SEVER THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE AND SPILL FUEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 301,FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY. SPILLED FUEL IN A LOW SPEED ACCIDENT CAN RESULT IN AFIRE.
Remedy: INSPECT AND REPLACE INCORRECT UPPER SPRING SEAT WITH THE CORRECT PART.
91V204000 · Suspension:rear
Nov 19, 1991
THE BOLTS AND NUTS WHICH ATTACH THE BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLY TO THE REAR AXLE FLANGE ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED ON SOME VEHICLES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS WOULD ALLOW EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE BEARING-HUBASSEMBLY RELATIVE TO THE REAR AXLE FLANGE AND COULD CAUSE ELONGATION ANDEVENTUAL SEPARATION OF THE ATTACHING BOLTS FROM THE REAR AXLE FLANGE. IF THISWERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE AFFECTED TIRE AND WHEEL COULDTRACK ERRATICALLY, EVENTUALLY CAUSING FAILURE OF THE OTHER ATTACHING BOLTS. THETIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN AVEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: TIGHTEN REAR AXLE BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLY FASTENERS, AND REPLACE ALL THE FASTENERS ON A WHEEL IF TWO OR MORE BOLTS ARE FOUND TO BE LOOSE.
91V182000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
Oct 21, 1991
THE PASSENGER'S SIDE EASY-ENTRY SEAT ADJUSTER MAY FAIL FULLY LOCK INTO POSITION AFTER THE SEAT BACK HAS BEEN TILTED FORWARD AND THE SEAT SLID FORWARD, THEN RETURNED TO ITS ORIGINAL POSTITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SEAT ADJUSTER FAILS TO LOCK INTO POSITION, THEPASSENGER SEAT WOULD SLIDE FORWARD IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.OCCUPANTS OF THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD FACE INCREASED RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY.
Remedy: REPLACE THE ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY ON THE SEAT.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.