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1994 Pontiac Grand Am

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Grand Am years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Pontiac Grand Am are substantially higher than the model-year median of 82.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 27 of 377 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 73 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 71 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

58 crash reports28 fire reports38 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

71 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2001
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 00V287000/ ENGINE STARTER. ALSO, EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED EXTERIOR LIGHTS OF VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONING. EXTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD STOP OPERATING WHEN SWITCHING BETWEEN DIM AND BRIGHT. AT TIMES, THERE WAS SMELL OF BURNING WIRES. *AK PING OF TILT ON STEERING COLUMN BACKED OU…

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CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 00V287000/ ENGINE STARTER. ALSO, EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED EXTERIOR LIGHTS OF VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONING. EXTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD STOP OPERATING WHEN SWITCHING BETWEEN DIM AND BRIGHT. AT TIMES, THERE WAS SMELL OF BURNING WIRES. *AK PING OF TILT ON STEERING COLUMN BACKED OUT TWICE. THE REPLACEMENT NEW SWITCH FAILED. THE DASH LIGHTS WERE OUT. THE WINDOW BRACKETS WERE WEAK. THE FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS FAILED FREQUENTLY. *YH

NHTSA ODI #880869

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2001
Electrical System

SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING KEY ON VEHICLE WILL NOT START, CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE RELATED TO A LETTER THAT WAS RECEIVED FROM DEALER, STATING A FIRE COULD START WHEN THIS CONDITION WAS PRESENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #880390

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2001
Electrical System

THE STARTER FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE, IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND BATTERY WERE ALSO REPLACED, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

NHTSA ODI #559505

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2001
Electrical System

STARTER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL 00V287, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #559412

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2001
Electrical SystemSteering

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE IS A RECALL REGARDING THE STARTER (00V287). *SLC

NHTSA ODI #559387

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2001
Electrical SystemFire

ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, SOMETIMES IT WOULD ACT STRANGE, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE NEAR THE FIREWALL AND BURNED, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED, FIRE MAY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO RECALL (00V-287). CJ

NHTSA ODI #559248

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2001
Electrical SystemFire

00 V 287 000/ENGINE STARTER: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FIRE BEFORE RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE. BEEN WAITING ON JAMES WOOD AUTO MOTORS, IN DENTON, TX; PHONE# 540/591-9663 FOR A REPAIR DATE. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #879236

Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2001
Electrical SystemStructure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMD TO HAVE SHORTED OUT. DOOR LOCKS AND HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. ONE DOOR WILL BE LOCKED WHILE THE REST WAS LOCKED. SOME OF WIRES WERE BURNT OUT UNDER STEERING. A RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE PUT ON . STARTER & ALTERNATOR HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. DEALER WAS TRYING TO REMEDY PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #878921

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2001
Electrical System

WHILE TRAVELING 35-40 MPH VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AND STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #878723

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire

I STARTED MY CAR AND IT DIDN'T START. IT THEN SMELLED LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. IT THEN STARTED AFTER THAT, BUT EVER SINCE IT DID NOT WORK WELL. A FEW DAYS LATER I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ABOUT FIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER THE FIRE, MY CAR WOULD START THEN DIE A FEW MINUTES LATER. I HAD TO KEEP JUMPING IT…

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I STARTED MY CAR AND IT DIDN'T START. IT THEN SMELLED LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. IT THEN STARTED AFTER THAT, BUT EVER SINCE IT DID NOT WORK WELL. A FEW DAYS LATER I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ABOUT FIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER THE FIRE, MY CAR WOULD START THEN DIE A FEW MINUTES LATER. I HAD TO KEEP JUMPING IT TO GET IT TO THE DEALER TO BE FIXED. THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND SERPENTINE BELT. I HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED JUST A YEAR AGO BECAUSE OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM BUT WAS UNAWARE OF THE RECALL THEN. I CALLED GM AND THEY TOLD ME "TOUGH LUCK" IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY. I DON'T THINK IT IS A COINCIDENCE THAT AFTER THE FIRE EVERYTHING WENT WRONG. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY, AND I FEEL GM SHOULD REIMBURSE ME. ALSO, SINCE WE CAN'T GET THIS RECALL FIXED UNTIL MARCH, I AM WORRIED THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT THE FIRE COULD HAVE AFFECTED THESE OTHER AREAS, AND SINCE IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, I DON'T THINK I OR OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY.

NHTSA ODI #739675

Official recalls

2

00V287000 · Electrical System:starter Assembly

Oct 2, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE STARTER FAILS TO ENGAGE AND THE DRIVER HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRODUCING HEAT THAT CAN MELT SWITCH PARTS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT AND VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION (ADEQUATE RESERVE CAPACITY, OR COLD CRANKING AMPS). THIS CAMPAIGN DOES NOT COVER BATTERY REPLACEMENT OR UNRELATED STARTING SYSTEM OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIRS.

94V122000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Jul 1, 1994

THESE VEHICLES WERE CONSTRUCTED WITH WELDS IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT PAN ASSEMBLY THAT ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO FUEL TANK LEAKAGE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT COLLISION. THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLIES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF A VEHICLE FIRE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT COLLISION.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL RIVETS ADJACENT TO THE LOCATIONS WHERE THE SUSPECT WELDS ARE LOCATED.

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

2

EA00007 · Steering Column Fires

Opened Mar 3, 2000 · Closed Feb 7, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

PE99063 · Steering Column Fire

Opened Oct 7, 1999 · Closed Mar 3, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

ODI HAS EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF ITS INVESTIGATION OF STEERING COLUMN FIRES TO INCLUDE ALL MODELS BUILT ON THE N-PLATFORM.GM HAS INDICATED IN ITS RESPONSE THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A ROTARY IGNITION SWITCH THAT HAS BEEN IN USE IN A NUMBER OF VEHICLE MODELS SINCE 1991 ON BOTH THE N AND J-PLATFORMS.HOWEVER, THE 1994-1995 N-PLATFORM IS OVER REPRESENTED ACCOUNTING FOR 83 (81%) OF THE COMBINDED TOTAL OF 102 REPORTS DESPITE BEING ONLY 14.2% OF THE COMBINED POPULATION. OF THE 10 NEW REPORTS RECEIVED SINCE OPENING EA99-063, 7 INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF A NO START CONDITION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE STARTER.A FIRE IS CLAIMED TO HAVE ENSUED IN THE STEERING COLUMN IMMEDIATELY THERAFTER.GM ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) (NO. 433203) JULY 1994 WHIICH ADDRESSED OWNER COMPLAINTS THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY NOT RETURN TO THE RUN POSITION AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED.THE TSB ADVISES THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MOUNTING SCREWS MAY BE EXCESSIVELY TORQUED RESULTING IN DISTORTION OF THE SWITCH HOUSING.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS WARRANTED TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE(S) AND TO DETERMIN IF A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS.