IllustrationWENT TO TURN THE CAR ON AND IT DIDN'T START, SAT FOR 20 MINUTES GIGGLED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO GET IT TO START, NOTHING HAPPENED, KEPT TRYING FOR 20 MINUTES THEN IT JUST STARTED.*AK
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 →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: 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 reportsCONSUMER EXPERIENCING VARIOUS DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH LOW BEAMS NOT WORKING. ALSO, HAZARD LIGHTS STAY ON, AND HIGH BEAMS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER NOTED PROBLEM MAY BE LINKED TO PONTIAC'S MOST RECENT RECALL. *AK
MY KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING AND BEING DRIVEN. I CAN CONTINUE DRIVING. THIS FIRST OCCURRED WHEN I HIT MY KEY BY ACCIDENT WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AND IT WENT FLYING ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND I STILL HAD THE ABILITY TO DRIVE. THE KEY IS NOT WORN. IT HAPPENS WITH A NEW KEY …
Read full complaint
MY KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING AND BEING DRIVEN. I CAN CONTINUE DRIVING. THIS FIRST OCCURRED WHEN I HIT MY KEY BY ACCIDENT WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AND IT WENT FLYING ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND I STILL HAD THE ABILITY TO DRIVE. THE KEY IS NOT WORN. IT HAPPENS WITH A NEW KEY ALSO. THE ISSUE IS IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF FMVSS 114, WHICH STATES: EACH VEHICLE SHALL HAVE A KEY-LOCKING SYSTEM WHICH, WHENEVER THE KEY IS REMOVED, PREVENTS: (A) THE NORMAL ACTIVATION OF THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE OR MOTOR; AND (B) EITHER STEERING OR FORWARD SELF-MOBILITY OF THE VEHICLE OR BOTH. MY VEHICLE IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. DEALER WANTS ME TO PAY FOR REPAIR, SAYING IT IS A DURABILITY ISSUE. I SAY ACCORDING TO FMVSS 114, THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A WORN ITEM AND IT IS NOT A DURABILITY ISSUE, BUT RATHER A DIRECT VIOLATION AND THE PROPER ITEMS SHOULD BE REPLACED PROMPTLY, FREE OF CHARGE.
CAR HAD TOUGH TIME TO ACCELERATE, AFTER THREE VISITS TO REPAIR SHOP, PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE TERMINALS FROM THE MAIN COMPUTER TO THE 02 SENSOR WERE BAD. HAD TO REPLACE COMPUTER AND SENSOR. HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING, TAKEN IN TO BE REPAIRED AND FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE HEAD ITSELF WAS CRACK WHERE #2 CYLINDER IS LOCATED. RE…
Read full complaint
CAR HAD TOUGH TIME TO ACCELERATE, AFTER THREE VISITS TO REPAIR SHOP, PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE TERMINALS FROM THE MAIN COMPUTER TO THE 02 SENSOR WERE BAD. HAD TO REPLACE COMPUTER AND SENSOR. HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING, TAKEN IN TO BE REPAIRED AND FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE HEAD ITSELF WAS CRACK WHERE #2 CYLINDER IS LOCATED. REPAIR SHOP STATED IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH QUAD FOUR GRAND AMS. HAD TO PAY APPROX. $2,500 IN REPAIRS
WHILE DRIVING WITH LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD, HEADLIGHTS WOULD CONSTANTLY GO OUT, AND AT THIS TIME, WERE NOT WORKING. ALSO, TAIL LIGHTS WORKED ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT LIGHTS. IN ADDITION, STARTER AND BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
PE99063, VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A MALL AREA ,IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES. , CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AND THEN SMELLED ELECTRICAL BURNING. CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD, HEARD CRACKLIN GNOISE COMING FROM A SMALL BOX BETWEEN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND RADIATOR , AT THE SAME TIME CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THERE WA…
Read full complaint
PE99063, VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A MALL AREA ,IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES. , CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AND THEN SMELLED ELECTRICAL BURNING. CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD, HEARD CRACKLIN GNOISE COMING FROM A SMALL BOX BETWEEN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND RADIATOR , AT THE SAME TIME CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM LEFT SIDE OF STEERING COLUMN ,RIGHT NEXT TO TURN SIGNALS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. INSURANCE COMPANY DID INSPECT VEHICLE, AND IT WAS LISTED AS UNDETERMINED CAUSE. BUT, SUGGESTED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *AK
INTERIOR & EXTERIOR LIGHTS GO OFF UPON ENGAGING HIGH BEAMS. *AK
VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. 30-45 MINUTES LATER, THICK BLACK SMOKE FOLLOWED BY FLAMES BURST FROM STEERING COLUMN. FIRE DESTROYED DASBOARD, WINDSHIELD AND CEILING BEFORE BEING EXTINGUSHED. *YH
STARTED CAR, TURNED OFF ENGINE, RESTARTED CAR, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER STEERING WHEEL. IN MATTER OF SECONDS FULL BLOWN FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER DASHBOARD. ENTIRE ENTERIOR OF CAR BURNED. NO FEASIBLE REPAIRS POSSIBLE. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR AND SOON AFTER WHITE SMOKE BEGAN TO BILLOWING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. NLM
Official recalls
200V287000 · 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
2EA00007 · 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.