IllustrationQUAD 4 ENGINES HAVE A HIGH RATE OF HEAD CRACKING, PONTIAC ADMITS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH 1992 &1993 MODELS BUT NOT 1994 ONES WITH THE SAME ENGINE. WHAT IS BEING DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEMS?*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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
73 reportsBRAKE FAILED. NLM. CONSUMER STATES PRIOR TO RECALL, A NEW STARTER WAS NEEDED AS WELL AS A NEW ENGINE AND ALSO A NEW LIGHTING SWITCH, CONSUMER HAS ALSO HAD TO GET NEW TIRES. *JB
THE HEAD CRACKED ON THE ENGINE AT THE MOLDING OR CASTING PULL OFF. THEIR WERE 3 OTHER VEHICALS THE SAME YEAR AND TYPE (QUAD 4) AT THE SHOP WHERE MY CAR WAS FIXED. THEY ALL HAD A CRACK AT THE SAME EXACT SPOT AS MY CAR DID ON THE HEAD. NO HELP FROM GM. SHOULD BE RECALLED BUT THEY WILL NOT DO IT. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE CRACK.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK ALL NECESSARY PARTS WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER AND VEHICLE HAS NO PROBLEM AS OF NOW. *YH
SINCE PURCHASED NEW THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. NOW THERE IS A SWITCH RECALL IN 2001. WHY HASN'T SOMETHING BEEN DONE ABOUT ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS. LAST WEEK THE CRANKSENSOR WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING 55MPH. CAR STOPPED RUNNING
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
WITH QUAD 4 ENIGNE , POOR DESIGN OF HEAD GASKET CAUSED PREMATURE CRACKING.*AK
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.
FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET IS CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INTO ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY ALSO CAUSING OTHER RELATED DAMAGE . *AK
PONTIAC HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 1992 AND19 93 QUAD 4 ENGINES. WE CONTACTED PONTIAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ONLY TO GET THE SAME RESPONSE THAT THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO ASSIS US DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. WE PURCHASED A 6-YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS VEHICLE AND IT JUST EXPIRED …
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PONTIAC HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 1992 AND19 93 QUAD 4 ENGINES. WE CONTACTED PONTIAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ONLY TO GET THE SAME RESPONSE THAT THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO ASSIS US DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. WE PURCHASED A 6-YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS VEHICLE AND IT JUST EXPIRED IN MAY 2000. THIS DOES NOT MATTER TO THE DEALER OR TO PONTIAC. THE DEALER DID NOT EVEN OFFER TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AFTER I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE CRACKED HEAD. I FEEL THAT PONTIAC KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND JUST WANTS TO AVOID IT. I SEE MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH CRACKED HEADS ON 94 GRAND AMS BY REVIEWING THE CASES ON YOUR SITE. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *AK
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.