IllustrationDT: WHEN DRIVING OVER A POT HOLE THREE DAYS AGO, THE FRONT AXLE BROKE, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE TIRE AND THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A SERVICE DEALER. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM BEFORE THE AXLE BROKE OFF. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, POLICE REPORT AND DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN ASSESSED.*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
Power Train complaints
22 reportsI HAVE A 1994 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE.I WAS COMING AROUND A TURN AND THE DRIVERS REAR AXLE SNAPPED CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF. THERE WAS NO WARNING. I COULDN'T REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE WHEEL CAME OFF AND WRECKED INTO AN EMBANKMENT ROLLING AND, TOTALING THE VEHICLE.*AK
AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED TRANSMISSION ON JULY 22, 1996 AT 13,830 MILES, AGAIN WERE REPLACE ON MAY 4, 2001 AT 51,125 MILES. CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AT 63,000 MILES. *AK
THIS PIN AND SOCKET CONNECTION OF THE UNDER-DASH CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES. ONLY ABOUT 1 YEAR OUT OF 8 HAS THE ASSEMBLY REMAINED INTACT. I HAVE HAD TO CRAWL UNDER THE DASH MANY TIMES TO REATTACH IT, AND IT DEVELOPS WEAR THAT ALLOWS FRICTION TO KEEP IT IN PLACE. THE BUSHING AND "C" CLAMP DESIGN IS POOR BE…
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THIS PIN AND SOCKET CONNECTION OF THE UNDER-DASH CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES. ONLY ABOUT 1 YEAR OUT OF 8 HAS THE ASSEMBLY REMAINED INTACT. I HAVE HAD TO CRAWL UNDER THE DASH MANY TIMES TO REATTACH IT, AND IT DEVELOPS WEAR THAT ALLOWS FRICTION TO KEEP IT IN PLACE. THE BUSHING AND "C" CLAMP DESIGN IS POOR BECAUSE THE BUSHING WEARS AWAY AND THE CLAMP IS FORCED OFF. I HAVE "FIXED" THE PROBLEM WHILE IN-LANE ON BUSY STREETS WITH MY LEGS EXPOSED TO TRAFFIC. THE ORIGINAL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR AT KINCAID AUTOS IN LEAVENWORTH, KS, AND NOW THE REPLACEMENT HAS FAILED. NLM
PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE, THESE SYMPTOMS WERE SIMILAR TO THE ONES OUTLINED IN THE RECALL 00V-287, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FIND THE PROBLEM THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND THE VEHICLE HAD A FEW TUNE-UPS. NLM
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPORTED OR TOLD BEFORE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE MAY FALL UNDER THE OHIO "LEMON" LAW. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK
ENGINE WAS ON AND VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. DOOR WAS OPEN. VEHICLE SAT FOR 5 MINUTES AND THEN SLIPPED INTO REVERSE. HAD TO JUMP INTO MOVING VEHICLE THROUGH WINDOW TO PRESS BRAKE AND STOP VEHICLE. NO INJURIES. HOWEVER, OTHER PERSON IN CAR TRIED TO ENGAGE PARK FORWARD AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. *AK
THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS CLAIMS FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE, BRAKE FAILURE, AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHY HASN'T PONTIAC FIXED THESE PROBLEMS? THESE ARE SAFETY PROBLEMS. ARE THERE ANY WARRANTIES AVAILBLE? ALSO HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF ALL SAFETY RECALLS HAVE BEEN COMPLETE ON MY CAR. MY LOCAL DEALER DID NOT CALL ME BACK ON THIS.…
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THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS CLAIMS FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE, BRAKE FAILURE, AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHY HASN'T PONTIAC FIXED THESE PROBLEMS? THESE ARE SAFETY PROBLEMS. ARE THERE ANY WARRANTIES AVAILBLE? ALSO HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF ALL SAFETY RECALLS HAVE BEEN COMPLETE ON MY CAR. MY LOCAL DEALER DID NOT CALL ME BACK ON THIS. I NEED TO KNOW IF THE GAS TANK REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE ON THIS CAR.
DRIVING CAR AT 55MPH AND CAR APPEARED TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, COASTED TO STOP. SPRAQUE ASSEMBLY FAILED PER MECHANIC, COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF TRANSMISSION. CAR WOULD APPEAR TO HESITATE AND SURGE AT AROUND 55 MPH, DIAGNOSTICS REPORTED ENGIN E HEAD GASKET LEAK OR BAD HEAD, FOUND TO HAVE EXTERNAL CRACKS TO HEAD AND CRACK BY PLUG. MECHA…
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DRIVING CAR AT 55MPH AND CAR APPEARED TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, COASTED TO STOP. SPRAQUE ASSEMBLY FAILED PER MECHANIC, COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF TRANSMISSION. CAR WOULD APPEAR TO HESITATE AND SURGE AT AROUND 55 MPH, DIAGNOSTICS REPORTED ENGIN E HEAD GASKET LEAK OR BAD HEAD, FOUND TO HAVE EXTERNAL CRACKS TO HEAD AND CRACK BY PLUG. MECHANIC DESCRIBED AS LATENT DEFECT IN HEAD. CAR HAD NEVER OVERHEATED. *AK
THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED A PROBLEM WAS 2 YEARS BEFORE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURED. WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION JUMPED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR ANOTHER YEAR, AND SINCE IT WASN'T A RECURRING PROBLEM, I DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO IT. BUT ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO THE CAR R…
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THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED A PROBLEM WAS 2 YEARS BEFORE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURED. WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION JUMPED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR ANOTHER YEAR, AND SINCE IT WASN'T A RECURRING PROBLEM, I DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO IT. BUT ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO THE CAR REALLY STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS. WHEN I STARTED IT, THERE WAS A COLD DELAY. THAT IS, THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE IN ANY DIRECTION--FORWARD OR REVERSE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPUTABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND THEY FOUND EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF METAL IN THE SUMP PAN. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO HAVE A COMPLETE OVERHAUL COSTING $1,594.14--A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY. THIS REALLY DOESN'T HAVE TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THAT I HAVE HAD , IN MY OPINION, AN EXTRORDINARY AMOUNT OF WORK DONE ON THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION OF THIS CAR. EVERY YEAR, THE BRAKES NEED REPLACING AND I'VE HAD THE FRONT STRUTS REPLACED TWICE IN THREE YEARS.
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.