IllustrationTOWED TO PONTIAC DEALER (ADAMS PONTIAC IN ANNAPOLIS, MD) THEY SAY WILL COST ME ABOUT $400 "NEEDS NEW HOUSING". I FEEL MANUFACURING DEFECT, IE A STEERING WHEEL SHOULD NOT LOCK UP..COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.*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
Steering complaints
56 reportsTILT ADJUSTER ON THIS 1994 GRAND AM AS WELL AS MY WIFE'S1995 GRAND AM VIN# [XXX] HAVE BROKEN WITHIN 5 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. WHEN DRIVING YOU ARE ABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL UP AND DOWN. I TOOK ONE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $275.00 FOR THE REPAIR. I FEEL THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BEING THAT IT H…
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TILT ADJUSTER ON THIS 1994 GRAND AM AS WELL AS MY WIFE'S1995 GRAND AM VIN# [XXX] HAVE BROKEN WITHIN 5 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. WHEN DRIVING YOU ARE ABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL UP AND DOWN. I TOOK ONE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $275.00 FOR THE REPAIR. I FEEL THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BEING THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH GRAND AM'S.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
EA00007; A FIRE STARTED IN STEERING COLUMN. THERE SEEMED TO BE AN EXPLOSION. TOTAL LOSS. *AK
STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE.*AK
PIN FELL OUT OF STEERING COLLUMN AND LOST CONTROL OR STEERING, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH A FRONT END COLLISION ENSUED.*AK
GAS CAP DOOR DOES NOT OPEN. DEFECT IN RELEASE LATCH LOCATED AT DRIVER'S SEAT ON FLOOR. *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.
THERE ARE TWO PINS HOLDING THE ADJUSTABLE STEERING WHEEL TO THE COLUMN AND THESE PINS HAVE COME OUT 4 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST CAUSE AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN IN THAT THE PINS ARE HEAVY METAL THAT GO INTO ALUMINUM AND THE ALUMINUM EXPANDS WITH REPEATED MOVEMENT FROM ADJUSTING THE STEERING WH…
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THERE ARE TWO PINS HOLDING THE ADJUSTABLE STEERING WHEEL TO THE COLUMN AND THESE PINS HAVE COME OUT 4 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST CAUSE AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN IN THAT THE PINS ARE HEAVY METAL THAT GO INTO ALUMINUM AND THE ALUMINUM EXPANDS WITH REPEATED MOVEMENT FROM ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL UP AND DOWN. CONSEQUENTLY, THE PINS NO LONGER STAY IN. THIS IS LIKELY TO CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT EXPECTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO COME LOOSE. I HAVE HAD BOTH PINS COME OUT WITHIN MINUTES OF EACH OTHER.
2 PINS THAT HOLDS STEERING WHEEL TO COLUMN KEEP FALLING OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER KEEPS PUSHING PINS BACK IN, BUT DEFECT KEEPS REOCCURRING.*AK
MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT WAS LISTED UNDER VOQ NUMBER ODI533581. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR AN OFFICAIL TO CONTACT ME REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOT ABOUT TO KEEP TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE PINS PRESSED BACK INTO PLACED WHEN THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED THIS WAY. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *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.