IllustrationIGNITION SYSTEM SHORTED OUT/SMOKED.
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
What owners actually said
377 reportsABS BRAKE PROBLEMS; DURING REGULAR BRAKING, NO INCLEMENT WEATHER, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH WHEN VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD. DEALER STATED THAT IT WILL COST $2,000.00 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE ABS. *AK
CONSUMER BEEN HAVING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TURNING OFF FOR NO KNOWN REASON. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP SENT JANUARY 1998.PROLEM STILL EXISTS AND STILL KEEPS TURNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG UPON IMPACT DURING REAR END COLLISION. VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. PRIOR TO ABOVE COLLISION.
DURING COLLISION SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED.
PIVOT PINS FOR HINGES THAT ALLOW STEERING COLUMN TO TILT, SLIP OUT OF THE HOLES. THERE IS NOT ANY TYPE OF TIGHTENING DEVISE TO KEEP THEM IN PLACE, ONLY TENSION FOR THE FIT. WHEN THEY SLID EOUT, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL ROCK.
BRAKES FAILED. IN MOST CASES WHEN BRAKES FAIL THERE IS A HISSING SOUND, THEN NO PEDAL RESISTANCE, SOME RESISTANCE THEN A THRUSH OF RESISTANCE TO FOOT. BRAKES MUST BE PUMPED IN ORDER TO FUNCTION. BRAKE FUNCTION IS ALSO LOST WHEN MAKING TURNS. MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED TWICE. FUNCTIONED FINE FOR APPROX. 1 MONTH AFTER FIRST R…
Read full complaint
BRAKES FAILED. IN MOST CASES WHEN BRAKES FAIL THERE IS A HISSING SOUND, THEN NO PEDAL RESISTANCE, SOME RESISTANCE THEN A THRUSH OF RESISTANCE TO FOOT. BRAKES MUST BE PUMPED IN ORDER TO FUNCTION. BRAKE FUNCTION IS ALSO LOST WHEN MAKING TURNS. MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED TWICE. FUNCTIONED FINE FOR APPROX. 1 MONTH AFTER FIRST REPAIR AND APPROX. TWO WEEKS AFTER SECOND REPAIR. ADVISED BY REPAIR SHOP TO TAKE VEHICLE TO MANUFACTURER FOR REPAIR OF RIGHT SENSOR ON RIGHT FRONT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT TRAINED FOR REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM.
WHEN ENGAGING HIGH BEAMS, FAILURE OCCURS.
WHEN TRAVELING AT 15 MPH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT FELL OFF, CAUSING THE TIRE TO COLL APSE AT AN ANGLE, RESULTING IN THE CONSUMER LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, PARTS REPLACED. *AK
PREMATURE TRANSMISSON FAILURE.
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.