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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 →

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 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANT-ILOCK BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE ANT-ILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING. MECHANIC STATES POSSIBLE SNOW AND ICE BUILD UP COULD CAUSE THE ANTI-LOCK SENSOR TO MALFUNCTION. PLEASE ADD FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #808365

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 1997
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING, ON ICY ROAD AT NIGHT, HIT GAURDRAIL AT APPROX. 35-40MPH, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, FILLED VEHICLE WITH SMELLY CHEMICAL SMOKE, CAUSED FACIAL INJURIES, KNOCKED OUT TEETH, AND BURNED FACE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #807950

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 1996
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT/NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURY.

NHTSA ODI #512209

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FAILURE OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #804762

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1996
Structure

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE HOOD ASSEMBLY FLEW UP. EXPLAIN IN MORE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #802988

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 1996
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING A SHORT IN THE HEAD LIGHTS/ BRAKE LIGHTS, WHEN DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT; ALSO, MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED 3 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #801883

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 1996
Power Train

CLUTCH PEDAL LINKAGE COMES OFF.

NHTSA ODI #508156

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 1996
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, HAD TO USE THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND PEDAL WAS LAYING ON THE FLOOR BOARD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #801419

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1996
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

BRAKE/ACCELERATOR PEDAL DESIGN TO CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER, CAUSING DRIVER TO ACCIDENTALLY DEPRESS WRONG PEDAL, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #507945

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingSeatsService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE FAILURE, ALSO REPLACED LOOSE MOTOR MOUNTS/POWER DOOR LOCKS/STEERING COLUMN/PASSENGER'S SEAT RECLINED BACKWARDS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #507603

Official recalls

2

00V287000 · 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

2

EA00007 · 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.