IllustrationSTEERING COLUMN HAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *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
What owners actually said
377 reportsREAR TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING STEERING COLUMN CAME LOOSE AND DROPPED INTO CONSUMER'S LAP. DEALER REPLACED STEERING COLUMN. STEERING COLUMN CAME LOOSE TWO MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. *AKCONSUMER CALLED THE GM CUSTOMER SEVICE NAD THE REP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *JG
FRONT END COLLISION. GARAGE THEN REDID CAR REPLACED AIR BAG SENSOR, IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTHING WRONG WITH SENSOR IT WOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, ABS LIGHTS BLINKED OFF AND ON, WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THEY DID NOT HOLD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK. CONSUMER WAS SLOWING DOWN AT LIGHT AND THE BRAKES FAILED AT 40 MPH, THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES.*JB
WHILE DRIVING AT 34MPH, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FAILED BRAKES WAS THE REASON FOR THE ACCIDENT. *YH
WHEN CLICKING ON BRIGHT LIGHTS ,LIGHTS GO COMPLETLY OUT UNTIL YOU CLICK SWITCH AGAIN .TURN SIGNAL FOR RIGHT SIDE DOES NOT WORK EITHER AFTER COMPLETE CHANGE OF BULBS AND FUSES ,CRUISE CONTROL DOESNT WORK EITHER
WHILE DRIVING BRAKES GRAB AND PULL BEFORE STOPPING.*AK *TT
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
AT APROX 65,000 MILES TOLD BY INDEPENDENT SHOP THAT ANTIFREEZE WAS PRESENT IN OIL, POSSIBLE CRACKED HEAD, DEALER SAID NO CRACKS - POSSIBLY BAD OIL, ABOUT 80,000 MILES TOLD AGAIN BY SAME SHOP AND DEALER THIS TIME THAT ANTIFREEZE PRESENT IN OIL, DEFINITELY CRACKED HEAD, REPLACED CYNLINDER HEAD AND ALL UPPER ENGINE PARTS, ABOUT 300…
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AT APROX 65,000 MILES TOLD BY INDEPENDENT SHOP THAT ANTIFREEZE WAS PRESENT IN OIL, POSSIBLE CRACKED HEAD, DEALER SAID NO CRACKS - POSSIBLY BAD OIL, ABOUT 80,000 MILES TOLD AGAIN BY SAME SHOP AND DEALER THIS TIME THAT ANTIFREEZE PRESENT IN OIL, DEFINITELY CRACKED HEAD, REPLACED CYNLINDER HEAD AND ALL UPPER ENGINE PARTS, ABOUT 3000 MILES LATER ENGINE THREW A ROD. *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.