IllustrationRECALL 00V287000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 0079; VEHICLE DOESN'T START, AND WHEN TRYING IT SENDS POWER SURGES, CAUSING IT TO SMOKE. RELAY IS BAD AND WILL BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER. CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR IGNITION SWITCH ALTHOUGH THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. *AK
1995 Pontiac Grand Am
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Grand Am years
Owner complaints for the 1995 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: 33 of 409 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 120 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. 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.
59 crash reports41 fire reports45 injury reports
What owners actually said
409 reportsVEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A DIRECT FRONTAL COLLISION AT 50MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES TO DRIVER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYS THE CHECK OIL LIGHT GUAGE AS ON EVEN THOUGH THE OIL LEVEL IS FINE. I CONTINUE TO CHECK THE OIL BUT I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY CAR IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. THIS IS DANGEROUS THOUGH BECAUSE THE USER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KNOW IF THE CAR DID DEVELOP A LARGE OIL LEAK. THE CHECK OIL LIGHT WOULD BE ON …
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THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYS THE CHECK OIL LIGHT GUAGE AS ON EVEN THOUGH THE OIL LEVEL IS FINE. I CONTINUE TO CHECK THE OIL BUT I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY CAR IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. THIS IS DANGEROUS THOUGH BECAUSE THE USER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KNOW IF THE CAR DID DEVELOP A LARGE OIL LEAK. THE CHECK OIL LIGHT WOULD BE ON BUT IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON. THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE OR AN ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR. I DO KNOW THAT THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ALREADY PUBLISHED WHICH DESCRIBES THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR AND MAKE OF PONTIAC.
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY BRAKES, BUT BRAKE PEDAL HAD DISCONNECTED AND WAS LAYING ON THE FLOORBOARD.VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A 4 WAY STOP DUE TO A LACK OF BRAKES. DEALERSHIP WAS EXAMINING VEHICLE. *AK *SLC
THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THIS CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE, AT APPROX. 3,000 MI. THE ABS SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS "REPAIRED" UNDER WARRANTY. AT APPROX. 5,000 MI. THE ABS/BRAKE WARNING LIGHT BOTH CAME ON THE DEALER KEPT THE CAR FOR 2 1/2 DAYS "REPARING THE SYSTEM". THE ONLY PROBLEMS UP UNTILL NOW HAVE BEEN THE ABS/BRAKE WAR…
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THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THIS CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE, AT APPROX. 3,000 MI. THE ABS SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS "REPAIRED" UNDER WARRANTY. AT APPROX. 5,000 MI. THE ABS/BRAKE WARNING LIGHT BOTH CAME ON THE DEALER KEPT THE CAR FOR 2 1/2 DAYS "REPARING THE SYSTEM". THE ONLY PROBLEMS UP UNTILL NOW HAVE BEEN THE ABS/BRAKE WARNING LIGHT BOTH COMING ON AT THE SAME TIME, TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON WOULD CLEAR THE LIGHTS AND SEEM TO CLEAR THE PROBLEM. AT ABOUT 48,000 MI. THE PEDEL WOULD OCCASIONALY DROP VERY CLOSE TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES(MORE SO UNDER LIGHT BRAKING). NOW THE PEDAL MUST BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR TO SLOW AND STOP. AS OF TODAYS BRAKE INSPECTION, MY LOCAL MECHANIC TELLS ME TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER, BECAUSE THERE IS SOMTHING WRONG WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER/ABS MODULATOR. *AK
THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION THE THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED IT TO SMOKE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO RECALL 00V-287, THE COMPONENT FAILED PRIOR TO NOTIFICATION AND THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS TOLD THAT SHE WAS NOT ENTITLED TO REFUND. NLM
CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE AT 8:15 AM, WHEN SHE CAME BACK TO VEHICLE BETWEEN 9:30 AND 10 AM, AND IT WAS BURNING. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. CAUSE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 00V287000, BUT REPAIRS HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED. *AK
IGNITION STARTED SMOKING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEN WOULD NOT START, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER LATER RECEIVED RECALL 00V287, DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO WAY TO TELL IF THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL BECAUSE THE RELAY SWITCH HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT IF HER REPAIRS …
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IGNITION STARTED SMOKING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEN WOULD NOT START, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER LATER RECEIVED RECALL 00V287, DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO WAY TO TELL IF THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL BECAUSE THE RELAY SWITCH HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT IF HER REPAIRS ARE RELATED TO THE RECALL. *SLC
IGNITION WILL NOT REMAIN IN THE ON POSITION. IT IS POSSIBLE TO START THE VEHICLE AND GENTLY RELEASE THE KEY BUT AS YOU DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD A BUMP OR SOME TYPE OF CONTACT WITH THE KEY WILL CAUSE THE IGNITION TO SHUT OFF. LOSING ALL POWER IMMEDIATELY. *AK
AIR CONDITIONER WOULD GIVE OFF SOME TYPE OF GAS ODOR WHENEVER VEHICLE IS AT A STOP. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC AIR CONDITIONER WAS RECYCLING AIR FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT THROUGHOUT VEHICLE.*AK
Official recalls
100V287000 · 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.
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.