IllustrationWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CUT OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP/ GAS TANK/CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND TWO IGNITION COILS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. OWNER SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR COST OF REPAIRS. *AK *ML
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY STREET VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD TO USE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS TO AVOID BEING HIT. *AK
EA00007; CONSUMER PUT KEY IN IGNITION AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH STEERING COLUMN. CONSUMER SUFFERED SMOKE INHALATION WHILE TRYING TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE THEN TRIED TO TURN OVER, AND START BY ITSELF WITHOUT KEYS IN IGNITION.*AK
THE CAR WAS DRIVEN FOR 8 MINUTES AND PARKED. I WENT BACK TO THE CAR 3 1/2 HOURS LATER AND FOUND THE PASSENGER SIDE BURNED UP. APPARENTLY A FIRE IGNITED IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING UNDER THE DASH WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. THE DASH BOARD, CONTROLS, WIRING, AND STEERING WHEEL WERE ALL MELTED. THE WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED FROM THE…
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THE CAR WAS DRIVEN FOR 8 MINUTES AND PARKED. I WENT BACK TO THE CAR 3 1/2 HOURS LATER AND FOUND THE PASSENGER SIDE BURNED UP. APPARENTLY A FIRE IGNITED IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING UNDER THE DASH WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. THE DASH BOARD, CONTROLS, WIRING, AND STEERING WHEEL WERE ALL MELTED. THE WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED FROM THE HEAT. THE VISOR FELL ON THE SEAT AND BURNED THE SEAT. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE. I AM WAITING ON A FORMAL REPORT FROM THE INSURANCE CLAIM. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE ALARM WOULD GO OFF FOR NO REASON. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED BY THE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY. *AK
VEHICLE SMOKES WHEN IGNITION IS STARTED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
PUT KEY IN THE IGNITION. WOULDN'T START. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. MORE SMOKE STARTED TO APPEAR. WITHIN MINUTES THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE CAR. NOT MORE THAN A MINUTE LATER THE FRONT SEATS OF THE CAR WERE INGULFED IN FLAMES. IN A MATTER OF MINUTES, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. THE CAR…
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PUT KEY IN THE IGNITION. WOULDN'T START. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. MORE SMOKE STARTED TO APPEAR. WITHIN MINUTES THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE CAR. NOT MORE THAN A MINUTE LATER THE FRONT SEATS OF THE CAR WERE INGULFED IN FLAMES. IN A MATTER OF MINUTES, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED. *AK
ENGINE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON, REPLACED PARTS ON THE CAR AND THE LIGHT STILL POPS ON.
THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. *MJS
SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 96V250000. MY VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, THE REAR FLASHERS SUDDENLY DID NOT OPERATE. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THIS AND I HAD TO PAY. *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.