IllustrationMileage unknown · Mar 11, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #704304
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 reportsNO SUMMARY
FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY.
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING AN UNKNOWN PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR, VEHICLE "BUCKS." THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS, YET THE PROBLEM REMAINS UNDIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
ALTERNATOR FAILED CAUSING COMPLETE SHUT DOWN.
LEFT REAR WHEEL FELL OFF CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH CONCRETE DIVIDER. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).
TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETE FAILURE WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING.
BOTH FRONT HUB BEARINGS MAKES A NOISE. YH
BRAKES FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS TO INDICATE FAILURES, NO FAILURES FOUND IN BRAKE SYSTEM.
WHEN PUTTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN BETWEEN THE DASH AND STEERING WHEEL, CAR WAS OFF. THE STARTER ENGAGED TO START THE ENGINE IN CAR, AND FIRE STARTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NO WARRANT., DEALER CONTACTED AND WILL ESTIMATE DAMAGES. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH TO AVOID HITTING A HORSE, AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. ALSO, SHOULDER STRAP DIDN'T HOLD THE CONSUMER , CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT HIS FACE. *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.