IllustrationPERIODICALLY THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION. THIS HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE SENDING UNIT TO THE CRANKCASE. *AK
1996 Pontiac Grand Am
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Grand Am years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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: 78 of 450 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 122 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 104 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
32 crash reports14 fire reports52 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
122 reportsCAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING, DAYLIGHTS, ALL DASH GAUGES ETC. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT TROUBLE. MY TROUBLE APPEARS MAINLY WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON WITH THE HEATER BLOWING ON DEFOGGER. IT COMES AND GOES EVERY SO OFTEN ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING AT 5:00 A.M. WHEN ITS COLD AND HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AND DEFOGGER IS NEEDED. A…
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CAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING, DAYLIGHTS, ALL DASH GAUGES ETC. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT TROUBLE. MY TROUBLE APPEARS MAINLY WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON WITH THE HEATER BLOWING ON DEFOGGER. IT COMES AND GOES EVERY SO OFTEN ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING AT 5:00 A.M. WHEN ITS COLD AND HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AND DEFOGGER IS NEEDED. ALTERNATOR WAS RECENTLY REPLACED BUT THE CAR IS STILL EXPERIENCING A CHRISTINE HAUNTED CAR SYNDROME WITH THE ELECTRICAL AND ITS GETTING DANGEROUS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, AND SINCE IT IS INTERMITTENT, WHEN IT HAPPENS THE CAR'S TROUBLE CANT BE LOCATED. *JB
THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OVER, THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING LEVELS FLUCTUATED, THE DASHBOARD LIGHT FLICKERED ON/OFF, AND THE BATTERY DIED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOR A PROBLEM THAT HASN'T BEEN FIXED. SCC *NLM
THE ENGINE STALLED TWICE IN DRIVING. ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR. WINDOWS GET STUCK IN THE MIDDLE AND DON'T GO UP AND DOWN. TS
THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES, THE BATTERY FAILED AND WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE DASH LIGHTS FLICKER, THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHT FLUCTUATE, THE IGNITION CLICKS AND THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE STARTED. NLM
NO SUMMARY. DT
COOLANT LEAKING INTO CRANKCASE, ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. ALSO I HAVE REPLACED 3 ALTERNATORS SINCE I OWNED THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST ONE AT 40000 MILES. THIS CAR BY MY BOOK IS CRAP. DT
THE WIRING MUST BE SHOT BECAUSE ANY THING THAT IS ELECTRIC IS ALWAYS GOING OUT. DT
NHTSA RECALL 02V070000 IGNITION SWITCH; MARTIN CADILLAC COMPANY, INC., LOS ANGELES, CA; VEHICLE HAS HAD RECALL PERFORMED TWICE WITH THE PROBLEM OF THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILING, REOCCURING. THE OWNER IS TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK IN FOR A THIRD TIME TO GET IGNITION SWITCH REPAIRED, FOR A THIRD TIME. THE DEALERSHIP IS RELUCTANT OF…
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NHTSA RECALL 02V070000 IGNITION SWITCH; MARTIN CADILLAC COMPANY, INC., LOS ANGELES, CA; VEHICLE HAS HAD RECALL PERFORMED TWICE WITH THE PROBLEM OF THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILING, REOCCURING. THE OWNER IS TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK IN FOR A THIRD TIME TO GET IGNITION SWITCH REPAIRED, FOR A THIRD TIME. THE DEALERSHIP IS RELUCTANT OF REPAIRING RECALL ITEM A THIRD TIME, WHICH IS FRUSTRATING THE CONSUMER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS
KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION AFTER PUTTING INTO PARK. STICKS AT VARIOUS TIMES AND FOR VARIOUS LENGTHS OF TIME. THE LIGHTS STAY ON WHICH HAS DRAINED THE BATTERY TWICE. HAVE HAD THREE DIFFERENT LOCAL DEALERS CHECK. THEY DID THINGS LIKE GREASE IT, MAKE NEW KEYS AND SCRATCH THEIR HEAD. NONE OF THESE HAVE SOLVED MY PROBLEM.…
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KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION AFTER PUTTING INTO PARK. STICKS AT VARIOUS TIMES AND FOR VARIOUS LENGTHS OF TIME. THE LIGHTS STAY ON WHICH HAS DRAINED THE BATTERY TWICE. HAVE HAD THREE DIFFERENT LOCAL DEALERS CHECK. THEY DID THINGS LIKE GREASE IT, MAKE NEW KEYS AND SCRATCH THEIR HEAD. NONE OF THESE HAVE SOLVED MY PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THE CAR AS A "PROGRAM CAR" WITH 14967 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM STARTED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE IN 1996. AFTER 5 YEARS OF THINKING I WAS ALONE WITH THIS ANNOYING PROBLEM, I RECENTLY FOUND SIX LOCAL OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOW I SEE ABOUT TEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEB SITE. I DID HAVE THE MOST RECENT RECALL DONE BUT THE DEALER SAID IT DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT DIDN'T HAVE ANY ANSWERS ON HOW TO FIX IT. I HAVE SENT E-MAILS TO PONTIAC WITH NO REPLY. I REALIZE THIS MAY NOT FALL INTO SAFETY ISSUES BUT IT IS A WIDE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS LOOKED INTO. WITH THE IGNITION LEFT IN THE ON POSITION, IT MAY BE A FIRE HAZZARD, NOT TO MENTION HARD ON BATTERIES. I AM TOT HE POINT OF SEEKING LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO GET THIS PROBLEM SOLVED. THIS IS THE LARGEST, MOST ANNOYING PROBLEM I HAVE HAD, OTHER THAN THIS, I HAVE LIKED THE CAR. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME FIX THIS!*AK
Official recalls
402V070000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Mar 6, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
98V027000 · Interior Lighting
Feb 17, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE INTERIOR LAMPS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE INTERIOR LAMPS COMING ON UNEXPECTEDLY COULD STARTLE A DRIVER CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE LAMP CONTROL MODULE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.
96V249000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar
Dec 17, 1996
THE STEERING COLUMN LOWER PINCH BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN UNDERTORQUED PINCH BOLT CAN RATTLE AND CAUSE LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. IF THE PINCH BOLT BACKED OUT OF THE JOINT COMPLETELY, ROTATION OF THE STEERING SHAFT AGAINST THE CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE INCREASING LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING COLUMN PINCH BOLT FOR CORRECT TORQUE AND, IF NECESSARY, TIGHTEN THE BOLT TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE.
96V250000 · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights
Dec 17, 1996
THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (FOUR-WAY FLASHERS) DO NOT FLASH WHEN THE HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THESE LAMPS WERE NOT FLASHING, OTHER VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS OR VEHICLE OWNERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER FUNCTION OF THE HAZARD WARNING LAMPS. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD LAMP SWITCH.
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
2RQ03001 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Jan 2, 2003 · Closed Sep 15, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
RQ98013 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployments
Opened Aug 26, 1998 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
ON JUNE 26, 1998, GENERAL MOTORS BEGAIN A SAFETY RECALL, 98V-146, TO RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) IN THE 1996 AND SOME 1997 J BODY CARS, CAVALIER AND SUNFIRE.DUE TO CERTAIN CALIBRATIONS IN THE AIR BAG SDM, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN A LOW SPEED CRASH OR WHEN AN OBJECT STRIKES THE FLOOR PAN.THE RECALL POPULATION CONSISTS OF 675,302 VEHICLES BUILT FROM APRIL 1995 THROUGH MAY 1997.ODI HAS RECEIVED 8 OWNER REPORTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT A CRASH.THE PURPOSER OF THE RQ IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER GM SHOULD EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE THESE VEHICLES.CLOSING RESUME NOTE:AS OF AUGUST 5, 1999, ODI RECEIVED ONE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT REGARDING THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THE INCIDENT RATES FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ABOUT ONE-THRID OF THE RATES OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES (WHEN THE RECALL WAS INITIATED).BASED ON THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOSE NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES.