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2002 Pontiac Grand Am

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Grand Am years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Pontiac Grand Am are substantially higher than the model-year median of 82.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

270 reports with mileage · 125 unknown

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 148 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 97 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports3 fire reports16 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

3 reports
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180,000 miles · Nov 28, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

I WAS DIVING DOWN HWY 70 GOING TO PICK UP MY FIRST DELIVERY FOR THE DAY WHEN, I'M NOT SURE HOW BUT THE KEY CAME OUT OF THE ON POSTION AND FELL OUT ON FLOOR, SCARED I WAS GOING TO CRASH I HURRIEDLY REACHED DOWN AND PUT IT BACK IN AND NOTICED THE SECURITY LIGHT HAD CAME ON AND WITHIN MINUTES IT LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT OFF, LUCKILY…

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I WAS DIVING DOWN HWY 70 GOING TO PICK UP MY FIRST DELIVERY FOR THE DAY WHEN, I'M NOT SURE HOW BUT THE KEY CAME OUT OF THE ON POSTION AND FELL OUT ON FLOOR, SCARED I WAS GOING TO CRASH I HURRIEDLY REACHED DOWN AND PUT IT BACK IN AND NOTICED THE SECURITY LIGHT HAD CAME ON AND WITHIN MINUTES IT LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT OFF, LUCKILY I AM A GOOD DRIVER AND DIDN'T CRASH BUT MANAGE TO GET OFF ROAD SAFELY. I'M SO GLAD WORSE DIDN'T HAPPEN. NOW I HAVE NO CAR AND PROBABLY LOST ALL 3 JOBS I HAD.

NHTSA ODI #11282802

95,798 miles · Feb 25, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO GM BY CERTIFIED MAIL 4/14/2014 TO GM HEADQUARTERS, PO BOX 33172, DETROIT MI 48232 ATTN: PONTIAC IGNITION PROBLEMS ETC. - ADDRESS GIVEN TO OME BY MS. CORINA ON 4/14/14 REF#[XXX], SHOWING BETWEEN 3/19/11 AND 10/22/13 IGNITION MODULE & COIL, SECURITY SYSTEM SHUTDOWN, IGNITION STARTER SWITCH/LOCK/TUMBLER, W…

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THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO GM BY CERTIFIED MAIL 4/14/2014 TO GM HEADQUARTERS, PO BOX 33172, DETROIT MI 48232 ATTN: PONTIAC IGNITION PROBLEMS ETC. - ADDRESS GIVEN TO OME BY MS. CORINA ON 4/14/14 REF#[XXX], SHOWING BETWEEN 3/19/11 AND 10/22/13 IGNITION MODULE & COIL, SECURITY SYSTEM SHUTDOWN, IGNITION STARTER SWITCH/LOCK/TUMBLER, WINDOW REG/MOTOR/HOLDER, WINDOW REG/MOTOR/HOLDER, WINDOW REG/MOTOR/HOLDER (HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND HAD TO REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES). REPORTED TO DOTVSH ON 7/6/14 CALL REF#[XXX], OFFICE DEFECT INV #[XXX]. NEVER HAVE RECEIVED ANY RESULT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)*JS

NHTSA ODI #10690654

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2013
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

MY CAR HAS A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH IN WHICH IT WONT STAR AN I CONTINUE TO BE STRANDED AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIMES. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AN FOUND THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE AN THANK GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO PAY PEOPLE FOR THEIR LACK OF EFFORT IN FIXING THE ISSUE . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553568

Official recalls

1

14V400000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 3, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

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

1

PE05055 · Turn Signal Failures

Opened Sep 27, 2005 · Closed Jan 13, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:switch

IN DECEMBER 2004, GM ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. THE POLICY COVERED TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURRED FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. GM SENT LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING DECEMBER 30, 2004.IN JANUARY 2006, GM WILL UPDATE THE SPECIAL POLICY TO INCLUDE MY 2002 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V-327.THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH.GM WILL SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING LATE APRIL 2006.THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch

IN DECEMBER 2004, GM ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. THE POLICY COVERED TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURRED FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. GM SENT LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING DECEMBER 30, 2004.IN JANUARY 2006, GM WILL UPDATE THE SPECIAL POLICY TO INCLUDE MY 2002 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V-327.THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH.GM WILL SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING LATE APRIL 2006.THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:switch

IN DECEMBER 2004, GM ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. THE POLICY COVERED TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURRED FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. GM SENT LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING DECEMBER 30, 2004.IN JANUARY 2006, GM WILL UPDATE THE SPECIAL POLICY TO INCLUDE MY 2002 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V-327.THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH.GM WILL SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING LATE APRIL 2006.THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.