IllustrationTHE BLINKER SWITCH WAS CLICKING ON AND OFF, SOMETIMES IT WOULD GO OFF, SOMETIMES NOT. THEY SAID IT WAS MY MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. *AK
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 →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
240–25K
5125–50K
6350–75K
5875–100K
49100–150K
25150K+
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
97 reportsFOR SEVERAL MONTHS THE VEHICLE HAS EMITTED A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE CENTRAL DASH AREA THAT HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT. IT IS USUALLY TRIGGERED BY USING THE TURN SIGNAL - ONCE THE TURN SIGNAL STOPS, THE CLICKING NOISE CONTINUES FOR VARYING AMOUNTS OF TIME. THE DEALER SAID IT IS NOT RELATED TO THE SERVICE ADVISORY ON THE HAZARD F…
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FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THE VEHICLE HAS EMITTED A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE CENTRAL DASH AREA THAT HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT. IT IS USUALLY TRIGGERED BY USING THE TURN SIGNAL - ONCE THE TURN SIGNAL STOPS, THE CLICKING NOISE CONTINUES FOR VARYING AMOUNTS OF TIME. THE DEALER SAID IT IS NOT RELATED TO THE SERVICE ADVISORY ON THE HAZARD FLASHER, BUT THAT IT IS THE WIRING TO MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN SHORTING OUT. FROM INTERNET SEARCHES THIS SOUNDS LIKE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM AND A SHORT SOUNDS LIKE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. SHOULD THERE BE A RECALL OR AT LEAST A WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THIS FAILURE MODE? THE REPAIR COST WILL BE ABOUT $350 AT THE DEALER. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED AND WERE OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FUEL PUMP FAILED FOR 3 WEEKS, AND THE TURN SIGNAL FAILED FOR 6 DAYS. THE CONTACT WAS HOSPITALIZED AFTER THE VEHICLE FAILED , AND SHE RECEIVED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED AND WERE OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FUEL PUMP FAILED FOR 3 WEEKS, AND THE TURN SIGNAL FAILED FOR 6 DAYS. THE CONTACT WAS HOSPITALIZED AFTER THE VEHICLE FAILED , AND SHE RECEIVED FROST BITE WHILE WAITING ON THE TOW TRUCK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,180 , AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 68320. *AK SPOKE WITH CONSUMER 10/16/07, NEED TO RE-SEND FORM. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BECAUSE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE NYS THRUWAY. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UPDATED *JB
OUR 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM ALSO DEVELOPED THE ANNOYING "CLICKING" NOISE THAT SOUNDED AS IF THE BLINKERS WERE ON WHEN THEY WERE NOT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE MULTI-FUNCTION TURN SIGNAL SWITCH SUPPLIED TO GM BY TRW. HOW DO I KNOW THIS? A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE IS EMPLOYED WITH TRW AS THE QUALITY ENGINEER ON THE P90 LINE AND I…
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OUR 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM ALSO DEVELOPED THE ANNOYING "CLICKING" NOISE THAT SOUNDED AS IF THE BLINKERS WERE ON WHEN THEY WERE NOT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE MULTI-FUNCTION TURN SIGNAL SWITCH SUPPLIED TO GM BY TRW. HOW DO I KNOW THIS? A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE IS EMPLOYED WITH TRW AS THE QUALITY ENGINEER ON THE P90 LINE AND INFORMED ME OF A DESIGN CHANGE TO THE SWITCH DURING THE 2002 MODEL YEAR. HE SUPPLIED ME WITH A REPLACEMENT SWITCH THAT CORRECTED THE ISSUE. WHEN WILL/IS GM GOING TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND RECALL ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES? *JB
I PURCHASED MY 2002 GRAND AM USED IN JULY 2005 WITH 25,000 MILES ON IT. HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE TIMING AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT ($2000+) AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET SOME OF THAT MONEY BACK FROM GM AS WE ARE AWARE THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENED. NOW... I HAD RECEIVED A "R…
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I PURCHASED MY 2002 GRAND AM USED IN JULY 2005 WITH 25,000 MILES ON IT. HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE TIMING AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT ($2000+) AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET SOME OF THAT MONEY BACK FROM GM AS WE ARE AWARE THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENED. NOW... I HAD RECEIVED A "RECALL" REGARDING THE BLINKERS ABOUT AN ISSUE WHERE THEY STOP WORKING. THE ISSUE I'M HAVING, OF COURSE, IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. IN DECEMBER, I BEGAN HEARING A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE DASH WHICH SOUNDED LIKE THE BLINKER WAS FLASHING. THE BLINKERS ARE NOT FLASHING BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE. THEY DO SEEM TO BE WORKING FINE WHEN I AM ACTUALLY TRYING TO USE THEM. DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT SOMETIMES IT CLICKS JUST A FEW TIMES AND STOPS, SOMETIMES IT CLICKS ALOT TO THE POINT WHERE I JUST TURN THE RADIO UP SO I CAN'T HEAR THE CLICKING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THIS WOULD COST $300 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ARM--WHICH APPARENTLY INVOLVES REMOVING THE STEERING COLUMN. LUCKILY, I KNOW A MECHANIC WHO WILL DO THIS REPAIR FOR THE COST OF THE ARM. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH GM AND THESE GRAND AMS? THEY SURE DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT! I LOVE MY CAR, BUT THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS...TO THE POINT THAT I'M TEMPTED TO BUY A FOREIGN CAR NEXT TIME! *NM
TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. REPLACE FUSE, BUT IT BLEW IT SEVERAL TIMES. THEY JUST STOP WORKING. *NM
I HAVE A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT AND THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS WORK AT RANDOM, THEY WORK FOR AWHILE AND THEN JUST STOP WORKING FOR AWHILE. NO TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS OUTSIDE THE CAR AND NO INDICATOR ARROWS INSIDE THE CAR. THEN, THEY BEGIN TO WORK AGAIN BUT ONLY FOR A AWHILE. *JB
I HAVE A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. THE BLINKER SWITCH KEEPS CLICKING AFTER I TURN. IT IS AGGRAVATING TO ME AND I HAVE READ OF A LOT OF 2002 GRAND AM OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP TO SEE ABOUT GETTING FIXED BUT IT WILL COST ME OVER $400. THIS IS RIDICUL…
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I HAVE A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. THE BLINKER SWITCH KEEPS CLICKING AFTER I TURN. IT IS AGGRAVATING TO ME AND I HAVE READ OF A LOT OF 2002 GRAND AM OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP TO SEE ABOUT GETTING FIXED BUT IT WILL COST ME OVER $400. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS. ALSO, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. I WISH I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, WHICH PRODUCED A BUZZING SOUND. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE PART BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THE PART THEY WERE REIMBURSING FOR. UPDATED 09/06. *JB
2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. FREQUENT ENGAGEMENT OF THE TURN SIGNAL RELAY FROM SIMPLY MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL. WE RECEIVED A "RECALL NOTICE" RELATED TO THE TURN SIGNAL, BUT PONTIAC HAS NO RECORD OF OUR CAR QUALIFYING FOR THE RECALL. MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH REPLACED. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR $360. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET INDICATED SEV…
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2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. FREQUENT ENGAGEMENT OF THE TURN SIGNAL RELAY FROM SIMPLY MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL. WE RECEIVED A "RECALL NOTICE" RELATED TO THE TURN SIGNAL, BUT PONTIAC HAS NO RECORD OF OUR CAR QUALIFYING FOR THE RECALL. MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH REPLACED. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR $360. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET INDICATED SEVERAL OF THESE ISSUES. *JB
Official recalls
114V400000 · 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
1PE05055 · 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.