IllustrationI HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON MY CAR. I HAVE HAD ALMOST EVERYTHING FROM PUMPING, NOISE, GRINDING, FADING, AND ONE TIME THEY DIDN'T CATCH FOR A LONG TIME AND I ALMOST HIT SOMEONE. *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
What owners actually said
395 reportsFUEL GAUGE WOULD READ FULL, YET GAS TANK WAS HALF EMPTY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE SHAKES SEVERELY WHILE DRIVING.THE SHAKE IS WORSE WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE 6 TIMES, IN WHICH THEY RESURFACED THE ROTORS, REPLACED THE BRAKE PAD ROTOR TWICE, ALIGNED THE FRONT END, AND ROTATED AND BALANCED THE TIRES. THE SHAKING THIS EXIST.*AK
I HAVE A 2002 GRAND AM GT, AND THE ABS LIGHT STARTED COMING ON, TOOK TO TWO DIFF REPAIR SHOPS (ONE WAS A MIDAS) AND BOTH TOLD ME THE RIGHT FRONT BEARINGS AND ABS SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND PROB THE LEFT ON IN NEXT CPL MONTHS. ALSO TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER, ESTIMATE OF $475 FOR RIGHT BEARING AND SENSOR, AND PROB THE LEFT …
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I HAVE A 2002 GRAND AM GT, AND THE ABS LIGHT STARTED COMING ON, TOOK TO TWO DIFF REPAIR SHOPS (ONE WAS A MIDAS) AND BOTH TOLD ME THE RIGHT FRONT BEARINGS AND ABS SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND PROB THE LEFT ON IN NEXT CPL MONTHS. ALSO TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER, ESTIMATE OF $475 FOR RIGHT BEARING AND SENSOR, AND PROB THE LEFT ONE IN NEXT FEW MONTHS. ALL 3 PLACES TOLD ME THAT ITS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE GRAND AM, ALEROS AND SOME BUICKS (SAME FRONT END I GUESS)....
WHILE DRIVING, THE TIMING BELT BROKE. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO TURN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS. THIS CAUSED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. THE HEAD BROKE AS WELL AS THE PISTONS AND RODS. A NEW ENGINE IS NOW REQUIRED.
WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE PULSATED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED ALL FOUR OF THE BRAKE ROTORS/BRAKE LINES/CALIPERS. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK
I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 GRAND AM, SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE I BROUGHT CAR IN FOR FIRST TIME BECAUSE OF VIBRATIONS WHEN BRAKING AT 50-60 MPH, DEALER HAD TO DO SOME WORK ON ROTORS, HAD LESS THAN 6,000 MILES!!!. BROUGHT CAR IN AGAIN THREE MONTHS LATER WITH SAME COMPLAINT, TOLD NOTHING WRONG. BROUGHT CAR IN TWO MORE TIMES TO DEALER …
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I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 GRAND AM, SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE I BROUGHT CAR IN FOR FIRST TIME BECAUSE OF VIBRATIONS WHEN BRAKING AT 50-60 MPH, DEALER HAD TO DO SOME WORK ON ROTORS, HAD LESS THAN 6,000 MILES!!!. BROUGHT CAR IN AGAIN THREE MONTHS LATER WITH SAME COMPLAINT, TOLD NOTHING WRONG. BROUGHT CAR IN TWO MORE TIMES TO DEALER WITH SAME COMPLAIN, AGAIN TOLD NOTHING WRONG. FINALLY I BROUGHT CAR TO AUTO SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT ROTORS ARE GONE, HAVE LESS THAN 36,000 MILES ON CAR. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT HE HAS HAD A LOT OF THESE CARS COMING IN BECAUSE OF VERY THIN ROTORS. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW ROTORS COULD BE SO WORN IN LESS THAN 6,000 MILES AND THEN HAVE THEM BE COMPLETELY GONE AT 36,000 MILES. I FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH ROTORS TO BEGIN WITH
FRONTAL AIR BAGS DI NOT DEPLOYE WHEN I WAS IN ACCIDENT. *AK
AIRBAGS DIN'T DEPLOY WHEN I WAS IN AN ACIDENT. *JB
BLINKERS MALFUNCTION ON 2002 GRAND AM. I HAD TO REPLACE THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TO FIX THE PROBLEM. GM SAID THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ITEM. A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE DASH INDICATED THAT THE SWITCH WAS BAD. YOU HAD TO WIGGLE THE BLINKER LEVER TO GET THE CLICKING NOISE TO STOP. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE AS TIME PROGRESSE…
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BLINKERS MALFUNCTION ON 2002 GRAND AM. I HAD TO REPLACE THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TO FIX THE PROBLEM. GM SAID THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ITEM. A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE DASH INDICATED THAT THE SWITCH WAS BAD. YOU HAD TO WIGGLE THE BLINKER LEVER TO GET THE CLICKING NOISE TO STOP. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE AS TIME PROGRESSED. *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.