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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 →
395Owner complaints

Model-year median: 82

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
849
1999675
2000538
2001395
2002325
2003293
2004102
2005
Compare all Grand Am years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
148Exterior Lighting
97Engine And Engine Cooling
54Service Brakes, Hydraulic
29Visibility
23
All reported categories
Steering
22Air Bags
19Power Train
13Tires
12Engine
11Equipment
11Suspension
10Service Brakes
9Unknown Or Other
9Structure
8Wheels
8Fuel System, Gasoline
7Fuel/propulsion System
6Seats
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Latches/locks/linkages
4Seat Belts
4Electronic Stability Control (esc)
3Parking Brake
3Fuel System, Other
2Interior Lighting
2Service Brakes, Air
2

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

What owners actually said

395 reports
20,000 miles · Sep 24, 2003
EquipmentPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

2002 PONTIAC GRANDAM GT-1 HAS CONTINUOUS GRINDING, RUBBING, AND POPPING SOUNDS FROM THE FRONT STEERING. ALSO HAS UNCONTROLED POWER STEERING WHERE THE CAR COULD GO OFF THE ROAD. DEALERSHIPS CAN OR WILL NOT TRY TO FIND THESE SERIOUS DEFECTS, THEY SAY THAT IT IS THE TIRES THAT IS CAUSING THESE DEFECTS.THIS IS THE SECOND NEW GT-1…

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2002 PONTIAC GRANDAM GT-1 HAS CONTINUOUS GRINDING, RUBBING, AND POPPING SOUNDS FROM THE FRONT STEERING. ALSO HAS UNCONTROLED POWER STEERING WHERE THE CAR COULD GO OFF THE ROAD. DEALERSHIPS CAN OR WILL NOT TRY TO FIND THESE SERIOUS DEFECTS, THEY SAY THAT IT IS THE TIRES THAT IS CAUSING THESE DEFECTS.THIS IS THE SECOND NEW GT-1 WITHIN THE PAST THREE YEARS WITH THE SAME DEFECTS THAT I HAVE OWNED.

NHTSA ODI #10039429

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. IT WILL BE HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK STARTED.DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10031507

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2003
Visibility

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WINDOWS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO ROLL UP. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM, BUT OF NO AVAIL. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AS WELL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10030080

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATED THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE DRUMS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10030063

13,000 miles · Jul 10, 2003
SeatsService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THE TIRES LOCKED UP, AND THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED LIKE IT WAS ON A WET SURFACE.*AK THE SEAT BACK FALLS DOWN UPON ACCELERATION WHEN DRIVING. *TS. THE CONSUMER FELT THE ABS WAS NOT PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE SEAT COLLAPSED WHILE DRIVING, AND THE FRONT ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10024340

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2003
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVisibility

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW PONTIAC GRAND AM GT1 IN JULY 2002. SHORTLY AFTER, I NOTICED THAT IT WAS HARD STARTING. USUALLY THE THIRD TIME STARTED IN ONE DAY, IT WOULD SOUND LIKE IT WAS TURNING OVER BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I WOULD SHUT IT OFF AND TRY AGAIN AND IT WOULD WORK. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT, THEY KEPT IT …

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I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW PONTIAC GRAND AM GT1 IN JULY 2002. SHORTLY AFTER, I NOTICED THAT IT WAS HARD STARTING. USUALLY THE THIRD TIME STARTED IN ONE DAY, IT WOULD SOUND LIKE IT WAS TURNING OVER BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I WOULD SHUT IT OFF AND TRY AGAIN AND IT WOULD WORK. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT, THEY KEPT IT FOR 4 HOURS WHILE I WAITED. TOLD ME NOTHING WAS FOUND. IMMEDIATELY WENT TO MY CAR TO START IT AND IT DID THE SAME THING. WENT BACK IN, TOLD THE MECHANIC IT JUST HAPPENED. THEY CHECKED IT AGAIN AND CAME UP WITH NOTHING. NO REPAIRS DONE. THE FOG LAMPS STAY ON WHEN THE CAR IS OFF. AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK MY NEIGHBOR CALLS ME TO TELL ME MY LIGHTS ARE ON. I HAVE TO START THE CAR AND TOGGLE THE SWITCH UNTIL THEY GO OUT. A FEW HOURS LATER THEY ARE BACK ON AND THE SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. WHEN CLOSING THE WINDOWS, THERE IS A SCRATCHING SOUND. BOTH WINDOWS IN THE REAR ARE SCRATCHED. THE CAR IS CLEAN AND WAS CHECKED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO FOUND NOTHING INSIDE THE DOOR THAT WOULD CAUSE THE SCRATCHES. THERE IS ALSO A HIGH PITCHED SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE WHEEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IT SEEMS TO GO AWAY WHEN I APPLY THE BREAK BUT COMES BACK. AFTER IT RAINS, THERE IS A GURGLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. CAN'T TELL IF ITS THE SPEAKER OR WHAT. JUST LITTLE THINGS THAT BOTHER ME CONSIDERING THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR ONLY OWNED BY ME AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF. THERE ARE JUST UNDER 16,000 MILES ON THE CAR. SO FAR, NO REPAIRS DONE. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10023491

17,500 miles · Jun 13, 2003
Electrical System

CAR HAS NOT STARTED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FIRST ABOUT A YEAR AGO. THE LAST THREE WERE WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. ALL WITHIN ONE WEEK. THE STARTER CRANKS THE ENGINE, BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT START. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT THE "QUICK FIX" WORKED. THAT IS TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH ON FOR 15 MINUTES THEN TRY AGAIN. THE …

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CAR HAS NOT STARTED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FIRST ABOUT A YEAR AGO. THE LAST THREE WERE WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. ALL WITHIN ONE WEEK. THE STARTER CRANKS THE ENGINE, BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT START. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT THE "QUICK FIX" WORKED. THAT IS TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH ON FOR 15 MINUTES THEN TRY AGAIN. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO DEALER BUT NO PROBLEM FOUND. THE LAST THREE TIMES THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. ALL THREE TIMES NO PROBLEM FOUND. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON THE SECOND OCCASION, THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED ON THE THIRD, NOTHING REPLACED ON FOURTH. DEALER SAYS THEY UNDERSTAND OUR CONCERN. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10023022

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60-70 MILES PER HOUR AND LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I SLAMMED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE CRASH TOTALLY PUSHED THE FRONT END OF THE CAR UP TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD. NEITHER AIR BAG CAME OUT AND I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE WRECK OR WHAT CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR. FIGHT FOR LIFE HAD T…

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I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60-70 MILES PER HOUR AND LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I SLAMMED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE CRASH TOTALLY PUSHED THE FRONT END OF THE CAR UP TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD. NEITHER AIR BAG CAME OUT AND I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE WRECK OR WHAT CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR. FIGHT FOR LIFE HAD TO FLY ME OUT AND MY JAW WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. I ALSO HAD NO BRUISING OR INJURIES FROM MY SEAT BELT. I DON'T BELIEVE MY SEAT BELT RESTRAINED ME EITHER. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10019264

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2003
Exterior Lighting

THE PARKING LIGHTS STAYED ON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10020422

16,050 miles · Apr 25, 2003
SteeringCrash

I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT LEAST 4 TIMES TO TRY TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED WITH THE POWER STEERING AND THEY SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM. YET THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT 7 TIMES 2 OF THOSE TIMES CAUSING AN ACC…

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I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT LEAST 4 TIMES TO TRY TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED WITH THE POWER STEERING AND THEY SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM. YET THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT 7 TIMES 2 OF THOSE TIMES CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE FIRST ACCIDENT WAS AROUND 7,000$ THE 2ND ONE WAS MINOR AND ESTIMATES ARE BEING DONE NOW. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10016489

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.