IllustrationSTEERING LOCKED UP WHILE TURNING AND BRAKES FAILED. *TR
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 reportsMY 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
TURN SIGNALS STARTED TO MAKE CLICKING NOISE AFTER THE TURN HAD BEEN COMPLETED AND LIGHT HAD ALREADY STOPPED BLINKING. SOON AFTER THE CLICKING NOISE WOULD START INTERMITTENTLY WHETHER OR NOT THE TURN SIGNAL HAD BEEN USED. NOW THE LIGHTS ARE NOT FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TURN SIGNAL IS TURNED ON. *TT
I HAVE BEEN HAVING MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE TURN SIGNALS, I CANT GET THE TURN SIGNALS OR EMERGENCY FLASHER TO WORK HALF THE TIME, I CALLED GM AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS. NOT SURE WHAT'S UP BUT THIS NEEDS FIXED. *TR
A SURPRISE STORM HIT ON I-4 WESTBOUND IN ORLANDO, FL. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR. THE ROADS GOT WET VERY QUICKLY AND TRAFFIC BACKED UP FAST. AS I HIT THE BRAKES WITH FORCE TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AS DID THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND THE SERVICE VEHICLE SOON LIGHT, THE CAR…
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A SURPRISE STORM HIT ON I-4 WESTBOUND IN ORLANDO, FL. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR. THE ROADS GOT WET VERY QUICKLY AND TRAFFIC BACKED UP FAST. AS I HIT THE BRAKES WITH FORCE TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AS DID THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND THE SERVICE VEHICLE SOON LIGHT, THE CAR SEEMED TO HAVE A POWER DRAINAGE/LOSS FOR A SPLIT SECOND. AT THIS MOMENT, WITH HOW HARD I HIT THE BRAKES, THE CAR SLID, THE ABS SYSTEM DID NOT ENGAGE AND I HAD TO RELEASE THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO GET SOME TRACTION AND WITHOUT WARNING SWERVE INTO THE DRIVING LANE TO THE IMMEDIATE RIGHT OF THE LANE I WAS IN SO NOT TO HIT THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT BUT THAT STILL DOES NOT FIX NOR DOES IS CHANGE THE FACT THAT SOMETHING WENT WRONG AND A VITAL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT SEIZED TO FUNCTION. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE FOR AN ANSWER FOR THIS AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE DEALING WITH THIS. THIS IS UNSAFE AND THE EXPERIENCE WAS VERY SCARY. NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT KIND OF ISSUE NOR SHOULD FEEL THAT SCARED IN THEIR LIVES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,600. THE CUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,600. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,200.
ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE SECURITY PASSLOCK SYSTEM. SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND WITHIN THE NEXT FEW TIMES STARTING THE VEHICLE IT WILL NOT START. SPENT A LOT OF MONEY OVER THE YEARS AT GM AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIPS ATTEMPTING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. GM MECHANICS DO NOT KNOW HOW RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND THEY TELL YOU THE FIX IS REPLACI…
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ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE SECURITY PASSLOCK SYSTEM. SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND WITHIN THE NEXT FEW TIMES STARTING THE VEHICLE IT WILL NOT START. SPENT A LOT OF MONEY OVER THE YEARS AT GM AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIPS ATTEMPTING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. GM MECHANICS DO NOT KNOW HOW RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND THEY TELL YOU THE FIX IS REPLACING THE IGNITION LOCK SENSOR, HAVE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE REPROGRAMMED, ETC AND THEY ARE JUST GUESSING AND WASTING MY MONEY. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM SHOWS AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF "HITS" AND SO MANY OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS FRUSTRATING THAT GM OFFERS NO SOLUTION TO A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT ULTIMATELY IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE VEHICLE OWNER CANNOT START THEIR VEHICLE AND THEY ARE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD, ETC. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE RECENT FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
MY CAR STARTED TO STALL OUT ON ME AS I WAS CROSSING A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. I BARELY MANAGED TO GET OVER TO THE OTHER END AND PULL OVER BEFORE THE CAR DIED COMPLETELY. THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AS THE CAR STALLED OUT. AFTER TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR A FEW TIMES, THE KEY WOULD TURN AND IT WOULD SOUND LIKE IT WOULD TRY TO START T…
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MY CAR STARTED TO STALL OUT ON ME AS I WAS CROSSING A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. I BARELY MANAGED TO GET OVER TO THE OTHER END AND PULL OVER BEFORE THE CAR DIED COMPLETELY. THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AS THE CAR STALLED OUT. AFTER TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR A FEW TIMES, THE KEY WOULD TURN AND IT WOULD SOUND LIKE IT WOULD TRY TO START THE ENGINE, BUT NEVER ENOUGH POWER TO GET IT GOING. AFTER HAVING THE CAR SIT IN IDLE FOR HALF AN HOUR, WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK TO GET THERE, THE CAR WOULD MAKE A CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED, BUT IT WOULDN'T START. ALSO, THE SECURITY LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED TO "ON". SO FAR I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, CHECKED ALL THE FUSES, FUEL PUMPS, GOT A NEW ALTERNATOR, AND NEW OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAS TO DO WITH SECURITY BYPASS IN PONTIACS. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WASN'T AT ALL HELPFUL. I UNDERSTAND THEY WILL NOT DO A RECALL BECAUSE THIS COMMON ISSUE IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT IN MY CASE, THE CAR DIED ON ME AS I WAS CROSSING A BUSY HIGHWAY, AND I COULD'VE EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I'M SURE MY CASE THAT INVOLVED SAFETY IS NOT AN ISOLATED ONE. *TR
AS I WAS DRIVING MY GIRLFRIENDS PONTIAC GRAND AM 2002 ON THE HIGH WAY THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN AND THE SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON..... THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE A WHILE AND I HAD BEEN ABLE TO FOOL THE SYSTEM INTO RESETTING ITSELF BY WAITING THE 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO RESET AND THEN IT WOULD WORK BUT NOW IT DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK. …
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AS I WAS DRIVING MY GIRLFRIENDS PONTIAC GRAND AM 2002 ON THE HIGH WAY THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN AND THE SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON..... THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE A WHILE AND I HAD BEEN ABLE TO FOOL THE SYSTEM INTO RESETTING ITSELF BY WAITING THE 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO RESET AND THEN IT WOULD WORK BUT NOW IT DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND IT SEEMS LIKE ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM NOT ONLY WITH GRAND AMS BUT IMPALAS ETC..... WHAT THEY OFFER AT THE DEALERSHIP IS TO REPLACE THE SECURITY SYSTEM BECAUSE IS FAULTY WHICH HAS A COST OF $400. *TR
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.