RoadVitals

1986 Pontiac Grand Am

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Dec 23, 1997
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest May 19, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Pontiac Grand Am, most frequently naming the steering, body & structure and electrical categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Steering325.0%
  • Body & structure216.7%
  • Electrical216.7%
  • Interior & seats216.7%
  • Seat belts216.7%
  • Transmission18.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
06E043000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

May 19, 2006
88,303 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
87V124000

STRUCTURE

Aug 10, 1987
261,171 units potentially affected
The defect: SMALL CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN THE BODY PILLAR AROUND THE DOOR STRIKER BOLT HOLE.
The risk: CRACKS WOULD INCREASE LEADING TO DIFFICULTY IN CLOSINGTHE DOOR AND MIGHT ALLOW DOOR TO COME OPEN DURING A CRASH, INCREASINGLIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.
The remedy: INSTALL INNER AND OUTER REINFORCEMENT PLATE ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT BODY PILLARS.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA91045ClosedEngineering Analysis

SEAT BELT SEPARATION

Opened Nov 7, 1991
Closed Oct 26, 1992

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS
PE91099ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SAFETY BELT CUT AT D-RING

Opened Jul 15, 1991
Closed Nov 7, 1991

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 11
Body & structure
Filed Dec 23, 1997

WATER COLLECTION UNDER PLASTIC BODY MOLDINGS IS CAUSING BODY PANEL TO RUST.

NHTSA ID
527525
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 4, 1997

DASH LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. *AK

NHTSA ID
526409
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 20, 1997

DASHBOARD LIGHTS INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA ID
514900
Incident
Feb 9, 1997
Electrical
Filed Dec 30, 1996
Fire reported

UNDER THE HOOD COMPARTMENT FIRE, DRIVING THE VEHICLE SMELLED FUEL FUMES AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE , VEHICLE COMPLETELY BURNED, WILL PROVIDE FIRE REPORT. *AK

NHTSA ID
806880
Incident
Dec 26, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Jun 10, 1996

VEHICLE HIT A BUMP ON THE ROAD RESULTING IN VEHICLE EXPLOSION. *SD

NHTSA ID
505391
Incident
Jun 10, 1996
Steering
Filed May 30, 1996

LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL, USUALLY AT SLOW SPEEDS AND/OR DURING COLD WEATHER. *AK

NHTSA ID
985023
Incident
May 10, 1996
Steering
Filed May 16, 1996
Crash reported

THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND CAUSED THE OWNER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND THE CAR CRASHED AND EXPLODED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
984528
Incident
Apr 28, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Apr 23, 1996

FAILURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, BELT WILL NOT RETRACT.

NHTSA ID
983319
Incident
Apr 15, 1996

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

000524001

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

INFORMATION REGARDING SNOW INTRUSION INTO REAR DRUM BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. **MR

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Pontiac Grand Am by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
20051024053.5
20042934052.9
20033255053.9
20023954154.2
20015387357.5
20006758562.3
19998496362.0
19981723157.1
19973834261.5
19964506263.7
19954091257.4
19943772262.4
19932041046.8
19921683051.9
1991823054.6
1990381043.2
1989443158.9
1988313463.3
1987283365.5
1986Viewing112258.9
1985453—
1984001—
1983100—
1981001—
1980011—
1979011—
1978051—
1975010—
1973130—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.