1986 Pontiac Grand Am Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Pontiac Grand Am, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL, USUALLY AT SLOW SPEEDS AND/OR DURING COLD WEATHER. *AK
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WATER COLLECTION UNDER PLASTIC BODY MOLDINGS IS CAUSING BODY PANEL TO RUST.
VEHICLE HIT A BUMP ON THE ROAD RESULTING IN VEHICLE EXPLOSION. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
UNDER THE HOOD COMPARTMENT FIRE, DRIVING THE VEHICLE SMELLED FUEL FUMES AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE , VEHICLE COMPLETELY BURNED, WILL PROVIDE FIRE REPORT. *AK
CAR IS 6 CYLINDER 3. LITRE REPLACE IGNITION MODULE ABOUT FOUR TIMES WITHIN A YEAR AND THREE MONTHS . TT TRANSMISSION LEAK. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DASH LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. *AK
DASHBOARD LIGHTS INOPERATIVE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
FAILURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, BELT WILL NOT RETRACT.
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS HAVE FAILED, REPLACED ENTIRE SEAT BELT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT RETRACT. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR IS 6 CYLINDER 3. LITRE REPLACE IGNITION MODULE ABOUT FOUR TIMES WITHIN A YEAR AND THREE MONTHS . TT TRANSMISSION LEAK. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .