RoadVitals

1990 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.
38
Latest Jun 18, 2003
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.
1
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.
0
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.
4
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 38 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Pontiac Grand Am, most frequently naming the engine, transmission and body & structure categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 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

  • Engine1427.5%
  • Transmission611.8%
  • Body & structure59.8%
  • Brakes35.9%
  • Electrical35.9%
  • Seat belts35.9%
  • Tires & wheels35.9%
  • Steering35.9%

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

1 campaign 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

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 38
Body & structureEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Jun 18, 2003
Fire reported

VEHICLE FIRE. NAR 06/18/2003. *MR DAMAGES TO THE HOOD, ENGINE, BUMPER, AND WHEELS. *CB

NHTSA ID
10024666
Incident
Apr 4, 2003
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 13, 2002

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE RIMS ON THE VEHICLE ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AGO THE FIRS ONE BROKE WICH WAS THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND NOW THERE IS A SECOND ONE WAS THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ON A RECALL BACK ON 1995 BUT HERS WERE NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL. MR

NHTSA ID
8022619
Engine
Filed Aug 20, 2002

VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING ANTIFREEZE WHILE LEAVING DEALERSHIP, AND BEGAN SMOKING.*AK

NHTSA ID
8016784
Incident
Aug 16, 2002
Body & structureBrakesEngine+1 more
Filed Aug 16, 2001

CONSUMER STATES HE HAS HAD TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES WITH ONLY 22,500 MILES ON VEHICLE. NO TIRE INFO GIVEN.*JB

NHTSA ID
562547
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 25, 2001

4 TIRES PURCHASED AT SAM'S WHOLESALE CLUB ALL DEVELOPED SIDEWALL BUBBLES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: BHKATT 114 TIRESIZE: P195/75R14)

NHTSA ID
747353
Incident
Jun 15, 2000
Engine
Filed Feb 3, 2001

ON HE MORNING OF JAN 17, 2001 I STARTED THE CAR AND HEARD A LOUD POP IN ENGINE. THE CARD WOULD NOT START. TOWED CAR TO HAVE A MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. TWO OTHER MECHANICS CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND BASICALLY SAID THE SAME THING. THEY ALL AGREED THAT THIS ENGINE HAS A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS AND THAT THEY HAVE EITHER RECEIVED INFORMATION OR HAVE HEARD IT AT SEMINARS. I CONTACT MY DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY COMPLIANTS ABOUT THAT ENGINE OR YEAR CAR. I ALSO CONTACT GM AND BASICALLY GO THE SAME ANSWER. MY PROBLEM IS I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS CAR SINCE ITS PURCHASED AND HAVING ONLY 47K MILES I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD BE FACED WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT WILL TAKE A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX. EVERYONE HAS TOLD ME TO CONTACT THIS ORGANIZATION TO SEE WHAT THEY FIND. IF THE CAR WAS ABUSED AND HAD OVER 100K MILES THEN I WOULD SAY OK BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED AND WITH ONLY 47K MILES IT SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. I GUESS I AM LOOKING TO FIND IF ANY RECALLS OR NOTICES PERTAINING TO POSSIBLE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WERE EVER ISSUED AND IF SO WHY I NEVER RECEIVED THE NOTICES AND WHAT RECOURSE TO I HAVE. ALL I THESE MECHANICS FEEL THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF GM WOULD HAVE SENT A NOTICE ADVISING OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS THAT LEAD TO THIS , I WOULD HAVE HAD THIS CAR CHECKED OUT. UP IN TILL JAN 17, 2001 I WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEMS THAT WERE NOT TAKEN CARE OF. ANY HELP OR ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *AK

NHTSA ID
740366
Incident
Jan 17, 2001
EnginePowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Dec 6, 2000

THE STRUT TOWER ON THE PASSENGER WHEEL WALL HAD RUSTED OUT CAUSING NOISE, THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE RUSTING, SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT THIS PROBLEM AND STATED THAT IT'S NOT NORMAL . *SLC

NHTSA ID
558317
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 7, 2000

TREAD SEPARATION - BULGING ON TIRE. 3 FAILURES ON SAME CAR, SAME TIME (DOT NUMBER: HYRWR5B447 TIRESIZE: P195/70R14)

NHTSA ID
733639
Incident
Oct 5, 2000

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
1990Viewing381043.2
1989443158.9
1988313463.3
1987283365.5
1986112258.9
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.