RoadVitals

1990 Pontiac Grand Am Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Jun 18, 2003
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
37%
of 38 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1990 Pontiac Grand Am submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
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
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
Engine
Filed Feb 26, 1998

WHILE TRAVELING THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. SHORTLY, THE ENGINE CUT OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID
821688
Engine
Filed Dec 10, 1997

HEAD GASKET FAILED DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. GENERAL MOTORS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FROM 5 YEARS AND 50000 MILES TO SIX YEARS AND 60000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID
526308
Incident
Nov 24, 1997
Engine
Filed Jun 26, 1997

THE VEHICLE JUMPS WHILE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE AND THEN IT STALLS.

NHTSA ID
518969
Engine
Filed Feb 26, 1997

ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED/REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
514501
Incident
Jan 15, 1997
Engine
Filed Jan 17, 1997

ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED, DEALER ADMITS A HIGH RATE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
807807
ElectricalEngineTransmission
Filed Mar 13, 1996

CLUTCH FAILED.*SD

NHTSA ID
502890
Incident
Jan 5, 1996
Engine
Filed Jan 11, 1996

ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED, CAUSING OIL LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ID
500680
Incident
Jan 11, 1996
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 26, 1995

LACK OF SUFFICIENT OIL TO ENGINE BEARINGS RESULTED IN ENGINE ROD FAILURE. *AW

NHTSA ID
483347
Incident
Aug 4, 1995
Engine
Filed Aug 15, 1995

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SPEED 59 MPH, ENGINE LOCKED UP AND LIFTERS AND ROD FROZE UP. TT

NHTSA ID
970506
Incident
Aug 4, 1995

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

Data on this page last refreshed .