RoadVitals

1992 Pontiac Grand Am Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
30
Latest Apr 29, 2002
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.
18%
of 168 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 electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1992 Pontiac Grand Am submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 30 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 electrical

The 25 most recent of 30, in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Apr 29, 2002

PRIOR TO RECALL 02V07000 NOTIFICATION VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SHORTAGE IN THE COMPUTER FOR THE STEERING WHEEL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. CONSUMER BELIEVES THE SHORTAGE IS A RESULT OF RECALL. *TT

NHTSA ID
565460
Electrical
Filed Jul 21, 2001

IGNITION SYSTEM MELTED RESULTING IN TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF STARTING SYSTEM. IGNITION SYSTEM DID NOT IGNITE BUT DID CONTINUE TO EMMIT NOXIOUS FUMES AND SMOKE. RESEARCHED PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT ALL MODELS MADE THE YEAR AFTER MY CAR, WERE RECALLED FOR SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
748870
Incident
Jul 14, 2001
Driver assistanceElectricalVisibility
Filed Jun 20, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, MY RADIO, CLOCK, CRUISE CONTROL, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING. THIS WOULD USUALLY HAPPEN WHEN I WOULD USE THE TURN SIGNALS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A FUSE, BUT LATER REALIZED IF I JIGGLED THE KEY IN THE INGNITION, THESE THINGS WOULD START WORKING AGAIN. THE IGNITION SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT OF PLAY, AS IF IT NEEDS TO BE TIGHTENED. I CAN ALMOST TURN THE IGNITION ALL THE WAY AROUND WITHOUT TOUCHING THE KEY.

NHTSA ID
747095
Incident
May 3, 2001
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Apr 9, 2001

THE PAINT IS CHIPPING ON MY HOOD. IT STARTED IN 1995. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALERSHIPS THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL ON PAINT. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY GM, AND WHEN I LAST ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THEM THE SRVC REP SAID THEY REMEMBERED A RECALL BUT COULDN'T FIND IT NOW. ALSO, EVERY WINTER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR THE HORN GOWS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN IT GETS BELOW FREEZING. MY POWER DOOR LOCKS KEEP GOING OUT. ARE THEY RELATED TO THE HORN? SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LOCKS IN UPRIGHT POSITION BUT DOES NOT SLIDE BACK INTO PLACE IF THE LEVER IS USDE ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT. IS THERE A TSB? I FOUND A TSB ON YOUR WEB-SITE FOR THE HORN AND POSSIBLY FOR THE DOOR LOCKS. WHAT DO I DO?*AK

NHTSA ID
743789
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Mar 23, 2001

ON MARCH OF 1999, THE FIRST PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE OCCURED. THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY, NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, AND IT BEGAN TO TRY TO START BY ITSELF. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THIS, AND BY THE TIME IT FINISHED, MY BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY. THE SECOND TIME I HAD AN IGNITION PROBLEM WAS IN NOVEMBER OF 2000 WHEN MY CAR WOULDN'T START UNLESS IT WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL GEAR. I HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED, AND SIX WEEKS LATER, THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED WITH TRYING TO START THE CAR. EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD IT IN THE REPAIR SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES, AND FRANKLY I BELIEVE THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE, SOLD ME A LEMON.*AK

NHTSA ID
742917
Incident
Nov 18, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jan 24, 2000

VEHICLE WAS PARKED. WENT TO PUT KEY IN IGNITION IT ACTED VERY ROUGH. WENT TO TURN KEY, IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN, WAS NOT ABLE. WHEEL LOCKED IN LEFT POSITION. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. *AK

NHTSA ID
855468
Incident
Jan 20, 2000
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 15, 2000

NOTICED SEIZED SPARK PLUG AT 90,000, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, POOR IDLE, COOLANT CONSUMPTION, TWO ADDITIONAL SEIZED PLUGS APPEARED LATER. *AK

NHTSA ID
717390
Incident
Dec 13, 1999
Electrical
Filed Nov 4, 1999

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, AT SLOW SPEED, ACCELERATING FROM STOP, WILL START AFTER A 15 MINUTE DELAY, HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO DEALER 5 TIMES AND ALL REPAIRS HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
714308
Incident
Nov 2, 1999
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Sep 22, 1999

MULTIPLE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED: (1) CIGARETTE LIGHTER FUSE BLOWS CONSTANTLY. (2) ENGINE HAS A CRACKED CYLINDER WHICH ALLOWS COOLANT INTO THE OIL SYSTEM. (3) STARTER COIL FAILED. (4) WINDOW MOTOR/SWITCH FAILED. (5) FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DOESN'T ALWAYS LOCK IN PLACE, AND ALLOWS THE SEAT TO SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. (6) IN COLD WEATHER THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HORN CONTRACTS AND CAUSES THE HORN TO SOUND CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE FUSE IS REMOVED. (7) FRONT BRAKES WEAR QUICKLY DURING NORMAL OPERATION. (8) ALTERNATOR FAILED AT 90,000 MILES. (9) OIL PRESSURE SENSOR FAILED AT 107,000 MILES. (10) SPARK PLUGS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 18 MONTHS DUE TO A RECURRING STUMBLING PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE. ONE SPARK PLUG CANNOT BE REMOVED. (11) THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT HAS BEEN FILLED WITH CONDENSATE FROM THE A/C SYSTEM MULTIPLE TIMES, RUINING ANY PAPERWORK AND THE OWNERS' MANUAL. (12) THE SCREWS ON BOTH INTERIOR DOOR FRAMES HAVE FALLEN OUT AND MUST BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
711806
Incident
Jul 25, 1997
Electrical
Filed Aug 6, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
709655
BrakesElectricalEngine+4 more
Filed Mar 24, 1999

PONTIAC PRIDES ITSELF ON DRIVING EXCITEMENT, IT SHOULD ACTUALLY BE THAT IT IS A DRIVING NIGHTMARE. THIS CAR HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE LIST OF CURRENT AND PAST PROBLEMS WHICH INCLUDES: THE TRUNK LEAKS/ INCORRECT SPEEDOMETER THAT CAUSED TWO SPEEDING TICKETS/DRIVER'S FLOOR AND UNDER THE FRONT RIGHT SEAT ARE ALWAYS WET. ALSO,REPLACED BATTERY TWICE/ALTERNATOR/STARTER/ RADIATOR AND ALL HOSES AFTER A SUDDEN "EXPLOSION." IN ADDITION, THERMOSTAT HAD BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST 4 TIMES AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR ONCE. THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER NO LONGER WORKS, RIGHT SIDE POWER WINDOW DOES NOT GO BACK UP/THE TAPE DECK IS BROKEN, FRONT LUMBAR I SEAT BROKE AROUND 40,000 MILES. THE FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT WHEEL BEARINGS HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES/TIE RODS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE ON THE RIGHT AND TWICE ON THE LEFT/ ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND FRONT BRAKES WORE OUT WITH IN 15,000 (TYPICAL OF MOST PONTIACS JUST GOING BY THE COMMENTS OF OTHER PONTIAC OWNERS THAT I KNOW. THIS LIST IS QUITE LONG AND EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CAR IS NOT PAID FOR YET AND ONLY HAS 125,000 MILES ON IT AND IS A 1992 MODEL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/55/R16 )

NHTSA ID
704874
Incident
Feb 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed Feb 13, 1999

HORN WOULD NOT SHUT OFF - PULLED FUSE TO TURN OFF - LOW-NOTE HORN WENT OUT BEFORE FUSE PULLED -

NHTSA ID
703236
Incident
Feb 8, 1999
Body & structureElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jan 5, 1999

ENGINE CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSING FUSES TO BLOW AND ENGINE TO CUT OFF.

NHTSA ID
543206
Electrical
Filed Nov 16, 1998

WHEN THE WEATHER IS REALLY COLD THE RUBBER ENCLOSURE AROUND THE HORN CONTRACTS, CAUSING THE HORN TO SOUND UNITL IT SHORTS A CIRCUIT OR THE HORN BURNS OUT. DEALER IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
830865
Electrical
Filed Oct 16, 1998

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID
781287
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
AirbagsElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 7, 1997

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON.

NHTSA ID
519046
Incident
Jul 18, 1996
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 22, 1997

IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
516667
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats+3 more
Filed Jan 31, 1997

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.

NHTSA ID
514342
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 14, 1997

DESIGN OF THE ALTERNATOR/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR DAMAGE OF OTHER COMPONENTS WHEN THE ALTERNATOR FAILS (DRAINING BATTERY AND DESTROYING ECM COMPUTER AND IGNITION MODULE).

NHTSA ID
513810
Electrical
Filed Jan 13, 1997

WHEN USING HEATER AND DEFROSTER ALONG WITH OTHER COMPONENTS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN, RESULTING IN SHUT DOWN OF VEHICLE POWER. *AK

NHTSA ID
807561
Electrical
Filed Oct 4, 1996

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS/HESITATES/STUMBLES. *AK

NHTSA ID
803203
Incident
May 1, 1992
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+4 more
Filed Jul 11, 1996

ROOF, FENDERS, DOORS, WINDOW GUIDES, HOOD, FRONT/REAR WINDSHIELD, RIMS AND TRUNK INTERIOR ALL BADLY RUSTED.

NHTSA ID
506121
Incident
Mar 29, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jun 17, 1996

STARTER WILL NOT START IN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
985669
Incident
Jun 27, 1995
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jun 8, 1996

RIGHT REAR AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FAILS TO LOCK.

NHTSA ID
505923
Incident
May 1, 1993
Electrical
Filed May 7, 1996
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SOURCE UNKNOWN.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
984163
Incident
May 4, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .