RoadVitals

1993 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.
204
Latest May 27, 2014
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 Sep 14, 1993
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.
30
14 injuries, 2 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 204 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Pontiac Grand Am, most frequently naming the engine, brakes and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 21 manufacturer communications are 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

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
93V153000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Sep 14, 1993
1,103 units potentially affected
The defect: THE NEUTRAL START SAFETY SWITCH COULD HAVE BEEN FRACTURED DURING INSTALLATION.
The risk: A FRACTURED SWITCH CAN RESULT IN A NO-START CONDITION.ALSO, A VEHICLE WITH A FRACTURED SWITCH CAN BE STARTED IN GEAR, CAUSING THEVEHICLE TO MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE NEUTRAL START SWITCH. THE MANUAL SWITCH OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF AN OVERSIZED CONDITION EXISTS.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 204
BrakesElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed May 27, 2014

KEY GOES TO ACCESSORY AT ANY TIME. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR.CAR SHUTS OFF AT ANYTIME! *TR

NHTSA ID
10594180
Incident
May 3, 2013
Mileage
63,095 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 29, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ONLY STARTS IN NEUTRAL, NOT PARK. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS NOTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 93V153000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH), HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 215,000. UPDATED 02-25-08 *BF

NHTSA ID
10216427
Incident
Jan 6, 2006
Mileage
150,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 13, 2007
Crash reportedFire reported2 injuries reported2 deaths reported

1993 GRAND AM WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS HIT IN THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. THEN IT CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10185009
Incident
Apr 26, 2005
Transmission
Filed Dec 28, 2005

1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM, 124,OOO MILES. THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS GOOD. WHEN I GO 10 TO 15 MILES AND IF I COME TO A STOP, THE CAR STALLS. IT STARTS WITH NO PROBLEM BUT WHEN I SHIFT A GEAR, THE CAR STALLS. IF I WAIT FOR THE CAR TO COOL OFF, THE CAR WILL MOVE WITHOUT STALLING. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER SINCE SHE IS A NEW DRIVER, BUT I'M AFRAID TO LET HER TAKE IT ON HER OWN FOR FEAR THAT SHE'LL STALL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10146234
Incident
Dec 27, 2005
Mileage
124,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 26, 2005

1993 GRAND AM ENGINE HEAD CRACK..ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC HE'S SEEN MULTIPLE HEAD CRACKS ON QUAD 4 ENGINES. CAUSED ANTI-FREEZE FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND PUDDLE OF ANTI-FREEZE UNDER CAR. *NM

NHTSA ID
10143692
Incident
Nov 7, 2005
Mileage
78,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 10, 2004
Fire reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER LIFTED UP THE HOOD, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THEN, DROVE IT TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A RECALL ISSUED DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10091854
Incident
Sep 10, 2004
Electrical
Filed Feb 10, 2004
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *PH *NM

NHTSA ID
10057814
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 15, 2004

MY CAR STARTS AND RUNS GOOD. WHEN I GO 10 TO 15 MILES AND IF I COME TO A STOP, THE CAR STALLS. IT STARTS WITH NO PROBLEM BUT WHEN I SHIFT A GEAR, THE CAR STALLS. IF I WAITE FOR THE CAR TO COOL OFF, THE CAR WILL MOVE WITHOUT STALLING.

NHTSA ID
10068845
Incident
Oct 15, 2003
Mileage
130,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

04152004

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR

VEHICLES MAY SET ANYONE OR A COMBINATION OF FRONT-WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CODES AS INTERMITTENT OR HARD FAILURES. GM VOICEMAIL EXPRESS. *TT

00966B

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR

ABS FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT

00966

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT

990730030A

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN STANDING IN PARK ON A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE NOT APPLIED. *TT

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
1993Viewing2041046.8
19921683051.9
1991823054.6
1990381043.2
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.