RoadVitals

1993 Pontiac Grand Am Brakes Problems

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

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
49
Latest May 27, 2014
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.
24%
of 204 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.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1993 Pontiac Grand Am submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 49 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 brake

The 25 most recent of 49, in the owner's own words

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
Brakes
Filed Nov 20, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 45MPH HAD EXTENDED STOPPING. TS

NHTSA ID
8023080
Incident
Jul 25, 2002
Brakes
Filed Oct 10, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE BRAKES WILL SKID WHEN WET CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

NHTSA ID
8020600
Incident
Oct 6, 2002
Brakes
Filed May 11, 2001

PROBLEM OCCURRED AFTER USED CAR WARRANTY EXPIRED. ROTORS LOOK AS THOUGH THEY WERE DIPPED IN ACID, ALL RUSTY AND FLAKING. BRAKING WAS AS THOUGH STOPPING ON RIBBED PAVEMENT. PURCHASED CAR USED AT A DEALER IN WINSTON-SALEM NC. IT WAS A TRADE IN FROM A DRIVER FROM NY. THE DEALER GAVE NO ADMISSION OF SEEING THE PROBLEM, AND WAS NO HELP. EFFORTS TO CONTACT GM WENT UNANSWERED. WE HAVE REPLACED PADS 3 TIMES AND ROTORS ONCE. ROTORS NOW LOOK JUST LIKE THEY DID 4 YEARS AGO, AND PERFORMANCE IS LIKE STOPPING ON RIBBED PAVEMENT AGAIN. NEED TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL OF DEFECTIVE ROTORS OR SUCH. MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO GO FAR WITH THEM IN THIS CONDITION. WE CAN'T AFFORD RIGHT NOW TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER ROTOR/ BRAKE REPLACEMENT AGAIN. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID
745219
Incident
Mar 15, 1997
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Mar 8, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
742146
Incident
Mar 7, 2001
Brakes
Filed May 17, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
722813
Brakes
Filed Mar 27, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
720657
Brakes
Filed Jan 24, 2000
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I WAS DRIVING APX. 25-30 MPH ON SLUSH COVERED ROADS. I SAW THE CAR AHEAD OF ME BRAKING, SO I STARTED TO APPLY STEADY PRESSURE. I WAS APX 8-10 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND, BUT I STARTED TO SLIDE. SO APPLIED MORE FIRM PRESSURE, STILL NOTHING. SO FINALLY I REALIZED MY BRAKES WERE NOT DO ANYTHING SO I PUSHED THEM TO THE FLOOR AND SLOWLY TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, TO GO IN THE DITCH. I CONTINUED TO SLIDE. MY ABS DID NOT WORK AT ALL. SOMEHOW MY CAR SLID LEFT AND I ENDED UP IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHERE I GOT HIT HEAD ON BY TWO DIFFERENT CARS, AND GOT HIT ON THE SIDE A COUPLE OF TIMES. MY CAR WAS TOTALED, BUT LUCKILY I WAS NOT HURT THAT BAD. *AK

NHTSA ID
717807
Incident
Dec 28, 1999
BrakesTransmissionVisibility
Filed Dec 7, 1999

COMPONENT #1 (BRAKES)-BRAKES WEAR OUT EVERY THREE MONTHS REGARDLESS OF DRIVING CONDITIONS OR DRIVING HABITS, HAVE HAD ALL COMPONENTS ASSOCIATED WITH BRAKES REPLACED AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS; COMPONENT #2 (IGNITION) - ALMOST EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE ENGINE HESITATES AND SHUDDERS FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-5 SECONDS REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS OR TEMPERATURE OF ENGINE; COMPONENT #3 (TRANSMISSION) - ON MOST RIGHT TURNS THERE IS A CLUNK THAT EMINATES FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE; COMPONENT #4 (WINDOW) - THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ROLL DOWN OR UP, ESPECIALLY IN COOLER WEATHER

NHTSA ID
715775
Incident
Nov 17, 1999
Brakes
Filed Nov 15, 1999

ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES UNDER NORMAL STOPPING CONDITIONS AT ANY TYPE OF ROAD SURFACE, BACK BRAKES LOCKED UP. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DETECT WHAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
852908
Incident
Dec 12, 1996
Brakes
Filed Jul 27, 1999

I RECENTLY NOTICED A RECALL ON ALL GMAC TRUCKS DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. WHILE MY CAR IS A SEDAN MODEL, I AM EXPERIENCING THE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I WOULD APPRECIATE FURTHER INVESTIGATION CONSIDERING THIS VECHILE IS ONLY A 1993 MOD

NHTSA ID
709269
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
Brakes
Filed Nov 11, 1998

ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $143.00 PER ROTOR,(CURRENT GM PRICE FOR PART), NOT INCLUDING INSTALLATION. DESIGN/METAL DEFECT ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WHICH WILL RESULT IN THE REPLACEMENT OF SAME AT AN ADDITIONAL EXPENSE. THESE PADS WERE JUST PUT ON THE VEHICLE IN 1998, LESS THAN 5000 MILES AGO.

NHTSA ID
700512
Brakes
Filed Oct 30, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported

WAS STOPPED BEHIND A 93 PONTIAC VAN, WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY A 1995 FORD F-150...... THERE WAS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH THE BRAKE STILL APPLIED....... THE INPACT TO THE FRONT CAUSED MORE DAMAGE THAT THE FORD TRUCK GOING 40 MILES PER HOUR ON IMPACT TO THE REAR....... BUMBER WAS NOT HIT IN THE FRONT IT ALL IT ABOVE THE BUMBER GRILL HOOD.

NHTSA ID
700221
Incident
Sep 30, 1998
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+2 more
Filed Sep 22, 1998

BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ID
541014
BrakesEngine
Filed Sep 9, 1998

CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD/CRACKED HEAD GASKET, BRAKES ROTORS REPLACED PRIOR TO SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AT APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES AND 43,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
540679
Incident
Sep 2, 1993
Brakes
Filed Aug 25, 1998

BRAKES WEAR PREMATURELY. OWNER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKES FIVE TIMES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
827191
Incident
Jul 25, 1998
Brakes
Filed Jun 6, 1998

ABS WILL RELEASE AND ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE MAKING A LOUD POPPING SOUND.

NHTSA ID
536675
Brakes
Filed May 21, 1998

WHEN TRAVELING AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP ON WET PAVEMENT OR WHEN GRAVEL IS PRESENT IN THE ROAD, PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE/BRAKE FADE AWAY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
823549
Brakes
Filed Nov 29, 1997

TRAVELING 10 MPH URING RAINYLIGHT SNOW AND APPLIED ABS BRAKES TO STOP AT STOP LIGHT, BRAKES FAILED TO DISENGAGE AND VEHICLE ALMOST WENT TROUGH STOP LIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ID
526499
Incident
Oct 1, 1997
BrakesElectricalTransmission
Filed Sep 1, 1997

REPLACED FRONT PADS.

NHTSA ID
521624
Brakes
Filed Mar 14, 1997

THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE IS BAD. THE OWNER HAS HAD SEVERAL BRAKE PADS, SHOES, AND OTHER RELATED PARTS WEAR OUT BEFORE THEIR SCHEDULED TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS LITTLE OR NO BRAKING CAPABILITY. *AK

NHTSA ID
810012
Brakes
Filed Mar 3, 1997

UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE REAR BRAKES GRAB, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ABS BRAKING ASSEMBLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
809602
Brakes
Filed Feb 20, 1997

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES,THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL TRAVEL WITHOUT RESISTANCE TO THE FLOOR/GRAB/VEHICLE SLIDES TO A STOP. *AK

NHTSA ID
806157
Incident
Sep 3, 1996
Brakes
Filed Jan 9, 1997

ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIDE THROUGH INTERSECTION.

NHTSA ID
513581
Brakes
Filed Nov 20, 1996

WHEN DRIVING SOMETIMES THE ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES STOP ON THEIR OWN . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

NHTSA ID
805373

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 .