RoadVitals

1995 Pontiac Grand Am Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
28
Latest Dec 2, 2005
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.
7%
of 409 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.
0
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 headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Pontiac Grand Am submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 28 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 exterior lighting

The 25 most recent of 28, in the owner's own words

Body & structureBrakesElectrical+4 more
Filed Dec 2, 2005

1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM OVERHEATING. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT FOUR TIMES AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKETS WARPED. PAID FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND CALLED GENERAL MOTORS. MEDIATOR WAS OF VERY LITTLE HELP. TOOK IT BACK UNDER THE REPAIR WARRANTY, THEN THE RADIATOR BLEW BECAUSE THEY HAD REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP WITH A HIGHER PRESSURE RATING. WE TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR, HOSES, HEATER CORE AND NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS. IT CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. IN GENERAL WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $2500.00 AND STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, WE NOW HAVE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMING ON OCCASIONALLY AND I FOUND SOME ENGINE WIRES TWISTED UP OVER THE MANIFOLD. I HAVE SINCE MOVED THEM BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION AND HAD TO USE ELECTRICAL TAPE ON ANOTHER WIRE CONNECTION THAT THE LOCK (SNAP) WAS BROKE OFF. SINCE DOING THIS I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR OVERHEATING AS OFTEN. ADDITIONALLY SINCE REPAIRS WERE MADE, WE NOW HAVE HEAVY CONDENSATION ON THE INTERIOR WINDSHIELD, (WINDOW WIPERS ON THE INSIDE COULD BE A SOLUTION...) ALONG WITH PUDDLES OF WATER ON THE PASSENGER FLOOR AND IN THE TRUNK....GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THEY DID TO MY CAR AFTER I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS, EVERYTHING JUST SEEMED TO GET WORSE FROM THERE.. COINCIDENCE, I THINK NOT. THEY ARE NOW BANKRUPT SO THERE IS NO RECOURSE IN MY CASE OF RETRIEVING MONEY NEEDLESSLY SPENT ON REPAIRS THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED PROPERLY IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND WHILE I'M AT IT, I WONDER IF THEY EVER TOOK CAR OF THAT IGNITION RECALL? I AM STILL DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT IS BEHAVING BUT I HAVE BEEN HAVING TO HOLD THE IGNITION SWITCH TO GET THE CAR TO START WHICH I HADN'T HAD TO DO BEFORE... ARE THEY WAITING FOR MY CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE DUE TO THIS IGNITION PROBLEM? THE SMARTEST THING WOULD BE TO TAKE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE BUT NO ONE WANTS TO TOUCH THE CAR AFTER FINDING OUT IT WAS AT THE OTHER DEALERSHIP SO WHERE DO I GO NOW? AND A REPLY ON THAT SURE WOULD BE A BIG HELP! *JB

NHTSA ID
10144193
Incident
Jul 14, 2003
Mileage
165 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 11, 2004

THE ORIGINAL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND I DID NOT HAVE ANY DASH LIGHTS OR TAIL-LIGHTS. THE SECOND SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED TOO AND THE HEADLIGHTS NOW GO OUT WHEN I TRY TO CYCLE THEM FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM OR DON'T COME ON UNTIL I CYCLE THEM AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID
10098669
Incident
Aug 15, 2004
Mileage
101,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 6, 2004

MY VEHICLE'S (1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM) DIMMER SWITCH IS MALFUNCTIONED. THE HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT IF YOU TRY TO CYCLE FROM HIGH BEAM TO LO BEAM. I ALSO KNOW OF ANOTHER PERSON WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.I RECENTLY EXPERINCED THIS PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10093734
Incident
Oct 6, 2004
Mileage
156,632 mi
BrakesExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Aug 31, 2004

WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOWS NOT WORKING. WE'VE HAD TO PUSH UP THE WINDOW WITH OUR HANDS WHILE PUSHING THE POWER WINDOW BUTTON AND IT DOESN'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY. NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. ALSO WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS STAYING ON. WE NOTICED IF WE PLAY WITH THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH (LIKE TURNING THE HIGH BEAMS ON AND OFF) THEN THE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON AFTER A FEW TRIES. WE RECENTLY REPLACED ALL 4 BRAKES AND NOW THE ABS LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. DEALER STATED THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ABS BRAKES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10088876
Incident
Oct 10, 2003
Mileage
80,103 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 2, 2003

THE COMBINATION SWITCH FOR THE HEAD LIGHTS/TURN SIGNAL, AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. AS A RESULT, WHILE DRIVING THE HEAD LIGHTS SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. *AK HEADLIGHTS REPEATEDLY WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. *PH

NHTSA ID
10046137
Incident
Sep 1, 2003
Mileage
78,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 7, 2003

MY HEAD LIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE DARK AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WENT OUT ON IT. I ALMOST WRECKED DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION.(HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH) I NOW HAVE IT IN A GARAGE GETTING FIXED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10014068
Incident
Apr 6, 2003
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Jan 8, 2003

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THEN STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN,THE VEHICLE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP. ALSO CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS DOES NOT WORK ONLY HIGH BEAMS. TS

NHTSA ID
10002385
Incident
Jul 15, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 10, 2001

HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES ARE OF A BAD DESIGN OR HAVE A WIRE IN THE WRONG PLACE (CAUSING IT TO GET CUT) . THE HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT AT ANY TIME, POSSIBLY CAUSING A CRASH. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER GRAND AM OWNERS AND THEY TOO ARE HAVING OR HAVE HAD A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO MINE.*AK

NHTSA ID
755477
Incident
Nov 10, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 2, 2001

THE HEAD LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT WHEN YOU TURN THEM ON. THEY ALSO GO OUT WHILE YOU ARE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. MIGHT BE A DEFECTIVE SWITCH. TO GET THE LIGHTS TO COME BACK ON YOU HAVE TO SWITCH FROM DIME TO BRIGHT AND BACK TO DIME.*AK

NHTSA ID
751560
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 26, 2001

HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
884110
Incident
Dec 1, 2000
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 22, 2001

THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID
559893
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 13, 2001

LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS DUE TO A DIMMER PACK FAILURE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
880477
Incident
Feb 2, 1997
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 5, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH, VEHICLE STALLED, HAZARDS , SIGNAL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. VEHICLE HAS STALLED AGAIN SINCE THEN. ALSO SIGNAL/ BRAKE AND HAZARD LIGHTS ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
879805
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 27, 2000

INTERMITTENTLY HEADLIGHTS BECOME INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS BUMP, THE HEAD LIGHTS AND SIGNAL LIGHT GOES OFF. *YH

NHTSA ID
877102
Fuel systemExterior lightingSuspension+1 more
Filed Dec 1, 2000

I HAVE HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH SQUEAKY STEERING COLUMN,NOW IN ADDITION RECENTLY,MY HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT AND MOST LIKELY IS A CONTACT WITHIN THE OPERATIONS STICK ON THE STEERING WHEEL.I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH CLUNKING NOISES ON FRONT LEFT AND ALL MECHANICS TELL ME MY SHOCKS ARE FINE.MY HEATER CORE HAS TAKEN A DUMP,ALONG WITH A BATTERY,ALONG WITH A FUEL PUMP,ALL OF WHICH SEEM VERY PREMATURE ALL FROM 40000 MILES TO 55000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
737168
Incident
Apr 20, 2000
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 3, 2000

HAZARD LIGHTS AND 4-WAY FLASHERS FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
555346
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 22, 2000

CONSUMERS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OF RECALL (96V25) FOR 1996 GRAND AM'S OF THE HAZARD LIGHTS IN WHICH THE FRONT AND OR REAR HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT FLASH WHEN THE HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED, CONSUMERS VEHICLE IS A 1995 GRAND AM.

NHTSA ID
555083
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Aug 1, 2000

MOTOR IN THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS BEING REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. WINDOW GOES DOWN SLOWLY, AND TAKES ABOUT 6 ATTEMPTS BEFORE GOING BACK UP. ALSO, WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED DOWN OR UP,TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ID
866485
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 28, 2000

SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 96V250000. MY VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, THE REAR FLASHERS SUDDENLY DID NOT OPERATE. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THIS AND I HAD TO PAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
722063
Incident
Dec 15, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 17, 2000

AFTER ENGAGING AND UNENGAGING THE HAZARD LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO OPERATE, AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT ENGAGE AS WELL. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
860470
Incident
Mar 17, 2000
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 13, 2000

THIS AUTO HAS TOTAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR JUST 4 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. I BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCALA NATIONAL FORREST WITH 4 10 YEAR OLD GIRLS IN THE CAR. SINCE THEN, I HAVE REPLACED A 4 YEAR OLD BATTERY AT 2 YEARS AGE AND ALL OF THE FUSES. IN 1/00 WHILE DRIVING IN A FOG WHITE OUT ON TOP OF A 300 FT BRIDGE, I PUT ON MY FLASHERS AND ALL MY LIGHTS WENT OUT. A VEHICLE BEHIND ME DIDN'T SEE ME AND NEARLY PUSHED US BOTH OFF THE BRIDGE. SINCE THEN EVERY TIME I PUT ON MY FLASHERS, ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL THINGS STOP. MY ELECT DOOR LOCKS KEEP BLOWING FUSES AND WINDOWS DON'T WORK ALL THE TIME. I'V CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME ALL THESE PROBLEMS BEGAN AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND IT WAS MY PROBLEM. I PURCHASED A EXTENDED WARRENTY, BUT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED. PLEASE HELP!! *AK

NHTSA ID
718685
Incident
Jul 3, 1999
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Dec 9, 1999

LOW DIMMER IS INOPERATIVE. ALSO, FOG LIGHTS AND DOME LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY WHICH MAY RESULT IN VISUAL DIFFICULTY AND A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
853940
Incident
Dec 7, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 22, 1999

THE WHOLE CASTING THAT HOUSES THE BULB FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOG LIGHT HAS BURNED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. OWNER'S FATHER REPLACED THE FOG LIGHT AND CASTING. THE DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE CURRENT PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER NFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
853216
Incident
Oct 22, 1999
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Mar 28, 1999

I DON'T HAVE TAIL LIGHTS/DASH LIGHTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
705014
Incident
Oct 6, 1996
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 23, 1999

INTERIOR OF HEAD LAMPS HAS DEVELOPED A GREASY FILM ON THEM RESULTING IN REDUCED VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ID
544533

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 .