Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Pontiac Grand Am submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 41 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.
The 25 most recent of 41, in the owner's own words
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SIDE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 189,000. UPDATED 02/01/118 LJ THE CONSUMER AND HER PASSENGER WERE INJURED DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. UPDATED 03/18/11 *JB
1) FIREWALL BODY SEAM LEAKS WATER INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DUE TO RUST THROUGH. FILLS FLOORS BENEATH CARPETS WITH WATER. CAUSES AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE (SDM) UNDER PASSENGER'S SEAT TO FAIL DUE TO MOISTURE. ACTIVATES "AIR BAR" DASH LIGHT. GM HAS ISSUED A LETTER RELATED TO "FLOOD" CARS. IT GOES BEYOND FLOODS!!!! THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN & BUILD PROBLEM. 2) WATER ENTERS EVERY TIME IT RAINS. THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE (SDM) LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT (STUPID DESIGN) HAS FAILED DUE TO MOISTURE UNDER THE CARPETING. "AIR BAG" LIGHT IS TRIGGERED AND GM WARNS THAT AIR BAG(S) COULD DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING!!! 3) I HAVE REMOVED THE 10A AIR BAG FUSE AND DISCONNECTED BOTH AIR BAGS BY UNPLUGGING WIRES TO THE INFLATORS. GM SAYS THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE (SDM) NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. NO THANK-YOU, GM SHOULD COVER REPLACEMENT AND FIREWALL REPAIRS TO PREVENT RECURRENCE, PERIOD. THIS IS THE 2ND CASE OF FIREWALL WATER LEAKAGE I HAVE SEEN ON THE GM "N" BODIED CARS. THE OTHER WAS AN OLDS ACHIEVA WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE RUST OUT AREAS FROM BOTH VEHICLES. GM SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL & REPAIR THESE CARS - FREE OF CHARGE TO THE OWNERS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM. IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME COMPLETELY SATURATED WITH WATER. TWO YEARS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE ADVISING CONSUMERS THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE COULD FAIL AND ALLOW WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, CAUSING UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND FLOODING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE LETTER WAS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COSTLY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER. THERE WAS A RECALL ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE FOR THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE IN CANADA. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS 03-162. UPDATED 12/28/2006 - *NM
THIS IS THE WORST CAR (LEMON) I HAVE EVER HAD. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A USED CAR DEALER SHIP CALLED NEW CAR ALTERNATIVE IN LIVONIA MI. I AM NOW ON MY THIRD ENGINE IN THE CAR. THE FIRST 2 FAILED DUE TO THE HEAD GASKETS BLOWING AND ANTI-FREEZE WAS MIXING WITH OIL IN THE ENGINE CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. ALL CAR WINDOW MOTORS HAVE BE REPLACED 4 OR 5 TIMES EACH AND STILL DON'T WORK. BACK TWO DOORS ARE BROKE ONE WONT OPEN THE OTHER WONT CLOSE. THE SUNROOF WONT CLOSE THE DEALER TOLD ME 1500 TO REPLACE MOTOR AND PUT BACK ON TRACKS. LOL I HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 5 YEARS. I BOUGHT THE CAR DEC OF 99 AND HAVE HAD ALL THESE PROBLEMS SINCE. I DON'T RECOMMEND ANYONE TO BUY A GRAND AM OR A CAR FROM THIS DEALERSHIP THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL. THE FIRST ENGINE WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY SECOND ONE WAS AT MY COST OF 3500. THEN ANOTHER 1500 FOR NEW RADIATOR AND HEATER CORE. THEN ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION HOSE. THIS IS SUCH BULL CRAP. WHAT A LEMON! PLUS I WAS PULLING OUT OF A GAS STATION ONE DAY AND MY AIR BAG DECIDED TO COME OUT ON IT OWN NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED AND HIT ME IN THE FACE RESULTING IN INJURIES AND I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. *JB
MINOR COLLISION, FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED RIPPING THE ENTIRE DASH INSIDE THE CAR. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
PONTIAC GRAND AM 1997, FATAL ACCIDENT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, ON EITHER SIDE. *BF THE DRIVER WAS KILLED AND THE PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *JB
97 GRAND AM 4CYL PUR NEW 5/97 SERIES OF PROBLEMS.GT VERSION BUT DRIVEN CAUTIOUSLY BY 40 YEAR OLDS.AT 2 YEARS AND 39,000 MILES WATER PUMP FAILS.IS UNDER CAR AND IS 600.00 DOL TO REPLACE!NOBODY SHOULD BUY THE 4 CYLINDER WHEN AN ITEM PRONE TO FAILURE LIKE A WATER PUMP CANT BE ACCESSED WITHOUT REMOVING THE MANIFOLDS ON THE CAR.AT 50,000 KEY COMES OUT OF IGNITION WHILE CAR RUNNING.IGNITION SWITCH FAILS,HAS TO BE RE KEYED AND COST IS 500.00 BY LOCAL MECHANIC SERV STAT.AT 55,000 MILES AT INTERLOCKS UP,CAR STUCK TOWED AT THIS TIME A ALTERNATOR CHECK SHOWS THAT IS NOT CHARGING.REPLACE BOTH COST 800.00 PLUS BATTERY.DEC 2000 FRONT LEFT TIRE ON ALUM WHEEL IS FLAT-TAKE TO SEV STAT,THEY REFILL DRIVE CAR AFTER X-MAS IT DEFLATES CAUSES CAR TO SPIN HIT LIGHT POLE MOSTLY ON TIRE AREA AT 40 MPH ,NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT BUT A HIGH SNOWBANK DECELERATES CAR.ALUM WHEEL LEAK AGAIN?EVER SINCE W.PUMP REPLACED A TAPPING COMES FROM CAM AREA.AT 75,000 MILES AUTO DR LOCK IN DRIV SIDE FAILS AND IS REPLACED.CAM NOISE CONT. AS SERV. PEOPLE SAY IT IS A LIFTER,FINALLY IN 2002 DEC. CAR RUNS ROUGH ,IS PUT ON COMP. AND FOUND TO HAVE BAD CAM TIMING.CHAIN IS INSPECTED AS IT IS STEEL AND FOR LIFE OF CAR.A TINY CHEAP BRACKET KEEPS THE CHAIN IN PLACE AND IT HAD CRACKED AND SLOWLY BROKEN AT 80,000 MILES.ENGINE GOT BY WITH NEW CHAIN AND LABOR FOR 800.00 DOL.85,000 NEW BATTERY,95,000 NEW BATTERY.108,000 4 SPEED AUTOTRANS STARTS SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL.CAR STOPS ON HIGHWAY WONT MOVE.HW PATROL TOWS ,CHARGED 129.00 TO REPAIR SHOP.SAY TRANNY IS BAD.AND WATER PUMP IS LEAKING AGAIN.BILL WOULD BE THOUSANDS DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THESE PARTS AND CAR WILL BE SOLD AS PARTS CAR.TOO BAD,LOOKS GOOD.-MARCH 06,2004.*AK
MY SON'S GRAND AM DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER THE CAR WAS DRIVEN THROUGH A PUDDLE HIDING A POT HOLE. HE SUSTAINED BURNS ON HIS RIGHT ARM AND HAD TO STOP THE CAR AND EXIT IN ORDER TO STOP COUGHING FROM THE AIRBAG POWDER. PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CONTACTED, INFORMED ABOUT THE INCIDENT, DIGITAL PICTURES TAKEN BY THE REPAIRING PONTIAC DEALER WERE INSPECTED AND, BASED ON PAINT FLAKING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BUMPER COVER AND A DENT IN THE CROSSMEMBER, THEY CONCLUDED THIS DAMAGE CAUSED THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE MANAGER TO THE REPAIRING DEALER WAS VERY SKEPTICAL OF THIS CONCLUSION SINCE THIS KIND OF DAMAGE SHOULD NOT DEPLOY THE AIRBAG AND, BASED ON THE DESIGN OF THIS CAR, BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. FURTHER, THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS LODGED AGAINST THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SAME SITUATION (NHSTA WEB SITE) AND GM OF CANADA HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR IMPROPER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I BELIEVE GM IS REPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT OF THE REPAIRS TO THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT.
BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES APART. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR ANY WARNING OF POSSIBLE CAR PROBLEMS BEFORE OR AFTER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED AROUND 7:30 WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND DRIVERS SIDE DEPLOYED AROUND 7:40 WHILE PULLING OUT OF A BUSINESS PARKING LOT.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 25-35 MPH THE CONSUMER'S SON DROVE THROUGH WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A PUDDLE, BUT WAS ACTUALLY A POT HOLE. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING ABRASIONS ON THE DRIVER'S ARMS. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE INFORMED. THE DEALER FOUND NO CAUSE FOR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *AK *TS *NLM
AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE BECAME SATURATED BY WATER CAUSING IT TO FAIL. I REPLACED IT AT MY OWN EXPENSE BUT I NOW UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY GM. *LA
AIR BAG EQUIPMENT INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED.*MR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, BOTH OF PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS EXPLODED WITH NO APPARENT REASON. AS RESULT THE DASH WAS COMPLETELY TORN APART, THE PLASTIC MOLDING OF THE CD PLAYER HAD BLOWN OFF, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR APPEARED TO BE SPRUNG, BUT THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT TO HAVE CAUSE THIS EXPLOSION AND DAMAGE. THE DEALERSHIP AGREED TO FIX THE AIR BAGS AND SENSORS, BUT NOTHING MORE. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT THE VEHICLE BE RETURNED TO HIM IN THE SAME STATE IT WAS BEFORE THE AIR BAG EXPLOSION OCCURED. PLEASE ASSIST IN RESOLVING MATTERS. *CB
CONSUMER STATED AFTER TRAVELING 25 MPH OVER A POTHOLE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. *AK
DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONED IN 97 GRAND AM TRAVELING AT APPROX. 5MPH NO IMPACT OR ACCIDENT OCCURRED. AIRBAG JUST DEPLOYED RESULTING IN WHIPLASH, CERVICAL SPINE CURVATURE, SEVERE HEADACHES, DIZZINESS, SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS, 2 SPRAINED FINGERS, RINGING IN LEFT EAR, BROKEN 1CT ENGAGEMENT RING, PHYSICAL THERAPY. *NLM
VEHICLE COLLIDED HEAD-ON WITH A DEER WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH. THE DEER DIED ON IMPACT AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *NLM *TS
CONSUMER STATES AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CRASH OR COLLISION. CONSUMER'S INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE DAMAGES INCURRED TO VEHICLE BECAUSE THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT. CONSUMER HAS A POLICE REPORT AND PHOTOS TAKEN ON THE DAMAGED VEHICLE AND THE MINOR SCRAPES AND BURNS SUSTAINED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WHO REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER. AFTER FAILING TO INSPECT DAMAGED VEHICLE, MANUFACTURER CONCLUDED THAT DUE TO THE YEAR, MODEL AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHCLE, THAT IT WAS NOT THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE DAMAGES. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNJUST AND UNFAIR BECAUSE THERE IS NO RELEVANCE AS TO HOW OLD OR HOW MANY MILES IT HAD ON THE VEHICLE. *TT
DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INCIDENTALLY. THERE WAS NO CRASH OR COLLISION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON A SMOOTH ROAD BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
THE DIRM AND MODULE FAILED CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUNINATE. NLM
I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLISION TRAVELING AT 35MPH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER THERE WAS A CRASH ON JULY 28, 2000 AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED 18 HOURS AFTER THE CRASH ON JULY 29 2000 *AK
AT 45 MPH SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING A DEER, WENT INTO DITCH, AND ROLLED OVER. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
WAS DRIVING 40MPH & LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HIT EMBANKMENT HEAD ON & FLIPPED OVER SEVERAL TIMES, HITTING THE RIGHT FRONT. ONCE HITTING THE GROUND AFTER FLIPPING, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE DECLARED TOTALED. DRIVER SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES & WAS HOSPITALIZED.*AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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