Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 383 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Pontiac Grand Am. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 383 · page 1 of 16
THE THEFT WARNING SYSTEM KEEPS THE IGNITION SWITCH FROM ENGAGING. THE CAR WILL NOT START UNLESS THE KEY IS IN THE "ON" POSITION FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES AND RESETS THE SYSTEM. *TR
WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR THE STEERING LOCKS UP AND YOU HAVE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH FOR IT TO CATCH AND FINALLY WILL START LIKE IT KEEPS LOCKING UP. MY SON BOUGHT THIS CAR AS HIS FIRST CAR SO NO SURE HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS DOING THIS AS WE PURCHASED FROM A FRIEND AND HE DID SAY THAT SOMETHING WAS UP WITH THE STEERING WHEN TRYING TO START.
THE IGNITION ON THIS COLLEGE STUDENTS 97 PONTIAC GRAND AM RANDOMLY DEFAULTS. IT WILL GET STUCK IN ON OR OFF POSITION. CAR SOMETIMES CONTINUES RUNNING. KEYES WILL LOCK IN THE IGNITION AND CAN NOT BE REMOVED. LIGHTS REMAIN ON WHILE KEYS ARE STUCK IN IGNITION. IGNITION GETS WARM. *JS
I CANNOT DRIVE CAR WITH OUT SPEEDOMETER. THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN #66-83-04A I FEEL THE DEALER SHOULD REPAIR THIS AT THERE COST. IT IS NOT SAFE DRIVING IT WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE SPEED. THE DEALER SAYS IT COST 450.00 THE VSS IS WORKING FINE. I BUY A LOT OF CARS. *TR
THE MOST RECENT OF PROBLEMS IS MY STEERING WENT OUT ON ME WHILE TURNING IN TO A PARKING LOT. HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION SEAL THAT CAUSED IT TO POUR OUT THE FLUID. I HAVE ALSO HAD MANY OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS GAS LEAKING EVEN THOUGH ALL LINES WERE REPLACED. POWER STEERING LINE REPLACED DUE TO PIN HOLE LEAKS, MULTIPLE WHEEL BEARINGS, RADIATOR. IGNITION SWITCH, AND ONE OF THE SENSORS IN THE UPPER BACK SIDE OF THE MOTOR SOMEHOW CAME UNDONE AND MELTED THE CONNECTOR AND CAUSED A DEAD SHORT IN MY CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION BUT THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STALLED. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICE WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY: PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES) BUT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
I HAVE BROUGHT A SET OF FOUR TIRE FROM FIRESTONE DOT NUMBER IS H Y C 6 38B 3896 DUR3M365182 P195/65R15 SO THE TIRES START WHAT DO I DO ABOUT THIS TO COME A PART THE FRIST TIME THIS HAPPEN I BROUGHT TO TIRES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE FUEL CAP WAS REPLACED BUT THE ODOR PERSISTED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED AN EVAPORATION LEAK CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
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
THE PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IN MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT IS A FAILED PIECE OF JUNK THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT INTO ANY VEHICLE. GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THIS SITUATION AS MANY, MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY NOT HAVING THIS SITUATION FIXED. MOST MECHANICS ARE AT A LOSS. *TR
COOLANT LEVELS IN RESERVE TANK ALWAYS WOULD DROP BELOW MINIMUM LEVELS, AND WE WOULD CONTINUE TO ADD COOLANT. LAST OIL CHANGE IN JUNE 2009 REVIEW NO PROBLEM. NOVEMBER 2009, WHILE SON WAS DRIVING HOME FROM COLLEGE (APPROXIMATELY 80 MILES) CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT WITH TEMP GAUGE READING IN THE RED. HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL SHOP AND REPORTED THAT COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO CORE, ENGINE DESTROYED (ESTIMATED REPAIR - NEED NEW/REMANUFACTURED ENGINE $2500-3000). SEEMS WHILE REVIEWING THIS SUBJECT ONLINE AND W/NHTSA WEB SITE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH 1997 PONTIACS 4 AND 6 CYLINDER ENGINES. *TR
COOLING SYSTEM IS FAILING ALL THE TIME ON ALL PONTIACS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM INTAKE MANIFOLD BLOW 5 TIMES AT 50.00 MILES OIL MIXES WITH THE COOLANT AND ALL THE SMOKE FROM THAT GOES IN THE AIR IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND THAN THE CARS ARE JUNK SO THAN EVERYBODY WHO BUYS PONTIAC THEY ARE BUYING A LEMON CARS EVEN IF IT BRAND NEW FROM THE SHOP. *TR
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
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 1997 GRAND AM GT SINCE PURCHASING IT. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH THREE TIMES IN ONE YEAR, THE SERVICE COSTS ARE $900.00 IN TOTAL. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE SAME THING KEEPS BREAKING EVERY 3 MONTHS. MY WINDOWS GET STUCK AND DON'T WANT TO ROLL UP, IT HAS POWER WINDOWS. I WAS REAR ENDED IN 2003, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, NO DAMAGE DONE TO MY CAR. WHAT CAN I DO? JUST KEEP REPLACING IGNITION SWITCHES EVERY 3 MONTHS? I HAVE GOTTEN WRITTEN UP AT WORK FOR MY CAR NOT STARTING. I DO NOT HAVE TRIPLE A. *TR
IGNITION WON'T TURN TO THE OFF POSITION. I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY SO I DON'T DRAIN IT. I HAVE TO LEAVE MY KIDS IN THE HOT CAR WHILE I DO THIS. OR PAY $200 THAT I DON'T HAVE TO GET IT FIXED. I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE THE SENSOR ON THE TRANSMISSION THAT TELLS THE CAR ITS IN PARK. WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS IT HAPPENS TO A LOT OF VEHICLES. I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE TO MAINTAIN MY CAR BUT I DON'T SEE WHY SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *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.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY SMELLS ANTIFREEZE AND IT HAS LEAKED ONTO THE FRONT AND BACK FLOORS OF THE VEHICLE. SHE NOTICED THAT THE FLOORS WERE WET, BUT NEVER PAID ATTENTION TO IT UNTIL SHE REMOVED THE FLOORMATS AND SAW THE GREEN ANTIFREEZE. AS OF APRIL 16, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR A MECHANIC. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,000.
PASSLOCK SYSTEM TURNED CAR OFF IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY HAD TO PUSH CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD WITH 100'S OF CARS PASSING ME AT 65 MPH (LIFE THREATENING) RESET PASSLOCK BUT HAS DONE THE SAME 4 TIMES. *TR
THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICES ARE MALFUNCTIONING. THEY ARE OFTEN LEAVING CODES AND POPPING ON MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND ON THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP AND DOWN PROPERLY UNLESS CONTROLLED BY THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL SWTICH. THE FOG LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AS WELL AND THE FUSES ARE CHARRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 128,728.
1) FRONT ABS BEGAN TO PULSATE AS IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN A SKID HOWEVER THIS HAPPENED DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND BRAKING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. 2) ABS WIRING HARNESS WAS FAULTY DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR FROM TURNING THE WHEEL 3) HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT ABS WIRING HARNESSES THIS BRAKING SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS BRAKING ISSUES. *TR
1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM TIRE BLEW CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND END UP IN A DITCH. *KB THE VEHICLE HAD DAMAGE TO THE REAR AXLE AND LEFT SIDE MIRROR. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AT A STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS OF OCTOBER 15, 2007, THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V070000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH). THE CONTACT FELT THAT HER VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ THE DEALER STATED ENGINE REPLACED IN JUNE. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
THE IGNITION KEY CONTINUES TO GET LOCK OR STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS REPRESENTS A SECONDARY SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT CAR HAS KEY IN THE IGNITION AT ALL TIMES. BATTERY COULD DRAIN LEAVING PASSENGERS AND DRIVERS STRANDED IN UNSAFE OR UNABLE TO REACT TO UNSAFE SITUATIONS (CRIMINAL PURSUERS, ASSAILANTS, ETC). BECAUSE YOUR CAR HAS BEEN DRAIN DUE TO AN IGNITION DEFECT THAT LOCKS YOUR KEY IN THE IGNITION. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND SPARKS UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT DID NOT MAKE THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL # 97V059000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 102,715.
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
Data on this page last refreshed .