ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1999 Pontiac Grand Am
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 849 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Pontiac Grand Am, most frequently naming the brakes, engine and electrical categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 155 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 2008 | 3 | 759 |
| Jul 2008 | 3 | 762 |
| Aug 2008 | 2 | 764 |
| Sep 2008 | 1 | 765 |
| Oct 2008 | 3 | 768 |
| Nov 2008 | 1 | 769 |
| Dec 2008 | 2 | 771 |
| Jan 2009 | 3 | 774 |
| Mar 2009 | 1 | 775 |
| Apr 2009 | 1 | 776 |
| Jun 2009 | 1 | 777 |
| Jul 2009 | 3 | 780 |
| Aug 2009 | 2 | 782 |
| Sep 2009 | 2 | 784 |
| Oct 2009 | 1 | 785 |
| Dec 2009 | 1 | 786 |
| Jan 2010 | 1 | 787 |
| Feb 2010 | 2 | 789 |
| Mar 2010 | 2 | 791 |
| Apr 2010 | 1 | 792 |
| Jul 2010 | 2 | 794 |
| Aug 2010 | 1 | 795 |
| Oct 2010 | 2 | 797 |
| Feb 2011 | 1 | 798 |
| Apr 2011 | 1 | 799 |
| Jun 2011 | 2 | 801 |
| Jul 2011 | 2 | 803 |
| Oct 2011 | 1 | 804 |
| Jan 2012 | 1 | 805 |
| Apr 2012 | 1 | 806 |
| May 2012 | 1 | 807 |
| Jun 2012 | 1 | 808 |
| Jul 2012 | 1 | 809 |
| Sep 2012 | 1 | 810 |
| Jan 2013 | 1 | 811 |
| Mar 2013 | 1 | 812 |
| Jul 2013 | 1 | 813 |
| Nov 2013 | 1 | 814 |
| Mar 2014 | 1 | 815 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 816 |
| May 2014 | 1 | 817 |
| Jul 2014 | 1 | 818 |
| Aug 2014 | 1 | 819 |
| Sep 2014 | 1 | 820 |
| Oct 2014 | 1 | 821 |
| Nov 2014 | 4 | 825 |
| Dec 2014 | 4 | 829 |
| Jan 2015 | 3 | 832 |
| Mar 2015 | 2 | 834 |
| Apr 2015 | 1 | 835 |
| Jun 2015 | 1 | 836 |
| Oct 2015 | 1 | 837 |
| Jan 2016 | 1 | 838 |
| Mar 2016 | 2 | 840 |
| May 2016 | 3 | 843 |
| Jun 2016 | 2 | 845 |
| Jul 2016 | 1 | 846 |
| Jul 2019 | 1 | 847 |
| Jun 2023 | 1 | 848 |
| Jul 2023 | 1 | 849 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Brakes22119.4%
- Engine14813.0%
- Electrical13211.6%
- Suspension1079.4%
- Visibility897.8%
- Airbags766.7%
- Steering706.1%
- Exterior lighting655.7%
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
6 campaigns 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.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
TURN SIGNAL FAILURES
GM CONDUCTED A RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 03V327) ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000-2001 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE HAZARD SWITCHES THAT CAUSE THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS TO FAIL.THE RECALL COVERED VEHICLES BUILT FROM FEBRUARY 2000 THROUGH MAY 2001 (DEPENDING ON MODEL).ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON 64 REPORTS ALLEGING TURN SIGNAL FAILURE ON MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND BUILT PRIOR TO FEBRUARY 2000.IN DECEMBER 2004, GM WILL ISSUE A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327.THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH.GM WILL SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING DECEMBER 30, 2004.THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE
THE FAILURE RATE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS LOW RELATIVE TO PAST ODI INVESTIGATIONS.THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A COIL SPRING-OVER-STRUT FRONT SUSPENSION WITH THE SPRING ITSELF RESTING IN COMPRESSION BETWEEN TWO POLYMER ISOLATORS.PE03-031 WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF FRACTURE OF THIS SPRING.THE FRACTURES OCCUR IN THE FIRST ACTIVE COIL ABOVE THE LOWER ISOLATOR AND APPARENTLY ORIGINATE IN CORROSION PITS FOUND BENEATH REGIONS OF DAMAGED EPOXY COATING.CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW THAT THE FAILURES OCCUR PREDOMINANTLY IN THE ?CORROSION STATES? AND TEND TO APPEAR OUTSIDE OF THE STANDARD 36,000 MILE WARRANTY TERM.THESE DATA ALSO SUGGEST THAT THESE FAILURES WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.SLIGHTLY MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS HAVE INVOLVED THE BROKEN SPRING COIL CONTACTING THE ADJACENT TIRE.ODI IS UPGRADING PE03-031 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO GATHER FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCES OF THESE FAILURES.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Our braking system on this car failed us, and is probably crushed by now at no fault of my own. My safety was at–risk when the brakes lost pressure and if it wasn’t for our seatbelts, I could’ve been thrown through the windshield. I hereby declare that [XXX] deliberately caused our accident and lied about being blinded. [XXX] lost her son—[XXX]—and was jealous of my opportunity to do what he couldn’t. Her other son—[XXX]—choose not to attend college and contraband drugs among other things. [XXX] and his mother [XXX] were also jealous of me for having an opportunity that [XXX] chose not to take. They blame me for Chastity [XXX] & [XXX] turning their parental rights over to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. How their oldest daughter being raped by her paternal grandmother’s husband has to do me is absurd and childish in my opinion. Murray Police Department was called on October 23, 2014 at 7:23 am in reference to 2 vehicle collisions to inspected and verified by law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. [XXX] and his sister [XXX] their colleagues at Seacrest Rehabilitation—Healthcare Center and [XXX] or [XXX] Consolidated Schools with the latter allegations. Ma and I later went to Dr. [XXX] chiropractic center for evaluation, he can verify her back or knee problems as they related to this incident. [XXX] can verify us suffering from medicalised homelessness, despite state law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania declaring residential leases cannot exceed three years. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- NHTSA ID
- 11533840
- Incident
- Oct 23, 2014
The gas gauge will show full then without warning quickly drop to “E” and the low fuel indicator will ding and the light will come on then just as quickly as it started it will go back to full or 2/3rds the slow creep back to the full position. (The tank was not full) While driving all the electrical components start going wild, everything goes on and off quickly. The accelerator will rev(while foot is on or off accelerator) and drop over and over (as if there were bad gas in it) then go back to normal. This happens while I’m on the road and is a massive hazard. I’m so afraid this will cause an accident that leads to loss of life.
- NHTSA ID
- 11525143
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2023
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER THAT WAS PUSHED OVER TO THE CONTACT'S LANE, FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT THAT INVOLVED TWO TRUCKS. THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. NO OTHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, INCLUDING THE DRIVER'S. THERE WAS NO WARNING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR ABRASIONS ON THE UPPER LEFT SHOULDER AND A BIG BUMP ON THE BACK. THE CONTACT WOULD BE GOING TO THE DOCTORS ATA A LATER POINT IN TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 268,500.
- NHTSA ID
- 11235024
- Incident
- Jun 21, 2019
- Mileage
- 268,500 mi
WINDSHIELD AND REAR WINDOW WERE BROKE AND BOTH HAVE BROKE INTO SHARDS. WINDSHIELD WAS APPROXIMENTLY 3" IN DIAMETER AND HALF INCH WIDE AND REAR WINDOW WAS APPROXIMENTLY 5" AND QUARTER IN WIDE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10882222
- Incident
- May 27, 2016
- Mileage
- 149,300 mi
THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH WENT OUT CAUSING ME TO LOSE A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL.
- NHTSA ID
- 10874327
- Incident
- Apr 22, 2016
- Mileage
- 120,000 mi
THE HAZARD SWITCH MAKES A NOISE LIKE THE HAZARD LIGHTS ARE FLASHING WHEN THEY AREN'T EVEN ON. TO GET MY BLINKERS TO WORK I HAVE TO PUSH THE HAZARD BUTTON ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES.
- NHTSA ID
- 10874326
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2016
- Mileage
- 125,000 mi
TO START WITH I READ THE COMPLAINTS AND WAS WONDERING HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE FOR SOMETHING TO BE RECALLED. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FALLS, PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HAS SCRATCHES ON IT FROM I AM GUESSING THE REGULATOR, THE DASH IS SEPARATED FROM THE WINDSHIELD, THE STRUTS, AND SPRINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, ABS LIGHT STAYS ON, THE SUSPENSION FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS FALLING APART THROUGH EVERY BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE FOGGED UP AND POINT DOWN. SIDE MIRROR HAS BEEN REPLACED AND WE VISITED SEVERAL AUTO YARDS TO TRY TO FIND A DASH AND SIDE MIRROR AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT ALL THE MODELS OF THE GRAND AM WAS MISSING THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR WHERE IT HAD BROKE OFF AND ALL OF THEM THE DASH WAS SEPARATED FROM THE WINDSHIELD. I AM NOT SURE AS TO WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE DASH COMES COMPLETELY OFF BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE CAR WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN. AND I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE A CAR THAT HAS THIS MANY ISSUES AND NO ONE IS RESOLVING THE PROBLEMS. NOW THE CV BOOT HAS TO BE REPLACED. I AM SO FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW SEEING THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS AND ONLY SIX RECALLS THAT IS A PROBLEM. I AM SORRY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRODUCT YOU PUT OUT. I GUESS IT WILL TAKE SOMEONE GETTING HURT OR KILLED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS AND I HOPE YA'LL CAN SLEEP GOOD AT NIGHT KNOWING ALL THESE PROBLEMS HAVE EXISTED FOR THIS LONG AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. TIRED OF PUTTING MONEY INTO SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE SAME ISSUES.
- NHTSA ID
- 10870578
- Incident
- May 21, 2016
CLOCK SPRING HAS A DISK THAT IS NOT A UNIFORM DESGINE DUE TO IT SPLITTING AND BOWING OUT. STEERING WHEEL STICKS WHEN TURNED EITHER DIRECTION AND HORN IS SET OFF AS WELL. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALSO ON AND WOULD ASSUME THAT IT WOULD NOT INFLATE IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL COLLISION. PONTIAC FEELS THAT THE DISK THAT SHOULD BE ONE SOLID PIECE THAT I BELIEVE IS TWO PIECES, IM RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE CRAFTSMANSHIP.
- NHTSA ID
- 10865918
- Incident
- Jan 31, 2016
- Mileage
- 149,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT
This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to Unlock Delco Radio with Theftlock.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. E version update is to add administrative details.
EQUIPMENT
This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 102 | 4 | 0 | 53.5 |
| 2004 | 293 | 4 | 0 | 52.9 |
| 2003 | 325 | 5 | 0 | 53.9 |
| 2002 | 395 | 4 | 1 | 54.2 |
| 2001 | 538 | 7 | 3 | 57.5 |
| 2000 | 675 | 8 | 5 | 62.3 |
| 1999Viewing | 849 | 6 | 3 | 62.0 |
| 1998 | 172 | 3 | 1 | 57.1 |
| 1997 | 383 | 4 | 2 | 61.5 |
| 1996 | 450 | 6 | 2 | 63.7 |
| 1995 | 409 | 1 | 2 | 57.4 |
| 1994 | 377 | 2 | 2 | 62.4 |
| 1993 | 204 | 1 | 0 | 46.8 |
| 1992 | 168 | 3 | 0 | 51.9 |
| 1991 | 82 | 3 | 0 | 54.6 |
| 1990 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 43.2 |
| 1989 | 44 | 3 | 1 | 58.9 |
| 1988 | 31 | 3 | 4 | 63.3 |
| 1987 | 28 | 3 | 3 | 65.5 |
| 1986 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 58.9 |
| 1985 | 4 | 5 | 3 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — |
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.