RoadVitals

1999 Pontiac Grand Am Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
132
Latest Jun 3, 2023
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.
16%
of 849 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.
9
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Pontiac Grand Am submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 132 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 electrical

The 25 most recent of 132, in the owner's own words

Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system
Filed Jun 3, 2023

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
Electrical
Filed Mar 17, 2016

I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A FRIEND ABOUT 2WEEKS AGO AND HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION BUT HE TOOK IT UP THERE. BUT HE JUST DONE THIS ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR , SO NOW THE KEY WON'T EVEN TURN THE IGNITION TO START. WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME?THE CAR WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I WENT OUT TO LEAVE AND NOTICE THAT I COULD NOT.

NHTSA ID
10850293
Incident
Mar 5, 2016
Mileage
174,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 19, 2015

IGNITION HAS SHUT DOWN NUMEROUS TIMES ALSO ACTIVATING GM PASSLOCK SYSTEM, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED NUMEROUS TIMES, RAW FUEL HAS DISINTEGRATED MUFFLER AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER, NOTIFIED GM NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT THIS, STONEWALLED, GIVEN LOCAL NUMBER TO CALL, THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF IT, CAR NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, PARKED IT, INCURRED INSURANCE/TAXES ETC TO KEEP CAR IN DRIVEWAY, MOSTLY INOPERABLE NOW WAITING ON GM TO ADDRESS, THEY REFUSE TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE PHONE CALLS/E-MAILS NOR WILL THEY TRY AND REACH AN ACCORD IN REGARDS TO A CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I AM DISABLED AND RELIED ON THIS CAR TO GO TO DOCTOR OFFICES, BEING LEFT STRANDED NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAITING TO BE TOWED BY AAA WAS DIFFICULT ENOUGH YET WHEN I ASKED ABOUT BEING AT LEAST DISABLED, THEY WANTED TO THEN CHARGE A "DIAGNOSIS" FEE ON TOP OF BEING TREATED LIKE DIRT. I SENT THEM A "LIEN" ( I KNOW IT HOLDS THE WEIGHT OF AIR!) TO TRY AND WORK THIS OUT...AND HAVE HEARD NOTHING. THE CAR IS NOW A BRICK IN THE DRIVEWAY. I HAVE THE REPAIR BILL, TOTALING 700.00 DOLLARS AND THE TAX BILL AND INSURANCE COST FOR HAVING A VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE THE BILLS AND NO RESOLUTION FOR AN ISSUE I DID NOT CAUSE, GM HID THIS AND THEN DID NOTHING TO MAKE IT RIGHT. CAN YOU HELP OR AT LEAST INVESTIGATE THE IGNITION AND PASSLOCK PROBLEMS?

NHTSA ID
10783479
Incident
Oct 10, 2014
Mileage
85,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Jun 24, 2015

SEATS DON'T RECLINE OR STICK. ELECTRIC SHORTAGES OUT AND MAY DEFECT RELAYS AND FUSES. SEAT BELTS STICK AND TWIST AND DON'T WINED BACK UP.

NHTSA ID
10727000
Incident
Jun 15, 2010
Mileage
100,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 13, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. UPDATED 6/30/15*CN UPDATED 07/02/15*JB

NHTSA ID
10705441
Incident
Apr 12, 2015
Mileage
111,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 9, 2015

1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED ON AUGUST 3, 2005. *JB

NHTSA ID
10672096
Incident
Aug 3, 2005
Electrical
Filed Jan 27, 2015

1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE SERVICE PERFORMED ON VEHICLE. *TA THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER ALSO ATTACHED THE IGNITION RECALL TO HER COMPLAINT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10662782
Incident
Apr 23, 2014
Electrical
Filed Jan 23, 2015

I CAN REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AT ANY TIME ANY SPEED AND ANY CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10678604
Incident
Jan 23, 2015
Mileage
146,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 21, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER AN UNKNOWN OBJECT WHICH CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CHANGE TO THE OFF SETTING INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING AND BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE OFF THE ROADWAY AND CRASH INTO A CREEK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REMOVED FROM THE CREEK AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT HAD ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REMEDY ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. ..UPDATED 03-16-15 *BF ...UPDATED 04/15/15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE DEFECT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. UPDATED 10/8/2015*JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH MOVED FROM THE ON POSITION. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT BECAUSE IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. UPDATED 11/12/2015*JS

NHTSA ID
10677107
Incident
Oct 2, 2014
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 9, 2014
Fire reported

1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS SCRAPED BECAUSE OF THE DASH CATCHING ON FIRE AND ALL THE ELECTRIC PARTS IN THE WINDOW STOPPED WORKING. *TGW ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION WAS INOPERATIVE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10658480
Incident
Dec 1, 2014
Electrical
Filed Dec 8, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE KEY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ID
10662995
Incident
Dec 8, 2014
Mileage
138,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Nov 6, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED MORE THAN THREE TIMES DUE TO THE VEHICLE STALLING AND THE KEY FAILING TO TURN OVER INTO THE ON POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS LATER NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V140000 (STRUCTURE) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10653013
Incident
Aug 1, 2013
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Aug 17, 2014

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABS, BATTERY AND AIR BAG LIGHTS COME ON 99-2005 PONTIAC GRAND AMS HAVE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WATER GOING THROUGH BLOWER MOTOR GOING ON TO THE FLOOR THE AIR BAG MODULE LOCATED UNDER THE CARPET ON THE PASSENGER SIDE GETS WET CAUSING AIR BAG FAILURE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS ADDRESSED AGAIN A COMMON PROBLEM GENERAL MOTORS HAS KNOWN ABOUT BUT ALL THEY DID WAS CREATE A SERVICE BULLETIN TO FIX WATER LEAK WHICH STILL DOESN'T SAVE AIR BAG IF YOU DON'T CATCH THE LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10625849
Incident
Jun 1, 2014
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 2, 2014

I NOTICED THE IGNITION KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION REGARDLESS OF POSITION. SINCE HEARING OF GM INCLUDING THE 99 GRAND AM IN ITS RECALL I CALLED THE LOCAL GM DEALER. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTING THAT COULD BE DONE UNTIL I RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE FROM GM. I CONTACTED GM AND WAS TOLD I COULD GET IT REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE AND THEM FILE PAPERWORK TO GET REIMBURSED. I RELAISE THERE IS PROBABLY A HUGE BACK-UP RELATED TO PARTS. AS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND MY CAR IS EFFECTED BY THE RECALL, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I WOULD NOT EXPECT GM TO FIX THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY, BUT I DO THINK IT IS REASONABLE TO BE ABLE TO BE PUT ON A WAITING LIST. AS THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW, GM WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I AM A TOYOTA MASTER TECHNICIAN, ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN, AND WAS A NISSAN MASTER TECHNICIAN, SO I DO UNDERSTAND HOW RECALLS WORK ATE THE DEALER LEVEL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10607735
Incident
Feb 11, 2014
Mileage
171,683 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 20, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIFTY TIMES OVER A ONE YEAR PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BUT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10573681
Incident
Jul 11, 2011
Mileage
120,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 18, 2011

1999 GRAND AM TURN SIGNAL SOUND COMING FROM HAZARD SWITCH AREA ON DASH. THE SOUND IS INTERMITTENT & GOES OFF RANDOMLY. IT IS NOT THE TURN SIGNAL ITSELF NOR THE HAZARD SWITCH. THEY WORK FINE. *KB

NHTSA ID
10413355
Incident
Feb 3, 2011
Mileage
125,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 27, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE PASSLOCK ANTI THEFT SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ID
10409051
Incident
Jun 27, 2010
Mileage
155,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 28, 2010

1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM, PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10345961
Incident
Jul 22, 2010
Mileage
80,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 10, 2010

PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM DEFECT ON MY 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT. THE FAILURE IS THE SECURITY COMES ON AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START. IT TAKES ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND THAN CAR WILL FIRE ON UP LIKE IF NOTHING. NEVER GOT IT FIXED YET. I READ ON THE INTERNET ALL OVER THAT ITS A GM DEFECT AND I WANT THEM TO COVER THE COST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10318760
Incident
Jan 5, 2010
Electrical
Filed Aug 17, 2009

PASSLOCK SYSTEM IN MY CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING. RANDOMLY MY SECURITY LIGHT WILL BLINK WHEN STARTING MY CAR THUS MY CAR WONT START! I HAVE RESEARCHED AND DISCOVERED THIS IS A PASSLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE. THIS IS A $600 FIX!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10280678
Incident
Aug 16, 2009
Mileage
94,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 21, 2009

1. THE SECURITY LIGHT TURNS ON WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. 2. WHEN TRYING TO START CAR, THE CAR WILL NOT CONTINUE TO RUN. THIS HAPPENS ON A MONTHLY BASIS (FREQUENTLY) AND IS AT LEAST AN ANNOYANCE. TO DATE THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED AT A TIME WHEN I NEEDED THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY, BUT IT IS A REAL POSSIBILITY THAT IT COULD. 3. THE CAR WILL RESTART AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION TO ON AND WAITING 10 MINUTES. I HAVE READ THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THAT IT IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY IGNITION LOCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10277669
Incident
Jul 11, 2009
Electrical
Filed Jul 17, 2009

THE SECURITY LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I WAS FREQUENTLY LATE TO APPOINTMENTS DUE TO HAVING TO WAIT FOR THE CAR TO FINALLY START. I FINALLY HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND YES..$500 LATER IT IS NOW REPAIRED FOR THE MOST PART. *TR

NHTSA ID
10277129
Incident
Jan 13, 2009
Electrical
Filed Jun 25, 2009

SECURITY LIGHT WENT ON MY 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM WHILE DRIVING. UPON READING OWNER'S MANUAL WHICH TOLD ME TO GO TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. $500 LATER I HAVE A NEW PASSLOCK SENSOR ON MY CAR AS I CANNOT AFFORD TO BE STRANDED BY A VEHICLE THAT WILL NOT START. *TR

NHTSA ID
10274924
Incident
Jun 24, 2009
Mileage
70,180 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Jan 28, 2009

HAD ALL WINDOW MECHANISMS REPLACED AFTER ENDURING A WONDERFUL GARBAGE BAG COVER TREATMENT FOR WINDOW BEAUTY ENHANCEMENT LAST WINTER 2007-08. FOUND MY IGNITION REFUSES TO START W/ 1 KEY. I STARTED NOTICING THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC OF 22 YEARS. THOUGHT IT WAS A CRACK IN THE ACTUAL CONTAINER WHICH HOUSES ANTIFREEZE. THIS WAS REPLACED. NOPE. STILL LEAKING. CAR NEVER INDICATED ON PANEL THAT IT WAS ABOVE TEMP & OVERHEATED, STAYED WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE. THE CAR NEVER ONCE OVERHEATED. MECHANIC COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. SAID IT WAS A FAULTY COMPUTER... INDICATES, TIRES NEED CHECKING, FLASHING LIGHTS, ABS OFF/ON...WHICH BY THE WAY WAS CAUSING ME TO NOT HAVE MY CAR PASS INSPECTION TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY!! FOUND I WAS ALL OF A SUDDEN REPLACING ANTIFREEZE BY THE GALLONS. WAS STILL PAYING OFF MECHANIC FROM PREVIOUS ISSUES. DON'T ASK, WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE ANTIFREEZE PROBLEM! BROUGHT CAR IN TO HAVE RADIATOR CHECKED BY FRIENDS MECHANIC, FLUID WAS LITERALLY POURING OUT OF BOTTOM OF CAR. $1600. LATER!! HEAD GASKET SET,WATERPUMP,SERPENTINE BELT, RADIATOR HOSES, THERMOSTAT & GASKETS, CROSSOVERPIPES, AIRFILTER...NOW? 1 1/2 MONTHS LATER? WELL HEY.GUESS WHAT? RIDING MERRILY TO WORK LAST SAT. CAR STALLED ALL THE WAY...& YIPEE ANOTHER VISIT, ANOTHER MERE 900. BAG OF SHELLS CONSISTING OF CRANK SHAFT, BEARINGS. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? I DON'T HAVE IT!!.....I THOUGHT THIS GUY WAS PUTTING ME ON...I'VE LOST WORK SINCE I'M 45 MIN. AWAY. I'VE SPOKEN TO PONTIAC SEVERAL TIMES. THEY WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS. ACT DUMB- THE AMERICAN WAY...WEIRD, I'VE READ MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I'M SURPRISED YOU GUYS DON'T DEMAND SOME RESOLUTION FOR CONSUMERS. WHAT GIVES? IT'S SO INCREDIBLY OBVIOUS THIS IS A REAL SOLID COMPLAINT ABOUT ENGINE DEFECT WITH ALL THE EVIDENCE TO BACK IT UP!! I THINK IT WAS MINNISOTA OR MISSOURI THAT CONSUMERS ACTUALLY WON A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST PONTIAC FOR THESE SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS. NAMELY HEAD GASKET, ENGINE RELATED ISSUES.. *TR

NHTSA ID
10256670
Incident
Nov 3, 2008
Mileage
76,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 27, 2009

WHEN SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES ON MY 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM, THE FUEL PUMP IS DISABLED FOR 10 MINUTES. HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY IN THE PAST. TODAY, IT TOOK OVER 2 HOURS TO START. *TR

NHTSA ID
10256449
Incident
Jan 27, 2009
Mileage
13,608 mi

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .