Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Pontiac Grand Am submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 231 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 231, in the owner's own words
WAS DRIVING DOWN CITY STREET CAR WAS IN MOTION AND CAR DIED LEAVING ME WITH NO STEERING OR POWER. HAS NOT STARTED SINCE. HAVE NARROWED DOWN TO IGNITION OR SECURITY IT HAS KILLED A BATTERY. TURNS OVER BUT WILL NOT START. GETTING VERY COSTLY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE COURSE OF THREE MONTHS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE HAZARD LIGHTS TO TEMPORARILY CORRECT THE FAILURE. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED WITH SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER: 8-470-818-4180. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 220,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE LEFT TURNING LANE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK. THE TURN SIGNALS SEEMED TO OPERATE AFTER THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WAS MANEUVERED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT CALLED ETTLESON BUICK GMC AT (708) 215-7213 (LOCATED AT 6201 S LA GRANGE ROAD, HODGKINS, IL 60525), BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TT *JS
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, MY VEHICLE HAS TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE CAR TURNED OFF. ON ALL THREE OCCASIONS I WAS COMING EITHER TO A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, ABOUT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT YET IN THE INTERSECTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE IS RELATED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL ISSUED BY GM. SOME TIME IN 2015 I DID MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH NORTHSTAR CHEVROLET IN CLIFTON PARK, NY TO HAVE THE ISSUE RESOLVED, ASSUMING THAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO REPAIR THE IGNITION. I NOTIFIED THEM THAT I DID HAVE ISSUES WITH TURNING THE KEY WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE CAR ON. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT RELATED, THAT IT WAS AN OLD CAR AND THE IGNITION HAD WORN A CERTAIN WAY - THAT'S WHY THE KEY DIDN'T ALWAYS TURN EASILY. THEY SAID THE RECALL REPAIR WAS TO MAKE THE HOLE IN THE KEY SMALLER SO THAT I COULDN'T HAVE HEAVY ITEMS ATTACHED TO MY KEY. THEY LOOKED AT WHAT I DID HAVE ON MY KEY CHAIN AND SAID THE WEIGHT SHOULD BE FINE, IT WAS MAINLY FOR PEOPLE THAT HAD DOZENS OF KEYS OR VERY HEAVY ITEMS ON THE KEY RING. I LEFT WITHOUT ANY CHANGES TO MY KEY. NOW, IN MARCH AND APRIL 2017 I'VE HAD MORE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH MY CAR TURNING OFF. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH TURNING MY CAR ON IF THE KEY IS NOT PUSHED UP IN THE IGNITION BEFORE BEING TURNED. THIS IS THE CASE EVEN WITHOUT ANYTHING ELSE ATTACHED TO THE KEY WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE CAR ON. I AM FEARFUL OF DRIVING MY CAR WITHOUT HAVING THIS PROPERLY REPAIRED, YET THE DEALERSHIP INSISTS THAT THEY ARE ONLY PERMITTED TO PERFORM THE SPECIFIED REPAIR TO THE KEY ITSELF, BUT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS TO THE CAR ITSELF UNDER THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE IGNITION SWITCH ON THE CAR THAT IS NOT MAKING PROPER CONTACT TO TURN THE CAR ON. I NEED MY FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED BEFORE I HAVE AN ACCIDENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNALS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
BLINKERS JUST STOP WORKING SOMTIMES FOR HOURS AND THEN BACK ON WHILE DRIVING AND A CADILLAC CONVERTER IS MAKING NOISE.
WE ARE HAVING ISSUES WHEN WE USE OUR TURN SIGNALS. MOST OF THE TIME OUR SIGNALS DON'T WON'T WORK UNLESS WE WIGGLE (WITH FORCE) OUR HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON. THEN WE HEAR BUZZING AND CRACKLING THAT IS MOSTLY CONTINUOUS IN OUR HAZARD BUTTON. THIS HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE DRIVING OR SITTING STILL. IT DOES STOP CLICKING WHEN WE SHUT THE CAR OFF, BUT DOES OFTEN CONTINUE WHEN WE START OUR CAR BACK OFF. THE CRACKLING/BUZZING NOISE HAS WENT ON FOR AS LONG AS 15 MINUTES . I'M SURE IT WOULD HAVE GONE ON FOR LONGER, BUT WE WIGGLED THE HAZARD BUTTON AND PLACES A FOLDED PIECE OF PAPER TO LODGE IT QUIET. WE HAVE AN EXTREMELY HARD TIME USING OUR TURN SIGNALS AT TIMES, THEY JUST QUIT WORKING UNLESS WE WIGGLE OUR HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON.. ALL OF THIS HAPPENS WITH NORMAL DAY TO DAY DRIVING. *TR
'M WRITING TO NOTIFY GM ABOUT A DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH MY 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE SECURITY SYSTEM ACTIVATES PREVENTING THE CAR TO STOP FOR 10 MINUTES UNTIL IT RESETS, CAUSING MANY WORK RELATED ISSUES. THIS SECURITY ISSUE PREVENTS THE FUEL PUMP FROM ACTIVATING, ALLOWING THE CAR TO START. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN SO SEVERE, THE CAR NOW SHUTS DOWN MID DRIVE WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. LIVING IN LOUISVILLE, TN AWAY 10 HOURS FROM HOME, I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO KEEP USING THIS VEHICLE TO GET BACK AND FORTH FROM WORK. NOW I'M FORCED TO REMAIN IN THE OUTSIDE LANE TO QUICKLY GET OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER WHEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED NO LESS THAN 15 TIMES A WEEK, ALMOST CAUSING AN ALMOST FATAL ACCIDENT. I'VE BEEN TO A TRUSTED MECHANIC WHERE WE REPLACED THE ECM TWO SEPARATE TIMES, BUT THE ISSUE STILL PERSISTS. HAS THERE BEEN MANY ISSUES REPORTED ABOUT THE CAR STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF A DRIVE?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHEN THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION WAS MANUALLY TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION, THE KEY SLIPPED OUT OF THE IGNITION. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE KEY WOULD FALL OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TAKATA. EVERYTHING HAS GONE WRONG WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE ME CALL ME. [XXX], BROUGHT THE CAR NEW. GAVE TO MY DAUGHTER HER NAME IS [XXX] , HER PHONE NUMBER IS, [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT AS A PASSENGER ON 10/25/2001 IN WHICH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP ON OUR 2001 GRAND AM AS WE WERE DRIVING CAUSING US TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND FLIP DOWN HILL. MY FATHER AND MY BROTHER WERE FRONT PASSENGERS AND I WAS THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER OF THE CAR AND WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. AFTER BEING EJECTED FROM THE REAR WINDOW OF THE CAR I SUFFERED A BROKEN PELVIC BONE, A BLEEDING BRAIN WITH PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE, INTERNAL BRUISES ON MY LUNGS, MY LIVER, AND MY KIDNEYS, AND THE TOP 3 DISCS AND BOTTOM 3 DISCS IN MY BACK POPPED OUT OF PLACE. I HAD TO BE AIR LIFTED TO SHANDS HOSPITAL IN GAINESVILLE FLORIDA WHERE I REMAINED UNTIL 11/20/2001. DURING THE THE TIME BETWEEN 10/25/2001 AND 11/20/2001 I WAS IN A COMA, HAD TO BE FED INTRAVEINOUSLY, AND WAS PLACED ON LIFE SUPPORT. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO SHANDS REHAB HOSPITAL IN GAINESVILLE FL, ON 11/20/2001 AND WAS RELEASED FROM SHANDS REHAB HOSPITAL 11/30/2015 IN WHEELCHAIR AND BODY BRACE. I HAD TO HAVE OUTPATIENT VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION THERPAY DUE TO MY BRAIN INJURIES AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL. I RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THE VEHICLE THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT HAS BEEN RECALLED BY GENERAL MOTORS DUE TO A FAULTY IGINITION SWITCH THAT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER WHICH CAUSES DRIVERS TO NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE AND AM SUBMITTING THIS CLAIM BECAUSE OF THIS FINDING. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER CLAIMS AGAINS GENERAL MOTOR REGARDING THE SAME VEHICLE MODEL. I HAVE UPLOADED THE FHP REPORT AS WELL AS PICTURES POST ACCIDENT OF THE VEHICLE.
2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE KEY RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION, THE IGNITION WAS GOING TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE KEY. HOWEVER, WHEN THE KEY WAS RETURNED TO HIM, HE DID NOT FIT IN THE IGNITION AND THE SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ONLY RETURNED ONE KEY TO THE CONSUMER. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD NOT OCCURRED PRIOR TO TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT TOOK HER KEY TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR IN THE KEY WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND RESET WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,330.
2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. CONSUMER WRITE IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL AND REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS FORM. *SMD
THE BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING. AFTER TURNING ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS THEN THE BLINKERS THE BLINKERS WOULD WORK. NOW THEY ONLY WORK ABOUT 15% OF THE TIME, EVEN WHEN TRYING TO USE THE HAZARD LIGHTS. *TR
2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE KEY FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. AFTER HITTING A POLE, THE CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE PREVIOUS DEALER STATED THE KEY WAS WORN OUT. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS LOOSELY CONNECTED TO THE IGNITION AND BECAME STUCK IN THE ACC POSITION. AS A RESULT, THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ON. THE CONTACT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
LETTER FROM CONSTITUENT REGARDING HIS 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT; HE IS REQUESTING REMUNERATION FOR THE REPAIR COSTS HE INCURRED FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TWO DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES FROM GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. *SMD THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BUT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SEEN BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED DID NOT ADDRESS THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CONTINUED IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE REPAIR. THE KEY WOULD NOT START THE IGNITION AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,491.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY DID NOT SUFFICE TO DETER THE DEFECT. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 3/13/15*CN UPDATED 9/17/2017*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE BURGLAR ALARM WARNING LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES IN THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. CONSUMER STATES HAD PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION SWITCH. *TA THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *JB
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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