Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Pontiac Grand Am submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 65 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 65, in the owner's own words
OIL LEAK OIL LEAKING ON HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING FIRE WHILE EITHER RUNNING OR DRIVING MAY CAUSE ENGINE FIRE DON'T SEEM SAFE TO ME SOMEONE OWNNG AND DRIVING THIS CAR AS I SMELL OIL BURNING WHEN I SHUT OFF CAR NOT SAFE TO ME IF GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT'S THE WAY I WANNA GO CAR FIRE SAFTY ISSUE HMMMM.
OIL LEAK OIL LEAKING ON HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING FIRE WHILE EITHER RUNNING OR DRIVING MAY CAUSE ENGINE FIRE DON'T SEEM SAFE TO ME SOMEONE OWNNG AND DRIVING THIS CAR AS I SMELL OIL BURNING WHEN I SHUT OFF CAR NOT SAFE TO ME IF GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT'S THE WAY I WANNA GO CAR FIRE SAFTY ISSUE HMMMM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE CRASHED INTO A CURB, DEFLATING THE TIRE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE ABS AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
I WAS DRIVING ALONG I-90 EAST GOING THROUGH SOUTH DAKOTA. THE WEATHER WAS BAD AND THE ROAD WAS ICY AND VERY SLICK. THERE WAS AN 18 WHEELER THAT ROLLED OVER ON THE ROAD AND I DID NOT SEE IT UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. THERE WERE ABOUT 10 CARS IN BACK OF THE TRUCK AND I COULD NOT STOP. I HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH THE BACK END OF A 1 TON TRUCK. IT DID NOT DO ANY DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK BUT IT COMPLETELY TOTALED MY CAR. I HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH MY HEAD , LEFT ARM AND HAND. I SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES AND MY HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CRACKED IT THE SIZE OF A GRAPEFRUIT BEFORE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THEY DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER I WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED WHICH IS BS. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND AN XRAY OF MY HEAD WAS NEVER DONE. THEY TOOK AN XRAY OF MY ARM AND HAND AND SAID I HAD A CONTUSION. MY HEAD WAS BIG AND SWOLLEN AND SO WAS MY ARM AND HAND AND I HAD HEADACHES FOR A MONTH AND A HALF AND I STILL DON'T FEEL VERY WELL SINCE THE ACCIDENT. I TRIED TO FILE A CLAIM AGAINST GM FOR THE DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS ON THE CAR AND THEY WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN STURGIS SD AND THE STATE PATROL DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER AT FAULT WAS THE DRIVER OF THE 18 WHEELER TRUCK. I GOT NO COMPENSATION WHATSOEVER FROM THE ACCIDENT AND THE TOW COMPANY ENDED UP STEALING MY CAR. *TR
2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAVE MANY PROBLEMS INCLUDING CAR SHUTTING OFF AT ANY TIME WHILE IN MOTION. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS WERE REPLACED. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLES DECELERATED AND BEGAN TO SPUTTER WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FOUL SMELL IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND BACK ON BEFORE IT RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,798.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
WHEN IT RAINS, AT TAKE OFF THE CAR STALLS AND WILL NOT RUN UNTIL IT DRIES OUT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR OR MORE. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND SEVERAL TIMES AS DRIVERS BEHIND ME THINK I AM GOING AND THE CALL STALLS. ONE TIME MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 70 AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN. MOST TIME IT SEEMS TO BE WHEN COMING TO A STOP THEN TAKING OFF IT STALLS. THE CAR WILL START THEN AS SOON AS YOU HIT THE GAS OR PUT IT IN GEAR IT SHUTS DOWN. MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2003 ALERO THAT DOES THE SAME THING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND WE HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE POSTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE CAR WASH AND IT STARTING ACTING UP SO HE DECIDED TO TRY TO GET IT TO AN AUTOMOTIVE, IT BARELY MADE IT THERE. THE REPAIR FACILITY HAD IT FOR 10 DAYS AND COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING IT. I GUESS IF I GET KILLED THEN MAYBE THERE WILL BE AN INVESTIGATION AND SOMETHING WILL BE DONE. I GUESS HERE IS MY PROOF I FILED A COMPLAINT IN CASE I DIE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS AT TURNING THE KEY. THE FAILURE RECURRED DAILY OVER A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 5/19/14*CN
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF. THE ENGINE STARTED BACK UP AGAIN AND THE ISSUE DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. AS OF MAR 8, 2014 THE VEHICLE HAS STOPPED RUNNING IN THIS FASHION 5 TIMES. TWICE IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SEEN BY TWO MECHANICS FOR THIS ISSUE WITH NO RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE RECENT FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
AFTER HAVING THE 2ND CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN 2 YRS PUT ON THE ELECTRICAL WENT HAYWIRE. THE ABS,TRAC OFF & SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS COME & STAY ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I'VE HAD IT SERVICED AND NOBODY KNOWS WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. I HAD THE BRAKES INSPECTED AND GIVEN A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH SO TO SPEAK & YET AT RANDOM TIMES I HAVE NO BRAKES EVEN AFTER HAVING THEM INSPECTED BY PROFESSIONALS. THE CAR NOW OVERHEATS DUE TO THE DEX COOL I WAS TOLD TO USE BECAUSE IT ATE THRU THE CHEAP GASKETS PUT ON BY THE DEALERSHIP WHICH THEY WILL NOT COVER. THE BLINKERS HAVE A MIND OF THEIR OWN AND ONLY WORK DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS, I'VE HAD THOSE CHECKED & NEW ONES INSTALLED AS WELL AND THEY STILL ONLY WORK IN THE DAYTIME AND FINALLY THE PLASTIC WINDOW CLIPS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE(BOTH) BREAK CONSTANTLY. I'VE HAD EVERYTHING REPLACED EVEN HE ENGINE! THIS CAR HAS COST ME OVER 20,000. *TR
MY COMPLAINT IS WITH THE LOWER MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET LEAKING. I HAVE A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW. THE LOWER MANIFOLD GASKET HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE. AT 54,566 MILES,- $1000 140,735- $1200 AND 169,750 MILES $1500. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM WITH A 3.4 LITRE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATS. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT GENERAL MOTORS INSTALLED PLASTIC GASKETS ON THESE VEHICLES AND RECOMMENDED DEX-COOL. THE ANTIFREEZE EATS THE GASKET UP FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO FIX MY VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS. *TR
THIS IS A SECOND VEHICLE WITH VERY LIMITED MILEAGE, WHICH IS DRIVEN BY MY WIFE. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM A PONTIAC DEALER SO I CAN VERIFY MILEAGE AND THAT IT WAS MAINTAINED. THE FIRST INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOT INTO THE RED ZONE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NEAR AN EXIT AND ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD BEFORE CAR STALLED OUT. SINCE I HAD ALREADY STARTED TO SLOW DOWN I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL CAR AND TO GET IT STOPPED SAFELY WITHOUT HAVING POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PRESSURE TEST COOLING SYSTEM AND INFORMED ME OF THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME THAT GM WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM AND THAT THEY MIGHT HELP WITH REPAIR COST. GM INSISTED THAT VEHICLE BE CHECKED BY ONE OF THEIR DEALERS BEFORE ANYTHING COULD BE DONE. THE GM DEALER DID VERIFY THE FACT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CRACKED CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT, AND STALL OUT. THIS PROBLEM IS A RESULT OF THE ANTI-FREEZE GM USES, DEX COOL, WHICH REACTS WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSING THE GASKET TO BREAK DOWN. GM HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN #03-06-01-010, BACK IN 2003 TO ITS DEALER, BUT DID NOT NOTIFY VEHICLE OWNERS. IT SEEMS WHEN THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLS BAD PARTS OR INCOMPATIBLE PARTS/FLUIDS LIKE THIS, THAT THEY SHOULD OFFER A SOLUTION THAT IS REASONABLE AND EXCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY AT THE VERY LEAST. *TR
MY WIFE'S CAR IS A 2002 PONTIAC GRANDAM 2.2L ECOTEC ENGINE. AT 95000+ MILES, THE CAR JUST LOST ALL POWER AND MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR DIED. CAR WAS TAKEN TO 2 GARAGES AND FOUND TO HAVE A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN (NOT BELT). GALLAGHER BUICK IN NEW BRITAIN CT FOUND THAT THE ENGINE IS NOW DESTROYED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT IS AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE. SHE HAS KEPT UP WITH REQUIRED MAINTENANCE.I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE FOR MORE INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING AND SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. ONE INDIVIDUAL HAD HIS TIMING CHAIN BREAK AT 57000 MILES. GM IS NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE TELLING US TO DEAL WITH THE REPAIR DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE SINCE YOU CAN READ MANY HORROR STORIES ONLINE ABOUT THIS ENGINE AND THE DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN BREAKING PREMATURE (AS MY MECHANIC HAS SAID ) AND ENGINES BEING RUINED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE ON HIS VEHICLE, AT TIMES, WILL NOT START. THE OWNER STATED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE HIS VEHICLE IF NEEDED. THE WEATHER OR THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ENGINE MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE THEY FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 19,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,653. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/22/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE PASSLOCK SECURITY WAS DEFECTIVE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. UPDATED 12/30/10
2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE - INTACT MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING. I HAVE HAD THIS REPAIRED TWICE IN 2 YRS. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE GASKET IS FAULTY AND GM IS AWARE OF THIS BUT THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE ALSO SEEN ARTICLES STATING THAT THERE IS A LAW SUIT PENDING IN THE US AND CANADA. I HAVE SPENT APPROX. $800.00 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM 2.2 ENGINE WILL CRANK BUT WILL NOT FIRE. SECURITY LIGHT IS ON. WILL NOT START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. BELIEVED TO BE IGNITION SWITCH/THEFT PROTECTION ISSUE. CANNOT RELY ON CAR TO START. *TR
ON MY 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED IN THE 2.2L ECOTEC ENGINE AT 75000 MILES. WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED THERE WAS NO WARNING AND THE CAR STALLED SUDDENLY AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. I WAS ABLE TO COAST THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT AND LATER HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A PONTIAC DEALER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE IS RUINED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE FOUND A GREAT DEAL OF INFORMATION ON THE 2.2L ECOTEC ENGINE ONLINE AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002 AND 2003 MODELS OF THIS ENGINE. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN OILIER NOZZLE ON THESE ENGINES BUT GM HAS NOT 'RECALLED' THE ENGINE. HAD WE BEEN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 GRAND AM GT. I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT NEW WITH 34 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE LOW OIL SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE GASKET INTAKE VALVES WERE LEAKING CAUSING MY LIFTERS TO MELT TOGETHER. I HAD TO HAVE THE LIFTERS REPLACED IN THE ENGINE AT 70,000 MILES. BEING THAT MY SALESMAN WORKED WITH ME, ALL I HAD TO PAY WAS THE COST OF LABOR. THAT WAS STILL $1000. AT 81,000 I HAD TO HAVE A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER PUT IN. ONE YEAR LATER I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED ANOTHER NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I HAVE ALSO HAD TROUBLE WITH THE BLINKERS AND BRAKE LIGHTS AS OTHERS HAVE WRITTEN. MY SECURITY LIGHT HAS ALSO JUST STARTED COMING ON. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT GM VEHICLES UP TO THIS POINT, AS HAVE THE REST OF MY FAMILY. I EVEN HAD FAMILY THAT WORKED FOR GM. I HAD A GRAND PRIX BEFORE THIS, AND IT WAS GREAT. HOWEVER, I WILL NEVER, EVER, BUY ANOTHER GM VEHICLE FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE. THEY DO NOT PRODUCE A PRODUCT THAT THEY WILL STAND BEHIND. NO WONDER THEY NEED A BAILOUT! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE HOOD. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A CRACKED OIL CAP, WHICH CAUSED THE OIL TO EVAPORATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HOOK THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT OFFER TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
I WENT TO START MY 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER, JUST A VERY HIGH SPEED SPINNING NOISE. THE DAY PRIOR THERE HAD BEEN A RATTLE DURING START UP. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THEY CHECKED IT AND THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE, AND AS A RESULT THERE WAS VALVE AND CYLINDER DAMAGE. THEY HAD TO REBUILD THE ENGINE ALMOST COMPLETELY AS A RESULT. THIS WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 85,000 KM. *TR
WHILE DRIVING A 2002 GRAND AM WITH 77K MILES, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT I WAS INFORMED THE TIMING CHAIN HAD GONE BAD- EXTREMELY RARE FOR THE YEAR AND MILEAGE ON MY CAR. I DID SOME RESEARCH, AND FOUND OUT THAT GM RECALLED 20K+ SATURNS FOR THIS FAULTY VIN F ENGINE TIMING CHAIN. THIS IS THE SAME ENGINE IN MY CAR, AND THE SAME THING THAT BROKE. ONCE THE CHAIN BROKE THE PIECES GOT INSIDE SEVERAL ENGINE COMPARTMENTS AND CAUSED A SEVERE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR. ABOUT HALF OF THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE DAMAGE OF THE CHAIN BREAKING. I CONTACTED GM, AND THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND NEITHER WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO ALLEVIATE THE DAMAGE THE FAULTY TIMING CHAIN HAS CAUSED. *TR
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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