Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1985 Pontiac Grand Am. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗STRUCTURE:FRAME:MEMBERS AND BODY:OTHER PARTS
- Summary
- SMALL CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN THE BODY PILLAR AROUND THE DOOR STRIKER BOLT HOLE.
- Consequence
- CRACKS WOULD INCREASE LEADING TO DIFFICULTY IN CLOSINGTHE DOOR AND MIGHT ALLOW DOOR TO COME OPEN DURING A CRASH, INCREASINGLIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.
- Remedy
- INSTALL INNER AND OUTER REINFORCEMENT PLATE ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT BODY PILLARS.
FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL RETURN SPRING
- Summary
- THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING ASSEMBLY MAY FAIL PREVENTING THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE CLOSED (IDLE) POSITION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT DECREASE AND LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
- Remedy
- REPLACE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING.
VISUAL SYSTEMS:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER SWITCH
- Summary
- THE SWITCH USED MAY NOT BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE WIPER MOTOR. THIS SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH FUNCTIONAL, IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 104, "WINDSHIELD WIPING AND WASHING SYSTEM". THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SPEED MAY REMAIN NEARLY CONSTANT WHETHER IN HIGH OR LOW SPEED MODE. THE STANDARD REQUIRES THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW SPEED MUST BE AT LEAST 15 CYCLES PER MINUTE TO ACCOMODATE A VARIETY OF RAIN, SNOW, OR WHEEL SPRAY CONDITIONS.
- Remedy
- WIPER SWITCHES WILL BE REPLACED IF NECESSARY, WITHOUT CHARGE.
STEERING:LINKAGES:SLEEVE:TIE ROD:ADJUSTABLE
- Summary
- THE TIE RODS ARE PART OF THE STEERING LINKAGE AND TRANSMIT TURNING MOVEMENTS TO THE WHEELS. THE BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE TIE RODS TO THEIR ADJUSTERS MAY NOT BE TIGHT ENOUGH. THIS COULD ALLOW THE TIE ROD TO LOOSEN AND DETACH ITSELF FROM THE ADJUSTER.
- Remedy
- THE TIE ROD END BOLTS WILL BE TIGHTENED WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNER.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (4)
4 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 50% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 50% |
| Interior lighting | 1 | 25% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 25% |
| Visibility | 1 | 25% |
How 1985 compares with other Grand Am years
Best and worst Grand Am years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | 4 | 4 |
| 1986 | 11 | 1 |
| 1987 | 28 | 2 |
| 1988 | 31 | 2 |
| 1989 | 44 | 2 |
| 1990 | 38 | 0 |
| 1991 | 82 | 2 |
| 1992 | 168 | 3 |
| 1993 | 204 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 25 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,700
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 356 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 25 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 31 / 25 | $2,700 | 356 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 29 / 24 | $2,800 | 370 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 24 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1985 Grand Am for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1985 Pontiac Grand Am FAQ
How many recalls does the 1985 Pontiac Grand Am have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 87V124000 (structure), 86V030000 (vehicle speed control), 84V146000 (visibility), 84V124000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1985 Pontiac Grand Am problems?
Owners filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (2), Engine and engine cooling (2), Interior lighting (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1985 Pontiac Grand Am get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 21 city, 31 highway and 25 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1985 Grand Am compare with other years?
Among the 1983–1993 Pontiac Grand Am model years at least five years old, the 1983 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1993 the most (204). The 1985 drew 4. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.