Pontiac Grand Am Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Pontiac Grand Am model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1986 drew the fewest (11) and the 1999 the most (849).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 Among the fewest complaints |
11 | 1 | Steering | — | 20–24 |
| 1987 Among the fewest complaints |
28 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 20–23 |
| 1988 Among the fewest complaints |
31 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 20–26 |
| 1990 | 38 | 0 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 23 |
| 1989 | 44 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 21–25 |
| 1991 | 82 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 22–24 |
| 2005 | 102 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 21–25 |
| 1992 | 168 | 3 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 20–26 |
| 1998 | 172 | 1 | Service brakes | — | 21–24 |
| 1993 | 204 | 1 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 21–24 |
| 2004 | 293 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 21–27 |
| 2003 | 325 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 21–25 |
| 1994 | 377 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 21–24 |
| 1997 | 383 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 21–23 |
| 2002 | 395 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 21–25 |
| 1995 | 409 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 20–23 |
| 1996 | 450 | 4 | Electrical system | — | 21–23 |
| 2001 Among the most complaints |
538 | 4 | Electrical system | — | 22–23 |
| 2000 Among the most complaints |
675 | 5 | Exterior lighting | — | 21–23 |
| 1999 Among the most complaints |
849 | 3 | Service brakes | — | 20–23 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Pontiac Grand Am years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
1999 Pontiac Grand Am: 849 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 219 (26%); Engine and engine cooling 133 (16%); Electrical system 132 (16%).
Reports mention 73 crashes, 13 fires, 60 injuries, 16 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 70,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
2000 Pontiac Grand Am: 675 complaints
Most-reported: Exterior lighting 157 (23%); Electrical system 130 (19%); Service brakes 129 (19%).
Reports mention 43 crashes, 14 fires, 40 injuries, 4 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 66,771 miles. 5 recall campaigns listed.
2001 Pontiac Grand Am: 538 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 232 (43%); Exterior lighting 98 (18%); Engine and engine cooling 75 (14%).
Reports mention 21 crashes, 4 fires, 16 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 71,000 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
The Pontiac Grand Am years with the fewest complaints
1986 Pontiac Grand Am: 11 complaints
Most-reported: Steering 3 (27%); Electrical system 2 (18%); Interior lighting 2 (18%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 fire. 1 recall campaign listed.
1987 Pontiac Grand Am: 28 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 9 (32%); Electrical system 6 (21%); Seat belts 6 (21%).
Reports mention 4 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries. 2 recall campaigns listed.
1988 Pontiac Grand Am: 31 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 12 (39%); Seat belts 6 (19%); Steering 3 (10%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries. 2 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Pontiac Grand Am owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 102 | 15 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 83,000 |
| 2004 | 293 | 24 | 7 | 18 | 1 | 74,633 |
| 2003 | 325 | 27 | 5 | 28 | 8 | 64,000 |
| 2002 | 395 | 22 | 3 | 23 | 0 | 73,785 |
| 2001 | 538 | 21 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 71,000 |
| 2000 | 675 | 43 | 14 | 40 | 4 | 66,771 |
| 1999 | 849 | 73 | 13 | 60 | 16 | 70,000 |
| 1998 | 172 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 80,000 |
| 1997 | 383 | 32 | 12 | 37 | 3 | 95,550 |
| 1996 | 450 | 33 | 14 | 69 | 0 | 118,952 |
| 1995 | 409 | 59 | 43 | 63 | 9 | 110,000 |
| 1994 | 377 | 59 | 29 | 51 | 5 | 123,000 |
| 1993 | 204 | 10 | 20 | 14 | 2 | 106,600 |
| 1992 | 168 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 2 | — |
| 1991 | 82 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 2 | — |
| 1990 | 38 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 44 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1988 | 31 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 28 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Pontiac Grand Am recalls
- Ignition Switch may Turn Off (1999–2005 model years; 5,877,718 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2014; 14V400000)
- GM/FMVSS 225/OWNER'S MANUAL INFORMATION (2001 model year; 1,707,825 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2003; 03V250000)
- GM/IGNITION SWITCH (1996–1997 model years; 1,589,948 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2002; 02V070000)
- GM/IGNITION SWITCH (1998 model year; 1,415,231 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2004; 04V036000)
- GM/IGNITION SWITCH (1994–1995 model years; 699,617 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2000; 00V287000)
All 32 Pontiac Grand Am recall campaigns · Pontiac Grand Am problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Pontiac Grand Am years FAQ
Which Pontiac Grand Am year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1986 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (11). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Pontiac Grand Am years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 1999, 2000 and 2001 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the electrical system. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Pontiac Grand Am problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the electrical system (1,518 of 5,574 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Pontiac Grand Am have?
NHTSA lists 32 recall campaigns covering the Pontiac Grand Am. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Pontiac Grand Am recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
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.