PONTIAC GRAND AM · model year

1989 PONTIAC GRAND AM

88 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989PONTIACGRAND AM carries 88 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injury, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 GRAND AM is engine and engine cooling:engine with 28 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition (5) and engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 17 investigation files overlapping the 1989 GRAND AM. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

88
Complaints
4
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

88 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE28
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE2
STEERING2
SEATS2
STEERING:RACK AND PINION2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY1

Recent Complaints

20040422CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TRANSMISSION LOCKING TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID DOES NOT ALLOW TORQUE CONVERTER TO UNLOCK RESULTING IN ENGINE STALL WHEN STOPPING. REPLACED SOLENOID. REPLACED SLAPPING TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN GUIDES. CHANGED OIL AFTER REPAIR. DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 100 MILES WHEN 3 ROD BEARINGS SPUN. ONE HALF OF THE BEARING SPUN INTO THE OTHER HALF RESULTING IN CRANKSHAFT DAMAGE AND PISTON TIPPING. REPLACED ENGINE WITH USED WHICH I REPAIRED BEFORE REPLACING. LOOKED LIKE OIL PUMP FAILURE. WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD BETWEEN 145-150 COMPRESSION.

Mileage: 113,000

20040422CrashPOWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION LOCKING TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID DOES NOT ALLOW TORQUE CONVERTER TO UNLOCK RESULTING IN ENGINE STALL WHEN STOPPING. REPLACED SOLENOID. REPLACED SLAPPING TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN GUIDES. CHANGED OIL AFTER REPAIR. DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 100 MILES WHEN 3 ROD BEARINGS SPUN. ONE HALF OF THE BEARING SPUN INTO THE OTHER HALF RESULTING IN CRANKSHAFT DAMAGE AND PISTON TIPPING. REPLACED ENGINE WITH USED WHICH I REPAIRED BEFORE REPLACING. LOOKED LIKE OIL PUMP FAILURE. WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD BETWEEN 145-150 COMPRESSION.

Mileage: 113,000

20020514FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

AFTER THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-90-577) *YH

20020131FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

AFTER THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-90-577) *YH

20010419FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

I KILLED IT AT A SERVICE STATION GONNA GET SOME WATER AND IT HAS NEVER STARTED SINCE THEN. THE GAS COMES OUT OF HOSE WHEN DISCONNECTED FROM INJECTOR BUT CONNECT THE LINE BACK AND THE FUEL INJECTION DOESNT GET GAS. I AM A SINGLE MOTHE WHO CAN NOT AFFORD THIS TYPE OF THING. A MAN PULLED IN SERVICE STATION AND SAID HE HAD SAME PROBLEMS WITH HIS 89 GRAND AM. I ALSO LOOKED IN MY HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER AND LOTS OF 89 GRAND AMS FOR SALE WITH NON WORKING MOTORS.*AK

20001214ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

EVEN REPLACEMENT STOP SWITCH SMOKES(FAILS). RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED , SAME RESULT. REPLACEMENT SWITCH STILL NO GOOD!!!!*AK

20001201FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT SIDE OF HOUSE. CONSUMER WENT BACK INTO HOUSE, AND A FEW MINUTES LATER, A NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON DOOR NOTIFYING HIM THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE CARPARTMENT. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED, AND THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION. NO INJURIES TO REPORTED. *AK

20001120ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

THE ENGINE, RADIATOR AND OVERFLOW BUCKET WERE REPLACED.*ET

20001120ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE ENGINE, RADIATOR AND OVERFLOW BUCKET WERE REPLACED.*ET

20001018CrashTIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE TRAVELING N ON I-295 BETWEEN I-10 AND COMMONWEALTH AVE, RR TIRE STARTED VIBRATING AND BOUNCING. TREAD THEN SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, THROWING ME INTO A LEFT HAND CIRCLE. I WENT FROM OUTSIDE NORTH BOUND LANE INTO GRASSY MEDIUM, CROSSING THREE LANES AND DOING A COMPLETE 360 DEGREE SPIN. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR JUST SHORT OF ENTERING THE ONCOMMING TRAFFIC OF THE SOUTH BOUND LANES. THE TREAD PEELED COMPLETELY AWAY, VERY SIMILAR TO THE FIRESTONE TIRES. I KEPT THE TIRE AND HAVE IT IN MY GARAGE. IF YOU WANT IT, IT IS YOURS.*AK (DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRESIZE: P195/70R14)

20000926SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY

INNER REAR SUPPORT THAT HOLDS VEHICLE UP RUSTED AROUND THE SPRING AND STRUT. VEHICLE HAD NO SUPPORT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

20000623ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A QUAD 4 ENGINE. THROUGHOUT THIS PAST YEAR, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE. IN ADDITION, I SPENT ROUGHLY $2000 TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET AND CYLINDER HEAD. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION. *AK

20000623ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A QUAD 4 ENGINE. THROUGHOUT THIS PAST YEAR, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE. IN ADDITION, I SPENT ROUGHLY $2000 TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET AND CYLINDER HEAD. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION. *AK

20000522ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR FAILED. YH

20000522ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL. YH

20000522ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET FAILED. YH

20000515ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR FAILED. YH

20000515ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL. YH

20000515ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET FAILED. YH

20000411SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER

REAR SUSPENSION THAT HOLDS STRUTS IS ROTTED. SMOKES WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED. IF USED LONG TERM, THE FRAME MAY CRACK AND THE TIRES MAY COME COMPLETELY OFF. MANY MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS.

Compare 1989PONTIACGRAND AM to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 PONTIAC GRAND AM have?
The 1989 PONTIAC GRAND AM has 88 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 PONTIAC GRAND AM?
The most-complained component for the 1989 PONTIAC GRAND AM is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 28 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL.
Is the 1989 PONTIAC GRAND AM safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.