PONTIAC GRAND AM · model year

1992 PONTIAC GRAND AM

304 NHTSA complaints, 15 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1992PONTIACGRAND AM carries 304 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 15 crashes, 4 fires, 16 injuries, and 2 fatalities. 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 1992 GRAND AM is engine and engine cooling:engine with 34 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (18) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (14). 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 1992 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.

304
Complaints
15
Crashes
4
Fires
16
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

304 filings

Crashes Reported

15 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE34
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP18
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE14
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION10
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM9
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN7
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER6
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM5
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY5

Recent Complaints

20100623TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT OWNS CENTRON CORDOVAN TIRES, DOT NUMBER UTT2, LINE SIZE P205/55/R16. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE EXHIBITING SEPARATION FROM THE SIDE WALL. THE TIRES WERE TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE TIRES WERE NOT SERVICED OR REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 20,000.

20070312STEERING:RACK AND PINION

THE STEERING ON MY 1994 GRAND AM IS BROKEN. THE BOLTS THAT MOUNT THE STEERING GEAR TO THE CRADLE HAVE RUSTED AND BOTH ARE SEPARTED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY 89 GRAND PRIX AND I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON MY 92 CORSICA. 8JB

Mileage: 201,000

20070312STEERING

THE STEERING ON MY 1994 GRAND AM IS BROKEN. THE BOLTS THAT MOUNT THE STEERING GEAR TO THE CRADLE HAVE RUSTED AND BOTH ARE SEPARTED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY 89 GRAND PRIX AND I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON MY 92 CORSICA. 8JB

Mileage: 201,000

20051111CrashFatalVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

CAUSE OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION: I HAD A PONTIAC GRAND AM 1992 AND THE VEHICLE DID ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. THE CAUSE IS A LITTLE PIECE OF RUBBER THAT SLIDES OFF THE PRESSURE VALVE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAINTAIN AN AVERAGE OF 30M/PH, REGARDLESS OF WHICH GEAR THE CAR IS IN. THE MAIN REASON THE PLASTIC SLIDES OFF IS IF THE CAR HAS BEEN FLOORED. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU DRIVE TOO FAST AND PRESS THE GAS TOO HARD, THEN THE RUBBER WILL SLOWLY SLIP OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF PRESSURE AND AUTOMATIC ACCELERATION. MUST GET PROBLEM FIXED OR GET RID OF CAR. I HAVE STARTED A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST GM FOR SAFETY VIOLATION AND THE DENIAL OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND DEATH. VEHICLE ACCELERATED CAUSING DEATH TO PEDESTRIAN. *JB

20040831ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WATER WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE INTO THE VEHICLE. DEALER STATED THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE TO REPAIR VEHICLE. *AK

Mileage: 179,085

20030925SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SLOWED DOWN, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *NLM THIS WAS DUE TO THE BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT IN WHICH THE WRONG PART WAS INSTALLED. *SCC *JB

20030915ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

COOLANT LEAKED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR HOSE HAD A SPLIT IN IT. THE SAME WEEK THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE BRAKE LINE BROKE. ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE INCORRECT BRAKE PARTS WERE INSTALLED AND THAT THE RADIATOR CLAMPS WERE LOOSE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INVOICES FROM THE DEALER BUT THEY REFUSED. *NLM

Mileage: 86,000

20030915SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

COOLANT LEAKED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR HOSE HAD A SPLIT IN IT. THE SAME WEEK THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE BRAKE LINE BROKE. ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE INCORRECT BRAKE PARTS WERE INSTALLED AND THAT THE RADIATOR CLAMPS WERE LOOSE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INVOICES FROM THE DEALER BUT THEY REFUSED. *NLM

Mileage: 86,000

20030614SEATS

I HAVE A 92 PONTIAC GRAND AM AND THE PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I WERE TO BE IN CRASH? PONTIAC SAYS THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS BUT I FOUND SOMETHING ON THE WEB THAT SAYS THERE WAS. IT WAS ON THIS WEB SITE. *NLM

20030529ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAVE A LETTER FROM PONTIAC DATE NOV, 1995. WHICH STATES THAT 2.3L QUAD OHC ENGINE HAVE A DEFECT OF CRACKING CYLINDER THAT ALLOWS COOLANT TO LEAK FROM THE CYLINDER HEADS. THE LETTER ALSO STATES.. DO NOT BRING YOUR VEHICLE TO THE DEALER UNLESS THIS OCCURS. THE STATED IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OR 100,000 MILES THEY WILL REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD FREE OF CHARGE.. MY CAR IS 8 YEARS OLD NOW AND HAS ONLY 79000 MILES ON IT. NEITHER THE DEALER OR PONTIAC CORP. WILL REPAIR THIS FOR ME WITHOUT PAYING FOR ALL CHARGES WHICH ARE APPROX. $1200.00.. PONTIAC ADMITS THAT THIS ENGINE HAS A DEFECT.. BUT REFUSES TO HONOR THE 100,000 MILE LIMIT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS 8 YEARS OLD. IT IS MY OPINION THAT PONTIAC IS RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THIS VEHICLE AS IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD.. MY VEHICLE HAS THE KNOWN DEFECT.. THE ODOR FROM THE COOLANT IS EXTREMELY STRING AND IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT LEAKS FROM THE HEAD AS THERE IS CORROSION AND THE ANTI-FREEZE PUDDLES

Mileage: 79,000

20030207CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. * PH. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *JB

Mileage: 88,000

20021230FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE AND THEN SPARKS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND POPPED THE HOOD AND FLAMES WERE COVERING THE ENGINE. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

20020731ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WIRING HARNESS, IGNITION KEY HOUSING AND STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY MELTED DOWN. CONSUMER BELIEVES 1992 MODELS HAD SIMILAR FAILURES AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL. *TT

20020724CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

GMC SENT THEIR INVESTIGATOR TO READ THE SENSORY DIAGNOSTIC MODULAR. HE REPORTED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WERE ON ASWER THE SEATBELTS. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THEY "ACTED APPROPRIATELY". HOWEVER EVEN THOUGH THE SEATBELTS WERE ON, THEY DID NOT RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER OR THE DRIVER. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT 45 MPH. THIS IS NOT APPROPRIATE! THE PASSENGER HAD SURGERY TO REPAIRED MUSCLE IN HER SHOULDER WHERE IT WAS "TORN FROM THE BONE" AND I (THE DRIVER) HAD SURGERY ON MY SPINE TO REPAIR A TORN DISC DUE TO THE TRAUMA SUSTAINED. MY CAR WAS HIT ON THE LEFT FRONT PANAL CAUSING ME TO PIVOT HEAD ON INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. I LET A THIRD PARTY SOURCE READ THE RESULTS FROM GMAC. HE SAID THAT THEY SHOW THE FIRST IMPACT AND NOTHING MORE. THE SECOND IMPACT WITH THE TELEPHONE POLE IS MY PRIMARY CONCERN. THERE IS NO WAY FOR GMAC TO KNOW FROM THAT MODULE READING IF INDEED THE AIRBAGS AND/OR SEATBELTS "ACTED APPROPRIATELY". MY CAR WAS TOTALED!*AK

20020724CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

GMC SENT THEIR INVESTIGATOR TO READ THE SENSORY DIAGNOSTIC MODULAR. HE REPORTED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WERE ON ASWER THE SEATBELTS. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THEY "ACTED APPROPRIATELY". HOWEVER EVEN THOUGH THE SEATBELTS WERE ON, THEY DID NOT RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER OR THE DRIVER. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT 45 MPH. THIS IS NOT APPROPRIATE! THE PASSENGER HAD SURGERY TO REPAIRED MUSCLE IN HER SHOULDER WHERE IT WAS "TORN FROM THE BONE" AND I (THE DRIVER) HAD SURGERY ON MY SPINE TO REPAIR A TORN DISC DUE TO THE TRAUMA SUSTAINED. MY CAR WAS HIT ON THE LEFT FRONT PANAL CAUSING ME TO PIVOT HEAD ON INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. I LET A THIRD PARTY SOURCE READ THE RESULTS FROM GMAC. HE SAID THAT THEY SHOW THE FIRST IMPACT AND NOTHING MORE. THE SECOND IMPACT WITH THE TELEPHONE POLE IS MY PRIMARY CONCERN. THERE IS NO WAY FOR GMAC TO KNOW FROM THAT MODULE READING IF INDEED THE AIRBAGS AND/OR SEATBELTS "ACTED APPROPRIATELY". MY CAR WAS TOTALED!*AK

20011015ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED/ ANY TIME AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

20010912VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

CONSUMER STATES POWER WINDOWS HAVE NOT WORK PROPERLY SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE, WINDOWS CONTINUE TO FALL OFF TRACK.*YH

20010910STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

PAINT IS LIFTING OFF IN CHUNKS IN SEVERAL AREAS ON THE HOOD, FRONT SIDE PANELS & ROOF. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED 7/13/01 @ 87,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR CAMPAIGNS ON THIS CAR FOR THIS PROBLEM. I CAN UNDERSTAND PAINT FADING AND WEARING DUE TO AGE, BUT NOT LIFTING OFF IN CHUNKS AFTER ONLY 8 YEARS. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM INDICATES A DEFECT IN THE PAINT, PRIMER, AND/OR SURFACE METAL.*AK

20010725ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION SYSTEM MELTED RESULTING IN TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF STARTING SYSTEM. IGNITION SYSTEM DID NOT IGNITE BUT DID CONTINUE TO EMMIT NOXIOUS FUMES AND SMOKE. RESEARCHED PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT ALL MODELS MADE THE YEAR AFTER MY CAR, WERE RECALLED FOR SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *AK

20010710SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ON WET OR DRY PAVEMENT AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A GRADUAL STOP, BRAKES KICK IN AND THEN RELEASE, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER/SHOES AND PADS/ ROTORS, AND DRUMS. BUT, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Compare 1992PONTIACGRAND AM to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1992 PONTIAC GRAND AM have?
The 1992 PONTIAC GRAND AM has 304 NHTSA complaints, 15 crashes, 4 fires, 16 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 PONTIAC GRAND AM?
The most-complained component for the 1992 PONTIAC GRAND AM is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 34 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1992 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.