Total Complaints
290 filings
PONTIAC GRAND AM · model year
1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM
290 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1993PONTIACGRAND AM carries 290 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 20 fires, 15 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 1993 GRAND AM is engine and engine cooling:engine with 30 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (26) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (12). 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 1993 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.
290
Complaints
11
Crashes
20
Fires
15
Injuries
2
Deaths
Crashes Reported
11 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 30 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 26 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 12 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 11 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 11 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 9 |
| SEATS | 8 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 8 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 8 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 6 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 5 |
Recent Complaints
20140527SERVICE BRAKES
KEY GOES TO ACCESSORY AT ANY TIME. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR.CAR SHUTS OFF AT ANYTIME! *TR
Mileage: 63,095
20140527ENGINE
KEY GOES TO ACCESSORY AT ANY TIME. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR.CAR SHUTS OFF AT ANYTIME! *TR
Mileage: 63,095
20140527POWER TRAIN
KEY GOES TO ACCESSORY AT ANY TIME. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR.CAR SHUTS OFF AT ANYTIME! *TR
Mileage: 63,095
20140527ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KEY GOES TO ACCESSORY AT ANY TIME. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR.CAR SHUTS OFF AT ANYTIME! *TR
Mileage: 63,095
20080129ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ONLY STARTS IN NEUTRAL, NOT PARK. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS NOTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 93V153000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH), HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 215,000. UPDATED 02-25-08 *BF
Mileage: 150,000
20070313CrashFireFatalENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1993 GRAND AM WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS HIT IN THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. THEN IT CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. *JB
20051228POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM, 124,OOO MILES. THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS GOOD. WHEN I GO 10 TO 15 MILES AND IF I COME TO A STOP, THE CAR STALLS. IT STARTS WITH NO PROBLEM BUT WHEN I SHIFT A GEAR, THE CAR STALLS. IF I WAIT FOR THE CAR TO COOL OFF, THE CAR WILL MOVE WITHOUT STALLING. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER SINCE SHE IS A NEW DRIVER, BUT I'M AFRAID TO LET HER TAKE IT ON HER OWN FOR FEAR THAT SHE'LL STALL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *NM
Mileage: 124,000
20051126ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1993 GRAND AM ENGINE HEAD CRACK..ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC HE'S SEEN MULTIPLE HEAD CRACKS ON QUAD 4 ENGINES. CAUSED ANTI-FREEZE FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND PUDDLE OF ANTI-FREEZE UNDER CAR. *NM
Mileage: 78,000
20040910FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER LIFTED UP THE HOOD, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THEN, DROVE IT TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A RECALL ISSUED DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. *AK
20040422POWER TRAIN
MY CAR STARTS AND RUNS GOOD. WHEN I GO 10 TO 15 MILES AND IF I COME TO A STOP, THE CAR STALLS. IT STARTS WITH NO PROBLEM BUT WHEN I SHIFT A GEAR, THE CAR STALLS. IF I WAITE FOR THE CAR TO COOL OFF, THE CAR WILL MOVE WITHOUT STALLING.
Mileage: 130,000
20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
MY CAR STARTS AND RUNS GOOD. WHEN I GO 10 TO 15 MILES AND IF I COME TO A STOP, THE CAR STALLS. IT STARTS WITH NO PROBLEM BUT WHEN I SHIFT A GEAR, THE CAR STALLS. IF I WAITE FOR THE CAR TO COOL OFF, THE CAR WILL MOVE WITHOUT STALLING.
Mileage: 130,000
20040212FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *PH *NM
20030908STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
CAR IS WHITE. PAINT IS PEELING OFF HOOD OF CAR FOR NO APPARENT REASON. STEEL IS EXPOSED AND STARTING TO RUST. THE ENTIRE CAR NEEDS REPAINTED BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS ALSO HAPPENING ON OTHER PARTS OF THE VEHICLE. SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.*AK 1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM
20030903ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND BEGAN SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. AN INDEPENDENT SHOP STATED THAT SWITCH LAMP BURNED OUT CAUSING SMOKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE VEHICLE DIDN'T START. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED A JUMP, THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH WAS OFF. THE SWITCH WAS UNABLE TO BE MOVED. THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF. ON THE SECOND OCCASION, THE LIGHTS WERE STILL ON WITH THE SWITCH AND THE IGNITION OFF. *SCC *JB
Mileage: 108,119
20030717ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED ENGINE HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CYLINDER HEAD, WATER PUMP, SPARK PLUGS, THERMOSTAT, SERPENTINE BELT(S) WERE ALL REPLACED AND ONE GALLON OF ANTI FREEZE WAS ADDED. *SCC *JB
Mileage: 99,052
20030606FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS *JB
Mileage: 106,600
20030606FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE AND THEN FLAMES EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *AK
20030514UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MECHANICS KNOW THIS GOES BAD IN GRAND AM'S, HAS HAD MANY COMPLAINTS. -------- DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS--------769744. *AK
Mileage: 100,000
20030428ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE OIL, AND THE MECHANIC STATED THE OIL WAS VERY MILKY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED WATER HAD GOT INTO THE OIL. AS A RESULT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Mileage: 37,000
20030421ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A COMPONENT IN THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED WHICH CAUSED TURN SIGNALS TO GO OUT. THE MECHANIC CHANGED A BULB AND WITHIN AN HOUR THE BULB WAS OUT AGAIN. *NLM
Compare 1993PONTIACGRAND AM to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM have?▼
The 1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM has 290 NHTSA complaints, 11 crashes, 20 fires, 15 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM?▼
The most-complained component for the 1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 30 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1993 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.