Total Complaints
587 filings
PONTIAC GRAND AM · model year
587 NHTSA complaints, 78 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1995PONTIACGRAND AM carries 587 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 78 crashes, 47 fires, 82 injuries, and 9 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 1995 GRAND AM is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 53 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (36) and electrical system:ignition:switch (33). 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 1995 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.
Total Complaints
587 filings
Crashes Reported
78 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 53 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 36 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 33 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | 31 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 23 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 22 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 18 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 14 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 14 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 12 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 12 |
| AIR BAGS | 10 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 10 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 9 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 9 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE KEY SUDDENLY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED OPERATING AS NORMAL DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RE-INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 290,000.
Mileage: 290,000
CAR WON'T START AND CUT OFF WHEN CAR IS IN DRIVE. *TR
Mileage: 138,000
I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT OF A FAST FOOD PLACE WE CAME OUT AFTER WE ATE AND GOT IN THE CAR ATTEMPTED TO START IT BUT IT DID NOT START AT FIRST THEN I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN TRIED AGAIN IT STARTED AND AFTER A SHORT TIME IT SEAMED LIKE IT TRIED TO START ITSELF AGAIN AND IT STARTED SMOKING FROM BELOW THE STEERING COLUMN SO I TURNED IT OFF AND JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND OUT THE BATTERY BY THE TIME THE BATTERY WAS OUT IT HAD ALREADY CAUGHT FIRE AND HAD TO BE PUT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHICH WAS SUPPLIED BY A TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHO JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE GETTING LUNCH THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED BUT NEVER FILED A REPORT THEY JUST MADE SURE ALL WERE OK THEN LEFT THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED. *TR
Mileage: 140,000
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 4 MY STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE MAKING ME PULL THE CAR OVER AND JUMP OUT ALONG WITH 2 OTHER PERSONS , AFTER THAT WE CALLED THE TOW TRUCK TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME TO SEE WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WHO TO CONTACT IN THE MEAN TIME THE DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR FOR 4 MONTHS AND TO THIS DAY STILL HAS IT AND IS REQUESTING ME TO PAY HALF OF THE BILL TO GET IT FIXED AND I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD PAY A DIME FOR A RECALLED CAR WITH AN OPEN RECALL ON IT SO THEREFORE I AM FILING A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE CAR TO BE FIXED AND FOR ALL THE INCONVENIENCE IN WHICH IT HAS CAUSED ME GETTING BACK AND FOURTH TO SCHOOL, I AM IN COLLEGE FULL TIME SO THEREFORE I HAD TO DO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION GETTING TO AND FROM MY DESTINATIONS. AND WHEN THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN WHICH IT HAD EVER HAPPENED. SO NOW MY GRANDFATHER IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT TO GET FIXED AND WOULD LIKE ALL OF HIS MONEY BACK AND I WANT ALL I CAN GET FOR ALL THE INCONVENIENC
WHILE DRIVING THE OVERHEAT LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND ENGINE DIED. THE MECHANIC SAID IT IS A CRACKED HEAD GASKETS. I HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE IN OWNER MANUAL. OIL CHANGES EVERY THREE MONTHS ETC.*AK
Mileage: 96,801
1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM COILS WENT BAD. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE COILS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THE GARAGE STATED THEY WERE BAD, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER KEPT THE COILS AND PLACED THEM BACK IN THE VEHICLE WHICH HAS BEEN RUNNING EVER SINCE. *JB
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING 1995 GRAND AM THEFT. *TS THE CONSUMER LISTED BRAKES AS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM ON HIS VEHICLE. *JB
1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM OVERHEATING. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT FOUR TIMES AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKETS WARPED. PAID FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND CALLED GENERAL MOTORS. MEDIATOR WAS OF VERY LITTLE HELP. TOOK IT BACK UNDER THE REPAIR WARRANTY, THEN THE RADIATOR BLEW BECAUSE THEY HAD REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP WITH A HIGHER PRESSURE RATING. WE TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR, HOSES, HEATER CORE AND NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS. IT CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. IN GENERAL WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $2500.00 AND STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, WE NOW HAVE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMING ON OCCASIONALLY AND I FOUND SOME ENGINE WIRES TWISTED UP OVER THE MANIFOLD. I HAVE SINCE MOVED THEM BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION AND HAD TO USE ELECTRICAL TAPE ON ANOTHER WIRE CONNECTION THAT THE LOCK (SNAP) WAS BROKE OFF. SINCE DOING THIS I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR OVERHEATING AS OFTEN. ADDITIONALLY SINCE REPAIRS WERE MADE, WE NOW HAVE HEAVY CONDENSATION ON THE INTERIOR WINDSHIEL
Mileage: 165
1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM OVERHEATING. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT FOUR TIMES AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKETS WARPED. PAID FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND CALLED GENERAL MOTORS. MEDIATOR WAS OF VERY LITTLE HELP. TOOK IT BACK UNDER THE REPAIR WARRANTY, THEN THE RADIATOR BLEW BECAUSE THEY HAD REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP WITH A HIGHER PRESSURE RATING. WE TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR, HOSES, HEATER CORE AND NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS. IT CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. IN GENERAL WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $2500.00 AND STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, WE NOW HAVE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMING ON OCCASIONALLY AND I FOUND SOME ENGINE WIRES TWISTED UP OVER THE MANIFOLD. I HAVE SINCE MOVED THEM BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION AND HAD TO USE ELECTRICAL TAPE ON ANOTHER WIRE CONNECTION THAT THE LOCK (SNAP) WAS BROKE OFF. SINCE DOING THIS I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR OVERHEATING AS OFTEN. ADDITIONALLY SINCE REPAIRS WERE MADE, WE NOW HAVE HEAVY CONDENSATION ON THE INTERIOR WINDSHIEL
Mileage: 165
1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM OVERHEATING. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT FOUR TIMES AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKETS WARPED. PAID FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND CALLED GENERAL MOTORS. MEDIATOR WAS OF VERY LITTLE HELP. TOOK IT BACK UNDER THE REPAIR WARRANTY, THEN THE RADIATOR BLEW BECAUSE THEY HAD REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP WITH A HIGHER PRESSURE RATING. WE TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR, HOSES, HEATER CORE AND NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS. IT CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. IN GENERAL WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $2500.00 AND STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, WE NOW HAVE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMING ON OCCASIONALLY AND I FOUND SOME ENGINE WIRES TWISTED UP OVER THE MANIFOLD. I HAVE SINCE MOVED THEM BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION AND HAD TO USE ELECTRICAL TAPE ON ANOTHER WIRE CONNECTION THAT THE LOCK (SNAP) WAS BROKE OFF. SINCE DOING THIS I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR OVERHEATING AS OFTEN. ADDITIONALLY SINCE REPAIRS WERE MADE, WE NOW HAVE HEAVY CONDENSATION ON THE INTERIOR WINDSHIEL
Mileage: 165
1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM OVERHEATING. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT FOUR TIMES AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKETS WARPED. PAID FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND CALLED GENERAL MOTORS. MEDIATOR WAS OF VERY LITTLE HELP. TOOK IT BACK UNDER THE REPAIR WARRANTY, THEN THE RADIATOR BLEW BECAUSE THEY HAD REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP WITH A HIGHER PRESSURE RATING. WE TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR, HOSES, HEATER CORE AND NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS. IT CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. IN GENERAL WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $2500.00 AND STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, WE NOW HAVE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMING ON OCCASIONALLY AND I FOUND SOME ENGINE WIRES TWISTED UP OVER THE MANIFOLD. I HAVE SINCE MOVED THEM BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION AND HAD TO USE ELECTRICAL TAPE ON ANOTHER WIRE CONNECTION THAT THE LOCK (SNAP) WAS BROKE OFF. SINCE DOING THIS I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR OVERHEATING AS OFTEN. ADDITIONALLY SINCE REPAIRS WERE MADE, WE NOW HAVE HEAVY CONDENSATION ON THE INTERIOR WINDSHIEL
Mileage: 165
1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM OVERHEATING. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT FOUR TIMES AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKETS WARPED. PAID FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND CALLED GENERAL MOTORS. MEDIATOR WAS OF VERY LITTLE HELP. TOOK IT BACK UNDER THE REPAIR WARRANTY, THEN THE RADIATOR BLEW BECAUSE THEY HAD REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP WITH A HIGHER PRESSURE RATING. WE TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR, HOSES, HEATER CORE AND NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS. IT CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. IN GENERAL WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $2500.00 AND STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, WE NOW HAVE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMING ON OCCASIONALLY AND I FOUND SOME ENGINE WIRES TWISTED UP OVER THE MANIFOLD. I HAVE SINCE MOVED THEM BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION AND HAD TO USE ELECTRICAL TAPE ON ANOTHER WIRE CONNECTION THAT THE LOCK (SNAP) WAS BROKE OFF. SINCE DOING THIS I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR OVERHEATING AS OFTEN. ADDITIONALLY SINCE REPAIRS WERE MADE, WE NOW HAVE HEAVY CONDENSATION ON THE INTERIOR WINDSHIEL
Mileage: 165
1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM OVERHEATING. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT FOUR TIMES AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKETS WARPED. PAID FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND CALLED GENERAL MOTORS. MEDIATOR WAS OF VERY LITTLE HELP. TOOK IT BACK UNDER THE REPAIR WARRANTY, THEN THE RADIATOR BLEW BECAUSE THEY HAD REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP WITH A HIGHER PRESSURE RATING. WE TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR, HOSES, HEATER CORE AND NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS. IT CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. IN GENERAL WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $2500.00 AND STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, WE NOW HAVE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMING ON OCCASIONALLY AND I FOUND SOME ENGINE WIRES TWISTED UP OVER THE MANIFOLD. I HAVE SINCE MOVED THEM BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION AND HAD TO USE ELECTRICAL TAPE ON ANOTHER WIRE CONNECTION THAT THE LOCK (SNAP) WAS BROKE OFF. SINCE DOING THIS I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR OVERHEATING AS OFTEN. ADDITIONALLY SINCE REPAIRS WERE MADE, WE NOW HAVE HEAVY CONDENSATION ON THE INTERIOR WINDSHIEL
Mileage: 165
1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM OVERHEATING. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT FOUR TIMES AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKETS WARPED. PAID FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND CALLED GENERAL MOTORS. MEDIATOR WAS OF VERY LITTLE HELP. TOOK IT BACK UNDER THE REPAIR WARRANTY, THEN THE RADIATOR BLEW BECAUSE THEY HAD REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP WITH A HIGHER PRESSURE RATING. WE TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR, HOSES, HEATER CORE AND NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS. IT CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. IN GENERAL WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $2500.00 AND STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, WE NOW HAVE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMING ON OCCASIONALLY AND I FOUND SOME ENGINE WIRES TWISTED UP OVER THE MANIFOLD. I HAVE SINCE MOVED THEM BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION AND HAD TO USE ELECTRICAL TAPE ON ANOTHER WIRE CONNECTION THAT THE LOCK (SNAP) WAS BROKE OFF. SINCE DOING THIS I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR OVERHEATING AS OFTEN. ADDITIONALLY SINCE REPAIRS WERE MADE, WE NOW HAVE HEAVY CONDENSATION ON THE INTERIOR WINDSHIEL
Mileage: 165
1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM OVERHEATING. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT FOUR TIMES AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKETS WARPED. PAID FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND CALLED GENERAL MOTORS. MEDIATOR WAS OF VERY LITTLE HELP. TOOK IT BACK UNDER THE REPAIR WARRANTY, THEN THE RADIATOR BLEW BECAUSE THEY HAD REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP WITH A HIGHER PRESSURE RATING. WE TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR, HOSES, HEATER CORE AND NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS. IT CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. IN GENERAL WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $2500.00 AND STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, WE NOW HAVE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMING ON OCCASIONALLY AND I FOUND SOME ENGINE WIRES TWISTED UP OVER THE MANIFOLD. I HAVE SINCE MOVED THEM BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION AND HAD TO USE ELECTRICAL TAPE ON ANOTHER WIRE CONNECTION THAT THE LOCK (SNAP) WAS BROKE OFF. SINCE DOING THIS I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR OVERHEATING AS OFTEN. ADDITIONALLY SINCE REPAIRS WERE MADE, WE NOW HAVE HEAVY CONDENSATION ON THE INTERIOR WINDSHIEL
Mileage: 165
DT: 1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AFTER BEING IN THE VEHICLE FOR 30 MINUTES. THIS WAS A NEW SUMMIT TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP GAVE THE CONSUMER HIS MONEY BACK AND PUT THE OLD TIRES ON VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS GOING 60 MPH. THIS CAUSED FRONT END DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRASH DUE TO TIRE BLOWOUT. *AK
DT: 1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AFTER BEING IN THE VEHICLE FOR 30 MINUTES. THIS WAS A NEW SUMMIT TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP GAVE THE CONSUMER HIS MONEY BACK AND PUT THE OLD TIRES ON VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS GOING 60 MPH. THIS CAUSED FRONT END DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRASH DUE TO TIRE BLOWOUT. *AK
CONTACT STATES: ON THE FRONT DRIVERS' SIDE THE METAL PART BROKE AWAY AND THE TIRE CAME AWAY FROM THE PART IT WAS ATTACHED TO. THE TIRE HIT THE SIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE, AND THEY HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY CONSUMER WOULD BE UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. ALSO, IT STALLS. CONSUMER IS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE AFTER 45 MINUTES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Mileage: 93,000
THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND STRUCK A LIGHT POST. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Mileage: 190,000
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.