PONTIAC GRAND AM · model year

1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM

672 NHTSA complaints, 45 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996PONTIACGRAND AM carries 672 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 45 crashes, 18 fires, 83 injuries, and 0 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 1996 GRAND AM is air bags:frontal with 63 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (37) and electrical system:ignition:switch (36). 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 1996 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.

672
Complaints
45
Crashes
18
Fires
83
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

672 filings

Crashes Reported

45 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL63
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP37
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH36
AIR BAGS35
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE33
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR26
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM25
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION21
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION19
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM18
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS17
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE16
UNKNOWN OR OTHER15
SUSPENSION:FRONT14
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS10

Recent Complaints

20170707AIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING DOWN HIWAY THE CAR DIED I TURNED IT TO THE RIGHT TO GET OFF THE HIWAY AND THE AIRBAG ON DRIVERS SIDE EXPLODED, I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND WAS TOLD THE PASS KEY SYSTEM OR THEFT SYSTEM WENT BAD IN IGNITION SWITCH AND NO EXPLANATION WHY AIR BAG WENT OFF? OR HOW TO FIX ANY OF IT, THIS IS NOW JULY AND I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS.

Mileage: 163,000

20170707ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING DOWN HIWAY THE CAR DIED I TURNED IT TO THE RIGHT TO GET OFF THE HIWAY AND THE AIRBAG ON DRIVERS SIDE EXPLODED, I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND WAS TOLD THE PASS KEY SYSTEM OR THEFT SYSTEM WENT BAD IN IGNITION SWITCH AND NO EXPLANATION WHY AIR BAG WENT OFF? OR HOW TO FIX ANY OF IT, THIS IS NOW JULY AND I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS.

Mileage: 163,000

20170707FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING DOWN HIWAY THE CAR DIED I TURNED IT TO THE RIGHT TO GET OFF THE HIWAY AND THE AIRBAG ON DRIVERS SIDE EXPLODED, I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND WAS TOLD THE PASS KEY SYSTEM OR THEFT SYSTEM WENT BAD IN IGNITION SWITCH AND NO EXPLANATION WHY AIR BAG WENT OFF? OR HOW TO FIX ANY OF IT, THIS IS NOW JULY AND I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS.

Mileage: 163,000

20160504AIR BAGS

AIR BAG WHEN OFF WHEN I WAS WAITING TO PULL AUT OFF PARKING LOT. HAVE INJURY TO MY SHOULDER.

Mileage: 140,400

20140514AIR BAGS

DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20140421AIR BAGS

I WAS LEAVING MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, HAD JUST BACKED OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE. STARTED MOVING FORWARD AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. NO BUMPS, NO CONTACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. JUST DEPLOYED. STEERING WHEEL PARTS HIT MY ARM, BRUISED IT PRETTY WELL. HAVE SINCE PURCHASED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 190,000

20130709STEERING

CAR WOULD NOT START. STEERING LOCKED AND TRANSMISSION STUCK IN PARK.KEY WOULD NOT TURN. TOWED CAR HOME. REMOVED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND FOUND THE IGNITION LOCK HAD MELTED. THE OBVIOUS FIRE HAZARD PROMPTED A RECALL SEARCH FOR THE MAKE AND MODEL FINDING AN IGNITION RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. I CONTACTED PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE REPRESENTATIVE ASKED ME IF MY VIN WAS COVERED. I HAVE CONFIRMED THE VIN IS ON THE RECALL LIST ALTHOUGH THE REP. FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS. THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE RECALL, POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND VALIDITY OF MY COMPLAINT WAS IGNORED AND [XXX] (PONTIAC REP.) WOULD NOT ASSIST ME FURTHER. I AM STUCK NOW WITH TRYING TO RESOLVE GETTING MY CAR REPAIRED IN A TIMELY MANNER. PLEASE ADVISE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 171,708

20130709ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CAR WOULD NOT START. STEERING LOCKED AND TRANSMISSION STUCK IN PARK.KEY WOULD NOT TURN. TOWED CAR HOME. REMOVED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND FOUND THE IGNITION LOCK HAD MELTED. THE OBVIOUS FIRE HAZARD PROMPTED A RECALL SEARCH FOR THE MAKE AND MODEL FINDING AN IGNITION RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. I CONTACTED PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE REPRESENTATIVE ASKED ME IF MY VIN WAS COVERED. I HAVE CONFIRMED THE VIN IS ON THE RECALL LIST ALTHOUGH THE REP. FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS. THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE RECALL, POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND VALIDITY OF MY COMPLAINT WAS IGNORED AND [XXX] (PONTIAC REP.) WOULD NOT ASSIST ME FURTHER. I AM STUCK NOW WITH TRYING TO RESOLVE GETTING MY CAR REPAIRED IN A TIMELY MANNER. PLEASE ADVISE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 171,708

20130619AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE SENSOR WAS DISCONNECTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20121220FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I STARTED MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS DRIVING APPROX 10MPH WHEN THE CAR DIED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, AFTER RESTART, IT DID IT AGAIN. THEN, IT WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A BAD FUEL PUMP. TURNS OUT IT WAS THE PONTIAC ANTI-THEFT DEVICE THAT WAS KEEPING IT FROM STARTING. WHEN YOUR KEY STARTS GETTING WORN AND ROUNDED OFF, (AS MOST KEYS DO AFTER SOME USE!) THE THEFT SYSTEM LOCKS YOUR CAR UP. THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN REPLACING THE ECU, IGNITION SYSTEM, KEY TUMBLER, OR A COMBINATION OF THE SAME, AND REPROGRAMMING IT, WHICH COSTS UPWARDS OF 1000.00 THIS ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IS PREVENTING ME FROM USING MY LAWFULLY OWNED CAR! THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP REPLACE DEFECTIVE PONTIAC PARTS. AN ANTI THEFT SYSTEM SHOULD BE A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE TO KEEP CROOKS FROM BOOSTING YOUR CAR, NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL COST THE OWNER MORE MONEY LATER WHEN THEIR KEY WEARS DOWN! WORSE YET, IF THE CAR IS DISABLED ON A

Mileage: 136,141

20121220ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I STARTED MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS DRIVING APPROX 10MPH WHEN THE CAR DIED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, AFTER RESTART, IT DID IT AGAIN. THEN, IT WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A BAD FUEL PUMP. TURNS OUT IT WAS THE PONTIAC ANTI-THEFT DEVICE THAT WAS KEEPING IT FROM STARTING. WHEN YOUR KEY STARTS GETTING WORN AND ROUNDED OFF, (AS MOST KEYS DO AFTER SOME USE!) THE THEFT SYSTEM LOCKS YOUR CAR UP. THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN REPLACING THE ECU, IGNITION SYSTEM, KEY TUMBLER, OR A COMBINATION OF THE SAME, AND REPROGRAMMING IT, WHICH COSTS UPWARDS OF 1000.00 THIS ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IS PREVENTING ME FROM USING MY LAWFULLY OWNED CAR! THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP REPLACE DEFECTIVE PONTIAC PARTS. AN ANTI THEFT SYSTEM SHOULD BE A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE TO KEEP CROOKS FROM BOOSTING YOUR CAR, NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL COST THE OWNER MORE MONEY LATER WHEN THEIR KEY WEARS DOWN! WORSE YET, IF THE CAR IS DISABLED ON A

Mileage: 136,141

20121220ENGINE

I STARTED MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS DRIVING APPROX 10MPH WHEN THE CAR DIED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, AFTER RESTART, IT DID IT AGAIN. THEN, IT WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A BAD FUEL PUMP. TURNS OUT IT WAS THE PONTIAC ANTI-THEFT DEVICE THAT WAS KEEPING IT FROM STARTING. WHEN YOUR KEY STARTS GETTING WORN AND ROUNDED OFF, (AS MOST KEYS DO AFTER SOME USE!) THE THEFT SYSTEM LOCKS YOUR CAR UP. THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN REPLACING THE ECU, IGNITION SYSTEM, KEY TUMBLER, OR A COMBINATION OF THE SAME, AND REPROGRAMMING IT, WHICH COSTS UPWARDS OF 1000.00 THIS ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IS PREVENTING ME FROM USING MY LAWFULLY OWNED CAR! THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP REPLACE DEFECTIVE PONTIAC PARTS. AN ANTI THEFT SYSTEM SHOULD BE A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE TO KEEP CROOKS FROM BOOSTING YOUR CAR, NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL COST THE OWNER MORE MONEY LATER WHEN THEIR KEY WEARS DOWN! WORSE YET, IF THE CAR IS DISABLED ON A

Mileage: 136,141

20120917AIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE PARK, DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WENT OFF, BURST OF POWDER AND HORN BLOWING, SCRAPED RIGHT HAND. WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD AND UNDO FUSE TO HORN. FOUND OUT BY GOING ONLINE MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN IS THERE ANY RECOURSE TO THIS THAT I CAN FOLLOW UP ON? NOTE: IT SEEMS GMC HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS AND REALLY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE VEHICLES OR TAKEN THEM OFF THE ROAD, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THESE BLOW WITHOUT CAUSE. *TR

Mileage: 104,203

20120827AIR BAGS

I HAD JUST TURNED MY CAR ON AND PUT IT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. I ONLY MOVED ABOUT TWO INCHES BACKWARDS, NOT EVEN GOING OVER 5 MPH, WHEN THE AIR BAG RANDOMLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. IT HIT ME ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY HEAD/NECK, CHEST, AND ARM RESULTING IN CUTS, BURNS, AND BRUISES IN THOSE AREAS. MY LEFT EAR STARTED RINGING AND I MOMENTARILY LOST HEARING ON THAT SIDE. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING WITH MY VEHICLE NOR DID SOMETHING HIT ME. MY CAR DID NOT EVEN LEAVE THE PARKING SPOT BEFORE THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. AFTER I GAINED COMPOSURE AND REALIZED WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED, I MADE MY WAY OUT OF THE CAR AND A MAN WHO WITNESSED EVERYTHING WALKED ME TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEAR BY. MY CUTS WERE TENDED TO AND I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE FOR FURTHER TREATMENT AND EXAMINING. *TR

Mileage: 125,299

20111103FireAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT. THE AIR BAG WAS ON FIRE AND IGNITED THE JACKET THAT THE CONTACT WAS WEARING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TAPED THE AIR BAG INTO THE DASHBOARD IN ORDER FOR THE CONTACT TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

20110323AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG EXPLODED AND THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG EXPLODED. AFTER THE EXPLOSION THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME AND PARK THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG HIT HER IN THE CHEST BUT SHE DID NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, FOUND NO OTHER DAMAGE AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED HER $500 AS A BUY BACK FOR THE VEHICLE. COMPLAINT FILE#297715 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,242.

Mileage: 146,242

20110321AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL BACK THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE VEHICEL WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 230,000.

Mileage: 230,000

20110228FireAIR BAGS

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG ITSELF HAD BURN MARKS. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000. PM

Mileage: 180,000

20100903ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM KEEPS ACTIVATING. HAD KEY SWITCH AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACED. STILL HAPPENING!!!!! *TR

Mileage: 150,000

20100809AIR BAGS

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH WHEN THE AIRBAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. *TR

Mileage: 145,000

Compare 1996PONTIACGRAND AM to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM have?
The 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM has 672 NHTSA complaints, 45 crashes, 18 fires, 83 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM?
The most-complained component for the 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 63 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH.
Is the 1996 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.