Total Complaints
236 filings
PONTIAC GRAND AM · model year
236 NHTSA complaints, 16 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998PONTIACGRAND AM carries 236 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 16 crashes, 5 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 1998 GRAND AM is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 15 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (13) and electrical system:ignition:switch (10). 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 1998 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
236 filings
Crashes Reported
16 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 | 15 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 13 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 10 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 10 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 9 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 8 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 8 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 7 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 6 |
| AIR BAGS | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 4 |
WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ANTI-THEFT CIRCUITRY CUTS OUT THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND PROHIBITS RE-STARTING THE VEHICLE. A 'PASS CODE' LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. IN ONE INSTANCE, THE ANTI-THEFT CIRCUITRY CUT OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND COULD NOT BE RE-STARTED. THE VEHICLE COULD BE STEERED (NO POWER STEERING) AND COASTED OFF THE ROADWAY (NO POWER BRAKES).
Mileage: 190,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000.
Mileage: 208,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/22/14*CN UPDATED 05/19/2015 *JS
WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 287 IN NEW JERSEY WHEN ENGINE CUT OFF CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES, POWER STEERING. CAUSED ACCIDENT WHEN RAN OFF ROAD DUE TO LACK OF POWER STEERING AND INABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY BRAKE. TOOK TO DEALER WHO REPLACED CRANKSHAFT SENSOR THAT DID NOT REPAIR PROBLEM. AFTER CAR WAS REPAIRED INCIDENT CONTINUED TO OCCUR WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE CODES. NOW THAT ISSUE HAS DEVELOPED WITH IGNITION SWITCHES, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS MAY BE A LONGER TERM PROBLEM THAN CURRENTLY THOUGHT. FINALLY SOLD THE VEHICLE DUE TO CONTINUING PROBLEM THAT NO ONE COULD SOLVE. *TR
Mileage: 24,000
WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 287 IN NEW JERSEY WHEN ENGINE CUT OFF CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES, POWER STEERING. CAUSED ACCIDENT WHEN RAN OFF ROAD DUE TO LACK OF POWER STEERING AND INABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY BRAKE. TOOK TO DEALER WHO REPLACED CRANKSHAFT SENSOR THAT DID NOT REPAIR PROBLEM. AFTER CAR WAS REPAIRED INCIDENT CONTINUED TO OCCUR WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE CODES. NOW THAT ISSUE HAS DEVELOPED WITH IGNITION SWITCHES, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS MAY BE A LONGER TERM PROBLEM THAN CURRENTLY THOUGHT. FINALLY SOLD THE VEHICLE DUE TO CONTINUING PROBLEM THAT NO ONE COULD SOLVE. *TR
Mileage: 24,000
1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE, WHEN SHE STARTED IT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, THINKING THE NOISE WOULD STOP, BUT IT DID NOT. SHE TOOK THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION AND IT CONTINUED TO MAKE THE SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THEY MADE A TEMPORARY FIX. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN ON THE VEHICLE. EITHER THE DEALER DID NOT FIX THE RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH OR IT WAS NOT FIXED PROPERLY. THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THE CONSUMER, TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. ONCE AT THE DEALER, THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IT WAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM. *JB
I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 GT PONTIAC GRAND AM FROM PEORIA ILLINOIS ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. SHE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN NO POWER NO NOTHING...PULLED OVER WAITED APPROXIMATELY 5MINUTES AND SHE STARTED RIGHT UP...PLEASE HELP!!! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 161,470
I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 GT PONTIAC GRAND AM FROM PEORIA ILLINOIS ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. SHE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN NO POWER NO NOTHING...PULLED OVER WAITED APPROXIMATELY 5MINUTES AND SHE STARTED RIGHT UP...PLEASE HELP!!! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 161,470
I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 GT PONTIAC GRAND AM FROM PEORIA ILLINOIS ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. SHE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN NO POWER NO NOTHING...PULLED OVER WAITED APPROXIMATELY 5MINUTES AND SHE STARTED RIGHT UP...PLEASE HELP!!! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 161,470
1999 ENGINE INSTALLED A 1998 CAR...FAULTY WIRES, CAR LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS, LOOKS TO HAVE BEEN IN A FIRE. KNOCK SENSOR BAD,EGR VALVE BAD...NUMEROUS THINGS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND LESLIE REED'S AUTO KNEW IT WAS A LEMON CAR. IT HAS A SALVAGED TITLE AND LESLIE REED'S AUTO NEVER GOT THE CAR REPAIRED BEFORE THEY SOLD THE CAR. *TR
MY 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM THEFT SYSTEM WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS THE DASH CLUSTER AND KEY SWITCH REPLACED BOTH VEHICLE STILL WILL NOT START. *TR
Mileage: 115,786
I HAVE A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM THAT WILL NOT START DUE TO ANTI THEFT KEEP FROM STARTING. *TR
Mileage: 143,723
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SEATED IN THE PARKED VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED AND STRUCK HER IN THE FACE. SHE WAS BADLY BRUISED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS CORRODED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.
Mileage: 154,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT INSTALLED A FLUSH AND SEAL TUBE IN THE VEHICLE THAT ALLOWS ANTIFREEZE TO PENETRATE FASTER. SINCE THAT TIME, THE ENGINE HAS FAILED TWICE. THE ENGINE STALLED DURING THE SECOND FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FLUSH AND SEAL TUBE CRACKED AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 04/16/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A PART NAMED FLUSH AND FILL SOLD WITH NO WARNING LABELS. UPDATED 04/16/08 *TR
Mileage: 100,000
MY PASSLOCK SYSTEM KEEPS ON ACTING UP. I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE DESIGN OF IT, BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION IS ABSOLUTELY HORRID AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. A FEW MONTHS LATER, SHE RETURNED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE LIGHT WOULD NOT DIM. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED, WHICH COULD PREVENT THE AIR BAGS FROM DEPLOYING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 100,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
Mileage: 99,000
FLUID WAS LEAKING BY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. ALSO, NOTICED A WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING. CAR HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT. REPAIR SHOP HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK & PINION AND HEATER CORE. COST FOR REPAIRS: $700.00. *AK
Mileage: 40,000
FLUID WAS LEAKING BY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. ALSO, NOTICED A WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING. CAR HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT. REPAIR SHOP HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK & PINION AND HEATER CORE. COST FOR REPAIRS: $700.00. *AK
Mileage: 40,000
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE EXITING A VEHICLE PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE ROLLED ONTO THE FOOT OF THE CONTACT, WHICH LEFT THE CONTACT TRAPPED FOR 18 HOURS. MINOR BRUISING INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A PASSERBY ASSISTED, AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ROLLING, AND COLLIDED WITH A NEARBY TREE. MODERATE DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WAS IN PARK. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO AWAIT FURTHER INSPECTION BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO ALERTED.*AK UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB
Mileage: 20,000
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR A FEW HOURS. THE BATTERY CRANKED, BUT THE ENGINE FAILED TO TURN OVER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CAME TO THE HOUSE AND INDICATED SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE, BUT GAVE NO CLEAR REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INDICATED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Mileage: 107,000
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.