PONTIAC GRAND AM · model year

2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM

549 NHTSA complaints, 33 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002PONTIACGRAND AM carries 549 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 33 crashes, 3 fires, 29 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 2002 GRAND AM is electrical system with 100 filings, followed by exterior lighting (39) and engine and engine cooling (26). 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. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 17 investigation files overlapping the 2002 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.

549
Complaints
33
Crashes
3
Fires
29
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

549 filings

Crashes Reported

33 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM100
EXTERIOR LIGHTING39
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING26
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL21
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE21
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH20
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE16
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH13
STEERING12
TIRES11
AIR BAGS11
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH11
ENGINE11
UNKNOWN OR OTHER9

Recalls (4)

06E06400017/07/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED

07E02100012/03/2007

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

09E01200007/04/2009

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES

14V40000003/07/2014

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agen

Recent Complaints

20200315UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY PONTIAC GRAND AM SE 4DS 3.4 LITER ENGINE 2002 HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SECURITY LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON & STAYS ON & THEN WHEN I SHUT IT OFF & THEN GET BACK IN CAR TO START IT , IT WOULDN'T START THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES & I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES OR FOR IT TO GO OUT LEAVING THE CAR IN ON POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES OR MORE EVERY TIME I GET IN THE CAR TO START IT BUT ONCE I WAIT 10 MINUTES THE LIGHT GO'S OUT & THEN START CAR THE SECURITY LIGHT STAYS ON AGAIN WITHOUT FLASHING THEN WHEN I GET SHUT THE CAR DOWN & THEN START AGAIN THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES AGAIN CAN'T START THE CAR AGAIN & THIS HAPPENS CONTINUOUSLY NON STOP THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I PARK MY CAR AT A SHOPPING CENTER OR MY PARKING SPOT AT MY CONDO. I TRIED EVERYTHING TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY UNDER THE HOOD FOR 20 MINUTES IT RESETS BUT IT STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN WITH THE SECURITY LIGHT ON WHEN I START THE CAR UP THEN HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR THE SECURITY LIGHT TO STOP FLASHING THEN RESTART IT AGAIN AFTER THE STOPS FLASHING

Mileage: 179,486

20191128ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I WAS DIVING DOWN HWY 70 GOING TO PICK UP MY FIRST DELIVERY FOR THE DAY WHEN, I'M NOT SURE HOW BUT THE KEY CAME OUT OF THE ON POSTION AND FELL OUT ON FLOOR, SCARED I WAS GOING TO CRASH I HURRIEDLY REACHED DOWN AND PUT IT BACK IN AND NOTICED THE SECURITY LIGHT HAD CAME ON AND WITHIN MINUTES IT LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT OFF, LUCKILY I AM A GOOD DRIVER AND DIDN'T CRASH BUT MANAGE TO GET OFF ROAD SAFELY. I'M SO GLAD WORSE DIDN'T HAPPEN. NOW I HAVE NO CAR AND PROBABLY LOST ALL 3 JOBS I HAD.

Mileage: 180,000

20191128ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS DIVING DOWN HWY 70 GOING TO PICK UP MY FIRST DELIVERY FOR THE DAY WHEN, I'M NOT SURE HOW BUT THE KEY CAME OUT OF THE ON POSTION AND FELL OUT ON FLOOR, SCARED I WAS GOING TO CRASH I HURRIEDLY REACHED DOWN AND PUT IT BACK IN AND NOTICED THE SECURITY LIGHT HAD CAME ON AND WITHIN MINUTES IT LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT OFF, LUCKILY I AM A GOOD DRIVER AND DIDN'T CRASH BUT MANAGE TO GET OFF ROAD SAFELY. I'M SO GLAD WORSE DIDN'T HAPPEN. NOW I HAVE NO CAR AND PROBABLY LOST ALL 3 JOBS I HAD.

Mileage: 180,000

20191128FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I WAS DIVING DOWN HWY 70 GOING TO PICK UP MY FIRST DELIVERY FOR THE DAY WHEN, I'M NOT SURE HOW BUT THE KEY CAME OUT OF THE ON POSTION AND FELL OUT ON FLOOR, SCARED I WAS GOING TO CRASH I HURRIEDLY REACHED DOWN AND PUT IT BACK IN AND NOTICED THE SECURITY LIGHT HAD CAME ON AND WITHIN MINUTES IT LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT OFF, LUCKILY I AM A GOOD DRIVER AND DIDN'T CRASH BUT MANAGE TO GET OFF ROAD SAFELY. I'M SO GLAD WORSE DIDN'T HAPPEN. NOW I HAVE NO CAR AND PROBABLY LOST ALL 3 JOBS I HAD.

Mileage: 180,000

20190831AIR BAGS

I REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING BACK IN 2018 BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT STILL ON IT HAS TO BE A AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE SINCE I PURCHASED MY FIRST CAR SINCE 2011 IT NEEDS TO BE TURNED OFF

20190831ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING BACK IN 2018 BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT STILL ON IT HAS TO BE A AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE SINCE I PURCHASED MY FIRST CAR SINCE 2011 IT NEEDS TO BE TURNED OFF

20190831POWER TRAIN

I REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING BACK IN 2018 BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT STILL ON IT HAS TO BE A AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE SINCE I PURCHASED MY FIRST CAR SINCE 2011 IT NEEDS TO BE TURNED OFF

20190824STEERING

TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION - SHIFTS HARD, WENT OUT WITH OUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS. WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN I TRIED TO GO, IT WOULDN'T GO PAST 10 MPH AND WENT ALL THE WAY UP TO 4TH RPM. POWER STEERING LEAKS BAD.

Mileage: 127,000

20190824UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION - SHIFTS HARD, WENT OUT WITH OUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS. WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN I TRIED TO GO, IT WOULDN'T GO PAST 10 MPH AND WENT ALL THE WAY UP TO 4TH RPM. POWER STEERING LEAKS BAD.

Mileage: 127,000

20190104FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THE CAR IT'S HAD A STRONG GAS ODOR THAT FILLS THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. IT GETS WORSE WHEN YOU RUN THE DEFROST AND WHEN THE GAS TANK IS ON E. IT'S AN EVERYDAY STRONG GAS ODOR AND MOST OF THE TIME IT'S EVERYTIME YOU DRIVE IT NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES IN ONE DAY OR HOW LONG OF A PERIOD AT A TIME.

Mileage: 220,000

20181126EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, BUT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS. WHEN THE HAZARD BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED, THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

20181126ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, BUT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS. WHEN THE HAZARD BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED, THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

20180518ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND SECURITY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SECURITY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED AUTONATION CHEVROLET AT (407) 680-0751 (LOCATED AT 3707 W COLONIAL DR, ORLANDO, FL 32808) AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,377.

Mileage: 170,377

20180121AIR BAGS

'TAKATA RECALL' DETERIORATION OF AIRBAGS DUE TO THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND THE HEAT OF THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES

20180119ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM ---- VEHICLE HAS 165,478 MILES CONTACT WAS GOING 10MPH WHEN BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING, IN TURN LANE TO TURN OFF MAIN ROAD AT NIGHT.. CONTACT WAS DRIVING HOME TWO NIGHTS AGO WHEN BLINKERS BOTH WENT OUT AND CONTACT WENT ONLINE AND LOOKED UP VIN NUMBER AND SAW TWO RECALLS. CONTACT STATED SHE HAD CALLED LOCAL GM DEALER AND GM STATE VEHICLE HAS NO RECALLS. CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC TO HAVE FUSES REPLACED . 0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN.... CB

Mileage: 165,478

20170222EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE OPERATING THE TURN SIGNAL EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT, THE SIGNAL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

Mileage: 111,000

20170205SERVICE BRAKES

THE LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT I HAVE REPLACED ALL BULBS AND NOTHING THE HEADLIGHTS AUTO DOSENT WORK MOST OF THE TIME THE TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING THRDAY AFTERBI BOUGHT THE CAR.

20170205ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT I HAVE REPLACED ALL BULBS AND NOTHING THE HEADLIGHTS AUTO DOSENT WORK MOST OF THE TIME THE TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING THRDAY AFTERBI BOUGHT THE CAR.

20170205EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT I HAVE REPLACED ALL BULBS AND NOTHING THE HEADLIGHTS AUTO DOSENT WORK MOST OF THE TIME THE TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING THRDAY AFTERBI BOUGHT THE CAR.

20161123FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS RESTARTED AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

Mileage: 79,000

Compare 2002PONTIACGRAND AM to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM have?
The 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM has 549 NHTSA complaints, 33 crashes, 3 fires, 29 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM?
Yes, the 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM?
The most-complained component for the 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 100 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Is the 2002 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.