Your vehicle report
1994 Pontiac Grand AM
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 377
- Received Jan 1995 to Aug 2013
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Airbags fail to deploy in crashes37 complaints · 9.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Head gasket leaks coolant into engine27 complaints · 7.2% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Vehicle catches fire from wiring26 complaints · 6.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #00V287000Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the engine starter fails to engage and the driver hold the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, producing heat that can melt switch parts.
- Recall #94V122000These vehicles were constructed with welds in the rear compartment pan assembly that are not sufficient to comply with the requirements pertaining to fuel tank leakage in the event of a rear impact collision. The fuel tank assemblies do not comply with FMVSS no. 301, "fuel system integrity."
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 59 crashes, 29 fires, 51 people injured, 5 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
- Head gasket leaks coolant into engine
- Engine suddenly shuts off while driving
- Vehicle rolls backward out of park
1 more problem
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
- Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed
- Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly
- Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed
1 more problem
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 41 |
| 1996 | 24 |
| 1997 | 27 |
| 1998 | 43 |
| 1999 | 51 |
| 2000 | 51 |
| 2001 | 75 |
| 2002 | 25 |
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 377 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 37 | 9.8% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 27 | 7.2% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 26 | 6.9% | – | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 26 | 6.9% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 18 | 4.8% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 17 | 4.5% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 13 | 3.5% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 13 | 3.5% | – | |
| Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly | 9 | 2.4% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 9 | 2.4% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 8 | 2.1% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 8 | 2.1% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 7 | 1.9% | – | |
| Hood latch fails and hood flies open | 6 | 1.6% | – | |
| Brakes make grinding or squealing noise | 6 | 1.6% | – | |
| Vehicle rolls backward out of park | 6 | 1.6% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 5 | 1.3% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 5 | 1.3% | – | |
| Axle breaks while driving, wheel detaches | 5 | 1.3% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 5 | 1.3% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #00V287000October 2, 2000699,617 vehicles affected
electrical system: starter assembly
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the engine starter fails to engage and the driver hold the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, producing heat that Can melt switch parts.
A fire could occur in the steering column and spread to the interior of the car.
Remedy
Dealers will install a relay kit and verify that the vehicle will start with a properly charged battery in good operating condition (adequate reserve capacity, or cold cranking amps). This campaign does not cover battery replacement or unrelated starting system or electrical system repairs.
NHTSA recall #94V122000July 1, 19941,681 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly
These vehicles were constructed with welds in the rear compartment pan assembly that are not sufficient to comply with the requirements pertaining to fuel tank leakage in the event of a rear impact collision. The fuel tank assemblies do not comply with FMVSS no. 301, "fuel system integrity."
This Can result in an increased risk of a vehicle fire in the event of a rear impact collision.
Remedy
Dealer will install rivets adjacent to the locations where the suspect welds are located.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1994 Pontiac Grand AM.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN