Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Pontiac Grand Am, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system122
- Air bags104
- Engine and engine cooling74
- Service brakes, hydraulic59
- Visibility37
- Power train33
- Suspension30
- Structure24
- Exterior lighting20
- Fuel system, gasoline20
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 69 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 10.2–11.8 L/100 km (about 20–23 mpg US), CO₂ 235–271 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Am · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 7.8 | 10.2 |
| Grand Am · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.2 | 8.5 | 10.5 |
| Grand Am · Compact · Regular gasoline | 13.9 | 9.3 | 11.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
6 Transport Canada recalls for the 1996 Pontiac Grand Am.
| 2003162 24 Jun 2003 | Airbag Certain vehicles, after being exposed to substantial amounts of water, may experience deployment of either the driver or passenger front airbag without a crash.… |
| 2002041 6 Mar 2002 | Electrical On certain passenger vehicles if the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows throu… |
| 1998023 10 Feb 1998 | Electrical THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 101 - CONTROL LOCATION AND IDENTIFICATION. THE INTERIOR LAMPS MAY TURN ON BY THEMSELVES, FIVE TO THIRTY MINUTES AF… |
| 1997114 6 Jun 1997 | Emissions NOTE: VEHICLES WITH 2.4 LITRE ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1105 - EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS. VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRE… |
| 1996208 30 Dec 1996 | Lights And Instruments THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 108 - LIGHTING EQUIPMENT. VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (F… |
| 1996206 13 Dec 1996 | Steering THE STEERING COLUMN LOWER PINCH BOLT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION. THIS COULD RESULT IN RATTLE AND LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. IF THE PINC… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE INTERIOR LAMPS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS."
THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (FOUR-WAY FLASHERS) DO NOT FLASH WHEN THE HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
THE STEERING COLUMN LOWER PINCH BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Pontiac told its dealers about the 1996 Pontiac Grand Am: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634708 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 631899 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER OR IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. *SLC |
| 628890 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON LEAKAGE OF A FEW DROPS OF COOLANT AFTER PARKING THEIR VEHICLE. *TT |
| 622945 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY WANT TO TOW THEIR VEHICLE BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH ALL FOUR TIRES ONT HE GROUND. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION REGARDING RECREATIONAL (DINGHY) TOWING FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES INCLUDING THE 1996 THROUGH 2000 TOYOTA CAVALIER. *TT |
| 620810 | SUBJECT REGARDING POLYMER SERVICE PISTONS. *TT |
| 619370 | OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN STANDING IN PARK ON A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE NOT APPLIED. *TT |
| 619360 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON DRIVEABILITY SYMPTONS OF LONG OR HARD STARTS, CHUGGLE, ROUGH IDLE AND LIGHT OR INTERMITTENT MISFIRE DUE TO CLOGGED FUEL INJECTORS. *TT |
| 615073 | SOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED AFTER THE ENGINE'S OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED.TYPICALLY THE ODOR LASTS APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES AFTER THE CHANGE OF OIL AND THEN DOES NOT REAPPEAR UNTIL THE NEXT CHANGE OF OIL. *TT |
| 613590 | INFORMATION REGARDING SNOW INTRUSION INTO REAR DRUM BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. **MR |
| 6089996 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60 OR 4T60-E TRANSXALES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN IN PARK ON INCLINE. *TT |
| 604343 | SOME OWNERS MAY EXPERIENCE A DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOM OF LONG OR HARD STARTS, CHUGGLE, ROUGH IDLE AND LIGHT OR INTERMITTENT MISFIRE. *TT |
| 602983 | CONCERNS OF DOOR HANDLES ON WHITE PAINTED VEHICLES TRUNING YELLOW. *YC |
| 602826 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT A SQUEAK/ SQUAWK TYPE NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *YC |
| 601915 | COMMENTS ON A TICKING TYPE NOISE THAT BEGINS SHORTLY AFTER COLD ENGINE START-UP AND GRADUALLY DIMINISHES AS THE ENGINE WARMS UP. *YC |
| 601114 | SEAT BELT LATCH SLIDES TO SEAT BELT ANCHOR SLEEVE. *YC |
| 600282 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOM OF LONG OR HARD STARTS, CHUGGLE, ROUGH IDLE AND LIGHT OR INTERMITTENT MISFIRE. *YC |
| 600221 | COMMENTS THAT THE REAR BRAKES MAY DRAG/HEAT UP OR REAR OF CAR IS SQUATTING DUE TO AGGRESSIVE REAR BRAKE. *YC |
| 54419 | COMMENT THAT THE ABS LIGHT IS ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) 46 AND 86 SET AS CURRENT OR HISTORY. *YC |
| 54418 | SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTIES TO DEPRESS ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND/OR AN ACCELERATOR CABLE SEPARATION. *YC |
| 54329 | COMPLAINTS THAT THE ABS INDICATOR LAMP IS "ON". *YC |
| 54191 | EXPERIENCING A SQUEAK/SQUAWK NOISE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN. *YC |
| 54066 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOMS DUE TO FUEL INJECTOR DEPOSITS. *YC |
| 54065 | COMMENTS ON INOPERATIVE POWER DOOR LOCKS (FRONT AND/OR REAR DOORS). |
| 54064 | COMMENTS THAT THE SEAT BELT LATCH SLIDES TO THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR SLEEVE. *YC |
| 53011 | EXHIBITING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, AND P0304 INDICATING ENGINE MISFIRE CONDITIONS. *YC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation