NHTSA — Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Gasoline Problems

1996 Pontiac Grand Am (Page 1 of 2)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1996 Pontiac Grand Am engine problems

engine problem

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1996 Pontiac Grand Am Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #33

Nov 242002

Grand Am

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Coolant leaking into crankcase, engine needs replaced. Also I have replaced 3 alternators since I owned this vehicle. The first one at 40000 miles. This car by my book is crap.

- Dandridge, TN, USA

problem #32

Mar 042001

Grand Am

  • miles
Driving along and engine quits, car stalls, and won't restart for 15 to 30 minutes. No certain speed, happened at 55mph as well as 15mph. No warning, just quits. Had checked out numerous times, can not find anything wrong. Anti theft light is usually on at this time. Help, costing lots of money and not being fixed. See lots of other complaints the same as mine. Someone must know something.

- Rumford, ME, USA

problem #31

Jul 222002

Grand Am

  • miles
Light that reflexes the failure of alternator will not come on until all 3 diod has failed. This causes engine to quit when two of the 3 diods hav failed.dealer contacted.

- Cinncinnati, OH, USA

problem #30

Jul 112002

Grand Am

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Without warning vehicle will stall out and die. The dealer has been notified. Please provide additional information.

- Rockford, IL, USA

problem #29

May 102002

Grand Am

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Interior lights come on intermittently while driving, there are recalls 88V927000 and 96V257000; but this vehicle is not affected due to VIN. The invoice states that they checked the recall/campaign-they had to install engine wiring harness, replace the ignition switch and the steering column tilt lever.

- Niagara Falls, NY, USA

problem #28

Jun 172002

Grand Am

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
NHTSA# 02 V 07 000/ignition : while vehicle was parked, horn started going off, and then noticed vehicle on fire under the hood. Dealer and manufacturer were notified. An investigator determined the cause of fire was arson.

- Teledo, OH, USA

problem #27

May 232002

Grand Am

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

NHTSA recall 02 V 070 000/manufacturer's recall 02008 concerning ignition switch: After recall repairs were done, the vehicle stalled on three separate occasions and would not restart. The engine check light, oil light, battery light and ABS light would come on intermittently while driving. Dealer notified. Consumer states that before the recall kit was installed the car hasn't been running properly. One incident the consumer was driving on the highway and the vehicle stalled and a semi-truck was following. The consumer was told that it was a bad sensor which still didn't solve the problem. Then on another occasion was told that it wasn't the sensor but a bad fuel pump. The lights are still on 75 percent of the time.

- Beloit, OH, USA

problem #26

Jan 012002

Grand Am

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
There is a leak on the top of the engine. Also, through air vents a burning gas smell is coming inside of vehicle. Please add more information.

- Kenner, LA, USA

problem #25

Mar 262002

(reported on)

Grand Am

  • miles
While driving vehicle stalls intermittenly without warning and looses all steering function, about 20 minutes later the vehicle can be restarted, the dealer has been contacted. Nlm

- Centralia, WA, USA

problem #24

Nov 272001

Grand Am

  • miles
Vehicle lost power then engine quit. Dealer mechanic indicated intake manifold gasket failure to let cooling fluid into crankcase oil. Gasket replaced, engine flushed 5 times ($480) suggested engine overhaul. Two weeks, engine failed with knock due to previous problem. Received letter from dealership warning of possible intake gasket failure resulting in engine replacement. No satisfaction from GM, found 5 identical complaints on NHTSA web site, attorney contacted, we will both investigate. My situation is, "no car, still paying payment." Observation: Gross diregard for obvious engineering flaw, smaks of Firestone without the deaths.

- Layton, UT, USA

problem #23

Apr 262001

Grand Am

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle stalls without warning regardless of weather conditions. All gauges read normally vehicle runs fine then dies. This is a very serious problem in which death could easily result. Has happened on rural roads as well as busy roads and expressways.

- Rolesville, NC, USA

problem #22

Mar 292001

Grand Am

  • miles
While driving at any speed, the engine will stall without a prior warning. Dealer could not duplicate the problem.

- Cold Water, MI, USA

problem #21

Mar 072001

(reported on)

Grand Am

  • miles
Driving and engine quits, no warning lights, just stops, shuts down. Sometimes it restarts right off, other times it takes up to 30 minutes. Have had it in for service many times and plugged into diagnostics. Shows no problems or error codes. Don't know what to do next. Need help.

- Rumford, ME, USA

problem #20

Jan 252001

(reported on)

Grand Am

  • miles
Vehicle hesitates while driving and sometimes jerks badly, the dealer has been unable to correct the problem. Nlm

- Warren, OH, USA

problem #19

May 102000

(reported on)

Grand Am

  • miles
Under warranty, reported the trunk and rear spoiler for water leakage. Every time dealer answer, resealed trunk. At 5th attempt to repair leak owner requested spoiler to be replaced dealer refused to replace, owner frustrated. 2. engine consumes 1 quart of oil every 1500-3000 miles dealer responds with no problems. 2nd attempt dealer performed oil consumption test results: No problem, owner reports still consumes oil at same rate. 3. clutch: Owner reported that it was difficult to shift out of 1st and 3rd gear dealer responded no problem drivetrain. All reported during warranty period. Owner continues to drive vehicle although problem still continues. Dealer serviced vehicle overfilled all fluids owner did not discover problem until after 500 miles of driving owner informed dealer that they would be responsible for damages to vehicle at a later date due to pre mature wear. Current: 30000 later engine continues to consume oil at higher rate app. 1000 miles 1 qt of oil, clutch burned out at 62000 miles currently in shop and gmac will not repair in lue of proir service history.

- Boerne, TX, USA

problem #18

Mar 132000

(reported on)

Grand Am

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Check the engine light came on.

- Windsor, NY, USA

problem #17

Nov 011999

Grand Am

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Engine misfired causing damage to spark tower, spark insulator, all plugs and wires.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #16

Jan 312000

(reported on)

Grand Am

  • miles
I can't believe there are no defects investigations in the database for the 1996 Pontiac Grand Am given the number of complaints submitted concerning this vehicle. What has to happen a death? my vehicle like several others I've read about, stalls at any given time with the most recent being on the interstate where I had to take the median for safety. Otherwise I would have been run over by a rig. This car is unsafe and was reported by the previous owner as such; however, no investigation has taken place. The car just shuts off in the middle of traffic, losing all power (including steering and brakes). All the instrument panel lights come on and the car is dead; that's right dead. Leaving the occupants in the middle of traffic hoping they're not going to smashed by speeding traffic considering no signal will work and neither do brake lights or anything. People's lives are at stake here and complaints are being handled by this department as if they couldn't care less. How could anyone with their right mind not assess this situation as a safety violation. The reports for this same defect are just too numerous and if you can't see it then I need a higher office and this office needs to close shop!

- Denmark, TN, USA

problem #15

Dec 111998

Grand Am

  • miles
Check engine has been reset, but continues to come (3 times) code reads P1870, but no transmission slipping.

- Tarentum, PA, USA

problem #14

Oct 101999

Grand Am

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving uphill car made a loud noise and the front end was shifting to the right. Also, engine had exploded and vehicle was on fire. Vehicle was totaled.

- Henderson, TX, USA

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