NHTSA — Engine Problems

CarComplaints.com Seal Of Avoid Like The Plague

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
115,720 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.

1999 Pontiac Grand Am engine problems

engine problem

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1999 Pontiac Grand Am Owner Comments

problem #13

Apr 222016

Grand Am

  • 120,000 miles

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

The oil pressure switch went out causing me to lose a massive amount of oil.

- Augusta, KS, USA

problem #12

Jun 152015

Grand Am

  • 175,000 miles
The contact owned a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, there was smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle engulfed in flames. The fire department was contacted and was able to extinguish the fire. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.

- Quaker City, OH, USA

problem #11

Sep 172015

Grand Am

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am. The contact stated that the engine was dripping oil onto the exhaust manifold. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was confirmed that the engine was dripping oil onto the exhaust manifold. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the contact was informed that the VIN, year, and model were not included. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

- Anderson, IN, USA

problem #10

Oct 102014

Grand Am

  • 85,000 miles

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

Ignition has shut down numerous times also activating GM passlock system, vehicle has been towed numerous times, raw fuel has disintegrated muffler and catalytic converter, notified GM numerous times about this, stonewalled, given local number to call, they had no knowledge of it, car not safe to drive, parked it, incurred insurance/taxes etc to keep car in driveway, mostly inoperable now waiting on GM to address, they refuse to even acknowledge phone calls/E-mails nor will they try and reach an Accord in regards to a car unsafe to drive. I am disabled and relied on this car to go to doctor offices, being left stranded numerous times and waiting to be towed by aaa was difficult enough yet when I asked about being at least disabled, they wanted to then charge a "diagnosis" fee on top of being treated like dirt. I sent them a "lien" ( I know it holds the weight of air!) to try and work this out...and have heard nothing. The car is now a brick in the driveway. I have the repair bill, totaling $700 dollars and the tax bill and insurance cost for having a vehicle unsafe to drive. I have the bills and no resolution for an issue I did not cause, GM hid this and then did nothing to make it right. Can you help or at least investigate the ignition and passlock problems?

- Portsmouth, VA, USA

problem #9

Apr 122015

Grand Am 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 111,000 miles
The contact owns a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am. While driving at approximately 55 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled without warning. The failure recurred twice. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,000. Updated 6/30/15 updated 07/02/15

- Sunprairies, WI, USA

problem #8

Mar 132015

Grand Am

  • 180,678 miles
Hi I've bought a car from car hop the first time it broke N 3 months after I bought it and car hop had it towed to one of there shops and I was told they put a new engine in it 6 months ago car broke down again they wouldn't get it fix so I stopped make N payment on car for 3 months and they call me and asked me if I'd like to start there fresh start program were I'd have a warranty N I'd just have to keep up with my payment but they will fix the car so they put N another engine 4 months after new engine car broke down again now they are telling me I have no warranty and that I will have to pay 700 dollars on top of my 340 payments to get cardiac is there anything I can do I'm a single mom of two kids and this is stressful I've give in car hop 5,000 N payments and they are not being far.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #7

Feb 112014

Grand Am 4-cyl

  • 171,683 miles

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

I noticed the ignition key could be removed from ignition regardless of position. Since hearing of GM including the 99 Grand Am in its recall I called the local GM dealer. I was told there was noting that could be done until I receive a recall notice from GM. I contacted GM and was told I could get it repaired at my expense and them file paperwork to get reimbursed. I relaise there is probably a huge back-up related to parts. As this is a known problem and my car is effected by the recall, this is unacceptable. I would not expect GM to fix the problem immediately, but I do think it is reasonable to be able to be put on a waiting list. As things stand right now, GM will do nothing to correct the problem. I am a Toyota master technician, ase master technician, and was a Nissan master technician, so I do understand how recalls work ate the dealer level.

- Mitchell, IN, USA

problem #6

Mar 282014

Grand Am

  • 182,000 miles
Well I own a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am SE coupe, and I noticed about two months ago at 50-60 mph (or 2000 rpms), the cars speed and rpms would decrease about 2 mph and the rpms would decrease about 500 rpms, then it would return and it would do this every time I was at that speed, also now when I accelerate to 60 and if I let the car decrease speed the temp gauge would skyrocket and after about 1/8 a mile it wouldn't let me increase speed along with that my electric fans in the car have never engaged, I love this car and I don't want to get rid of it. Also I had the transmission checked and its not that.

- Sebeka, MN, USA

problem #5

Jul 012000

Grand Am

  • miles
In approximately 2000 to 2002, our 1999 Pontiac Grand Am stalled with engine shutdown, loss of braking power, and loss of steering on the NJ garden state parkway at high speed, when my knee hit a few keys and my key ring along with the Pontiac key in the ignition, I.e. shutting off the car. This was a very dangerous situation. Fortunately, with almost no steering, braking, or engine power, I was able to steer the vehicle into the break down lane and stop the car. I am reporting this now because it never dawned on me then that it could be a car defect, and I am concerned that others might be injured or killed by these older GM vehicles if faulty ignition switch is an issue for them, given that GM is recalling millions of vehicles for faulty ignition switches. I believe NHTSA should investigate other models and ages of GM vehicles, including 1999 and later year Pontiac Grand Am, as the danger we experienced from that vehicle seems like it might be the same as what is now being reported. We no longer own the Pontiac. You can see this incident made a big impact on me, because I remember it 12+ years later.

- Red Bank, NJ, USA

problem #4

May 162012

Grand Am 6-cyl

  • 180,000 miles
The contact owns a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am. The contact stated that the turn signal switch failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic, who diagnosed that the hazard switch and the turn signal switch needed to be replaced. On another occasion, the contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated as the vehicle overheated and stalled. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the intake manifold gasket needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000 and the current mileage 205,000.

- Hubbard, OH, USA

problem #3

Sep 102004

Grand Am

  • 49,000 miles

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

Car the worst. I've sunk more $ IN2 it than she cost to buy. $15,000 at lst. Head gasket X2. Intake manifold X2 window parts X2 brakes, pads rotors engine replaced in 2009 by quack mechanic on advice from a friend car 3 mths on lift! cost $1000 a yr 2 pass nys inspection had catalytic converter & gaskets replaced after I begged do it! cat whole prob for 31/2 yrs. Erg valve selonoid changed. Coils springs, strut mount(sensatrac) strut was only after I had tires replaced for upteenth time realizing it was cutting into 1 tire driving out of the shop. Antifreeze still oozes out regardless how many X's work done on cooling system. Thermastat twice fuel injector oxygen sensor antifreeze reservoir, hoses muffler rearview mirror fell off twice timing belt. Headlights several times rear lights. 2 or 3 batteries. This car should run like new- almost everything's been replaced nope! was towed twice last 2 weeks due to coolant loss overheating engine stopping. Informed today after car again overheated & lost power it's probably intake manifold & head gasket, oil is dripping from sides of engine. Computer amuck nowodometer flashes 1/2 numbers instead of true mileage. ABS" light mechanic stated its a waste of your $ to repair.... three head gaskets? another intake manifold" hello! I've maintained this car it is a lemon a rotton lemon at that. GM knows these issues & does nothing. In Michigan consumers won a class action lawsuit because of this. GM shoulda recalled this car period. I wasn't informed or savvy enough to know this cars issues upon purchase. What makes this worse, I now understand my rights were violated as a consumer for years! I'm poor & can't afford another car due to this car continued problems cost. I need a vehicle but am left with bus rides taking almost 3 hrs one way to work or a $35 cab fare one way. As of today my car is trash.

- Baldwin, NY, USA

problem #2

May 062011

Grand Am

  • miles
My husband and I had just made it into the city after a 1 and a half hour drive. After driving around town for about an hour our car, 99 Pontiac Grand Am, shut off. We sat for a bit and tried it and it started right up. But it kept doing it several different times throughout the day. We thought it overheated but the temperature gauge read 200 degrees. He changed both O2 sensors, cam shaft, alternator, water pump, put on a used fuel pump. We were thinking that it might be the fuel pump, but are unsure. The possible problems we have came up with are the fuel pump since it's used, the Cadillac converter because it smells bad at times, like when we go up hill, or as I was reading all the problems people were having with there 99 Pontiac Grand Am vehicles, would be the intake gasket or the ABS light that goes off and comes on when it feels like it. I have spent alot of money trying to figure out what is wrong with this car and I need help.

- Kyle, SD, USA

problem #1

Apr 022012

Grand Am 4WD 6-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
I bought this 99 Pontiac Grand Am SE 3.4 liter engine and overheating all the time now I had it looked at and was told that it is my head gasket I was told that they are notorious for this something about a plastic gasket being the cause for it and that there was a possible suit going on about it so I would like to take action if possible.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

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