Pontiac Grand Am 1992–1998
4th generation · GM N-body
NHTSA data through 12 August 20263,204 complaints, 393 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 63,095 and 135,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 9 complaints (2.3%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 20,478
- 25%
- 63,095
- Median
- 99,000
- 75%
- 135,000
- 90%
- 172,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 22 | 5.6% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 15 | 3.8% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 9 | 2.3% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 16 | 4.1% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 19 | 4.8% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 6 | 1.5% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 22 | 5.6% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 23 | 5.9% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 30 | 7.6% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 37 | 9.4% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 33 | 8.4% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 24 | 6.1% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 31 | 7.9% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 18 | 4.6% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 15 | 3.8% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 16 | 4.1% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 11 | 2.8% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 13 | 3.3% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 20 | 5.1% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 4 | 1.0% |
| 200,000+ | 9 | 2.3% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 3,204 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992–1998 Pontiac Grand Am, and 393 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 63,095 and 135,000 miles. The median is 99,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the electrical system (19.7% of complaints, typically around 104,000 miles), the engine and its cooling system (14.9% of complaints, typically around 96,000 miles), the hydraulic brake circuit (14.1% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles).
What fails, and when
- Electrical system104,000median 104,000 miles, middle half 74,000 to 144,000
- Engine and its cooling system96,000median 95,500 miles, middle half 69,000 to 113,000
- Hydraulic brake circuit80,000median 80,103 miles, middle half 45,000 to 133,000
- Airbag system125,000median 125,149 miles, middle half 96,000 to 150,000
- Visibility equipment75,000median 74,629 miles, middle half 30,000 to 95,000
- Transmission and driveline96,000median 95,550 miles, middle half 45,000 to 124,000
- Steering106,000median 106,500 miles, middle half 82,000 to 159,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 630 | 19.7% | 104,000 | 74,000–144,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 477 | 14.9% | 96,000 | 69,000–113,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 451 | 14.1% | 80,000 | 45,000–133,000 |
| Airbag system | 251 | 7.8% | 125,000 | 96,000–150,000 |
| Visibility equipment | 176 | 5.5% | 75,000 | 30,000–95,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 171 | 5.3% | 96,000 | 45,000–124,000 |
| Steering | 155 | 4.8% | 106,000 | 82,000–159,000 |
| Suspension | 116 | 3.6% | 90,000 | 50,000–143,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 107 | 3.3% | 91,000 | 22,000–129,000 |
| Body structure | 101 | 3.2% | 99,000 | 56,000–120,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 99,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The electrical system accounts for 19.7% of complaints (630 reports, 73 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 104,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 74,000 and 143,723 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 14.9% of complaints (477 reports, 70 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 95,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 69,000 and 113,264 miles.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 14.1% of complaints (451 reports, 19 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,103 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 45,000 and 133,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 7.8% of complaints (251 reports, 70 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 125,149 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 95,500 and 150,000 miles.
Visibility equipment accounts for 5.5% of complaints (176 reports, 26 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 74,629 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 30,000 and 95,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 5.3% of complaints (171 reports, 19 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 95,550 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 45,000 and 124,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 1996 model year drew the most — 672 complaints — while 1998 drew the fewest at 236. The median year sits at 515.
Recalls and what they cover
No recall campaigns covering this generation appear in NHTSA's post-2010 recall file. That is not the same as an absence of problems — recalls address safety defects specifically, and many of the complaints above concern faults that are expensive or annoying without meeting that threshold.
Reported severity
Of the 3,204 complaints filed against this generation, 279 reported a crash; 138 reported a fire; 323 reported an injury; 27 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 8.7% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 63,095 and 135,000 miles, with a median of 99,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the electrical system and the engine and its cooling system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine and its cooling system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 95,500, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Engine - Intake Manifold 1996–1998 (3.1L V6)
3.1L V6 lower intake manifold gasket degradation, allowing coolant into the crankcase and/or external coolant seepage; associated with Dex-Cool long-life coolant and the nylon-carrier/silicone gasket design used across GM 3.1L/3.4L 60-degree V6s. Subject of the GM Dex-Cool class action covering roughly 1995-2003 3.1L/3.4L vehicles.
Engine - Cylinder Head 1996–1998 (2.4L)
2.4L LD9 Twin Cam head gasket failure, often secondary to cooling-system neglect or overheating; also timing chain tensioner wear producing cold-start rattle.
Electrical - Anti-Theft 1996–1998
Passlock/VATS theft-deterrent system faults cause intermittent crank-no-start with the security lamp lit; the fix is typically the ignition lock cylinder housing sensor rather than the engine.
Body - Windows 1996–1998
Power window regulator cable/pulley failure, most often the front doors.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 304 | 7 |
| 1993 | 290 | 15 |
| 1994 | 515 | 37 |
| 1995 | 587 | 49 |
| 1996 | 672 | 104 |
| 1997 | 600 | 124 |
| 1998 | 236 | 57 |
What owners reported
I have a letter from Pontiac date nov, 1995. Which states that 2.3L quad ohc engine have a defect of cracking cylinder that allows coolant to leak from the cylinder heads. The letter also states.. Do not bring your vehicle to the dealer unless this occurs. The stated if this condition occurs within seven years or…
1992 · 79,000 miles · Engine and its cooling system
Coolant leaked from underneath the vehicle while driving about 50 MPH which caused the vehicle to overheat. *Ak the vehicle was taken to the dealer where they determined that the radiator hose had a split in it. The same week the vehicle was purchased the brake line broke. About 2 months later the brake pedal…
1992 · 86,000 miles · Engine and its cooling system
Vehicle was parked and began smoking under the hood. An independent shop stated that switch lamp burned out causing smoke in the steering wheel column. The dealer was notified. *Ak the vehicle didn't start. The vehicle received a jump, then the vehicle started. The headlights were on even though the switch was…
1993 · 108,000 miles · Electrical system
1993 Pontiac Grand Am, 124,ooo miles. The car starts and runs good. When i go 10 to 15 miles and if i come to a stop, the car stalls. It starts with no problem but when i shift a gear, the car stalls. If i wait for the car to cool off, the car will move without stalling. I bought this car for my daughter since she…
1993 · 124,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
Built from 393 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page