1992 Pontiac Grand AM

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE AND THEN SPARKS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND POPPED THE HOOD AND FLAMES WERE COVERING THE ENGINE. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

• 12/30/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HAD CAR LESS THAN YEAR,ENGINE REPLACED TWICE.WATER IN OIL BLOWN HEAD GASKET.PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

• 12/30/1998· POWER TRAIN

  WHEN PURCHASED VEHICLE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT RIGHT. AT STOP SIGN IT WOULD DIE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT DISENGAGING. SPECIALIST AT NAPPA AUTO STATED A SOLENOID IN TRANSMISSION FAILED. NEEDED A MODIFICATION KIT TO REMEDY. DEALER CONTACTED AND HAS NOT RETURNED CALL TO REMEDY PROBLEM. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 12/23/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL PUMP IGNITED, BURNING MOTOR.

• 12/21/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKET FAILED; COOLANT MIXED WITH OIL IN CYLINDER #1; DEALERSHIP REMARKED THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN 1992 AND GASKETS WERE REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY. SINCE THAT TIME CRACKED HEADS ONLY ARE REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER (WHERE WARRANTY NO LONGER APPLIES). KNOWN GASKET PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED; HAD I DRIVEN VEHICLE LONGER I COULD HAVE CRACKED HEAD; MY QUICK TURNAROUND TO FIX COST $893. HAD THE HEAD CRACKED IT WOULD BE PAID IN FULL BY PONTIAC. I FEEL THE HEAD GASKET IS A COMPONENT OF THE HEADS AND SHOULD ALSO BE COVERED.

• 12/19/1995· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THERE IS A CRACK IN HEAD GASKET, LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. TT

• 12/16/1997· SEAT BELTSCrash

  VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE SEAT BELT BROKE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE THROWN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/11/1995· WHEELSCrash

  THE WHEEL CAME OFF THE AXLE WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. TT

• 12/10/1998· POWER TRAIN

  THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION MALFUCTIONED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. HAD 4 REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS FROM PONTIAC PUT IN, BUT ALL BROKE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

• 12/09/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CRACKED HEAD, CRACKED BLOCK. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE QUAD FOUR ENGINE

• 12/08/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CAR NEEDS NEW ENGINE, WATER IN OIL. *AK

• 12/07/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

• 12/05/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.

• 12/04/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  VEHICLE HAS REPEATED ABS BRAKE FAILURE W/ROTORS REPLACED AND ROUND, AND (9) SETS OF PADS. VEHICLE AGAIN NEEDS BRAKES SERVICED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

• 12/03/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE HEAD/HEAD GASKET DEFECTIVE CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO OIL. CALLED GM THE TOLD ME THEY HAVE A "SPECIAL POLICY" # 57-61-26 TO COVER THE SINGLE CAM QUAD 4 ENGINES BECAUSE OF DEFECT. HOWEVER MY QUAD 4 ENGINE HAS A DUAL CAM THEREFORE THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE POLICY FOR FREE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURE IS THE SAME AS THE SINGLE CAM ENGINES.

• 12/01/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED AT REAR OF PART. COOLANT LEAKED ON TO HOT BLOCK AND CRUSTED OVER, WHICH MADE ME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I HAD IT REPARED AT MY OWN EXPENSE IN EARLY 1999 AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED AS I AM SUBSEQUENTLY AWARE OF A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS.

• 12/01/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE COOLANT IS MIXING WITH THE OIL. FOR THREE YERARS THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING. IN 1996 CONSUMER'S HEAT WAS NOT HEATING AND THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE OIL. HE FOUND COOLANT MIXED IN THE OIL. MECHANIC CHANGED THE OIL. 6 MONTHS LATER THE COOLANT WAS MIXED IN THE OIL AGAIN. *AK

• 11/27/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKET FAILURE WITH JUST 68,300 MILES CAUSING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE. ESTIMATE TO REPAIR IS $1700.00. I SEE FROM THE INTERNET THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK

• 11/25/1997· SUSPENSION

  STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN GOING OVER SMALL/LARGEBUMPS IN THE ROAD. *AK

• 11/24/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CYLINDER HEAD IS CRACKED, CAUSING THE COOLANT LOSS AND ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. YH

• 11/22/1995· VISIBILITY

  HEATER CORE CONTINUES TO FAIL EVEN AFTER REPAIRED (3) TIMES. MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

• 11/19/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE HEAD CRACKED AT 82,000 AND WAS REPLACED, CRACKED AGAIN AT 102,000...

• 11/18/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  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 WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE INCORRECT BRAKE PARTS WERE INSTALLED AND THAT THE RADIATOR CLAMPS WERE LOOSE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INVOICES FROM THE DEALER BUT THEY REFUSED. *NLM

• 11/18/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE IS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. IN A PANIC STOP THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND THE VEHICLE SHEMIMIES. THE FRONT ROTORS , BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON VEHICLE . THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

• 11/17/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SLOWED DOWN, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *NLM THIS WAS DUE TO THE BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT IN WHICH THE WRONG PART WAS INSTALLED. *SCC *JB

• 11/17/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I HAVE HAD 2 TIMES WHERE I HAVE HAD WATER IN MY OIL. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS IN 12/97. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ME $1,800.00 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET AND BOLTS IN MY VEHICLE. I REPLACED THE ENTIRE MOTOR BECAUSE IT WAS CHEAPER TO DO IT THIS WAY. IT IS NOW 11/98, AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET AGAIN. I CANNOT GO BACK ON THE PERSON WHO REPAIRED MY CAR, BECAUSE I TOOK HIM TO COURT TO REPAIR IT RIGHT, AND ENDED UP TAKING IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THIS AGAIN. IT IS A COSTLY AND TIME CONSUMING JOB, AND I OBJECT. I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE TO DO THIS WITH A GRAND AM QUAD 4 ENGINE. THEY ARE JUNK AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED AND I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER GM PRODUCT.

• 11/16/1998· POWER TRAIN

  COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. HAD WHOLE TRANSMISSION REBUILT

• 11/16/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHEN THE WEATHER IS REALLY COLD THE RUBBER ENCLOSURE AROUND THE HORN CONTRACTS, CAUSING THE HORN TO SOUND UNITL IT SHORTS A CIRCUIT OR THE HORN BURNS OUT. DEALER IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

• 11/15/1999· STEERING

  A PIN WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL MECHANISM DISENGAGED OR POPPED OUT OF THE POSITION, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO TILT AND REMAIN TILTED WILL DRIVING WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 11/11/2005· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  CAUSE OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION: I HAD A PONTIAC GRAND AM 1992 AND THE VEHICLE DID ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. THE CAUSE IS A LITTLE PIECE OF RUBBER THAT SLIDES OFF THE PRESSURE VALVE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAINTAIN AN AVERAGE OF 30M/PH, REGARDLESS OF WHICH GEAR THE CAR IS IN. THE MAIN REASON THE PLASTIC SLIDES OFF IS IF THE CAR HAS BEEN FLOORED. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU DRIVE TOO FAST AND PRESS THE GAS TOO HARD, THEN THE RUBBER WILL SLOWLY SLIP OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF PRESSURE AND AUTOMATIC ACCELERATION. MUST GET PROBLEM FIXED OR GET RID OF CAR. I HAVE STARTED A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST GM FOR SAFETY VIOLATION AND THE DENIAL OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND DEATH. VEHICLE ACCELERATED CAUSING DEATH TO PEDESTRIAN. *JB

• 11/06/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ABS TAKES OVER HYDRAULIC BRAKES SYSTEM AT WRONG TIME. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL AN EXTRA 5-10FT BEFORE STOPPING. DEALER CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM. MECHANIC TEST DROVE VEHICLE & VERIFIED PROBLEM EXISTS. *AK

• 11/04/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, AT SLOW SPEED, ACCELERATING FROM STOP, WILL START AFTER A 15 MINUTE DELAY, HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO DEALER 5 TIMES AND ALL REPAIRS HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM.

• 11/04/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE QUAD 4 ENGINE IN THIS CAR IS DEFECTIVE. THE BLOCK CRACKED AND COOLANT LEAKED OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT I HAVE TALKED TO. PONTIAC SHOULD REIMBURSE THE OWNERS OF THE CARS THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

• 11/03/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHEN WET OUTSIDE. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 10/25/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS CRACKED, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK. CAUSE OF DEFECT IS UNKNOWN. MANUFACUTER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

• 10/25/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD IS CRACKED, AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RUN.THE ANT-IFREEZE AND OTHER FLUIDS HAVE LEAKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE CRACK IN THE ENGINE. *AK

• 10/24/2000· POWER TRAIN

  THIS SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER HAS BEEN REPLACED THE TOTAL OF FOUR (4) TIMES AND IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT GRABS THE DRIVERS ATTENTION AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

• 10/24/2000· POWER TRAIN

  I HAVE REBUILTED MY TRANSMISSION FOR THE SECOND (2) TIME (EACH TIME COSTING OVER $1200.00). SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG HOW THEY ENGINEERED THE TRANSMISSION. I ALWAYS CHANGE MY TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERY 20,000-30,000. I DO NOT DRAG RACE WITH MY VEHICLE OR MISTREAT MY VEHICLE. *AK

• 10/22/1999· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  ORIGINAL PAINT IS PEELING OFF IN LARGE SECTIONS.

• 10/18/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER REPLACED LEAKING HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER FACTORY RECALL #T2140, HOWEVER FAILED AFTER REPAIR CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPONENTS DUE TO LEAKAGE. *YC

• 10/16/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ALTERNATOR FAILED.

• 10/15/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED/ ANY TIME AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

• 10/05/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  COOLANT LEAKAGE

• 10/04/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS/HESITATES/STUMBLES. *AK

• 10/03/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *DSH

• 09/30/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

  REAR CALIPERS MANUFATURED POORLY DAMAGING ROTORS, PADS AND RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE FRONT BRAKE WEAR AND UNEVEN WEAR ON TIRES.

• 09/29/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  WHEN I PUT ON BRAKES THE IS A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AREA LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE. IT SOUNDS ALMOST CONSTANTLY WHEN I APPLY MY BRAKES. THE CAR WOULD NOT START ON COLD DATES. AFTER START AND RUNNING FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IT STOPS. I WOULD START BACK UP LATER. THE COOLANT LEAKED OUT CONTINUOUSLY. I HAD A HOSE REPLACED BUT IT DID NOT HELP. I HAD IT PUT ON THE COMPUTER ANALYSIS BUT NOTHING SHOWED UP. THE HORN BLOWS CONTINUOUSLY WHEN IT IS VERY COLD. I HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE TO STOP IT. THE GAS FILLER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AUTOMATICALLY WHEN IT IS COLD. I HAD TO PRY IT OPEN WITH A SCREWDRIVER. THE CAR PUD PUD ALONG AS IF IT WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS. THE ODOMETER SEEMS TO BE INACCURATE RECORDING THE MILEAGE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ANYWHERE BUT IN THE CITY AND SURROUNDING AREAS. MANY TIMES I HAD TO STOP THE CAR AND START IT AGAIN FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT TO GO OUT. ALTHOUGH I LIKE THE BODY OF THE CAR IT HAS BEEN A DISASTER FOR ME. NOW IT DOES NOT RUN AT ALL. I SEEM TO HAVE A LEMON CAR AND IT WAS LIKE THAT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IT SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW FOR ANYONE TO SELL A CAR LIKE THIS . THIS CAR DEALER NEEDS TO BE PUT IN JAIL. I HAVE RIDDEN MY GRANDCHILDREN AROUND IN THIS UNSAFE CAR AND I AM VERY UPSET AT THIS CAR'S CONDITION AS IT DOESNT RUN AT ALL NOW. I HAVE JUST WASTED A LOT OF MONEY BUYING IT AND TRYING TO KEEP IN REPAIRED AND RUN. IF THIS CAR DEALER DID NOT KNOW THE CONDITION OF THIS CAR HE SHOULD LOOSE HIS LICENSE TO SELL CAR. HE HAS ROBBED ME OF MY HARD EARNED MONEY.

• 09/29/1998· EQUIPMENT

  AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT WORK. NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN IT'S TURNED ON. NO HEAT OR COLD AIR. MOVED & HAD DEALER IN OTHER STATE CHECK PROBLEM. SERVICE BULLETIN FOUND. WAS TOLD BEYOND MILEAGE & NOT REPAIRING. COMPLAINT STARTED IN '93 WHEN MILEAGE WAS 30. *AK

• 09/28/1999· POWER TRAINCrash

  WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 35 MPH AXLE CAME APART, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, HITTING OTHER CARS AND CRASHING INTO A TRUCK. *AK

• 09/28/1999· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  MY MAIN CONCERN IS WITH THE PAINT JOB ON THIS VEHICLE, AND IF I HAVE ANY RECALL TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED BY GM. THANKS FOR ANY & ALL ASSISTANCE WITH THIS SITUATION.