1993 Pontiac Grand Am

204 federal complaints (290 component records) · 1 recall campaigns on file · 21 service bulletins · 4 Canadian recalls
See all 22 model years of the Pontiac Grand Am →
Engine
2.3L 4-cyl
Fuel
Premium, Regular
Drive
FWD
EPA economy
19 city / 26 hwy
Federal complaints
204
Recall campaigns
1
Specifications show one example EPA configuration for this model year; other engines, drivetrains, and trims exist and the records below cover all of them.
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.

Fault profile

Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.

Engine & cooling
64
Electrical system
60
Brakes
53
Power train
20
Steering
14
Seats
13
Glass & wipers
11
Body & structure
10
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.

When it fails

The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.

Vehicle age when the failure occurred

0 years old: 8 complaints01 years old: 11 complaints2 years old: 23 complaints3 years old: 23 complaints4 years old: 15 complaints5 years old: 16 complaints56 years old: 17 complaints7 years old: 15 complaints8 years old: 7 complaints9 years old: 7 complaints10 years old: 6 complaints1011 years old: 1 complaints12 years old: 3 complaints13 years old: 1 complaints14 years old: 0 complaints15 years old: 0 complaints1516 years old: 0 complaints17 years old: 0 complaints18 years old: 0 complaints19 years old: 0 complaints20+ years old: 1 complaints20+
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 154 of 204 complaints with a usable failure date.

Known issues

The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.

Engine & cooling

64 complaint records4 fire reports1 crash report
"ENGINE HEAD CRACKED, CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse engine & cooling parts in the directory →

Electrical system

60 complaint records14 fire reports1 crash report
"WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT STALLS, OWNER NOTES THAT HE HAD COMPUTER MODULE REPLACED BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse electrical system parts in the directory →

Brakes

53 complaint records3 crash reports
"EXPERIENCING HARD BRAKE PEDAL AND NO BRAKES WHEN THERE IS SNOW ON THE GROUND. TT CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS VEHICLE. *SLC..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse brakes parts in the directory →

Recall campaigns

Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.

CampaignComponentSummaryRemedy
93V153000Electrical SystemTHE NEUTRAL START SAFETY SWITCH COULD HAVE BEEN FRACTURED DURING INSTALLATION.Normally free

Transport Canada recalls

Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.

RecallSystemUnits (CA)Summary
2000052
2000-03-06
Steering13,717On certain vehicles located in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, extreme levels of moisture and salt can result in corrosion at or near the engine cradle mounts resulting in possible failure of the mounts.
1998179
1998-09-14
Emissions27,450Certain vehicles may not comply with CMVSS 1105 - Evaporative Emissions. Correction: Dealers will replace the evaporative emission canister purge solenoid valve. Also, the oldsmobile cutlass supreme convertible will have the prom replaced.
1993130
1993-09-17
Electrical103THE NEUTRAL START SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WAS FRACTURED AT INSTALLATION. OVER TIME, THIS COULD RESULT IN A NO-START CONDITION.
1993026
1993-03-03
Seats And Restraints361Certain vehicles may not comply with CMVSS 207 - Anchorage of Seats. Front seat back recliner mechanism may not latch properly. Correction: Driver and passenger front seat back recliner machanisms will be replaced.

Service bulletins and warranty extensions

Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.

BulletinTypeComponentSummary
130089009
Sep 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
04152004
Apr 2004
Service BrakesVEHICLES MAY SET ANYONE OR A COMBINATION OF FRONT-WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CODES AS INTERMITTENT OR HARD FAILURES. GM VOICEMAIL EXPRESS. *TT
00966B
Jan 2004
Service BrakesABS FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT
00966
Jan 2004
Service BrakesANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT
990730030A
Apr 2001
Power TrainOWNERS 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
Show 16 more bulletins
BulletinTypeComponentSummary
000524001
Apr 2000
Service BrakesINFORMATION REGARDING SNOW INTRUSION INTO REAR DRUM BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. **MR
990730030
Dec 1999
Power TrainSOME 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
831704
Oct 1998
StructureCONCERNS OF DOOR HANDLES ON WHITE PAINTED VEHICLES TRUNING YELLOW. *YC
971101631041
Nov 1997
StructureCOMMENTS ON INOPERATIVE POWER DOOR LOCKS (FRONT AND/OR REAR DOORS).
9709015015A
Sep 1997
Service BrakesCOMPLAINTS THAT THE ABS INDICATOR LAMP IS "ON". *YC
970801735026
Aug 1997
Service BrakesCOMMENT THAT THE ABS LIGHT IS ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) 46 AND 86 SET AS CURRENT OR HISTORY. *YC
733301
Apr 1997
SuspensionSQUAWK NOISE COMING FROM FRONT SUSPENSION OR ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA (INSTALL ULTRA HIGH MOLECULAR TAPE). *TW
638314
Jan 1997
Electrical SystemCONDENSATION COLLECTS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER HOOD DURING HIGH HUMIDITY (INSTALL NEW INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER HOOD). *TW
9573T4001
Aug 1995
Power TrainGRINDING AND/OR GROWLING NOISE IN PARK ON INCLINE.*SD
951017
May 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingTHE A/C BELT MAY ROLL OFF THE PULLEY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEALER INSTALLED AIR CONDITIONING AND 7.8L FNH ENGINE. *TW
435006A
May 1995
Service BrakesUNKNOWN
535010
May 1995
Service BrakesUNKNOWN
538304
May 1995
Electrical SystemUNKNOWN
431112
May 1995
VisibilityUNKNOWN
476521
Jan 1995
Electrical SystemCHUGGLE OF TCC GROWL ON GRADES WHILE MAINTAINING SPEED WITH TCC ENGAGED. *TW
433211
Nov 1994
SteeringCRUNCH NOISE FROM RIGHT SIDE DASH AREA WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. *TW

Before you buy this vehicle

A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.

  1. Cold-start it yourself and listen for the first thirty seconds.Knocking, ticking that fades as it warms, or blue or white smoke on startup are the sounds of this vehicle's engine cluster. Check the oil level and the coolant color, and ask whether the engine or its head gaskets have ever been out.
  2. Sit in it with the engine off and test everything that has a switch.Windows, locks, lights, the cluster, the radio. Electrical faults are this vehicle's story and the hardest to see on a drive: an intermittent no-start waits for the second week of ownership. Ask for the battery's age and whether any control module has been replaced.
  3. Brake hard once from speed on an empty road.A pull to one side, a pulsing pedal, a pedal that sinks at a stop, or an ABS light that stays lit are the brake complaints on this vehicle presenting themselves.
  4. Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 1 recall campaign on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
  5. Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.

Parts search directory

The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.

Open the parts directory for this Pontiac Grand Am →