Model year record

1992 Pontiac Grand AM recalls & problems

The 1992 Pontiac Grand AM has 3 safety recalls and 168 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (72 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints168filed by owners

Crashes · fires12 · 4reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths12 · 2reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Fuel system, gasolineJul 17, 1992

Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap

Recall 92V10600020 vehicles

Problem: THE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN INCORRECT SUSPENSION UPPER SPRING SEAT AT THE RIGHT-REAR POSITION. IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A REAR IMPACT ACCIDENT, THE RIGHT-HAND REAR WHEEL HOUSE FLANGE COULD SEVER THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE AND SPILL FUEL.
Risk: THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 301,FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY. SPILLED FUEL IN A LOW SPEED ACCIDENT CAN RESULT IN AFIRE.
Fix: INSPECT AND REPLACE INCORRECT UPPER SPRING SEAT WITH THE CORRECT PART.

SuspensionNov 19, 1991

Rear

Recall 91V204000272 vehicles

Problem: THE BOLTS AND NUTS WHICH ATTACH THE BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLY TO THE REAR AXLE FLANGE ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED ON SOME VEHICLES.
Risk: THIS WOULD ALLOW EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE BEARING-HUBASSEMBLY RELATIVE TO THE REAR AXLE FLANGE AND COULD CAUSE ELONGATION ANDEVENTUAL SEPARATION OF THE ATTACHING BOLTS FROM THE REAR AXLE FLANGE. IF THISWERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE AFFECTED TIRE AND WHEEL COULDTRACK ERRATICALLY, EVENTUALLY CAUSING FAILURE OF THE OTHER ATTACHING BOLTS. THETIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN AVEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: TIGHTEN REAR AXLE BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLY FASTENERS, AND REPLACE ALL THE FASTENERS ON A WHEEL IF TWO OR MORE BOLTS ARE FOUND TO BE LOOSE.

SeatsOct 21, 1991

Front assembly › Recliner

Recall 91V1820001,851 vehicles

Problem: THE PASSENGER'S SIDE EASY-ENTRY SEAT ADJUSTER MAY FAIL FULLY LOCK INTO POSITION AFTER THE SEAT BACK HAS BEEN TILTED FORWARD AND THE SEAT SLID FORWARD, THEN RETURNED TO ITS ORIGINAL POSTITION.
Risk: IF THE SEAT ADJUSTER FAILS TO LOCK INTO POSITION, THEPASSENGER SEAT WOULD SLIDE FORWARD IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.OCCUPANTS OF THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD FACE INCREASED RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY.
Fix: REPLACE THE ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY ON THE SEAT.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1992 Pontiac Grand Am 2-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Grand Am

26mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 32 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

Grand Am

23mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Grand Am

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 27 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

Grand Am

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,750/year to fuel

Grand Am

20mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	72	0	2	0	86,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Pads	47	4	0	2	—
Electrical systemIgnition; Horn	35	0	1	0	—
VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system; Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core	23	0	0	0	—
StructureBody › Door; Body	20	0	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission	19	2	0	1	—
SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar; Rack and pinion	15	1	1	1	—
SuspensionFront › Macpherson strut; Front	9	0	0	0	—
EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner; Electrical	9	0	0	0	—
Vehicle speed controlCruise control; Linkages	9	3	0	6	—
SeatsFront assembly › Power adjust; Front assembly › Recliner	9	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly; Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	7	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT OWNS CENTRON CORDOVAN TIRES, DOT NUMBER UTT2, LINE SIZE P205/55/R16. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE EXHIBITING SEPARATION FROM THE SIDE WALL. THE TIRES WERE TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE TIRES WERE NOT SERVICED OR REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 20,000.
Jun 23, 2010
Steering › Rack and pinion
THE STEERING ON MY 1994 GRAND AM IS BROKEN. THE BOLTS THAT MOUNT THE STEERING GEAR TO THE CRADLE HAVE RUSTED AND BOTH ARE SEPARTED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY 89 GRAND PRIX AND I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON MY 92 CORSICA. 8JB
Oct 21, 2006 · 201,000 miles
Vehicle speed control › LinkagesCrash4 injuries
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…
May 3, 2004
Engine and engine cooling
WATER WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE INTO THE VEHICLE. DEALER STATED THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE TO REPAIR VEHICLE. *AK
Aug 31, 2004 · 179,085 miles
Engine and engine cooling › 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 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
Sep 15, 2003 · 86,000 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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
Sep 15, 2003
Seats
I HAVE A 92 PONTIAC GRAND AM AND THE PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I WERE TO BE IN CRASH? PONTIAC SAYS THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS BUT I FOUND SOMETHING ON THE WEB THAT SAYS THERE WAS. IT WAS ON THIS WEB SITE. *NLM
Jan 1, 2000
Vehicle speed controlCrash1 injury
THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. * PH. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *JB
Jan 21, 2003 · 88,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.