Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Pontiac Grand Am problems
Owners filed 858 complaints about the 1999 Pontiac Grand Am with NHTSA between Jul 1998 and Jul 2023. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (203).
Complaints
858
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
74
Reported by owners
Fires
13
Reported by owners
Injuries
61
People reported injured
Deaths
16
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes, hydraulic203
- Engine and engine cooling134
- Electrical system133
- Suspension107
- Visibility86
- Air bags77
- Steering71
- Exterior lighting68
- Structure43
- Equipment39
- Power train30
- Fuel system, gasoline30
- Vehicle speed control23
- Seat belts18
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
12
60
127
129
76
105
122
66
36
25
22
15
11
7
6
4
15
8
9
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 12 |
| 1999 | 60 |
| 2000 | 127 |
| 2001 | 129 |
| 2002 | 76 |
| 2003 | 105 |
| 2004 | 122 |
| 2005 | 66 |
| 2006 | 36 |
| 2007 | 25 |
| 2008 | 22 |
| 2009 | 15 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes, hydraulic
203 reports7 crashes
“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?…”
Engine and engine cooling
134 reports4 fires
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL. AFTER THE FAILURE, HE NOTICED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER THE CONTACT WAITED A WHILE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.”
Electrical system
133 reports1 crash9 fires1 related recall
“The gas gauge will show full then without warning quickly drop to “E” and the low fuel indicator will ding and the light will come on then just as quickly as it started it will go back to full or 2/3rds the slow creep back to the full position. (The tank was not full) While driving all the electrical components start going wild, everything goes on and off quickly. The accelerator will rev(while foot is on or off accelerator) and drop over and over (as if there were bad gas in it) then go back to normal. This happens while I’m on the road and is a massive hazard. I’m so afraid this will cause an accident that leads to loss of life.”
Suspension
107 reports4 crashes
“I WAS BACKING UP SLOWLY OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. AS I TURNED ME WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, I HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE. IT SOUNDED LIKE A POP OR A CRACK. IT WAS MIDNIGHT SO I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WHEN I INSPECTED MY VEHICLE. AS I WAS DRIVING HOME I HEARD A LOUD SCRAPING SOUND. AS I WOULD BREAK IT GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. IT WAS SCRAPING AND TEARING. I GOT HOME AND STILL COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. I CHECKED THE NEXT DAY AND I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED. BECAUSE OF THIS CRACKED COIL, THE PROTRUDING PIECE OF METAL FROM THE COIL WAS JAMMED AND RESTING ON THE TIRE WALL. BECAUSE OF HAVING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME, THE COIL HAS TORN AND RIPPED UP MY TIRE WALL AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE WITH A CRACKED COIL ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF MY VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS CRAZINESS AND COMPLETELY UNSAFE! I FEAR FOR MY LIFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AS IT CLEARLY HAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I AM BAFFLED AS TO WHY THERE IS NO POSTED RECALL FOR THIS HAZARDOUS PRODUCT. PONTIAC SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR LETTING THIS GO AND NOT ADMITTING THEIR FAILURE AS A CAR MANUFACTURER. *TR”
Visibility
86 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATORS CONTINUE TO FAIL. HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE MOMENTS BEFORE THE REGULATORS SNAPPED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED HIM TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WARRANTY OR RECALL AVAILABLE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND MANY CONSUMERS THAT WERE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME FAILURE. WITHIN ONE YEAR, FIVE REGULATORS HAVE FAILED. WITHIN THE LAST 30 DAYS, THREE REGULATORS HAVE SNAPPED. TWO OUT OF THE FIVE REGULATORS WERE REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
Air bags
77 reports46 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER THAT WAS PUSHED OVER TO THE CONTACT'S LANE, FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT THAT INVOLVED TWO TRUCKS. THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. NO OTHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, INCLUDING THE DRIVER'S. THERE WAS NO WARNING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR ABRASIONS ON THE UPPER LEFT SHOULDER AND A BIG BUMP ON THE BACK. THE CONTACT WOULD BE GOING TO THE DOCTORS ATA A LATER POINT IN TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 268,500.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.