Problems · by component

1999 Pontiac Grand Am electrical system problems

133 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Pontiac Grand Am cite electrical system, 16% of all 858 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
133
16% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
9
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 3, 2023Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11525143
“I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A FRIEND ABOUT 2WEEKS AGO AND HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION BUT HE TOOK IT UP THERE. BUT HE JUST DONE THIS ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR , SO NOW THE KEY WON'T EVEN TURN THE IGNITION TO START. WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME?THE CAR WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I WENT OUT TO LEAVE AND NOTICE THAT I COULD NOT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 17, 2016Electrical systemODI 10850293
“IGNITION HAS SHUT DOWN NUMEROUS TIMES ALSO ACTIVATING GM PASSLOCK SYSTEM, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED NUMEROUS TIMES, RAW FUEL HAS DISINTEGRATED MUFFLER AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER, NOTIFIED GM NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT THIS, STONEWALLED, GIVEN LOCAL NUMBER TO CALL, THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF IT, CAR NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, PARKED IT, INCURRED INSURANCE/TAXES ETC TO KEEP CAR IN DRIVEWAY, MOSTLY INOPERABLE NOW WAITING ON GM TO ADDRESS, THEY REFUSE TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE PHONE CALLS/E-MAILS NOR WILL THEY TRY AND REACH AN ACCORD IN REGARDS TO A CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I AM DISABLED AND RELIED ON THIS CAR TO GO TO DOCTOR OFFICES, BEING LEFT STRANDED NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAITING TO BE TOWED BY AAA WAS DIFFICULT ENOUGH YET WHEN I ASKED ABOUT BEING AT LEAST DISABLED, THEY WANTED TO THEN CHARGE A "DIAGNOSIS" FEE ON TOP OF BEING TREATED LIKE DIRT. I SENT THEM A "LIEN" ( I KNOW IT HOLDS THE WEIGHT OF AIR!) TO TRY AND WORK THIS OUT...AND HAVE HEARD NOTHING. THE CAR IS NOW A BRICK IN THE DRIVEWAY. I HAVE THE REPAIR BILL, TOTALING 700.00 DOLLARS AND THE TAX BILL AND INSURANCE COST FOR HAVING A VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE THE BILLS AND NO RESOLUTION FOR AN ISSUE I DID NOT CAUSE, GM HID THIS AND THEN…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 19, 2015Electrical system, Unknown or other, EngineODI 10783479
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. UPDATED 6/30/15*CN UPDATED 07/02/15*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 13, 2015Electrical system, EngineODI 10705441
“1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED ON AUGUST 3, 2005. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 9, 2015Electrical systemODI 10672096
“1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE SERVICE PERFORMED ON VEHICLE. *TA THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER ALSO ATTACHED THE IGNITION RECALL TO HER COMPLAINT. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 27, 2015Electrical systemODI 10662782

Showing 6 of 133 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system: ignition

Free remedy

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Electrical systemReported Jul 3, 2014NHTSA 14V400000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.