Problems · by component

1999 Pontiac Grand Am steering problems

71 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Pontiac Grand Am cite steering, 8% of all 858 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
71
8% of all complaints
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the steering

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“CLOCK SPRING HAS A DISK THAT IS NOT A UNIFORM DESGINE DUE TO IT SPLITTING AND BOWING OUT. STEERING WHEEL STICKS WHEN TURNED EITHER DIRECTION AND HORN IS SET OFF AS WELL. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALSO ON AND WOULD ASSUME THAT IT WOULD NOT INFLATE IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL COLLISION. PONTIAC FEELS THAT THE DISK THAT SHOULD BE ONE SOLID PIECE THAT I BELIEVE IS TWO PIECES, IM RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE CRAFTSMANSHIP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 20, 2016SteeringODI 10865918
“IGNITION FROZEN, UNABLE TO MOVE VEHICLE WITHOUT TOW. NO SHIFT REALEASE, AND UNSAFE IN THE EVENT OF ENGINE STALL ON OPEN ROADWAYS. VEHICLE IS DEAD ONCE YOU SHIFT INTO PARK TO RESTART.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 12, 2016Steering, Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 10864610
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT CRASHED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME LODGED IN BETWEEN TWO TREES, IN THE FRONT YARD OF A NEIGHBORING HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 7, 2014SteeringCrash reportedODI 10653257
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED MORE THAN THREE TIMES DUE TO THE VEHICLE STALLING AND THE KEY FAILING TO TURN OVER INTO THE ON POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS LATER NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V140000 (STRUCTURE) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 6, 2014Steering, Electrical systemODI 10653013
“IN APPROXIMATELY 2000 TO 2002, OUR 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM STALLED WITH ENGINE SHUTDOWN, LOSS OF BRAKING POWER, AND LOSS OF STEERING ON THE NJ GARDEN STATE PARKWAY AT HIGH SPEED, WHEN MY KNEE HIT A FEW KEYS AND MY KEY RING ALONG WITH THE PONTIAC KEY IN THE IGNITION, I.E. SHUTTING OFF THE CAR. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. FORTUNATELY, WITH ALMOST NO STEERING, BRAKING, OR ENGINE POWER, I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE INTO THE BREAK DOWN LANE AND STOP THE CAR. I AM REPORTING THIS NOW BECAUSE IT NEVER DAWNED ON ME THEN THAT IT COULD BE A CAR DEFECT, AND I AM CONCERNED THAT OTHERS MIGHT BE INJURED OR KILLED BY THESE OLDER GM VEHICLES IF FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH IS AN ISSUE FOR THEM, GIVEN THAT GM IS RECALLING MILLIONS OF VEHICLES FOR FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES. I BELIEVE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE OTHER MODELS AND AGES OF GM VEHICLES, INCLUDING 1999 AND LATER YEAR PONTIAC GRAND AMS, AS THE DANGER WE EXPERIENCED FROM THAT VEHICLE SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT BE THE SAME AS WHAT IS NOW BEING REPORTED. WE NO LONGER OWN THE PONTIAC. YOU CAN SEE THIS INCIDENT MADE A BIG IMPACT ON ME, BECAUSE I REMEMBER IT 12+ YEARS LATER. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 23, 2014Steering, Service brakes, EngineODI 10584356
“NO ACCIDENT YET BUT WORRIED. I SAW YOUR RECALL NOTICE FOR "STEERING: WHEEL & COLUMN" FOR 1999 GRAND AM. RECALL NOTICE 98V320000 AND CALLED THE 800# FOR PONTIAC THAT YOU HAVE LISTED. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP SAID SHE COULD NOT FIND THAT RECALL NOTICE OR ANY INFO. FOR THIS PROBLEM. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY SON AND IT DOES HAVE A NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN ALMOST LIKE IT WANTS TO STICK. CAN I TAKE THIS CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP & HAVE IT CHECKED FOR FREE? *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 18, 2010SteeringODI 10311686

Showing 6 of 71 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

Steering: steering wheel

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL CAN COME LOOSE FROM THE STEERING SHAFT BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL RETAINING NUT COULD HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED.

SteeringReported Dec 15, 1998NHTSA 98V320000
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.