Problems · by component

1999 Pontiac Grand Am structure problems

43 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Pontiac Grand Am cite structure, 5% of all 858 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
43
5% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the structure

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Our braking system on this car failed us, and is probably crushed by now at no fault of my own. My safety was at–risk when the brakes lost pressure and if it wasn’t for our seatbelts, I could’ve been thrown through the windshield. I hereby declare that [XXX] deliberately caused our accident and lied about being blinded. [XXX] lost her son—[XXX]—and was jealous of my opportunity to do what he couldn’t. Her other son—[XXX]—choose not to attend college and contraband drugs among other things. [XXX] and his mother [XXX] were also jealous of me for having an opportunity that [XXX] chose not to take. They blame me for Chastity [XXX] & [XXX] turning their parental rights over to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. How their oldest daughter being raped by her paternal grandmother’s husband has to do me is absurd and childish in my opinion. Murray Police Department was called on October 23, 2014 at 7:23 am in reference to 2 vehicle collisions to inspected and verified by law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. [XXX] and his sister [XXX] their colleagues at Seacrest Rehabilitation—Healthcare Center and [XXX] or [XXX] Consolidated Schools with the latter allegations. Ma and I…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2023Structure, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceCrash reportedODI 11533840
“WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS INCIDENTS. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER SINCE 2000 AND CONTINUE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE DASH IS DEFECTED HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE IT LIFTS UP AND CAN'T SEE THE ROAD VERY WELL. IN PUERTO RICO THE DEALER ROYAL MOTORS DOES NOT SELL PONTIAC ANY MORE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2014Exterior lighting, Structure, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10633454
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2013Suspension, Structure, WheelsODI 10550850
“HAD ALL WINDOW MECHANISMS REPLACED AFTER ENDURING A WONDERFUL GARBAGE BAG COVER TREATMENT FOR WINDOW BEAUTY ENHANCEMENT LAST WINTER 2007-08. FOUND MY IGNITION REFUSES TO START W/ 1 KEY. I STARTED NOTICING THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC OF 22 YEARS. THOUGHT IT WAS A CRACK IN THE ACTUAL CONTAINER WHICH HOUSES ANTIFREEZE. THIS WAS REPLACED. NOPE. STILL LEAKING. CAR NEVER INDICATED ON PANEL THAT IT WAS ABOVE TEMP & OVERHEATED, STAYED WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE. THE CAR NEVER ONCE OVERHEATED. MECHANIC COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. SAID IT WAS A FAULTY COMPUTER... INDICATES, TIRES NEED CHECKING, FLASHING LIGHTS, ABS OFF/ON...WHICH BY THE WAY WAS CAUSING ME TO NOT HAVE MY CAR PASS INSPECTION TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY!! FOUND I WAS ALL OF A SUDDEN REPLACING ANTIFREEZE BY THE GALLONS. WAS STILL PAYING OFF MECHANIC FROM PREVIOUS ISSUES. DON'T ASK, WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE ANTIFREEZE PROBLEM! BROUGHT CAR IN TO HAVE RADIATOR CHECKED BY FRIENDS MECHANIC, FLUID WAS LITERALLY POURING OUT OF BOTTOM OF CAR. $1600. LATER!! HEAD GASKET SET,WATERPUMP,SERPENTINE BELT, RADIATOR HOSES, THERMOSTAT & GASKETS, CROSSOVERPIPES, AIRFILTER...NOW? 1 1/2 MONTHS LATER? WELL…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 28, 2009Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Visibility, Structure, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10256670
“WITHOUT WARNING OR PHYSICAL IMPACT/IMPAIRMENT RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED WITH A LOUD BANG, AND THE JAGGED END PIERCED MY TIRE SIDEWALL, DESTROYING TIRE. THIS OCCURRED AT APPROX 25 MPH, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT, HAD TO BE TOWED, NEW COIL INSTALLED, NEW TIRE PURCHASED, LABOR DAY PLANS RUINED. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, CAR WAS PARKED FOR 12 HRS IN 70 DEGREE WEATHER, ANOTHER HUGE BANG, DRIVERS SIDE FRONT COIL FRACTURED, C-SHAPED PIECE UNDER THE VEHICLE, AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, COIL REPLACED, MISSED A DAY OF WORK AS THIS HAPPENED IN CONNECTICUT, AND I WORK IN MASSACHUSETTS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 13, 2009Suspension, Structure, TiresODI 10254924
“THE 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM - POSSIBLY THE WORST CAR EVER MADE. AT 30,000 MILES, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. AT 40,000 MILES, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. RECALLS REPLACED THE STEERING WHEEL & CENTER CONSOLE, AND OTHER RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE. AT 50,000 MILES THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN. SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN, MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS CAUSED A $2,500 COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. UNDER 90,000 MILES, THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS NEEDED REWIRING. NOW, UNDER 92,000 MILES A NEW PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL: THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, THE TRUNK POPS OPEN ON ITS OWN, THE AIRBAG COMES ON AND OFF, THE CAR ONLY STARTS RANDOMLY, AND WORST OF ALL IT SHUTS OFF ALL ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, SO YET AGAIN WE ARE FORCED TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS RUN TO FIGURE OUT WHAT NEW AND COSTLY REPAIRS WILL NEED TO BE MADE. PONTIAC/GM SHOULD ADMIT THEY MADE A MISTAKE WITH THE GRAND AM/OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND PAY ALL THE CURRENT OWNERS SOME $$ AND TAKE ALL THE CARS TO A JUNK YARD. THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA COMPLETELY RECALLED THESE CARS FOR THE CITIZENS OF CANADA, YET IN THE U.S. IT'S THE UNFORTUNATE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WHO…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2007Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, StructureODI 10199037

Showing 6 of 43 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Structure: body

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE OCCUPANT PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." THE CONSOLE COVER ON THESE VEHICLES DOES NOT STAY CLOSED WHEN A SPECIFIED VERTICAL LOAD IS APPLIED.

StructureReported May 18, 2000NHTSA 00V140000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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