Problems · NHTSA complaints

2000 Pontiac Grand Am problems

Owners filed 691 complaints about the 2000 Pontiac Grand Am with NHTSA between Nov 1999 and May 2022. The most-cited component is exterior lighting (159).

Complaints
691
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
43
Reported by owners
Fires
17
Reported by owners
Injuries
40
People reported injured
Deaths
4
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Exterior lighting159
  2. Electrical system130
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic120
  4. Engine and engine cooling116
  5. Visibility44
  6. Steering36
  7. Fuel system, gasoline35
  8. Suspension34
  9. Air bags32
  10. Structure26
  11. Equipment24
  12. Fuel system, other18
  13. Power train17
  14. Tires16

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 Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19991
200029
200162
200269
2003110
2004156
200562
200626
200733
200827
200916
201015
201117
20127
20133
201423
201518
20167
20172
20182
20193
20201
20210
20222

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Exterior lighting

159 reports1 crash3 related recalls
“4 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT MY GRAND AM 2000 I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY I DIDNT KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT, ANY WAY RECENTLY I HAD TO REPLACE THE SWITCH IGNITION BECAUSE THE KEY GOT STUCK AND COULDNT GET OIT OUT. THEN JUST LAST WEEK THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND IT WAS THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH I PAID $380.00 OUT OF NY POCKET AND I WANT A REFUND BECAUSE THERE IS A RECALL 140350 FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 18, 2020Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11359810

Electrical system

130 reports7 crashes7 fires1 related recall
“Electrical wiring mess with air for air or heating up I was trying to make it work while driving and then all of suddenly dashboard light went out, car slowed down and stopped. Turned the car off then turned back on dashboard light wouldn't work, windshield wipers stop working. Got stuck middle of nowhere after I pulled over to check with the car won't turn back on till fuse change and engine start working again after put in mismatch fuse box supposed to match but it different fuse for fuse box”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2022Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11463011

Service brakes, hydraulic

120 reports8 crashes2 fires
“THE COMPONENTS OF THE BRAKES WERE TORE UP AGAIN FOR A SECOND TIME IN 6 YEARS. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT TORE UP EVERYTHING. THE ROTORS CALIPER AND BRAKE PADS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 11, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10405985

Engine and engine cooling

116 reports1 crash8 fires
“LETTER FROM SENATOR BROWN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE VEHICLE RECALL. *SMD ON JANUARY 8, 2013, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A POST CARD IN THE MAIL, IN JUNE 2014 REGARDING A RECALL CONCERNING A POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10610412

Visibility

44 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTOR MOUNT HAD FRACTURED AND FELL INTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD FAILURES WITH THE RACK AND PINION AND WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SCREWS WERE LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,932 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ UPDATED 11/29/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOTOR MOUNT FAILED WHICH LED INTAKE GASKET NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE WINDOWS WOULD STICK ON OCCASIONS AND A TIMES WOULD FALL DOWN INSIDE THE DOOR. THE OIL FROM THE ENGINE BECAME MIXED WITH THE ANTI-FREEZE. UPDATED 11/30/10”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 20, 2010Steering, Engine and engine cooling, VisibilityODI 10326685

Steering

36 reports3 crashes
“THIS QUESTION SHOULD BE "TELL US WHAT HAPPENS". MY DIRECTIONAL LEVERS AND LIGHTING TO SIGNAL RIGHT OR LEFT DOES NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME. THE LIGHT GOES ON BUT IT DOESN'T BLINK AT ALL. I WOULD SAY THIS IS A PROBLEM 97% OF THE TIME. THIS MAY ALSO HAPPEN WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS. I UNDERSTAND UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER THAT SHE WAS A RECALL IN 2003, BUT MY CAR WAS NEVER RECALLED UNDER MY VIN NUMBER. THIS HAPPENS EITHER WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR WHEN IT IS STILL. IT HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS, AND HIGHWAYS AND EVEN IN MY DRIVEWAY. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE FLASHERS CLEANED AND THE FLASHER RELAY REPLACED BY MY MECHANIC.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 16, 2016Steering, Exterior lightingODI 10865140
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

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