Problems · by component

2001 Pontiac Grand Am exterior lighting problems

100 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Pontiac Grand Am cite exterior lighting, 18% of all 548 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
100
18% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE COURSE OF THREE MONTHS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE HAZARD LIGHTS TO TEMPORARILY CORRECT THE FAILURE. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED WITH SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER: 8-470-818-4180. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 220,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 10, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11139399
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE LEFT TURNING LANE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK. THE TURN SIGNALS SEEMED TO OPERATE AFTER THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WAS MANEUVERED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT CALLED ETTLESON BUICK GMC AT (708) 215-7213 (LOCATED AT 6201 S LA GRANGE ROAD, HODGKINS, IL 60525), BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TT *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 13, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11119732
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNALS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 6, 2017Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10970996
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE TURN SIGNALS, BUT THEY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND REFUSED TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V327000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2017Exterior lightingODI 10970717
“WE ARE HAVING ISSUES WHEN WE USE OUR TURN SIGNALS. MOST OF THE TIME OUR SIGNALS DON'T WON'T WORK UNLESS WE WIGGLE (WITH FORCE) OUR HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON. THEN WE HEAR BUZZING AND CRACKLING THAT IS MOSTLY CONTINUOUS IN OUR HAZARD BUTTON. THIS HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE DRIVING OR SITTING STILL. IT DOES STOP CLICKING WHEN WE SHUT THE CAR OFF, BUT DOES OFTEN CONTINUE WHEN WE START OUR CAR BACK OFF. THE CRACKLING/BUZZING NOISE HAS WENT ON FOR AS LONG AS 15 MINUTES . I'M SURE IT WOULD HAVE GONE ON FOR LONGER, BUT WE WIGGLED THE HAZARD BUTTON AND PLACES A FOLDED PIECE OF PAPER TO LODGE IT QUIET. WE HAVE AN EXTREMELY HARD TIME USING OUR TURN SIGNALS AT TIMES, THEY JUST QUIT WORKING UNLESS WE WIGGLE OUR HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON.. ALL OF THIS HAPPENS WITH NORMAL DAY TO DAY DRIVING. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2017Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10947301
“TAKATA. EVERYTHING HAS GONE WRONG WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE ME CALL ME. [XXX], BROUGHT THE CAR NEW. GAVE TO MY DAUGHTER HER NAME IS [XXX] , HER PHONE NUMBER IS, [XXX]. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 11, 2016Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10895032

Showing 6 of 100 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

3 recalls on this component

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 7, 2009NHTSA 09E012000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Exterior lightingReported Jul 17, 2006NHTSA 06E064000

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE HAZARD WARNING SWITCHES THAT MAY EXPERIENCE SOLDER JOINT CRACKING CAUSED BY RAPID TEMPERATURE TRANSITIONS AND THE SOLDERING PROCESS. IF SOLDER JOINT CRACKING OCCURS AND RESULTS IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT, THE TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD LAMPS BECOME INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE.

Exterior lightingReported Aug 28, 2003NHTSA 03V327000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026

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