Problems · by component

2002 Pontiac Grand Am electrical system problems

150 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Pontiac Grand Am cite electrical system, 37% of all 404 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
150
37% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I WAS DIVING DOWN HWY 70 GOING TO PICK UP MY FIRST DELIVERY FOR THE DAY WHEN, I'M NOT SURE HOW BUT THE KEY CAME OUT OF THE ON POSTION AND FELL OUT ON FLOOR, SCARED I WAS GOING TO CRASH I HURRIEDLY REACHED DOWN AND PUT IT BACK IN AND NOTICED THE SECURITY LIGHT HAD CAME ON AND WITHIN MINUTES IT LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT OFF, LUCKILY I AM A GOOD DRIVER AND DIDN'T CRASH BUT MANAGE TO GET OFF ROAD SAFELY. I'M SO GLAD WORSE DIDN'T HAPPEN. NOW I HAVE NO CAR AND PROBABLY LOST ALL 3 JOBS I HAD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 28, 2019Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11282802
“I REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING BACK IN 2018 BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT STILL ON IT HAS TO BE A AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE SINCE I PURCHASED MY FIRST CAR SINCE 2011 IT NEEDS TO BE TURNED OFF”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2019Power train, Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11252536
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, BUT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS. WHEN THE HAZARD BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED, THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 26, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11153694
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND SECURITY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SECURITY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED AUTONATION CHEVROLET AT (407) 680-0751 (LOCATED AT 3707 W COLONIAL DR, ORLANDO, FL 32808) AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,377.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 18, 2018Electrical systemODI 11096699
“TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM ---- VEHICLE HAS 165,478 MILES CONTACT WAS GOING 10MPH WHEN BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING, IN TURN LANE TO TURN OFF MAIN ROAD AT NIGHT.. CONTACT WAS DRIVING HOME TWO NIGHTS AGO WHEN BLINKERS BOTH WENT OUT AND CONTACT WENT ONLINE AND LOOKED UP VIN NUMBER AND SAW TWO RECALLS. CONTACT STATED SHE HAD CALLED LOCAL GM DEALER AND GM STATE VEHICLE HAS NO RECALLS. CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC TO HAVE FUSES REPLACED . 0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN.... CB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 19, 2018Electrical systemODI 11063709
“THE LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT I HAVE REPLACED ALL BULBS AND NOTHING THE HEADLIGHTS AUTO DOSENT WORK MOST OF THE TIME THE TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING THRDAY AFTERBI BOUGHT THE CAR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 5, 2017Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 10949638

Showing 6 of 150 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 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 28, 2026

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