1990 Pontiac Grand AM: common problems

Owners of the 1990 Pontiac Grand AM filed 38 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 38
involving a crash: 3

What fails most often

1 Engine and cooling 37% of all complaints
2 Powertrain 18% of all complaints
3 Structure 13% of all complaints
4 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
5 Seat belts 8% of all complaints
6 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
7 Steering 8% of all complaints
8 Tires 8% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Engine and cooling: 14 complaints (37% of all).
Powertrain: 7 complaints (18% of all).
Structure: 5 complaints (13% of all).
Electrical system: 3 complaints (8% of all).
Seat belts: 3 complaints (8% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

2.3 L · petrol · 4 cyl
2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
automatic, 3-speed
manual, 5-speed

Drive: FWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 38 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

rust, corrosion4 · 11%
stalls while driving4 · 11%
seat belts2 · 5%
smoke, burning smell, fire2 · 5%
windows, sunroof2 · 5%
brake failure1 · 3%
won't start1 · 3%
oil leak or consumption1 · 3%
steering or power steering problems1 · 3%
unintended acceleration1 · 3%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Engine and cooling	14	0
Powertrain	7	0
Structure	5	0
Electrical system	3	0
Seat belts	3	1
Service brakes	3	1
Steering	3	0
Tires	3	0
Seats	2	1
Vehicle speed control	2	0
Wheels	2	0
Equipment	1	0
Fuel system	1	0
Suspension	1	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

While driving 15mph the defective front braking system malfunctioned, causing an accident. Dealer replaced front braking system prior to the accident.
Service brakes · crash · 1997-10-16 · NHTSA complaint #817163
In accident when rear ended drivers side seat latch failed thrusting driver forward and seat lay flat now.the seat back is completely inoperative. Tt
Seats · crash · 1995-12-15 · NHTSA complaint #976644
Vehicle was hit broadside, driver side seat belt did not restrain. Tt
Seat belts · crash · 1995-09-11 · NHTSA complaint #971862
Vehicle fire. Nar 06/18/2003. Damages to the hood, engine, bumper, and wheels.
Engine and cooling · 2004-08-16 · NHTSA complaint #10024666
Consumer called complaining about having problem with the rims on the vehicle about five months ago the firs one broke wich was the front driver side and now there is a second one was the back drivers side. Manufacturer was contacted on a recall back on 1995 but hers were not included on the recall. Mr
Wheels · 2002-11-13 · NHTSA complaint #8022619
There is a noise in left front door, mechanic stated window run channel was loose, glued drivers door run channel at top right. Consumer states after 4000 miles the vehicle began to rust, consumer states it is getting worse, a repair shop informed consumer of a white foam material between the metal and the frame which…
Engine and cooling · 2001-09-12 · NHTSA complaint #562547
4 tires purchased at sam's wholesale club all developed sidewall bubbles. (dot number: bhkatt 114 tiresize: p195/75r14)
Tires · 2001-06-28 · NHTSA complaint #747353
The strut tower on the passenger wheel wall had rusted out causing noise, the vehicle can not be driven because of the severity of the rusting, several mechanics have looked at this problem and stated that it's not normal .
Engine and cooling · 2001-01-23 · NHTSA complaint #558317

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

19958
19965
19976
19984
19995
20003
20014
20022
20041

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 6,094 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 17% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Grand AM has 233 complaints (24 years in the data). This year has 38, below average.

What to check before buying

Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 1990 Pontiac Grand AM?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, powertrain, structure. Total complaints: 38. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rust, corrosion (11%), stalls while driving (11%), seat belts (5%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1990 Pontiac Grand AM?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 1990 Pontiac Grand AM from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 1990 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.