1996 Pontiac Grand AM: common problems

Owners of the 1996 Pontiac Grand AM filed 450 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 450
involving a crash: 33

What fails most often

1 Electrical system 27% of all complaints
2 Air bags 23% of all complaints
3 Engine and cooling 16% of all complaints
4 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
5 Visibility 8% of all complaints
6 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
7 Suspension 7% of all complaints
8 Structure 5% of all complaints

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

Electrical system: 122 complaints (27% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Air bags: 104 complaints (23% of all), 20 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engine and cooling: 74 complaints (16% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Service brakes: 64 complaints (14% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Visibility: 37 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.

2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
3.1 L · petrol · 6 cyl
automatic, 4-speed
manual, 5-speed

Drive: FWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 450 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

stalls while driving27 · 6%
warning lights, check engine27 · 6%
smoke, burning smell, fire25 · 6%
windows, sunroof24 · 5%
headlights and tail lights18 · 4%
airbags did not deploy12 · 3%
knocking, grinding or other noise12 · 3%
won't start11 · 2%
airbag warning light9 · 2%
A/C or heater9 · 2%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Electrical system	122	1
Air bags	104	20
Engine and cooling	74	2
Service brakes	64	7
Visibility	37	1
Powertrain	33	0
Suspension	30	1
Structure	24	1
Fuel system	23	1
Exterior lighting	20	1
Steering	19	1
Equipment	14	1
Vehicle speed control	9	1
Tires	8	2

What owners report

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

I was traveling along the highway going exactly 60 mph when something popped causing me to lose control of my vehicle ( all passengers were in seat belts) we slid down a ditch hitting a light pole causing the vehicle to come to a stop neither the driver or the passenger bag deployed.
Air bags · crash · 2010-06-29 · NHTSA complaint #10340695
Caused all lights on dash to light up, now vehicle will not start, could not afford to have pontiac fix, although they did issue a warning regarding issue, but will not help with remedy.
Electrical system · crash · 2010-04-09 · NHTSA complaint #10324647
While driving, the rear passenger tire blew out which caused the consumer to hit the median. The vehicle was totaled. The owner just bought the tires approximately two months ago. Please provide info on tire dealer.
Tires · crash · 2004-07-22 · NHTSA complaint #10083478
Upon impact, front air bags did not deploy. Driver's head cracked the windshield, causing the driver to be unconscious for about 45 minutes. Also, driver's teeth hit the steering wheel and cracked. In addition, driver's right arm, right knee, and neck were injured.
Air bags · crash · 2004-03-03 · NHTSA complaint #10061268
My vehicle like several others I've read about , stalls at any given time with the most recent being on the interstate where I had to take the median for safety. Otherwise I would have been run over by a rig. This car is unsafe and was reported by the previous owner as such; however, no investigation has taken place.
Engine and cooling · crash · 2000-01-31 · NHTSA complaint #718141
While driving 35- 40 mph, vehicle had a direct frontal impact, and driver/passenger airbags did not deploy, which did not protect the occupant. Also, driver's seatbelt did not retract during the impact, causing the driver to sustain injuries. No previous problems with airbag or seatbelt.
Air bags · crash · 1999-11-03 · NHTSA complaint #852469
Driver was in reverse gear with foot on brakes about to engage into drive when the vehicle took off/ suddenly accelerated at a high rate of speed, resulting in an accident.
Vehicle speed control · crash · 1999-09-29 · NHTSA complaint #849279
While driving at any speed and going over any type of bump or hole in the street vehicle grinds due to lower control arm malfunctioning. Consumer had lower control arm on the right and left sides replaced. ,
Suspension · crash · 1999-03-24 · NHTSA complaint #836094

When owners complained

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

199626
199754
199841
199962
200049
200143
200270
200321
200419
200510
20065
20078
200816
20096
20107
20114
20123
20132
20142
20161
20171

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 848 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 2% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Grand AM has 233 complaints (24 years in the data). This year has 450, above average.

What to check before buying

Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Pontiac Grand AM?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, air bags, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 450. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (6%), warning lights, check engine (6%), smoke, burning smell, fire (6%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1996 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 1996 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 1996 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.