1997 Pontiac Grand AM: common problems

Owners of the 1997 Pontiac Grand AM filed 383 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 383
involving a crash: 32

What fails most often

1 Electrical system 27% of all complaints
2 Engine and cooling 22% of all complaints
3 Service brakes 19% of all complaints
4 Air bags 11% of all complaints
5 Vehicle speed control 9% of all complaints
6 Visibility 9% of all complaints
7 Suspension 7% of all complaints
8 Powertrain 6% 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: 105 complaints (27% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engine and cooling: 83 complaints (22% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Service brakes: 71 complaints (19% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Air bags: 41 complaints (11% of all), 19 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Vehicle speed control: 36 complaints (9% of all).

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

Drive: FWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 383 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

windows, sunroof32 · 8%
smoke, burning smell, fire26 · 7%
warning lights, check engine24 · 6%
stalls while driving19 · 5%
knocking, grinding or other noise18 · 5%
seat belts14 · 4%
won't start13 · 3%
unintended acceleration13 · 3%
airbags did not deploy12 · 3%
headlights and tail lights12 · 3%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Electrical system	105	2
Engine and cooling	83	2
Service brakes	71	3
Air bags	41	19
Vehicle speed control	36	0
Visibility	34	0
Suspension	26	3
Powertrain	22	1
Steering	21	2
Fuel system	19	0
Equipment	16	0
Exterior lighting	12	0
Structure	11	0
Seat belts	10	3

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 7 mph front driver side support bracket snapped. This caused the vehicle to run off the road. Driver sustained back injuries. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
Suspension · crash · 2004-04-29 · NHTSA complaint #10071813
And found to have bad cam timing.chain is inspected as it is steel and for life of car.a tiny cheap bracket keeps the chain in place and it had cracked and slowly broken at 80,000 miles.engine got by with new chain and labor for 800.00 dol.85,000 new battery,95,000 new battery.108,000 4 speed autotrans starts slipping…
Electrical system · crash · 2004-03-13 · NHTSA complaint #10062085
Vehicle collided head-on with a deer while driving about 45 mph. The deer died on impact and caused extensive front end damage to the vehicle. The driver's side air bag did not deploy.
Air bags · crash · 2003-03-04 · NHTSA complaint #10009707
On one occasion consumer was coming out of a driveway when steering locked up, causing the vehicle to hit the curb. This incident caused some minor damage to bumper. .
Steering · crash · 2003-01-15 · NHTSA complaint #10003976
I have an electical problem in my car that no one seems to know what is if the fuse continues to blow constantly then they will be abble to trace the problem until then I have the birnden of worrying about my car catch on fire from this short.they told me to possibly try a headlight swich at an 85.00 price and labor…
Electrical system · crash · 2001-07-13 · NHTSA complaint #748172
Second incident on 06-jun-99, while she was traveling on the highway rear left tire separated.
Tires · crash · 2000-09-08 · NHTSA complaint #870054
Prior to accident, vehicle was in repair shop twice for brake failure. State trooper & independent mechanic indicated brakes were locked up after accident. Emergency room treatment.
Service brakes · crash · 2000-05-16 · NHTSA complaint #862001
Seat belts did not retract, causing passenger to be thrown foward. Had to catch herself with her arms on dashboard or face would have hit the dashboard.
Seat belts · crash · 1999-11-09 · NHTSA complaint #850585

When owners complained

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

19961
199716
199843
199959
200056
200144
200270
200333
200420
20059
20069
20076
20089
20091
20102
20112
20121
20131
20142
20161
20201

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 1,028 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 3% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Grand AM has 233 complaints (24 years in the data). This year has 383, above average.

What to check before buying

Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
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.
Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 1997 Pontiac Grand AM?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine and cooling, service brakes. Total complaints: 383. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: windows, sunroof (8%), smoke, burning smell, fire (7%), warning lights, check engine (6%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 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 1997 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 1997 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 2026-11-06.