2000 Pontiac Grand AM: common problems

Owners of the 2000 Pontiac Grand AM filed 675 complaints with NHTSA, most often about exterior lighting and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 675
involving a crash: 43

What fails most often

1 Exterior lighting 23% of all complaints
2 Electrical system 19% of all complaints
3 Service brakes 19% of all complaints
4 Engine and cooling 16% of all complaints
5 Fuel system 7% of all complaints
6 Visibility 7% of all complaints
7 Steering 5% of all complaints
8 Suspension 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.

Exterior lighting: 157 complaints (23% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Electrical system: 130 complaints (19% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Service brakes: 129 complaints (19% of all), 10 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engine and cooling: 111 complaints (16% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Fuel system: 49 complaints (7% 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 cyl
3.4 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 8 complaints
automatic, 4-speed
manual, 5-speednamed in 2 complaints

Drive: FWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 675 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

warning lights, check engine56 · 8%
windows, sunroof43 · 6%
knocking, grinding or other noise39 · 6%
vibration39 · 6%
stalls while driving36 · 5%
won't start35 · 5%
fuel system, fuel smell30 · 4%
smoke, burning smell, fire23 · 3%
overheating, coolant loss20 · 3%
infotainment or screen glitches18 · 3%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Exterior lighting	157	1
Electrical system	130	7
Service brakes	129	10
Engine and cooling	111	1
Fuel system	49	1
Visibility	44	0
Steering	34	3
Suspension	34	5
Air bags	31	24
Structure	25	2
Equipment	17	0
Powertrain	17	2
Tires	15	1
Engine	10	1

What owners report

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

4 years after I bought my grand am 2000 I was in an accident and my air bags did not deploy I didnt know there was a recall for that, any way recently I had to replace the switch ignition because the key got stuck and couldnt get oit out.
Exterior lighting · crash · 2020-09-18 · NHTSA complaint #11359810
While driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle lost power. The driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a ditch. There were no warning indicators illuminated. None of the air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The driver sustained some aches and pains that did not require medical attention.
Electrical system · crash · 2017-08-25 · NHTSA complaint #11019529
The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained whiplash that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 188,000. The vehicle was destroyed.
Air bags · crash · 2016-04-05 · NHTSA complaint #10853627
The contact stated that while stopped at a red light, the engine stalled and the check engine warning light illuminated. The failure caused another vehicle to crash into the rear of the contact's vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed.
Air bags · crash · 2015-11-13 · NHTSA complaint #10790287
As a result, the instrument panel illuminated temporaril, but the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained neck and shoulder injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed.
Air bags · crash · 2015-07-09 · NHTSA complaint #10732905
The contact stated that while driving at a low speeds during inclement weather, the steering wheel seized and the brakes failed causing the contact to crash. The contact sustained injuries that required medical attention. It was unknown if there was a police report filed.
Service brakes · crash · 2014-11-05 · NHTSA complaint #10652777
The airbags were never deployed, the abs brakes did not work, the skid marks showed no sign of braking only sliding. If you investigate fatality accidents with earlier model gm cars the death toll will most likely be greater than the 13 that gm is currently admitting to.
Electrical system · crash · 2014-06-04 · NHTSA complaint #10596209
I bought a car from budget auto sales and I had numerous issues including brakes, air bag, electrical, gas leaking,brake lines, steering problems, muffler and exhaust problems along with bad tires and getting motor mounts replaced, changing all fuses and both driver and passenger and driver side mirrors, tire rods and…
Electrical system · crash · 2013-10-29 · NHTSA complaint #10549919

When owners complained

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

19991
200028
200160
200269
2003110
2004158
200556
200626
200726
200827
200916
201015
201117
20127
20133
201423
201518
20167
20172
20182
20193
20201
20222

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 477 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 1% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Grand AM has 233 complaints (24 years in the data). This year has 675, above average.

What to check before buying

Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2000 Pontiac Grand AM?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: exterior lighting, electrical system, service brakes. Total complaints: 675. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (8%), windows, sunroof (6%), knocking, grinding or other noise (6%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2000 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 2000 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 2000 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.