AI DamagePontiac Lemans: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Pontiac Lemans across 7 model years: 118 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Seat belts 45% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 12% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 5 Engine and cooling 9% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 5% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 5% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 4% of all complaints
- Seat belts: 53 complaints (45% of all), 8 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 24 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 14 complaints (12% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 13 complaints (11% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 11 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.
- 1.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1988–1993
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1988–1991
- automatic, 3-speed 1988–1993
- manual, 4-speed 1988–1993
- manual, 5-speed 1988–1993
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 118 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 53 | 8 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 24 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 14 | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Driver put vehicle in reverse and the vehicle took off all by itself. The vehicle took off which caused the driver to go into a wall.
Right rear axle broke, causing loss of control/accident.
When car is in reverse car accelerates . Ttconsumer states without foot being on the pedal.
The seat belt come out of buckle when consumer was in accident. Tt consumer states she was traveling about 45 mph and a deer ran out in front of her vehicle on impact and seat belt came open, and consumer and consumer went into console, was thorwn around in vehicle, damage was front left headlight assembly, hood, and…
Unexpected sudden acceleration when shifting automatic transmission into reverse. Tt
The drivers seatbelt shoulder portion would not restrain occupant in an accident. Please describe. Tt
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other models of this make
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.