The Pontiac Grand Am has 21 NHTSA recall campaigns on record covering 1995–2005. On average a defect was admitted 5.72 years after the car was built, the slowest took 15 years. The most recalled system is Electrical System (5 campaigns). Owners also filed 3,410 complaints on this model — see what breaks.
What was recalled on the Pontiac Grand Am
Grouped by system. Open any row for the campaigns themselves — what failed, what it risks and how the dealer fixes it, straight from the NHTSA filing.
Electrical System 5 Read
What's wrong. This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the…
Risk. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury
Fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350
What's wrong. This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the…
Risk. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury
Fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350
What's wrong. This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the…
Risk. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury
Fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350
Exterior Lighting 4 Read
What's wrong. Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors
Risk. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash
Fix. Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589
What's wrong. Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors
Risk. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash
Fix. Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589
What's wrong. Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors
Risk. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash
Fix. Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589
Suspension 2 Read
What's wrong. Certain passenger vehicles equipped with rear suspension knuckle bolts that are not to specification and could fracture under high loads that can occur in some driving conditions
Risk. If the bolt fracture, the rear suspension linkage could detach from the knuckle and the rear wheel would be able to turn inboard or outboard. Sudden changes in vehicle handling could occur, particularly at higher speeds, and the driver may not be able to control the vehicle and a crash could occur without warning
Fix. Dealers will replace both rear suspension knuckle bolts free of charge. The recall began on february 9, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668
What's wrong. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The bolt that attaches the rear suspension trailing arm to the left rear knuckle may not have been tightened to specifications during assembly
Risk. The bolt could back completely out of the joint affecting vehicle control
Fix. Dealers will tighten this bolt
Fuel System, Gasoline 2 Read
What's wrong. Certain passenger vehicles may have been built with a fuel tank that does not meet specification. A weld on these fuel tanks may be insufficient, resulting in a fuel leak
Risk. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire
Fix. Dealers will inspect the fuel tank, and replace it, if necessary. Owner notification began on june 23, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668
What's wrong. Certain delphi aftermarket fuel pump modules / module reservoir assemblies (mra) that were sold for use on the above listed vehicles. During production the mras vent and fuel return tubes were reversed. This condition can result in the vehicle not running correctly (idle rough and/or stall) due to an overly rich fuel blend or the vehicle's evaporative emission carbon canister may leak fuel
Risk. A stalled vehicle can increase the risk of a vehicle crash. A fuel leak can result in a fire
Fix. Delphi will notify owners and replace the defective mras free of charge. The recall began on march 20, 2007. Owners can contact delphi at 1-877-335-7443
What's wrong. Certain delphi aftermarket fuel pump modules / module reservoir assemblies (mra) that were sold for use on the above listed vehicles. During production the mras vent and fuel return tubes were reversed. This condition can result in the vehicle not running correctly (idle rough and/or stall) due to an overly rich fuel blend or the vehicle's evaporative emission carbon canister may leak fuel
Risk. A stalled vehicle can increase the risk of a vehicle crash. A fuel leak can result in a fire
Fix. Delphi will notify owners and replace the defective mras free of charge. The recall began on march 20, 2007. Owners can contact delphi at 1-877-335-7443
Steering 2 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The steering wheel can come loose from the steering shaft because the steering wheel retaining nut could have been improperly tightened
Risk. This condition could cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash
Fix. Dealers will inspect the steering wheel retaining nut for correct tightness and tighten if necessary
What's wrong. The steering column lower pinch bolt was not properly tightened during assembly
Risk. An undertorqued pinch bolt can rattle and cause looseness in the steering system. If the pinch bolt backed out of the joint completely, rotation of the steering shaft against the connector could cause increasing looseness in the steering system and result in loss of steering and an accident
Fix. Dealers will inspect the steering column pinch bolt for correct torque and, if necessary, tighten the bolt to the specified torque
Fuel System, Other 1 Read
What's wrong. Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. Fp10020-11b1, fp10026-11b1, and fp10027-11b1, sold after january 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. The universal pressure regulators (upr) were produced without an o'ring and retainer
Risk. Fuel may leak, possibly resulting in a fire
Fix. Delphi will notify owners and replace the upr free of charge. The recall began on april 23, 2007. Owners can contact delphi at 877-411-8770
What's wrong. Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. Fp10020-11b1, fp10026-11b1, and fp10027-11b1, sold after january 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. The universal pressure regulators (upr) were produced without an o'ring and retainer
Risk. Fuel may leak, possibly resulting in a fire
Fix. Delphi will notify owners and replace the upr free of charge. The recall began on april 23, 2007. Owners can contact delphi at 877-411-8770
What's wrong. Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. Fp10020-11b1, fp10026-11b1, and fp10027-11b1, sold after january 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. The universal pressure regulators (upr) were produced without an o'ring and retainer
Risk. Fuel may leak, possibly resulting in a fire
Fix. Delphi will notify owners and replace the upr free of charge. The recall began on april 23, 2007. Owners can contact delphi at 877-411-8770
Vehicle Speed Control 1 Read
What's wrong. Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 124, 'accelerator control systems.' in hot ambient conditions, the accelerator pedal arm may stick at the attachment to the bracket and not return to the engine idle position when the operator lifts his foot from the accelerator pedal
Risk. Failure to return to idle could result in a vehicle crash
Fix. Dealers will inspect the accelerator pedal arm and replace the accelerator and brake pedal assembly with a new assembly, if necessary. The recall began on december 20, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, or oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537
Power Train 1 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles equipped with manual transaxles (rpo m86) fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 114, "theft protection." when a driver attempts to shift from 5th gear to reverse, a shift inhibitor causes the transmission to be mechanically in 4th gear even though the shift lever indicates reverse gear
Risk. In this situation, the key can be removed from the ignition while the transmission is in a forward gear, which is not permitted by the standard
Fix. Dealers will disable the 5th/reverse inhibitor by removing a retaining pin and replace the shifter assembly
What's wrong. Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles equipped with manual transaxles (rpo m86) fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 114, "theft protection." when a driver attempts to shift from 5th gear to reverse, a shift inhibitor causes the transmission to be mechanically in 4th gear even though the shift lever indicates reverse gear
Risk. In this situation, the key can be removed from the ignition while the transmission is in a forward gear, which is not permitted by the standard
Fix. Dealers will disable the 5th/reverse inhibitor by removing a retaining pin and replace the shifter assembly
Equipment 1 Read
What's wrong. Certain minivans, passenger and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage system." the owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the child restraint lower universal anchorage system
Risk. This does not meet the requirements of the standard
Fix. Owners will be provided with a supplement for their owner's manual. This supplement describes and shows the location symbols for the child restraint anchors that are located in the vehicle and on the child restraint or booster cushion. Owner notification began august 18, 2003. Owners should contact buick at…
Structure 1 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: these vehicles do not comply with the occupant protection requirements of fmvss no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact." the console cover on these vehicles does not stay closed when a specified vertical load is applied
Risk. In the event of a crash, the console cover could open and the cover or items stored under it could injure an occupant
Fix. Dealers will replace the console latch mechanism
What's wrong. Vehicle description: these vehicles do not comply with the occupant protection requirements of fmvss no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact." the console cover on these vehicles does not stay closed when a specified vertical load is applied
Risk. In the event of a crash, the console cover could open and the cover or items stored under it could injure an occupant
Fix. Dealers will replace the console latch mechanism
How long a defect stays unadmitted
Campaign numbers encode the year of the announcement, so each recall on this model can be dated against the car it applies to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average gap before admission | 5.72 years |
| Slowest campaign | 15 years |
| Admitted 5+ years later | 60% |
| Campaigns on record | 21 |
Which Grand Am years were recalled most
Campaigns per model year. A year with more campaigns is not automatically worse — it may simply have sold in far greater numbers.
| Model year | Campaigns | Most recalled system |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Suspension | |
| 2004 | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 2003 | Vehicle Speed Control | |
| 2002 | Exterior Lighting | |
| 2001 | Power Train | |
| 2000 | Suspension | |
| 1999 | Structure | |
| 1998 | Electrical System | |
| 1997 | Electrical System | |
| 1996 | Electrical System | |
| 1995 | Electrical System |
Check your own car
A campaign applies to a range of production, not to every car of the model. The only way to know whether yours is affected — and whether the repair was already done — is by VIN.
| Step | What you get |
|---|---|
| Enter the VIN above | Open campaigns for that exact vehicle, straight from NHTSA |
| Check the repair status | Whether the free fix has already been carried out on this car |
| Book at any franchised dealer | Recall work is free regardless of age, mileage or owner |
Go deeper
A campaign covers a production range. Yours is one car.
- Check whether this exact VIN is affected — and whether the fix was done
- Alerts if a new campaign lands on a car in your garage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Pontiac Grand Am have?
21 NHTSA campaigns on record, covering 1995–2005. Not every campaign applies to every car — coverage is by production range, so check your VIN.
Is recall work free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer regardless of the car's age, mileage or how many owners it has had. That is a federal requirement, not a courtesy.
How do I know if my Grand Am still has an open recall?
Enter its VIN above. We show campaigns that apply to that exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been recorded as done.
Why did a defect take years to be recalled?
On this model the average gap between the car being built and the defect being admitted is 5.72 years, and the slowest campaign came 15 years later. Defects usually surface as they accumulate in the field: complaints pile up, an investigation opens, and only then is a campaign issued.