1991 Pontiac Grand AM Problems
- Complaints
- 82filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 83,000miles, 3 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 2campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 24 mpgcombined, 2.3L 4-cyl FWD · 21 city / 30 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1991 Pontiac Grand AM (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Complaints on this model year cluster around a few recurring themes: windows and door hardware, stalling and intermittent no-starts, and various ignition/electrical and seat-belt concerns. Most sampled complaints carry no mileage figure, but those that do range from roughly 72,000 to 150,000 miles, so reports come from cars well into their service life rather than from nearly new vehicles.
- Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
Power window failure, heat and burned door wiring
- 9 complaints (11%)
- typically at 6.1 yrs old
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2003
Owners describe windows that stop moving until the window motor cools down, motors that feel very hot at the wiring connection, and door panels that smoke or catch fire. Some mention water getting into the door through cracked weather stripping, rusting the crank and hinge. Others note the window stuck down or held up with tape and say the dealer did not cover the work under a recall campaign they believe applies. Complaints span the 1990s and early 2000s; most sampled reports give no mileage, and several describe the problem recurring over years.
What to check: Open and close every window through several cycles and feel the motor and switch area for heat; pull the door panel or ask whether the power window control module recall (92V043000) was completed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My vehicle fits the manufactured dates and model information of recall campaign 92v04300. I called Pontiac and they said it isnt covered. I have had this problem for many years. Why will they not honor this recall?”
NHTSA complaint #701858, filed 1999-01“While driving, the driver's side door panel caught on fire. Consumer is aware of safety recall for power window control module replacement. The vehicle was being driven with no inside door panel (bare metal exposed). The window was being held up with plastic tape, and the vehicle cannot be locked due to the fire damage to the door. Also the vehicle has the stench of smoke from the fire in the door. We think this may have been caused by the power window device.”
NHTSA complaint #10021240, filed 2003-06 - Engine cooling
Engine stalls or will not restart when warm
- 9 complaints (11%)
- typically at 8.1 yrs old
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2014
Complaints describe the engine dying after highway driving when the car comes to a stop, then restarting only after 15 to 30 minutes, and vehicles that crank and drive fine but refuse to start again after being shut off. Some owners report repeated sensor, ignition and head gasket replacements without curing the stalling. A few mention the car quitting at speed in traffic. Reports come from the mid-1990s onward, generally after the car was several years old; mileage is not stated in most of these complaints.
What to check: Test drive long enough to reach operating temperature, then shut the car off and restart it after a short pause; ask for service records of ignition and sensor work, since a bulletin describes expanded availability of remanufactured control modules.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My car will crank up and drive for hours but if I stop and turn it off it will not crank up for 3-4 hours. Also, my air conditioner was running great but when I turned it on one day it just stopped blowing cold and it is full of coolant and antifreeze.”
NHTSA complaint #10090625, filed 2004-09“Vehicle lost power and stalled without warning while in rush-hour traffic on a major interstate. Accident narrowly avoided. Owner no longer trusts reliability of vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #708541, filed 1999-07 - Seat belts
Seat belts that will not stay latched or retract
- 5 complaints (6%)
- typically at 6.7 yrs old
- 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2005
Complaints describe belts that come undone while driving, rear belts that will not lock properly, and a shoulder belt that failed to retract in a frontal impact. Owners say the dealer declined to repair the belts at no charge. Several of these reports come after a collision rather than as a standalone fault. Reports date from the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s; mileage is not given in these complaints.
What to check: Buckle and unbuckle every belt, tug sharply on each one to confirm it locks, and check that the shoulder belt retracts fully on its own.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The driver lost control of the vehicle due to inclement weather. Vehicle hit the guard rail. And as a result, driver's face hit the windshield because the seat belt did not operate and lock. Dealer was informed by consumer. The consumer stated that she hit the brake and the vehicle did not slow down.”
NHTSA complaint #10111039, filed 2005-03“The front driver's seat belt will lock, but while driving the belt comes undone without any warning. Dealer will not correct the problem, and this is a state law that everyone must wear seat belt. The seat belt will not stay locked when vehicle is in motion.”
NHTSA complaint #813734, filed 1997-07
Buying note. These are old cars, and the complaints that matter most for a buyer are the ones that can be checked on the spot: windows, seat belts and seat latches, plus a warm restart test for stalling. Ask for service history and confirm whether open recalls such as 92V043000 were completed.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 39 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 82 consumer complaints for the 1991 Pontiac Grand AM. 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 83,000 miles. Of all complaints, 9 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 7 an injury, 2 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine cooling22 27%
- Brakes11 13%
- Electrical system9 11%
- Seat belts6 7.3%
- Other or unknown5 6.1%
- Seats4 4.9%
- Fuel system3 3.7%
- Steering3 3.7%
Also reported: Body and structure (3), Suspension (3), Vehicle speed control (3), Equipment (2), Engine (1), Tires (1).
Example complaints
Engine cooling: “Vehicle experiences continued stalling conditions, replacement of several components (sensors, ignition control, head gasket), however engine still stalls.”
NHTSA complaint #550764, filed 2000-02Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “Drivers side window won't go up or down until both window motors cool off sufficiently. Both motors are extremely hot to touch at wiring connection. Problem previously reported in NHTSA database with one fire.”
NHTSA complaint #708327, filed 1999-07Electrical system: “While driving to the store about a half of mile away, heard a hissing sound in the drivers side door. Consumerr then saw smoke, and stopped the vehicle and got out. Then the entire vehicle went up in flames. There was no warning before. Police said that it may have been the electrical panel inside of the door.”
NHTSA complaint #852732, filed 1999-11Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 72,000 and 150,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1991 Pontiac Grand AM version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Am FWD | 2.3L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 21 | 30 | 24 | $2,800 |
| Grand Am FWD | 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 21 | 30 | 24 | $3,400 |
| Grand Am FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 19 | 30 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Grand Am FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,050 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 92V043000Apr 1, 1992Visibility › Power window devices and controlsCovers: Pontiac Grand AM 1991, Oldsmobile Cutlass 1991, Buick Skylark 1991
Moisture can enter the express-down electronic control module and cause a short circuit that causes window operation without operator control, and leaves the window in the down position.
- 91V018000Jan 4, 1991Steering › Steering wheel/handle barCovers: Pontiac Grand AM 1991
Recall details for the 1991 Pontiac Grand AM → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.
- 10246631Sep 1, 2013Engine cooling. Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
Other model years of the Pontiac Grand AM
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 102 | 83,000 | 2 | — | 25 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 293 | 74,633 | 2 | — | 25 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 325 | 63,500 | 2 | — | 25 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2002 | 395 | 73,000 | 1 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 538 | 71,000 | 4 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 675 | 66,771 | 5 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 849 | 70,000 | 3 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1998 | 172 | 80,000 | 1 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 383 | 95,550 | 2 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1996 | 450 | 114,526 | 4 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 409 | 110,000 | 1 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 377 | 123,000 | 2 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 204 | 106,600 | 1 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 168 | 88,000 | 3 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 82 | 83,000 | 2 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 38 | — | 0 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 44 | 113,000 | 2 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 31 | — | 2 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 28 | — | 2 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1986 | 11 | — | 1 | — | 23 | — | Not enough data |
All Pontiac Grand AM model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1991 Pontiac Grand AM?
Complaints on this model year cluster around a few recurring themes: windows and door hardware, stalling and intermittent no-starts, and various ignition/electrical and seat-belt concerns. The issues reported most often: Power window failure, heat and burned door wiring; Engine stalls or will not restart when warm; Seat belts that will not stay latched or retract.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1991 Pontiac Grand AM have?
NHTSA recorded 82 consumer complaints for the 1991 Pontiac Grand AM as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1991 Pontiac Grand AM is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 22 complaints (27% of the total), followed by brakes with 11.
Has the 1991 Pontiac Grand AM been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1991 Pontiac Grand AM get?
The EPA rates the 1991 Pontiac Grand AM (Grand Am, 2.3L 4-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 21 city and 30 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1991 Pontiac Grand AM reported?
Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 83,000 miles and the middle half falls between 72,000 and 150,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.