1993 Pontiac Grand AM Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1993 Pontiac Grand Am most often report coolant loss from cracked cylinder heads or failed head gaskets, along with intermittent brake and ignition-switch trouble. Many complaints involve older, high-mileage cars, with several describing problems that appear gradually over repeated repair visits rather than suddenly.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Cracked cylinder head / coolant leak and head gasket failure

   • 29 complaints (14%)
   • median 78,000 mi at 10.7 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2005

   Owners describe losing coolant steadily, sometimes smelling it or finding puddles under the car, and being told by mechanics that the cylinder head is cracked or the head gasket has failed. Some report milky oil or water in the oil, and several mention the engine stalling or running poorly as a result. Complaints say the dealer often declined coverage, citing the warranty period or the vehicle's identification number. Reported from roughly 37,000 to 150,000 miles, with many around 80,000-130,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check coolant level and look for stains or residue around the head and radiator; ask whether the head gasket or cylinder head has been replaced. Look at the oil for a milky or cloudy appearance.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The water pump failed at 99500miles and the cylinder head cracked at 99800. I let the dealer and Pontiac know the car at the time I bought it was warranted 100,000 miles or 7 years. They told me only certain VIN numbers were under that recall/warranty. Could you please investigate I am a retiree and your help would be greatly appreaciated. Thank you joetta gill”

   NHTSA complaint #700924, filed 1998-11

   “Pontiac sent a letter on november 1995 about a special warranty for the possibility of a cracked engine head problem. I experienced the loss of coolant from a cracked head in june 1997. The mechanics who worked on my car advised that I should replace the entire engine instead of fixing just the cracked head because the damage was too great. Pontiac refuses to stand by warranty. Don't know if this is correct place to report it.”

   NHTSA complaint #701827, filed 1999-01
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brakes grab, pulse or fail to stop when wet

   • 24 complaints (12%)
   • typically at 4.1 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2002

   Complaints describe the brakes grabbing, pulsing, or skidding when applied, often on wet or snowy roads, with owners reporting longer stopping distances than expected. Some describe anti-lock braking that engaged when it should not have or that did not seem to work at all. Several mention repeated pad and rotor replacement, and one notes heavily rusted, flaking rotors. Reported across a wide mileage range, often on wet or slushy roads; many complaints involve cars over 60,000 miles.

   What to check: Test the brakes on a wet road and feel for pulsing or grabbing; have a mechanic inspect rotors for heavy rust or flaking and ask when pads and rotors were last replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving apx. 25-30 MPH on slush covered roads. I saw the car ahead of me braking, so I started to apply steady pressure. I was apx 8-10 car lengths behind, but I started to slide. So applied more firm pressure, still nothing. So finally I realized my brakes were not do anything so I pushed them to the floor and slowly turned the wheel to the right, to go in the ditch. I continued to slide. My ABS did not work at all. …”

   NHTSA complaint #717807, filed 2000-01

   “Rotors needed to be replaced at a cost of $143.00 per rotor,(current GM price for part), not including installation. Design/metal defect also caused damage to the front brake pads which will result in the replacement of same at an additional expense. These pads were just put on the vehicle in 1998, less than 5000 miles ago.”

   NHTSA complaint #700512, filed 1998-11
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Ignition switch and starting in neutral only

   • 12 complaints (6%)
   • median 150,000 mi at 13.3 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1997–2008

   Owners report the car will not start in Park and only starts after moving the shifter to Neutral, and some say the ignition switch itself has failed. Several complaints reference the ignition switch recall and state that the dealer or manufacturer told them their vehicle was not covered. Lights staying on with the switch off and a burning smell from the steering column are also described. Reported from the late 1990s onward, with one complaint noting the problem from 150,000 miles.

   Recall 93V153000

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch recall (93V153000) was performed and whether the car reliably starts in Park. Check that headlights and accessories turn off with the key removed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Burne toast smell from stering column, and if tilt wheel is in certain location electrical system, not functioning properly.. Turn signal failure and headlight failure.. Also ignition switch always sensing key inserted”

   NHTSA complaint #742752, filed 2001-03

   “Consumer tried to start vehicle while pawl is on park the vehicle won't start then consumer has to move pawl to neutral so she could start vehicle, and that been happening for long time. Dealer contacted.”

   NHTSA complaint #828400, filed 1998-09
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Engine compartment or dash fires

   • 20 complaints (10%)
   • median 108,119 mi at 10.7 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Complaints describe smoke and flames from the engine compartment, fuse box, or instrument panel, sometimes with the vehicle parked and the ignition off. One owner reports a burned lamp in the steering column switch, and another a failed fuse link in the starter circuit. Several of these complaints describe the car being declared a total loss. Reported across a range of mileages, including cars around 100,000-130,000 miles, often while parked after a drive.

   What to check: Inspect wiring and the fuse box for melted or discolored plastic and any burnt odor, and ask whether electrical repairs have been done. Have a mechanic check the starter circuit and column wiring.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My brother's (john sturgill) 1993 Pontiac Grand Am caught on fire and burned to the ground with the ignition off. My brother had just driven the car home from work. He turned off the ignition went into his home. Just 10 mintues later his wife saw smoke coming by the window. They immediately walked outside and saw the car completely engulfed in flames. They called the fire department to put out the fire but the car burned to the ground. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10011020, filed 2003-03, 130,000 miles

   “Vehicle was parked and began smoking under the hood. An independent shop stated that switch lamp burned out causing smoke in the steering wheel column. The dealer was notified. The vehicle didn't start. The vehicle received a jump, then the vehicle started. The headlights were on even though the switch was off. The switch was unable to be moved. The battery had to be disconnected because the headlights would not go off. On the second occasion, the lights were still on with the switch and the ignition off.”

   NHTSA complaint #10038098, filed 2003-10, 108,119 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Stalling at stops, especially when warm

   • 10 complaints (5%)
   • median 127,000 mi at 12.1 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2005

   Owners report the engine dying when coming to a stop after 10-15 miles of driving, then restarting normally once it cools. Some link it to a transmission solenoid or to an overheating light, and others describe stalling at highway speed with no fault found. Several note that dealers replaced various parts without resolving the problem. Reported mostly between about 60,000 and 130,000 miles, typically after warm-up or at highway speed.

   What to check: Drive the car long enough to reach full temperature and stop, then note whether the idle drops or the engine dies. Ask about any past repairs to the transmission solenoid or temperature sensor.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1993 Pontiac Grand Am, 124,ooo miles. The car starts and runs good. When I go 10 to 15 miles and if I come to a stop, the car stalls. It starts with no problem but when I shift a gear, the car stalls. If I wait for the car to cool off, the car will move without stalling. I bought this car for my daughter since she is a new driver, but I'm afraid to let her take it on her own for fear that she'll stall and cause an accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #10146234, filed 2005-12, 124,000 miles

   “My car starts and runs good. When I go 10 to 15 miles and if I come to a stop, the car stalls. It starts with no problem but when I shift a gear, the car stalls. If I waite for the car to cool off, the car will move without stalling.”

   NHTSA complaint #10068845, filed 2004-01, 130,000 miles

Buying note. Given the age of this model year, have any candidate inspected for coolant loss and head gasket condition before buying, and confirm whether the ignition switch recall was applied. Budget for brake and electrical work, since complaints cluster there.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.