1995 Pontiac Grand AM Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe overheating and cooling-system troubles, dashboard and ignition-switch electrical faults, and intermittent brake problems in which the pedal drops or the ABS light comes on. Many complaints come in at high mileage — well past 100,000 in the sampled reports — while brake complaints tend to arrive earlier, often around 70,000-100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Ignition switch, starter and under-dash smoke

   • 81 complaints (20%)
   • median 126,000 mi at 9.8 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 35 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $744 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 1995–2014

   Complaints describe cars that will not start, sometimes with smoke or a burning smell from the steering column or starter area; several owners say a fire started there. Some report the key coming out of the ignition while driving, or repeated starter, ignition switch and relay replacements. According to the complaints, some dealers could not duplicate the problem, and some owners say recall work was refused or did not resolve the no-start condition. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 100,000 to nearly 300,000 miles, and often as an intermittent no-start.

   Recall 00V2870002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether recall 00V287000 (starter/ignition switch) was completed and keep the paperwork. Before buying, start the car several times and check for a hot or burnt smell around the steering column and under the hood.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was in the parking lot of a fast food place we came out after we ate and got in the car attempted to start it but it did not start at first then I turned off the ignition and then tried again it started and after a short time it seamed like it tried to start itself again and it started smoking from below the steering column so I turned it off and jumped out of the car and out the battery by the time the battery was out it had already caught fire and had to be put out with a fire extinguisher which was supplied by a tow truck driver who just …”

   NHTSA complaint #10257787, filed 2009-02, 140,000 miles

   “Vehicle was parked and consumer placed the key inside the ignition, and vehicle would not start. A burning smell was coming from the vehicle. Consumer lifted up the hood, and smoke was coming from the starter. Consumer was able to extinguish the fire. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the ignition switch needed to be replaced due to failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #10068632, filed 2004-05, 95,493 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Overheating and head gasket leaks

   Mentioned in 10 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the overheat light coming on while driving, coolant loss, and engines that die or smoke. Several reports say a mechanic found a cracked or leaking head gasket, and some note intake manifold gasket leaks that let coolant and oil escape. In a few cases the engine had to be replaced, and owners describe repeated thermostat, radiator and heater core work without the overheating going away. Mostly reported between roughly 90,000 and 190,000 miles, often after a period of coolant loss or repeated cooling-system repairs.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for milky oil or oil in the coolant; ask whether the intake manifold or head gasket has been replaced. Watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive with the air conditioning on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought my 1995 Pontiac Grand Am se, used in 2001, not even a month after having it, I had to replace the radiator. From there went my coolant line, a dealer part I had to pay a fortune for. Then I also have significant water damage that somehow gets into my carand I end up with puddles of water on the floor. My heater core went, replaced that. Then ball joints, replaced that. Then the recall on my ignition that I failed to recieve, was out with my husband and son for the day, got in to start my car and it wouldnt turn over. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10082538, filed 2004-07, 87,000 miles

   “About a year ago I purchased a 95 Pontiac Grand Am se from price point used car super center. When I bought the car I was told by the person selling it to me that it would be good for a kid going to college that it was reliable and such... Well I got the car, not only is it not reliable it keeps breaking down on me. For the entire year of owning the car it has overheated too many times to count... I contacted the dealer but they told me there was nothing they could do because of being bought as is... So I took it to an a place called auto lab.. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10056716, filed 2004-02, 110,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal drops to the floor / ABS warning

   • 54 complaints (13%)
   • median 75,051 mi at 6.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Owners report the brake pedal occasionally falling to the floor or feeling soft, sometimes with a rapid clicking from the ABS and no braking at low speeds. Some say the ABS light stays on and that dealers could not find or duplicate the fault after several visits. Others describe rapid pad and rotor wear, with pads replaced every few months in one report. Commonly reported between about 20,000 and 100,000 miles, often at low speed or when braking in wet conditions.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask when the pads and rotors were last replaced and whether the ABS light comes on. Test the brakes at low speed in a safe area and check that the pedal stays firm.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We have had a problem with the windows not working. We've had to push up the window with our hands while pushing the power window button and it doesn't close all the way. Now it does not work at all. Also we have problems with the headlights staying on. We noticed if we play with the multifunction switch (like turning the high beams on and off) then the headlights will come back on after a few tries. We recently replaced all 4 brakes and now the ABS light is on and stays on. Dealer stated that there's nothing wrong with the ABS brakes.”

   NHTSA complaint #10088876, filed 2004-08, 80,103 miles

   “The brake system fails with the pedal going soft to the floor. When the problem fixes itself the brakes are still soft and then you have the brakes to the floor and the system slams on the brakes. This only happens at speeds less than 15 MPH, all ABS sensors have been changed and it still happens. Abs light comes on dash, but tech's can't find a problem. When slow backing you can hear brakes working though your not touching them. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10006370, filed 2000-09, 70,000 miles
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights and multi-function switch failures

   • 40 complaints (10%)
   • median 83,551 mi at 9.4 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2005

   Complaints describe headlights going out without warning while driving, sometimes when switching between high and low beam, and dash or tail lights that stop working. Owners often trace it to the multi-function/dimmer switch on the column and report replacing it more than once. Some reports say the lights came back after cycling the switch several times. Reported mostly between about 78,000 and 160,000 miles, and often noticed during night driving.

   What to check: With the engine running, cycle the headlights between high and low beam and check that dash lights and tail lights stay on. Ask whether the multi-function switch has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The original headlight switch malfunctioned and I did not have any dash lights or tail-lights. The second switch malfunctioned too and the headlights now go out when I try to cycle them from high beam to low beam or don't come on until I cycle them again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10098669, filed 2004-11, 101,000 miles

   “My vehicle's (1995 Pontiac Grand Am) dimmer switch is malfunctioned. The head lights go out if you try to cycle from high beam to lo beam. I also know of another person with the same problem.I recently experinced this problem while driving at night.”

   NHTSA complaint #10093734, filed 2004-10, 156,632 miles

Buying note. Have a mechanic check the cooling system and look for head gasket or intake gasket leaks, verify the ignition-switch recall was completed, and test the brakes and headlight switch. Service records showing cooling-system and brake work are more useful here than low mileage alone.

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.