1996 Pontiac Grand AM Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe airbags deploying without any impact, usually at low speed, at startup, or while driving at normal road speeds. Many of those reports also mention water getting into the passenger compartment, which owners and shops connect to a wet airbag controller. A second cluster of complaints concerns electrical trouble: ignition keys that will not turn, theft-system faults that prevent starting, flickering or dim lighting, and in some reports smoke or fire at the steering column.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbags deploy without a crash

   • 99 complaints (22%)
   • median 125,299 mi at 11.6 yrs old (43 state mileage)
   • 55 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2017

   Complaints describe the driver and/or passenger airbag going off with no collision, often one shortly after the other, while parked, at startup, or at low speed. Occupants report abrasions, burns, bruises, ringing ears and, in some cases, near-loss of control. Several owners say they received an owner-manual supplement about the airbag controller and water, and that the dealer or manufacturer declined to cover repairs; others were offered a small buy-back. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 15,000 to over 200,000 miles, most often above 90,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag controller under the passenger seat has ever been wet or replaced, and check for damp carpet or a water trail behind the dash. A history of the owner-manual supplement and any prior airbag work is worth requesting.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving down hiway the car died I turned it to the right to get off the hiway and the airbag on drivers side exploded, I had the car towed and was told the pass key system or theft system went bad in ignition switch and no explanation why air bag went off? Or how to fix any of it, this is now july and I am still having problems.”

   NHTSA complaint #11003734, filed 2017-07, 163,000 miles

   “My driver side and passenger side airbags deployed while I was driving eastbound on rt. 251 without cause. Fortunately, I was by myself and was able to pull off onto the side of the road. Luckily, I sustained minor abrasions on the left side of my face. My insurance company would not pay for repairs, due to electrical short.”

   NHTSA complaint #10018761, filed 2003-05, 143,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Water leaking into the cabin, wet airbag module and wiring

   • 53 complaints (12%)
   • median 99,002 mi at 10.0 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2010

   Complaints describe rain or wash water pooling on the floor and reaching the wiring behind the firewall, the instrument cluster and the airbag controller under the passenger seat. Owners link the moisture to dash warning lights, dead clusters, airbag warnings and airbag deployment, and report a shop finding an unsealed firewall or vent grille area. Dealers are described as unwilling to cover the repair. Typically reported between roughly 20,000 and 190,000 miles, often after rain or damp weather.

   What to check: Look for damp carpet, water stains or a musty smell under the dash and passenger seat, and check the firewall and vent grille area for sealant. Ask whether the airbag controller has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 1996 ponitac Grand Am that has water in the passenger compartment. Gm sent a letter stating that the air bag module could deploy the air bags with warning while driving without a crash or when the key is turn on. This has many complaints but no one is doing anything. As a auto tech for my own safety as well of others there should be a recall and of the effective years or 96-98 grand ams. They said injuries have been reported already.”

   NHTSA complaint #10290142, filed 2009-10, 186,000 miles

   “Every time it rains I get water on the floor of my car, this has been an ongoing I have had to replace the instrument cluster because it went out on me wile driving because the wires behind on the firewall are wet.”

   NHTSA complaint #10239544, filed 2008-08, 100,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Ignition switch and steering column heat, smoke or fire

   • 47 complaints (10%)
   • median 103,700 mi at 10.9 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2017

   Owners describe the key not turning, the car failing to start after being held in START, smoke or flames from the steering column, and melted ignition switch parts. Some mention the car starting by itself or dying while driving, and several reference the ignition switch recall; a few say the problem recurred after the recall work. Reported from about 11,000 to over 170,000 miles, with many reports above 100,000 miles.

   Recall 02V070000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 02V070000 was completed and inspect the steering column and key cylinder for heat marks, a loose key or stiff rotation. Note any history of hard starting or repeated battery drain.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I started my car in a parking lot and was driving approx 10mph when the car died almost immediately, after restart, it did it again. Then, it wouldn't even turn over. I had it towed to a mechanic who told me that it was probably a bad fuel pump. Turns out it was the Pontiac anti-theft device that was keeping it from starting. When your key starts getting worn and rounded off, (as most keys do after some use!) the theft system locks your car up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10489407, filed 2012-12, 136,141 miles

   “Car would not start. Steering locked and transmission stuck in park.key would not turn. Towed car home. Removed the ignition switch and found the ignition lock had melted. The obvious fire hazard prompted a recall search for the make and model finding an ignition recall has been issued. I contacted Pontiac customer service. The representative asked me if my VIN was covered. I have confirmed the VIN is on the recall list although the rep. Failed to acknowledge this. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10523832, filed 2013-07, 171,708 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Theft-deterrent (Pass-Key) faults stop the car starting

   • 43 complaints (10%)
   • median 113,675 mi at 9.6 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2017

   Complaints describe the anti-theft system refusing to let the car start, cutting the engine while driving, and requiring a long wait before a restart. Owners say a worn key or ignition cylinder is often the trigger, and that mechanics have pointed to the ignition cylinder or a module replacement, sometimes with no lasting fix. Mostly reported from about 100,000 to over 180,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the car has ever refused to start or shut off while driving, and whether the ignition cylinder or key has been replaced. A spare key in good condition is worth having.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer called complaining about a recall performed on ignition wiring harness. Stated that after the recall was done the battery drained into the vehicle because of recall repairs done. Dealer was contacted, and stated that the only thing that was wrong was that the battery drained, and there was nothing they could do.”

   NHTSA complaint #10029777, filed 2003-07, 11,200 miles

   “The contact owns a 1996 Pontiac Grand Am. The contact stated that the passenger side and the driver side had two inches of rain in the vehicle but was unable to identify where it was coming from. The theft system activated and the vehicle responded as if it were stolen which made it impossible to start the vehicle. The contact also had a lot of major components repaired on the vehicle and the failure continued to occur. The dealer advised the contact that there was nothing they could do to assist with the failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10307742, filed 2010-02, 120,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Intake manifold and head gasket coolant leaks

   • 22 complaints (5%)
   • median 95,002 mi at 8.3 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1996–2008

   Owners report coolant loss, overheating and repeated intake manifold gasket replacement, sometimes along with a head gasket. One owner cites a service bulletin for the manifold gasket and describes the repair as recurring and costly; others mention heater core and radiator work in the same cooling system. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 100,000 miles, with one report noting repeat failures around every 50,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for orange residue at the intake manifold and timing cover, and ask for receipts of any gasket work. Watch the temperature gauge on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have two Pontiac Grand Am 1995, 1996 both cars has the same problem the intake and head gasket needs replace they sent me a paper in the mail and said there was a recall on my cars but never heard any thing about it my car it about to stop running and my 1995 won't run with out over heating if someone could get me any info please do and pass it my way I could really use the help.”

   NHTSA complaint #10214237, filed 2008-01, 102,000 miles

   “In the past 4 months, I have replaced my heater core, because it is plastic, and then the radiator, now the head gasket. Problems of this nature first surfaced with heater core failure, which is made of plastic and then proceeds through the cooling to system, to my current problem, head gasket replacement. The water pump and transmission have both been replaced, while under the new car warranty. I took my car to hardin Pontiac in anaheim, ca at 3 pm on march 4th. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10008516, filed 2003-03, 78,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, the priority checks are the airbag system and any sign of water in the cabin, then ignition and theft-system behavior on a cold start. Service records showing completed recall work and past gasket repairs will tell you more than 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.