1996 Pontiac Grand AM Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 74about this part
- Share
- 16%of 450 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 92,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 74 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1996 Pontiac Grand AM, 16% of the 450 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 92,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“I went to a car service place to have an oil change and I had them check my coolant to see if it was leaking; sure enough it was. They had told me my car is leaking coolant from the intake manifold gasket and it would cost me $700.00 + to repair in which I don't have.”
NHTSA complaint #10149499, filed 2006-02, 92,000 miles“As my husband was putting gas into my 1996 Grand Am he noticed orange coolent ( dex cool) leaking from the car. The next morning on his way to work the car motor temperature increased to a point were he had to pull over and let the car cool down. After work he took the car to gateway tire and service for the problem. Gateway service stated that the following failures occured -the intake manifold gasket and timing cover gasket failed. What needs to be done to correct the problem? …”
NHTSA complaint #10095993, filed 2004-10, 98,005 miles“I have a 1996 Pontiac Grand Am with a quad 4 engine in it. The engine has 100,050 miles on it, I took very good care of it, oil changes on time did all of the maintenance on it required in the book, etc, etc. I started the car the other day and the whole thing jerked forward, made a loud bang then would not do any thing but turn over really fast. I had it towed in to my mechanic and found out that my engine needs to be replaced because the exhaust valves smashed into the pistons and did a lot of damage. …”
NHTSA complaint #10021451, filed 2003-06, 100,050 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. They have now had my car 2 days and they want to charge me another $80 to further diagnose my coolant leak. …”
NHTSA complaint #10008516, filed 2003-03, 78,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10246631Sep 1, 2013Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 | 2% |
| 2004 | 12 | 4% |
| 2003 | 24 | 7% |
| 2002 | 54 | 14% |
| 2001 | 75 | 14% |
| 2000 | 111 | 16% |
| 1999 | 133 | 16% |
| 1998 | 23 | 13% |
| 1997 | 83 | 22% |
| 1996 | 74 | 16% |
| 1995 | 60 | 15% |
| 1994 | 73 | 19% |
| 1993 | 54 | 26% |
| 1992 | 62 | 37% |
| 1991 | 22 | 27% |
| 1990 | 14 | 37% |
| 1989 | 23 | 52% |
| 1988 | 12 | 39% |
| 1987 | 9 | 32% |
Other parts of the 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
122 complaintsAir bags
104 complaintsBrakes
64 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
37 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
33 complaintsSuspension
30 complaintsFuel system
25 complaintsBody and structure
24 complaintsExterior lighting
20 complaintsSteering
19 complaintsOther or unknown
15 complaintsEquipment
14 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology