1999 Pontiac Grand AM Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report a wide spread of problems, with front brake work (pads, rotors, grinding, pulsation) and broken front coil springs appearing most often in the sampled complaints. A recurring coolant and intake gasket leak is also frequently described, and complaints cluster from roughly 30,000 to 100,000 miles, so many of these appear as wear-and-repair items rather than one-time failures.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front coil springs break and can puncture tires

   Mentioned in 15 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe a loud bang, often while backing out of a driveway or turning at low speed, followed by the front of the car dropping and sometimes a flat tire. Owners report the broken spring end poking into or shredding the tire, and in several cases a strut was replaced at the same time. Some say the dealer described the break as uncommon, while others report being told it is fairly common on this car; repairs were typically paid by the owner unless an extended warranty applied. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 130,000 miles, frequently at low speed while pulling out of a driveway or parking lot.

   What to check: Have a mechanic inspect both front springs and struts for cracks or recent replacement, and check the front tires for sidewall damage or unusual wear. Ask whether either front spring has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The coil spring on the left side broke while we were on vacation and left us stranded. Luckily it did not cause an accident. Pontiac refuses to take responsobility for this. I have been told by several mchanics that this is not common and should not have happened unless there was a defect.”

   NHTSA complaint #10086940, filed 2004-08, 67,800 miles

   “1999 Pontiac Grand Am gt ,front coil spring .back out of drive way then started down road when all of a sudden right front spring let go with such a force that I thought rt at first some one shot at car or was in an accident. Dealer fix with new spring and strut oem parts witch wear damage do to spring going. Dealer keep parts said that this was not common. I have heard that this is a common problem with the grand ams.”

   NHTSA complaint #10280602, filed 2009-08, 80,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake grinding, pulsation and repeated rotor replacement

   • 189 complaints (22%)
   • median 58,500 mi at 5.0 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 1998–2012

   Owners describe grinding noises from the front wheels and a shake or pulsation through the pedal when braking, sometimes at low speed and sometimes at any speed. Complaints commonly mention pads and rotors being replaced or turned more than once, in some cases every year, and a few report calipers sticking or not seating properly. Several owners say the dealer or repair shop offered no assistance once the vehicle was out of warranty. Reports start as early as a few thousand miles and continue through 100,000 miles, with many around 40,000 to 80,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the car and brake firmly from speed to feel for pulsation or grinding, and ask for receipts showing when the pads, rotors and calipers were last serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have owned this car for just under 4 years and have spent the last 2.5 in and out of the service dept. With it. I've had the brake rotors replaced 3 times, every year, almost to the day. I have also just had the fuel pump replaced 2 times and discovered a leak in my intake manifold with only 41k miles on the vehicle. It has been a safety hazard at times and left me stranded once.”

   NHTSA complaint #10007722, filed 2003-02, 41,000 miles

   “I bought a 1999 Grand Am gt n january 2008 from feyer ford in williamston north carolina. Within the first month the rotors and brakes went out followed by the ignition switch followed by the passenger window regulator going out. Then about a week later the driver side window regulator went out. I want to know if there is a recall on the window regulators for my vehicle if no then one should be my stepsons girlfriends window regulator went out on her Pontiac Grand Am also.”

   NHTSA complaint #10228913, filed 2008-05, 107,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Coolant leak at the intake manifold gasket

   • 98 complaints (12%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (55 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 21 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2013

   Complaints describe the low-coolant light coming on, coolant loss without an obvious puddle, and a mechanic identifying a leaking intake manifold gasket. Some owners report the same gasket being replaced repeatedly within a few years, and others mention overheating, a check-engine light, or coolant reaching engine belts and accessories. Several say the repair was at their own cost and that the dealer or manufacturer declined to cover it. Most commonly reported between about 30,000 and 100,000 miles, often noticed during routine service or when the coolant light comes on.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for stains or residue around the intake manifold and on the belt area, and ask whether the intake gaskets have been replaced and with which parts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After about 100,000 miles, I was told the intake manifold gasket on my Pontiac GM 1999 Grand Am needed to be replaced (coolant was leaking and after investigation I saw that the dexcool coolant was to blame for wearing of this intake manifold gasket). Of course, my vehicle is not under warranty, and GM will not cover it. If I didn't pay (or have ) the $1000 to fix this, I was probably going to ruin my engine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10145263, filed 2005-12, 100,000 miles

   “During the last 6 months my wife and I have put approximately $650.00 into a 1999 Grand Am. This was replacing the water pump, alternator and the *intake gaskets *has not been 30 days. On june 20 the engine fails. This was a $220.00 towing bill. Several people and mechanics are questioned no one has the answer. But I do believe GM can provide the answer to all of our questions. We will never own another GM product.”

   NHTSA complaint #10023526, filed 2003-06, 78,000 miles
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Turn signals and hazard switch stop working

   • 70 complaints (8%)
   • median 61,500 mi at 5.8 yrs old (36 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2023

   Complaints describe turn signals that stop working intermittently or entirely, sometimes with the hazard flashers also failing, and a clicking noise near the hazard switch. Several owners report the multi-function switch or hazard switch being replaced, sometimes more than once, and say the dealer or manufacturer declined coverage because their vehicle was not included in a related campaign. Some report near-misses when other drivers did not see the signal. Reported from about 31,000 to 180,000 miles, with several complaints under 60,000 miles.

   What to check: Test the turn signals, hazards and four-way flashers with the engine running, and ask whether the multi-function or hazard switch has been replaced and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Turn signals became inoperative while turning, causing the car following to assume I was no longer turning, and accelerate....rear-ending me. This is a recurrent issue that needs resolved. Also, after the collision, the hazard lights would not work. Also, just saw the recall on the 2000-2001 grand aims, allergy, and mailbox from GM for the exact same issue. I believe the recall should be mandated to include the 1999 model year as well.”

   NHTSA complaint #10037487, filed 2003-09, 49,987 miles

   “The turn signals and hazard flashers work very poorly...I have had tis vehicle for a year now, and every day they stop working....I have contacted to dealer many times, but each time I am told that the hazard switch might be bad..which is the same component that went bad in the 95-era grand ams that made them experience the same problem, leading Pontiac to issue a recall on them....so it needs to be expanded!...they will stop working for no reason and this has almost caused a few accidents....and one time when I needed to place my hazard …”

   NHTSA complaint #10031088, filed 2003-08, 47,990 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Power windows and regulators stop working

   • 93 complaints (11%)
   • median 66,267 mi at 5.0 yrs old (36 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 17 quotes)
   • filed 1998–2016

   Owners report windows dropping into the door or failing to move, in some cases one regulator after another and in others all four windows at once. Complaints describe repeated repairs and dealer suggestions to replace window motors, with owners paying for the parts themselves. Some mention the same failure occurring on other cars of this model they know of. Reported from about 30,000 to 115,000 miles, with several between 48,000 and 83,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Operate every power window through its full travel and listen for slow movement or clicking, and ask whether any regulator or motor has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Left window regulator needed replacing because my window fell in the door and I was unable to use my window. I know of 2 other people that this has happened to. It cost me $260.68 for the part, and $14 for a switch. Gm knows of this problem but has not done a recall. This is quite common in Grand Am and grand prix. I would like to know of any reimbursement program for the cost of the part?”

   NHTSA complaint #10100019, filed 2004-11, 48,362 miles

   “Dt: 1999 Pontiac Grand Am. The consumer stated the window track has broke. This has been fixed twice, and still did not work properly. The vehicle shook when the brakes were applied. The brake pads have been replaced four times. The rotors have been turned twice and replaced once. The manufacturer was not aware of the problems.”

   NHTSA complaint #10132427, filed 2005-08, 30,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the front springs and struts, brakes, and coolant and intake gasket area is worth the cost on this model year, and receipts for prior window, brake and gasket repairs tell you what has already been addressed.

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.