1999 Pontiac Grand AM problems
NHTSA has received 1,318 complaints about the 1999 Pontiac Grand AM, and 20% of them involve brakes. After that come electrical system (12%) and engine (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 1,318 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 21% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 99 and 15
- Injuries and deaths
- 94 and 18
- Typical mileage
- 70,000 miles 397 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 44 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 47 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 67 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 92 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 69 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 32 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 18 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 12 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 10 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 5 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 397 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 70,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 40,000 miles (43 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 99 complaints mention a crash; 15 complaints mention a fire; 94 injuries reported; 18 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1999 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 16 model years of the Pontiac Grand AM with enough data (935 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While traveling at an unknown speed vehicle swerved to avod hitting another vehicle, and went into a ditch. Then, went backed across road and went into a culvert where the vehicle impacted a tree. Both frontal air bags failed to deploy. Consumer's step son was driving vehicle and was killed in crash, two other passengers suffered restraint belt injuries, and were released from hospital. Please provide any additional information/attachments.
I am contacting you in an effort to have a vehicle recalled or to at least spawn an investigation into the brake system on 1999 pontiac grand am's. Since I bought my vehicle in august of 2001 I have had nothing but problems with the brake system. Grinding noises and severe vibration when applying the brakes. The car has been to the dealership countless times for the same problem to no avail.
My wife purchased a 1999 pontiac grand am in 1999. For the last two years, we have been experiencing problems like the steering wheel making sounds when we turn the wheel, brake lights burn out frequently, fuses on back lights are shorted out with signs of melted metal, water gets into the trunk and collects. We have spoke to the dealer as well as several mechanics about these problems and we are told these are common problems with this type of car.
1999 pontiac grand am brakes creek all the time had fixed three times, just lost the spring in left rear tire , could have resulted in a accident.