1996 Pontiac Grand AM: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 450 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (22% of complaints); the 1998 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Mar 2007
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 450 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Mar 2017
“I was leaving my place of employment, had just backed out of my parking spot and put the car in drive. Started moving forward and the driver's side airbag deployed. No bumps, no contact with another vehicle. Just deployed. Steering wheel parts hit my arm, bruised it pretty well. Have since purchased another vehicle. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 pontiac grand am. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was advised to the contact that the sensor was disconnected and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2013
Show 7 more owner reports
“While driving home from the park, driver side air bag went off, burst of powder and horn blowing, scraped right hand. Was able to pull to side of road and undo fuse to horn. Found out by going online many others have had this happen is there any recourse to this that I can follow up on? Note: it seems gmc has known about this and really should have recalled these vehicles or taken them off the road, serious injury or death could have happened if these blow without cause. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 pontiac grand am. The contact stated that the front driver side air bag deployed inadvertently while the contact was seated in the front driver side seat. The air bag was on fire and ignited the jacket that the contact was wearing. The contact was able to extinguish the fire and shut the vehicle off. The fire department reported to the scene and a fire report was filed. The fire department taped the air bag into the dashboard in order for the contact to be able to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostics or repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Air Bags · Nov 2011
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 pontiac grand am. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph, the driver and passenger air bags deployed without warning. The vehicle was not inspected or repaired by a dealer or mechanic. The manufacturer was contacted but the contact was advised to call back the following day. The vehicel was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was approximately 230,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Mar 2011
“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 pontiac grand am. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph the drivers side air bag exploded and then the passenger side air bag exploded. After the explosion the contact continued to drive home and park the vehicle. The air bag hit her in the chest but she did not go to the hospital. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the vehicle, found no other damage and contacted the manufacturer. The manufacturer offered her $500 as a buy back for the vehicle. Complaint file#297715 was filed with the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 146,242.”Owner report · Air Bags · Mar 2011
“Tl - the contact owns a 1996 pontiac grand am . The contact stated that while driving 65 mph the air bags deployed without any explanation. He also mentioned that the air bag itself had burn marks. The dealer nor the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 180,000. Pm”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2011
“I was traveling along the highway going exactly 60 mph when something popped causing me to lose control of my vehicle ( all passengers were in seat belts) we slid down a ditch hitting a light pole causing the vehicle to come to a stop neither the driver or the passenger bag deployed. We were traveling at a high rate of speed and the air bags malfunctioned causing my fiance to hit her head on the dash. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2010
“Tl-the contact owns a 1996 pontiac grand am. While the vehicle was parked the contact had just put the key in the ignition when the drivers airbag deployed. The contact was then driving at 30mph when the passengers airbag deployed without a crash. The dealer was contacted and they stated that they needed to inspect it. After the inspection was done they told him the wires were corroded which caused the deployment. There have been no repairs to the vehicle and they stated this issue can't be repaired. The failure mileage was 183000 and the current mileage was 185000.cv”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2010
When filing, owners marked a crash in 32 of these complaints and injuries in 68 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
CERTAIN DELPHI AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMP MODULES / MODULE RESERVOIR ASSEMBLIES (MRA) THAT WERE SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE MRAS VENT AND FUEL RETURN TUBES WERE REVERSED. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE VEHICLE NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY (IDLE ROUGH AND/OR STALL) DUE TO AN OVERLY RICH FUEL BLEND OR THE VEHICLE'S EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CARBON CANISTER MAY LEAK FUEL.
Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE MRAS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 1-877-335-7443.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE INTERIOR LAMPS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS."
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE LAMP CONTROL MODULE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.
THE STEERING COLUMN LOWER PINCH BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING COLUMN PINCH BOLT FOR CORRECT TORQUE AND, IF NECESSARY, TIGHTEN THE BOLT TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE.
THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (FOUR-WAY FLASHERS) DO NOT FLASH WHEN THE HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: DEALERS OR VEHICLE OWNERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER FUNCTION OF THE HAZARD WARNING LAMPS. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD LAMP SWITCH.
How other years compare
Check your exact Grand AM by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Pontiac Grand AM reliable?
NHTSA has 450 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 1996 Pontiac Grand AM. The most complained-about area is air bags (22% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1996 Pontiac Grand AM problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 114,526 miles or less.
Does the 1996 Pontiac Grand AM have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, other:storage:tank assembly:pressure relief devices. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.