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1999 Pontiac Grand AMProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 849 owner complaints about the 1999 Pontiac Grand AM, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-400 the manufacturer reports only 22% of affected cars repaired.

25
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid2.9× the Grand AM median · #1 of 20 years by complaints
Safety recalls3Lowest repair rate 22%Owner complaints849134 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage41kService brakes, hydraulic, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 22, 2023. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1999 Pontiac Grand AM has problems

849 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic2037
Engine and engine cooling1335
Electrical system13211
Suspension1075
Visibility880
Air bags7651
Steering709
Exterior lighting681
Structure451
19 other systems22824

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

3 recalls

1999 Pontiac Grand AM recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

22%repaired · 2016 Q2

Electrical system: ignition

Recall 14V-400 · Jul 3, 2014 · 5,877,718 vehicles · 1,318,487 repaired

Risk. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Structure: body

Recall 00V-140 · May 18, 2000 · 487,400 vehicles

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CONSOLE COVER COULD OPEN AND THE COVER OR ITEMS STORED UNDER IT COULD INJURE AN OCCUPANT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Steering: steering wheel/handle bar

Recall 98V-320 · Dec 15, 1998 · 217 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Pontiac.

Mileage at failure

When do service brakes, hydraulic problems start?

41kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 32 service brakes, hydraulic complaints. 91% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 32% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
7under 30k miles29under 100k miles3100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Visibility

13 owners mentioned a cost

$488median

Middle half: $300 – $600

Electrical system

9 owners mentioned a cost

$600median

Middle half: $500 – $650

Engine and engine cooling

9 owners mentioned a cost

$1,000median

Middle half: $700 – $1,100

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1999 vs. every other Grand AM year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Grand AM median. How we score

'73'75'78'83'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1999 Pontiac Grand AM safety ratings

1999 Pontiac Grand Am 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

1999 Pontiac Grand AM frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
1999 Pontiac Grand AM side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1999 Pontiac Grand AM, and the recalls they led to.

  1. FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTUREEA03021 · closed Oct 19, 2004
    No recall
  2. FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTUREPE03031 · closed Nov 4, 2003
    No recall
  3. TURN SIGNAL FAILURESRQ04005 · closed Nov 30, 2004
    No recall
In owners' words

What Grand AM owners report

Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

CAR THE WORST. I'VE SUNK MORE $ IN2 IT THAN SHE COST TO BUY. $15,000 AT LST. HEAD GASKET X2. INTAKE MANIFOLD X2 WINDOW PARTS X2 BRAKES, PADS ROTORS ENGINE REPLACED IN 2009 BY QUACK MECHANIC ON ADVICE FROM A FRIEND CAR 3 MTHS ON LIFT! COST $1000 A YR 2 PASS NYS INSPECTION HAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER &…
Complaint 10473840 · Sep 4, 2012 · 49,000 miles
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, SHE NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE HAD BEGUN TO RUB AGAINST THE ROTORS, THE CALIPER WAS NOT LOCKED INTO PLACE AND THE BRAKES DID…
Complaint 10361002 · Oct 18, 2010 · 139,000 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…
Complaint 10228913 · May 26, 2008 · 107,000 miles

Own a 1999 Grand AM?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.