MYRModel Year Report

1996 Pontiac Grand AM

◆ Worse than typical
1996 Pontiac Grand AM
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Pontiac Grand AM Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1996 highlighted. 1980: 0 complaints 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1983: 1 complaints 1984: 0 complaints 1985: 4 complaints 1985 1986: 11 complaints 1987: 28 complaints 1988: 31 complaints 1989: 44 complaints 1989 1990: 38 complaints 1991: 82 complaints 1992: 168 complaints 1993: 204 complaints 1993 1994: 377 complaints 1995: 409 complaints 1996: 450 complaints 1996 1997: 383 complaints 1997 1998: 172 complaints 1999: 849 complaints 2000: 675 complaints 2001: 538 complaints 2001 2002: 395 complaints 2003: 325 complaints 2004: 293 complaints 2005: 102 complaints 2005
1996: 450 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19800
19810
19831
19840
19854
198611
198728
198831
198944
199038
199182
1992168
1993204
1994377
1995409
1996450
1997383
1998172
1999849
2000675
2001538
2002395
2003325
2004293
2005102

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

AIR BAGS 14%

14% of complaints: air bags — 63 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS AIR BAG IN FRONT END COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI report, 19960624

VEHICLE WAS IMPACTE AT 2:00 POSITION AT SPEED OF 50MPH, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19960605

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 8%

8% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 37 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

ABS: ONCE IN A WHILE, ANY SPEED, APPLYING BRAKES, REDUCES SPEED, VEHICLE KEEPS ROLLING; CAUSED ACCIDENT, ROLLED INTO ANOTHER MOVING VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19960424

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%

8% of complaints: electrical system — 36 distinct reports on file.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE SECONDS AFTER BEING PARKED. VEHICLE WAS TO BE TOWED, HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION RELATING TO IGNITION SWITCH 02V07 TO CORRECT POTENTAL FIRE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20020925

AIR BAGS 8%

8% of complaints: air bags — 34 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI report, 20140514

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120917

I HAD JUST TURNED MY CAR ON AND PUT IT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. I ONLY MOVED ABOUT TWO INCHES BACKWARDS, NOT EVEN GOING OVER 5 MPH, WHEN THE AIR BAG RANDOMLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120827

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 7%

7% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 33 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 1996 — complaint volume: 450
R 19970106 — steering

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.

Campaign 96V249000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19970130 — exterior lighting

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 EQ

Remedy: DEALERS OR VEHICLE OWNERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER FUNCTION OF THE HAZARD WARNING LAMPS. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD LAMP SWITCH.

Campaign 96V250000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19980228 — interior lighting

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 REQU

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE LAMP CONTROL MODULE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.

Campaign 98V027000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19980826 — RQ (open)

OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS

R 20020327 — electrical system

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 P

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

Campaign 02V070000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20030102 — RQ (closed 20030915)

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

R 20070320 — fuel system, gasoline

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 REVERS

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.

Campaign 07E015000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070427 — fuel system, other

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 UNI

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.

Campaign 07E021000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1996 Pontiac Grand AM — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (63 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (37 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (36 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 96V249000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 96V250000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 98V027000 (interior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 02V070000 (electrical system) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E015000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E021000 (fuel system, other) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1988 ▲ 1990 ▲ 1989

WORST YEARS

■ 1999 ■ 2000 ◆ 2001

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1996 Pontiac Grand AM reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 Pontiac Grand AM is rated "worse than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Pontiac Grand AM?

The most-reported component is air bags:frontal, accounting for 14% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1996 Pontiac Grand AM have?

6 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.