1994 Pontiac Grand Am Problems, Recalls & Reliability
515 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1994 Pontiac Grand Am, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 50/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports.
Below average
Where 1994 sits among all Grand Am years
What owners report
“Switching from high to low beams headlights shut off & use of hazard lights shut off turn signals until car sits overnight”— owner report to NHTSA, 1994 Grand Am
“Cracked cylinder head by spark plug. Antifreeze going into cylinder causing spark plug failure.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1994 Grand Am
“Complete replacement of brakes twice, oil pan once and continue having problems maintaining oil pressure”— owner report to NHTSA, 1994 Grand Am
“The steering column became loose at the tilt section, when the dealer disassembled the steering column he found tilt pins coming out of the column. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1994 Grand Am
“At 12:00 position at 30-40mph, drivers side airbag did not deploy, resulting in an injury. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1994 Grand Am
“After releasing parking brake on an automatic, car began to roll while still in park causing an accident. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1994 Grand Am
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 37 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 123,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 99,000 and 157,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE STARTER FAILS TO ENGAGE AND THE DRIVER HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRODUCING HEAT THAT CAN MELT SWITCH PARTS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT AND VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION (ADEQUATE RESERVE CAPACITY, OR COLD CRANKING AMPS). THIS CAMPAIGN…
THESE VEHICLES WERE CONSTRUCTED WITH WELDS IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT PAN ASSEMBLY THAT ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO FUEL TANK LEAKAGE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT COLLISION. THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLIES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS…
Fix: DEALER WILL INSTALL RIVETS ADJACENT TO THE LOCATIONS WHERE THE SUSPECT WELDS ARE LOCATED.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 00V287000.
Technical service bulletins
43 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and brakes & stability — are on file for the 1994 Pontiac Grand Am. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1994 Grand Am TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1994 Pontiac Grand Am reliable?
The 1994 Pontiac Grand Am drew 515 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 50/100, scored against the model's worst year (1999).
What are the most common 1994 Pontiac Grand Am problems?
The top reported problems for the 1994 Pontiac Grand Am are electrical (110 complaints), engine (82), and brakes & stability (75).
At what mileage do 1994 Pontiac Grand Am problems show up?
Owners most often report 1994 Pontiac Grand Am problems around 123,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 99,000 and 157,000 miles.
Does the 1994 Pontiac Grand Am have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 1994 Pontiac Grand Am. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.