2001 Pontiac Grand Am Problems, Recalls & Reliability
759 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2001 Pontiac Grand Am, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 49/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 80,750 miles.
Below average
Where 2001 sits among all Grand Am years
What owners report
“Both the hazard switch and multifunction switch shorted out at the same time causing the need to replace both switches. The hazard switch subsequently became a recall, but gm would not reimburse me for the multifunction switch as well. The dealer's mechanic could not tell me which switch caused the…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Grand Am
“Service engine soon light and coolant light came on at the same time, eventually causing the head gaskets to blow. Besides having to replace the gaskets, the oxygen sensor had to be replaced as well. Also, while the car was still under warranty, at 32,567 miles, the dealer found a coolant leak at…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Grand Am
“Consumer states that when trying to apply the brakes the brake pedal will go to the floor causing the vehicle to have extended stopping distance. Dealer notified. Mr”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Grand Am
“Was driving down city street car was in motion and car died leaving me with no steering or power. Has not started since. Have narrowed down to ignition or security it has killed a battery. Turns over but will not start. Getting very costly.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Grand Am
“Front passenger side window fell off track when trying to roll up window using automatic switch. The regulator, motor and sash-frt. Had to be replaced.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Grand Am
“I have a 2001 grand am gt and it has problems starting sometimes. It has had a fuel pump,solonoids, and a new starter put in it within the past 2 weeks and nothing seems to be fixing the problem and i've only had the car for 2 months!!”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Grand Am
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 466 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 71,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 45,000 and 113,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring.…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014.…
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
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…
Fix: 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.
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108,…
Fix: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE HAZARD WARNING SWITCHES THAT MAY EXPERIENCE SOLDER JOINT CRACKING CAUSED BY RAPID TEMPERATURE TRANSITIONS AND THE SOLDERING PROCESS. IF SOLDER JOINT CRACKING OCCURS AND RESULTS IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT, THE TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD LAMPS…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT…
CERTAIN MINIVANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE…
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. THIS SUPPLEMENT DESCRIBES AND SHOWS THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE VEHICLE AND ON…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSAXLES (RPO M86) FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." WHEN A DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR TO REVERSE, A SHIFT INHIBITOR CAUSES THE…
Fix: DEALERS WILL DISABLE THE 5TH/REVERSE INHIBITOR BY REMOVING A RETAINING PIN AND REPLACE THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 03V327000.
Technical service bulletins
406 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2001 Pontiac Grand Am. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2001 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 2001 Pontiac Grand Am reliable?
The 2001 Pontiac Grand Am drew 759 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 49/100, scored against the model's worst year (1999).
What are the most common 2001 Pontiac Grand Am problems?
The top reported problems for the 2001 Pontiac Grand Am are electrical (352 complaints), engine (85), and brakes & stability (74).
At what mileage do 2001 Pontiac Grand Am problems show up?
Owners most often report 2001 Pontiac Grand Am problems around 71,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 45,000 and 113,000 miles.
Does the 2001 Pontiac Grand Am have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 2001 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.