NHTSA — Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine Problems

1995 Pontiac Grand Am (Page 1 of 2)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
13,491 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1995 Pontiac Grand Am engine problems

engine problem

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1995 Pontiac Grand Am Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #23

Jul 202004

Grand Am 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 87,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I bought my 1995 Pontiac Grand Am SE, used in 2001, not even a month after having it, I had to replace the radiator. From there went my coolant line, a dealer part I had to pay a fortune for. Then I also have significant water damage that somehow gets into my carand I end up with puddles of water on the floor. My heater core went, replaced that. Then ball joints, replaced that. Then the recall on my ignition that I failed to recieve, was out with my husband and son for the day, got in to start my car and it wouldnt turn over. Took the key out, then all of a sudden the car started to turn over repeditily. Needless to say if my husband wasnt there my son and I could have died, I wouldnt have know what to do. My son was strapped in his car seat and I popped the hood, next thing I know smoke starts pouring into my car from the dash. So I grab my son out quickly as my husband popped the hood, and seen sparks and ripped the power cord off of the battery which stopped the sparks which was in the process of starting a fire. After replacing that, my power steering went, had to replace those lines. Then my coolant was low for no reason at all, the next week, two weeks after an oil change, oil light comes on. No oil in the engine. Put oil in and was fine for about an hour until car suddenly lost power and I had to pull of to the side of the road to find out that I have a blown head gasket plus other problems caused by this that caused my motor to no longer be in running order. I still owe $2000 on my car and was told today by numerous specialists that this car with the blown head gaskets is a known problem in these cars, and for some reason GM fails to acknowledge this and lets these cars remain on the road. You need to do something. So now I have no car with a baby, and a major problem. Like I said you need to fix this problem.

- Mckeesport, PA, USA

problem #22

Aug 302003

Grand Am 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles
About a year ago I purchased a 95 Pontiac Grand Am SE from price point used car super center. When I bought the car I was told by the person selling it to me that it would be good for a kid going to college that it was reliable and such... well I got the car, not only is it not reliable it keeps breaking down on me. For the entire year of owning the car it has overheated too many times to count... I contacted the dealer but they told me there was nothing they could do because of being bought as is... so I took it to an a place called auto lab... they said they fixed the problem of it overheating said it was a head gasket blown... so after it was fixed it worked for about a week then started overheating again... I promptly took it back they said that I had blown the water pump and fixed it a week later after getting it back it overheated again... they finally did a fine inspection of it and said I needed a new radiator I figured fine got one and it still over heats the engine is a 2.5 liter quad 4.. its been a year now and I have yet been able to get the car to stop overheating even in winter... as a last ditch effort I am writting to you wondering if there is anything that you might be able to do for me... I would like to add that my parents have put in well over $3,000 into this car in vehicle repairs alone and it still has failed to work. Each time I took it back to auto lab they had it for a least a week, and over a month straight during the summer. I am still paying on this vehicle and it is bleeding me dry.

- Northport, MI, USA

problem #21

Dec 262003

Grand Am 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20 miles
Car bought in 1995. Has been in the shop over 10 times for major repairs. Car is again in the shop due to not being able to accelerate over 30 miles per hour. Entire engine shakes very badly.

- Glendale Heights, IL, USA

problem #20

Aug 212003

Grand Am 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 113,264 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

95 Pontiac Grand Am SE 3.1L V6, automatic trans. With 113,264 miles. Car lost power, starting smoking very badly, car was pulled off highway and stopped immediately. Repair shop inspected and found oil filter gasket blew out, allowing engine oil to be expelled. This could cause an engine fire, but did not this time. Oil change shop inspected filter and claims regulator in oil pump caused oil to be over-pressurized, blowing out the gasket and claims no responsibility. Engine needs to be replaced according the repair shop. I bought car new and maintained it regularly and am very disappointed with the apparent poor quality of this GM product.

- Beavercreek, OH, USA

problem #19

Jan 102003

Grand Am

  • miles
Intake manifold gasket leak. Car had 55,000 original miles. Piston slap also begun to occur. Transmission had problems, only revs to 4K RPM, will not go higher than 4K RPM.

- Skokie, IL, USA

problem #18

Apr 222003

(reported on)

Grand Am

  • miles
The engine light illuminated and the temperature gauge read the vehicle over heated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on 1/21/03 who stated there a blockage in the engine, and the engine needed to be replaced.

- Alden, NY, USA

problem #17

Sep 032002

(reported on)

Grand Am

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving heard a very loud noise, had vehicle serviced. Timing chain was loose, and if it breaks, it will destroy entire engine.

- Weston, WV, USA

problem #16

Aug 222002

Grand Am

  • miles
While driving at 55mph on flat surface and with no warning head gasket blewout, and it had caused vehicle to overheat. Consumer had to pull over. Dealer notified.

- Knob Noster, MO, USA

problem #15

Dec 012001

Grand Am

  • miles
Was traveling on a side street and heard a banging noise coming from underneath the vehicle. She pulled over to the shoulder and vehicle wouldn't start back up. The dealership is aware of the problem.

- Altoona, PA, USA

problem #14

Apr 202001

Grand Am

  • miles
This car was bought used in 1998, it is a 1995. We have replaced heater core and the power window motor. The power window was taken care of by the dealer, once already. It is faulty still. Now we cannot safely drive the car, due to the possible blown head gasket. Two trusted mechanics have told us if we have to repair instead of replace, we really should replace the entire engine, a cost of 5600, with an expected life of 3 years. Haven been taken by the dealer, we still owe 5400. We cannot afford another car, or the repairs. Unfortunately, we have to find a way to afford the repairs and a rental. Thank you for your service.

- Groton, CT, USA

problem #13

Dec 012000

Grand Am

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer contacted dealer for a recall on ignition. Dealer told consumer that parts would not be in until March 2001. Consumer waited 3 months, unable to drive in fear of an ignition fire, then, oil pump went out. Took it to dealer. Dealer said they needed to fix oil pump befor E they could fix ignition because of safety reasons.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #12

Mar 022001

Grand Am

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Head gaskets are leaking oil. They were fixed 3 times within a year. The dealer will go half with the cost but have no explanation why they need to be replaced so much.

- Slinger, WI, USA

problem #11

Dec 012000

Grand Am

  • miles
Consumer received recall 00V287, however when contacting dealer they stated that parts were not available, failure resulted in voltage regulater failure, consumer is requesting reimbursement for that replacement cost. Radiator failed and was replaced, head gaskets failed and engine was rebuilt.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #10

Oct 042000

(reported on)

Grand Am

  • miles
Quadra 4 engine; rustand mud is getting into radiator and clogging it up, causing vehicle to overheat, and resulting in blown head gasket. Dealer must tear down entire vehicle just to get into the head gasket and radiator.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #9

Mar 252000

Grand Am

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The car set on fire and stalled in the middle of the road, blew a rod and melted the spark plugs, the computer failed and the transmission blew.

- Mesa, AR, USA

problem #8

Mar 132000

Grand Am

  • miles
Engin E head gasket blew out. Dealer/manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was not under manufacturer's recall, and repairs would be done at consumer's cost.

- Greensville, NC, USA

problem #7

May 291999

Grand Am

  • miles
The timing gear and belt/chain components were replaced at 36000 miles due to missing teeth on the gear, which was causing damage to the belt/chain. Now at 103000 it appears we have the same problem, but we were unable to catch the problem in time before complete failure occurred. Engine won't start due to the broken/defective parts.

- Elgin, IL, USA

problem #6

May 251999

(reported on)

Grand Am

  • miles
Motor mounts are prematurely breaking, causing engine to shift and transmission to eventually fail.

- Vicksburg, MD, USA

problem #5

Jun 011997

Grand Am

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Automatic transmission failed twice, and ABS brakes were replaced four times. In addition, engine valve cover gasket leaks oil, and tail lights hold water, replaced four times.

- Denison, TX, USA

problem #4

Feb 251997

(reported on)

Grand Am

  • miles
At 52 927 miles the engine mounts have completely seprated, causing the engine to shake and make loud noises. The dealer states that new holes will be drilled and brackets will be replaced.

- Reisters Town, MD, USA

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