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Pontiac Grand Am — Years to Avoid

Reliability breakdown of every Pontiac Grand Am model year. Based on NHTSA owner complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.

Model Years
33
Years to Avoid
2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999
Best Years
1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974
2005Avoid
143 complaints4 recalls499 TSBs
2004Avoid
402 complaints4 recalls446 TSBs
2003Avoid
436 complaints5 recalls461 TSBs
2002Avoid
549 complaints4 recalls1 invest.457 TSBs
2001Avoid
759 complaints7 recalls3 invest.406 TSBs
2000Avoid
939 complaints8 recalls5 invest.376 TSBs
1999Avoid
1,318 complaints6 recalls3 invest.155 TSBs
1998
236 complaints3 recalls1 invest.62 TSBs
1997
600 complaints4 recalls2 invest.67 TSBs
1996
672 complaints6 recalls2 invest.66 TSBs
1995
587 complaints1 recalls2 invest.62 TSBs
1994
515 complaints2 recalls2 invest.43 TSBs
1993
290 complaints1 recalls21 TSBs
1992
304 complaints3 recalls20 TSBs
1991
102 complaints3 recalls8 TSBs
1990
61 complaints1 recalls1 TSBs
1989
88 complaints3 recalls1 invest.1 TSBs
1988
34 complaints3 recalls4 invest.3 TSBs
1987
47 complaints3 recalls3 invest.1 TSBs
1986
13 complaints2 recalls2 invest.1 TSBs
1985
8 complaints5 recalls3 invest.1 TSBs
1984Best Year
0 complaints0 recalls1 invest.
1983Best Year
1 complaints0 recalls
1982Best Year
0 complaints0 recalls
1981Best Year
0 complaints0 recalls1 invest.
1980Best Year
0 complaints1 recalls1 invest.
1979Best Year
0 complaints1 recalls1 invest.
1978
0 complaints5 recalls1 invest.
1977Best Year
0 complaints0 recalls
1976Best Year
0 complaints0 recalls
1975Best Year
0 complaints1 recalls
1974Best Year
0 complaints0 recalls
1973
1 complaints3 recalls

How we calculate this

Each year receives a composite risk score based on NHTSA owner complaints, federal recalls, safety investigations, and technical service bulletins. Years scoring more than 2x the model's average are flagged as “years to avoid.” Years in the lowest risk bracket are marked as “best years.” All data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Which Pontiac Grand Am Years Should You Avoid?

Based on federal safety data, the 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 Pontiac Grand Am are the most problematic years, with significantly higher rates of owner complaints, recalls, and safety investigations compared to other model years.

If you're shopping for a used Pontiac Grand Am, consider the 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974 model years — these have the fewest reported issues relative to other years.

33 model years analyzed