VehicleVerdict

1996 Pontiac Grand AM engine problems

The 1996 Pontiac Grand AM has 83 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 12% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

83

Engine complaints

12%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Grand AM engine complaints by model year155 complaints1973: 1 complaints1985: 2 complaints1987: 15 complaints1988: 13 complaints1989: 44 complaints1990: 17 complaints1991: 30 complaints1992: 72 complaints1993: 64 complaints1994: 82 complaints1995: 65 complaints1996: 83 complaints1997: 91 complaints1998: 26 complaints1999: 155 complaints2000: 125 complaints2001: 85 complaints2002: 66 complaints2003: 42 complaints2004: 29 complaints2005: 12 complaints
Grand AM engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“WATER GETTING INTO VEHICLE SOMEWHERE BEHIND FIREWALL. STARTED APPROXIMATELY 1YR. AGO. CAUSED ALL LIGHTS ON DASH TO LIGHT UP, NOW VEHICLE WILL NOT START, COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE PONTIAC FIX, ALTHOUGH THEY DID ISSUE A WARNING REGARDING ISSUE, BUT WILL NOT HELP WITH REMEDY. *TR”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · September 1, 2008 · crash

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1996 Pontiac Grand AM have?

NHTSA has 83 complaints about the 1996 Pontiac Grand AM engine — 12% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.