Verdict · NHTSA data
One of the years to avoid
The 1997 Pontiac Grand AM carries two red flags at once: 600 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA — 5.9× the Grand AM norm — and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS). It is one of the Grand AM years to avoid. Reports tied to this model year include 3 deaths and 49 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.
No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across electrical system (130), engine (91), and brakes (85), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.
600
NHTSA complaints
4
Recalls
2
Investigations · 1 open
43
Crash-involved
14
Fires reported
49
Injuries
3
Deaths
—
NCAP overall
| Component | Complaints | Share | vs prior year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 130 | 22% | — flat |
| Engine | 91 | 15% | — flat |
| Brakes | 85 | 14% | — flat |
| Airbags | 41 | 7% | ▼ down |
| Speed Control | 37 | 6% | ▲ up |
| Visibility & Wipers | 36 | 6% | — flat |
| Suspension | 28 | 5% | — flat |
| Transmission | 23 | 4% | ▼ down |
| Steering | 22 | 4% | — flat |
| Fuel System | 21 | 4% | — flat |
| Tires & Wheels | 17 | 3% | ▲ up |
| Other | 15 | 3% | — flat |
| Lighting | 13 | 2% | ▼ down |
| Body & Structure | 12 | 2% | ▼ down |
| Seat Belts | 10 | 2% | ▲ up |
| Seats | 8 | 1% | ▲ up |
| Climate Control (A/C & Heat) | 7 | 1% | — flat |
| Latches & Locks | 4 | 1% | ▼ down |
4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Defect
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 O'RING AND RETAINER.
Consequence
FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Remedy
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.
Defect
CERTAIN DELPHI AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMP MODULES / MODULE RESERVOIR ASSEMBLIES (MRA) THAT WERE SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE MRAS VENT AND FUEL RETURN TUBES WERE REVERSED. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE VEHICLE NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY (IDLE ROUGH AND/OR STALL) DUE TO AN OVERLY RICH FUEL BLEND OR THE VEHICLE'S EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CARBON CANISTER MAY LEAK FUEL.
Consequence
A STALLED VEHICLE CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. A FUEL LEAK CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy
DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE MRAS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 1-877-335-7443.
Defect
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence
IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
Defect
THE PROTECTIVE COVER FOR THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER WAS OMITTED. WITHOUT THIS COVER, THE POSITIVE TERMINAL BOLT ON THE FUSE BLOCK IS EXPOSED AND CAN CONTACT THE INSULATED NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. IF THE INSULATION ON THE NEGATIVE CABLE BECOMES SUFFICIENTLY WORN, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN THE POSITIVE TERMINAL AND NEGATIVE CABLE RESULTING IN EXTREMELY HIGH CURRENT FLOW.
Consequence
THIS HIGH CURRENT FLOW CAN CAUSE ARCING AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE PROTECTIVE COVER AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER TO THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER.
RQ98013
OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS
ON JUNE 26, 1998, GENERAL MOTORS BEGAIN A SAFETY RECALL, 98V-146, TO RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) IN THE 1996 AND SOME 1997 J BODY CARS, CAVALIER AND SUNFIRE.DUE TO CERTAIN CALIBRATIONS IN THE AIR BAG SDM, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN A LOW SPEED CRASH OR WHEN AN OBJECT STRIKES THE FLOOR PAN.THE RECALL POPULATION CONSISTS OF 675,302 VEHICLES BUILT FROM APRIL 1995 THROUGH MAY 1997.ODI HAS RECEIVED 8 OWNER REPORTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT A CRASH.THE PURPOSER OF THE RQ IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER GM SHOULD EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE THESE VEHICLES.CLOSING RESUME NOTE:AS OF AUGUST 5, 1999, ODI RECEIVED ONE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT REGARDING THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THE INCIDENT RATES FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ABOUT ONE-THRID OF THE RATES OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES (WHEN THE RECALL WAS INITIATED).BASED ON THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOSE NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.
“WHILE STARTING VEHICLE, WOULD CONTINUE TO RESTART BY ITSELF UNTIL CONSUMER SWITCHED IGNITION SWITCH TO ACCESSORIES. STARTED TO STOP, BUT SPARKS AND SMOKE WERE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, THE BACK OF CONSUMERS PANTS WERE ON FIRE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE…”
“CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 35 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DUE TO THE VEHICLE STALLING. ALSO, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. DUP OF 827073. *AK”
“TAPPED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT & ROLLED OVER. VEHICLE DECLARED TOTALED. PRIOR TO ACCIDENT, VEHICLE WAS IN REPAIR SHOP TWICE FOR BRAKE FAILURE. STATE TROOPER & INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INDICATED BRAKES WERE LOCKED UP AFTER ACCIDENT. EMERGENCY ROOM…”
“WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK”
“WHEN DRIVING AND DRIVER PRESSES THE ACCELERATOR, VEHICLE WILL STALL AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ACCELERATE AND TAKE OFF. VEHICLE WAS AT DEALERSHIP, AND THEY REPLACED FUEL PUMP/OIL PUMP AND COMPUTER ANALYSIS WERE DONE. RECENTLY BRAKES SEEMED TO BE PERFORMING POORLY. UPON BRAKING, STOPPING DISTANCE…”
NHTSA data argues against it: 600 complaints put the 1997 model at #5 of 29 Grand AM years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the Grand AM years to avoid.
According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (130 complaints), engine (91 complaints), brakes (85 complaints).
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 1997 Pontiac Grand AM. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.
Yes — an investigation remains open (OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.
Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Grand AM years to avoid are 1999, 2000, 2001, 1996, 1997, 1995, 2002, 1994, 2003, 2004, 1992, 1993, 1998. The cleanest record among Grand AM years belongs to 1984.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.