NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Pontiac Grand Am Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2002 Pontiac Grand Am has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 396 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Pontiac dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2002 Pontiac Grand Am, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2002 Pontiac Grand Am owner complaints

Owners have filed 396 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Pontiac Grand Am, describing incidents dated October 19, 2001 to March 10, 2020.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 148 complaints
Exterior Lighting 97 complaints
Engine 65 complaints
Service Brakes 39 complaints
Steering 23 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 23 complaints

Of the 396 complaints on file, 22 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 396 complaints, owners report 23 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11318113 · Filed March 15, 2020
MY PONTIAC GRAND AM SE 4DS 3.4 LITER ENGINE 2002 HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SECURITY LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON & STAYS ON & THEN WHEN I SHUT IT OFF & THEN GET BACK IN CAR TO START IT , IT WOULDN'T START THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES & I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES OR FOR IT TO GO OUT LEAVING THE CAR IN ON POSITION…
ODI #11282802 · Filed November 28, 2019
I WAS DIVING DOWN HWY 70 GOING TO PICK UP MY FIRST DELIVERY FOR THE DAY WHEN, I'M NOT SURE HOW BUT THE KEY CAME OUT OF THE ON POSTION AND FELL OUT ON FLOOR, SCARED I WAS GOING TO CRASH I HURRIEDLY REACHED DOWN AND PUT IT BACK IN AND NOTICED THE SECURITY LIGHT HAD CAME ON AND WITHIN MINUTES IT LOST…
ODI #11252536 · Filed August 31, 2019
I REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING BACK IN 2018 BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT STILL ON IT HAS TO BE A AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE SINCE I PURCHASED MY FIRST CAR SINCE 2011 IT NEEDS TO BE TURNED OFF

Read all 396 complaints

Owner-reported

2002 Pontiac Grand Am mileage at failure

270 of the 396 complaints on file for the 2002 Pontiac Grand Am give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Electrical System	Median 80,000 miles	Middle half 55,000–110,000 miles	Based on 106 complaints
Exterior Lighting	Median 80,000 miles	Middle half 60,000–100,000 miles	Based on 68 complaints
Engine	Median 65,000 miles	Middle half 45,000–95,000 miles	Based on 42 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Complaints received before December 15, 2002 rarely give a mileage, so they aren't counted here.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2002 Pontiac Grand Am in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE05-055: TURN SIGNAL FAILURES
Closed January 13, 2006

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Ignition Switch may Turn Off

NHTSA #14V400000 · Electrical System — Ignition · NHTSA notice

Reported July 3, 2014 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 5,877,718 vehicles

Repair completion: 37.05% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 14350 · Owners notified September 8, 2014

Defect description

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. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Safety consequence

If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

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. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS

NHTSA #09E012000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported April 7, 2009 · SABERSPORT

Potentially affected: 16,270 vehicles

Owners notified May 11, 2009

Defect description

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 STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Safety consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER.IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF YOUR AFTERMARKET LAMP ASSEMBLY IS AFFECTED BY THIS NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE REVIEW THE LIST OF MODEL NUMBERS PROVIDED TO US BY SABERSPORT.THE LIST CAN BE FOUND UNDER "DOCUMENT SEARCH" LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

AFTERMARKET FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS

NHTSA #07E021000 · Fuel System, Other — Storage — Tank Assembly — Pressure Relief Devices · NHTSA notice

Reported March 12, 2007 · DELPHI

Potentially affected: 742 vehicles

Owners notified April 27, 2007

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED BY GENERAL MOTORS.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS

NHTSA #06E064000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported July 17, 2006 · TRADESONIC

Potentially affected: 4,029 vehicles

Defect description

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, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Safety consequence

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO TRADESONIC AFTERMARKET LAMPS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAMP MODEL NUMBERS, CLICK ON DOCUMENT SEARCH AND VIEW DOCUMENT TITLED "LAMP MODEL NUMBERS."CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

2002 Pontiac Grand Am 4-DR.

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 3, Passenger: 3

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

1 investigation

2002 Pontiac Grand Am 2-DR.

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 1, Passenger: 4

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

1 investigation

396 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Pontiac Grand Am.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11318113

Incident: March 10, 2020 · Filed: March 15, 2020

MY PONTIAC GRAND AM SE 4DS 3.4 LITER ENGINE 2002 HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SECURITY LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON & STAYS ON & THEN WHEN I SHUT IT OFF & THEN GET BACK IN CAR TO START IT , IT WOULDN'T START THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES & I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES OR FOR IT TO GO OUT LEAVING THE CAR IN ON POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES OR MORE EVERY TIME I GET IN THE CAR TO START IT BUT ONCE I WAIT 10 MINUTES THE LIGHT GO'S OUT & THEN START CAR THE SECURITY LIGHT STAYS ON AGAIN WITHOUT FLASHING THEN WHEN I GET SHUT THE CAR DOWN & THEN START AGAIN THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES AGAIN CAN'T START THE CAR AGAIN & THIS HAPPENS CONTINUOUSLY NON STOP THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I PARK MY CAR AT A SHOPPING CENTER OR MY PARKING SPOT AT MY CONDO. I TRIED EVERYTHING TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY UNDER THE HOOD FOR 20 MINUTES IT RESETS BUT IT STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN WITH THE SECURITY LIGHT ON WHEN I START THE CAR UP THEN HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR THE SECURITY LIGHT TO STOP FLASHING THEN RESTART IT AGAIN AFTER THE STOPS FLASHING THEN IT STARTS BUT SECURITY LIGHT COMES BACK ON AGAIN. THEN IF I SHUT OFF I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES EVERY TIME . WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM PLEASE.

Electrical System; Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11282802

Incident: November 27, 2019 · Filed: November 28, 2019

I WAS DIVING DOWN HWY 70 GOING TO PICK UP MY FIRST DELIVERY FOR THE DAY WHEN, I'M NOT SURE HOW BUT THE KEY CAME OUT OF THE ON POSTION AND FELL OUT ON FLOOR, SCARED I WAS GOING TO CRASH I HURRIEDLY REACHED DOWN AND PUT IT BACK IN AND NOTICED THE SECURITY LIGHT HAD CAME ON AND WITHIN MINUTES IT LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT OFF, LUCKILY I AM A GOOD DRIVER AND DIDN'T CRASH BUT MANAGE TO GET OFF ROAD SAFELY. I'M SO GLAD WORSE DIDN'T HAPPEN. NOW I HAVE NO CAR AND PROBABLY LOST ALL 3 JOBS I HAD.

Power Train; Electrical System; Air Bags

ODI #11252536

Incident: October 11, 2018 · Filed: August 31, 2019

I REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING BACK IN 2018 BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT STILL ON IT HAS TO BE A AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE SINCE I PURCHASED MY FIRST CAR SINCE 2011 IT NEEDS TO BE TURNED OFF

Steering; Unknown or Other

ODI #11246229

Incident: August 11, 2019 · Filed: August 24, 2019

TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION - SHIFTS HARD, WENT OUT WITH OUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS. WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN I TRIED TO GO, IT WOULDN'T GO PAST 10 MPH AND WENT ALL THE WAY UP TO 4TH RPM. POWER STEERING LEAKS BAD.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11165751

Incident: March 26, 2018 · Filed: January 4, 2019

SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THE CAR IT'S HAD A STRONG GAS ODOR THAT FILLS THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. IT GETS WORSE WHEN YOU RUN THE DEFROST AND WHEN THE GAS TANK IS ON E. IT'S AN EVERYDAY STRONG GAS ODOR AND MOST OF THE TIME IT'S EVERYTIME YOU DRIVE IT NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES IN ONE DAY OR HOW LONG OF A PERIOD AT A TIME.

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting

ODI #11153694

Incident: November 25, 2018 · Filed: November 26, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, BUT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS. WHEN THE HAZARD BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED, THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Electrical System

ODI #11096699

Incident: August 9, 2017 · Filed: May 18, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND SECURITY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SECURITY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED AUTONATION CHEVROLET AT (407) 680-0751 (LOCATED AT 3707 W COLONIAL DR, ORLANDO, FL 32808) AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,377.

Air Bags

ODI #11063941

Incident: March 28, 2008 · Filed: January 21, 2018

'TAKATA RECALL' DETERIORATION OF AIRBAGS DUE TO THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND THE HEAT OF THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES

Electrical System

ODI #11063709

Incident: January 17, 2018 · Filed: January 19, 2018

TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM ---- VEHICLE HAS 165,478 MILES CONTACT WAS GOING 10MPH WHEN BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING, IN TURN LANE TO TURN OFF MAIN ROAD AT NIGHT.. CONTACT WAS DRIVING HOME TWO NIGHTS AGO WHEN BLINKERS BOTH WENT OUT AND CONTACT WENT ONLINE AND LOOKED UP VIN NUMBER AND SAW TWO RECALLS. CONTACT STATED SHE HAD CALLED LOCAL GM DEALER AND GM STATE VEHICLE HAS NO RECALLS. CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC TO HAVE FUSES REPLACED . 0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN.... CB

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10956229

Incident: February 14, 2017 · Filed: February 22, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE OPERATING THE TURN SIGNAL EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT, THE SIGNAL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

Other Pontiac Grand Am model years

Check your 2002 Pontiac Grand Am VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Pontiac Grand Am at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Pontiac VIN