Pontiac

Grand Am (5th)

2000-2005 · Midsize Sedan · 6 engines
Best Engine ⚠️ Caution (3.2)
2,372 NHTSA Complaints
12 Recalls
38 Fire Reports
153 Crash Reports
📋 Inspection checklist

Engine Reliability Ratings

L36

3.8L 6-cyl
⚠️ Caution (3.2)
14 complaints 2.0 per year
3 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
5
cooling
4
brakes
3
steering
3
electrical
2

Known Issues

Engine Issues (5 complaints)
Cooling System Issues (4 complaints)
Brakes Issues (3 complaints)

LD9

2.4L 4-cyl
Avoid (1.9)
361 complaints 72.2 per year
3 fire reports 1 fatality
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
128
exterior
92
engine
46
brakes
45
cooling
36

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (128 complaints)
Exterior Issues (92 complaints)
Engine Issues (46 complaints)

L61

2.2L 4-cyl / 170 hp
Avoid (1.7)
242 complaints 39.8 per year Gasoline
1 fire report 7 fatalities
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
97
exterior
54
engine
33
other
24
cooling
22

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (97 complaints)
Exterior Issues (54 complaints)
Engine Issues (33 complaints)

Pontiac Grand Am Unidentified Engine

Avoid (1.5)
589 complaints 98.2 per year
10 fire reports 1 fatality
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
207
exterior
101
engine
97
cooling
85
brakes
77

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (207 complaints)
Exterior Issues (101 complaints)
Engine Issues (97 complaints)

3.4-V6-Gas

3.4L 6-cyl
Avoid (1.3)
390 complaints 78.0 per year
7 fire reports 2 fatalities
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
156
exterior
88
engine
52
cooling
40
other
40

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (156 complaints)
Exterior Issues (88 complaints)
Engine Issues (52 complaints)

LA1

3.4L 6-cyl
Avoid (1.1)
759 complaints 126.5 per year Gasoline
13 fire reports 3 fatalities
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
244
exterior
152
engine
130
cooling
103
brakes
95

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (244 complaints)
Exterior Issues (152 complaints)
Engine Issues (130 complaints)
Show 9 additional engine variants with limited data
These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints and aren't included in the main ratings above. Low counts can mean a genuinely clean record, but they can also reflect VIN-decode anomalies in NHTSA data. Treat as informational, not as a confident rating.

L26

3.8L 6-cyl
Recommended (4.5)
6 complaints 3.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
3
safety systems
1
engine
1
cooling
1
brakes
1

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (3 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (1 complaints)
Engine Issues (1 complaints)

LG8

3.1L 6-cyl
Recommended (4.9)
4 complaints 1.3 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

interior
1
transmission
1
electrical
1
other
1
engine
1

Known Issues

Interior Issues (1 complaints)
Transmission Issues (1 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (1 complaints)

LY8

1.3L 4-cyl
Recommended (5.0)
1 complaint 1.0 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

exterior
1

Known Issues

Exterior Issues (1 complaints)

LD8

4.6L 8-cyl
Recommended (3.5)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
1 fire report
View details

LS1

5.7L 8-cyl
Recommended (5.0)
1 complaint 1.0 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

brakes
1

Known Issues

Brakes Issues (1 complaints)

LL0

1.9L 4-cyl
Recommended (5.0)
1 complaint 1.0 per year
View details

3.1-V6-Gas

3.1L 6-cyl
Recommended (5.0)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

L55

1.6L 4-cyl
Recommended (5.0)
1 complaint 1.0 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
1

Known Issues

Engine Issues (1 complaints)

Same engine used in

Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Pontiac Grand Am regardless of engine variant.

Electrical System Issues (837 complaints)
electrical critical
Exterior Issues (488 complaints)
exterior critical
Engine Issues (365 complaints)
engine critical
Cooling System Issues (290 complaints)
cooling critical
Brakes Issues (280 complaints)
brakes critical

Recalls (12)

14V400000Mar 6, 2014serious
Electrical System

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.

09E012000Jul 3, 2009serious
Exterior Lighting

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.

07E021000Dec 2, 2007serious
Fuel System, Other

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.

06E064000Jul 16, 2006serious
Exterior Lighting

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.

05V054000Feb 13, 2005serious
Suspension

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLE BOLTS THAT ARE NOT TO SPECIFICATION AND COULD FRACTURE UNDER HIGH LOADS THAT CAN OCCUR IN SOME DRIVING CONDITIONS.

04V301000Jun 29, 2004serious
Fuel System

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK THAT DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATION. A WELD ON THESE FUEL TANKS MAY BE INSUFFICIENT, RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK.

04V528000Jan 10, 2004serious
Vehicle Speed Control

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, 'ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS.' IN HOT AMBIENT CONDITIONS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM MAY STICK AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE BRACKET AND NOT RETURN TO THE ENGINE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE OPERATOR LIFTS HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

03V327000Aug 27, 2003serious
Exterior Lighting

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE HAZARD WARNING SWITCHES THAT MAY EXPERIENCE SOLDER JOINT CRACKING CAUSED BY RAPID TEMPERATURE TRANSITIONS AND THE SOLDERING PROCESS. IF SOLDER JOINT CRACKING OCCURS AND RESULTS IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT, THE TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD LAMPS BECOME INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE.

03V250000Jul 14, 2003cosmetic
Equipment

CERTAIN MINIVANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER UNIVERSAL ANCHORAGE SYSTEM.

00V140000May 17, 2000serious
Structure

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE OCCUPANT PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." THE CONSOLE COVER ON THESE VEHICLES DOES NOT STAY CLOSED WHEN A SPECIFIED VERTICAL LOAD IS APPLIED.

00V116000Apr 17, 2000cosmetic
Suspension

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM TO THE LEFT REAR KNUCKLE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS DURING ASSEMBLY.

00V372000Nov 12, 2000cosmetic
Powertrain

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSAXLES (RPO M86) FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." WHEN A DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR TO REVERSE, A SHIFT INHIBITOR CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO BE MECHANICALLY IN 4TH GEAR EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFT LEVER INDICATES REVERSE GEAR.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2000-2005 Pontiac Grand Am problems?

The 2000-2005 Pontiac Grand Am has accumulated 2,372 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Electrical System, Exterior, Engine. As with any used vehicle, an inspection before buying and a vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Pontiac Grand Am engine is most reliable?

The 2000-2005 Pontiac Grand Am was offered with 15 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 3.8L 6-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2000-2005 Pontiac Grand Am a good used car?

The 2000-2005 Pontiac Grand Am can be a sound used car depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 2,372 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2000-2005 Pontiac Grand Am have?

The 2000-2005 Pontiac Grand Am has 2,372 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2000-2005 Pontiac Grand Am?

There are 12 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2000-2005 Pontiac Grand Am vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used Pontiac Grand Am?

Before buying a used Pontiac Grand Am, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Electrical System, Exterior, Engine, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.

Does the Grand Am have NHTSA crash test ratings?

NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2000-2005 Pontiac Grand Am. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 2,372 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-05-23.

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