1986 Pontiac Grand Am Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1986 Pontiac Grand Am.

19851987
Complaints
13
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0

Worst 1986 Pontiac Grand Am Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#12 complaints

Interior Lighting

#22 complaints

Seat Belts:Front:Retractor

#32 complaints

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System

Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1986 Pontiac Grand Am.

Interior Lighting
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1986 Pontiac Grand Am. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Pontiac Grand Am Years

1983198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005

1986 Pontiac Grand Am — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1986 Pontiac Grand Am reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1986 Pontiac Grand Am has 13 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Interior Lighting with 2 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1986 Pontiac Grand Am?
Top reported problems: Interior Lighting (2 complaints); Seat Belts:Front:Retractor (2 complaints); Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System (2 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1986 Pontiac Grand Am?
NHTSA complaints for the 1986 Pontiac Grand Am include 1 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1986 Pontiac Grand Am have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1986 Pontiac Grand Am as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1986 Pontiac Grand Am?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Pontiac Grand Am reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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