Complaints
88
Crashes
4
Fires
4
Injuries
1
Fatalities
1
Recalls
0
Worst 1989 Pontiac Grand Am Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#128 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Fires:1
#25 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition
#35 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1989 Pontiac Grand Am.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 28 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 | — | 2 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Gear Box:Shaft Pitman | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections | 1 | — | — | — |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
28
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Rack And Pinion
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Wiring & Fuses
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Gear Box:Shaft Pitman
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1989 Pontiac Grand Am. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Pontiac Grand Am Years
1989 Pontiac Grand Am — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1989 Pontiac Grand Am reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1989 Pontiac Grand Am has 88 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine with 28 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1989 Pontiac Grand Am?
Top reported problems: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (28 complaints); Electrical System:Ignition (5 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control (5 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1989 Pontiac Grand Am?
NHTSA complaints for the 1989 Pontiac Grand Am include 4 crash-related reports, 4 fire reports, 1 injuries, and 1 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 1989 Pontiac Grand Am have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1989 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 1989 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.
Check Your Specific 1989 Pontiac Grand Am
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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