Complaints
600
Crashes
43
Fires
14
Injuries
49
Fatalities
3
Recalls
0
Worst 1997 Pontiac Grand Am Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#137 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Avg mileage:76,708 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:1
#232 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Avg mileage:84,473 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:2
#328 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Avg mileage:112,156 mi
Crash-related:13
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Pontiac Grand Am.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 37 | 3 | 1 | 76,708 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 32 | 1 | 2 | 84,473 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 28 | 13 | — | 112,156 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 26 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 24 | — | — | 113,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 23 | — | 3 | 124,000 mi | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 20 | — | 1 | 83,301 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 16 | 1 | — | 74,008 mi | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 15 | 1 | — | 94,499 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 15 | — | — | 79,799 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 14 | — | — | 99,023 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 14 | 1 | — | 69,849 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 12 | — | 1 | 106,683 mi | |
| Airbags | 11 | 6 | — | 86,623 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 8 | — | — | 87,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 7 | — | — | 43,500 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 6 | — | — | 97,000 mi | |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 6 | — | 1 | 113,000 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 6 | 2 | — | 118,653 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 5 | — | — | 103,600 mi |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
37
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
76,708
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
32
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
84,473
Air Bags:Frontal
28
complaints
Crashes
13
Fires
—
Avg Miles
112,156
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
26
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
24
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
113,000
Electrical System:Ignition
23
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
124,000
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
20
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
83,301
Automatic Transmission
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
74,008
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
15
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
94,499
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
79,799
Engine & Cooling
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
99,023
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
69,849
Electrical Faults
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
106,683
Airbags
11
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
86,623
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
87,000
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
43,500
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wiring & Fuses
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
97,000
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
113,000
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
118,653
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
103,600
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Pontiac Grand Am. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Pontiac Grand Am Years
1997 Pontiac Grand Am — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 Pontiac Grand Am reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 1997 Pontiac Grand Am has 600 NHTSA complaints, 43 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 37 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Pontiac Grand Am?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (37 complaints, avg 76,708 mi); Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (32 complaints, avg 84,473 mi); Air Bags:Frontal (28 complaints, avg 112,156 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1997 Pontiac Grand Am?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 92,970 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 Pontiac Grand Am?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Pontiac Grand Am include 43 crash-related reports, 14 fire reports, 49 injuries, and 3 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 1997 Pontiac Grand Am have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1997 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 1997 Pontiac Grand Am?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.
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 1997 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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