1990 Pontiac Grand Am

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

73/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about the 1990 Pontiac Grand Am, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Engine and engine cooling	15	27%
Power train	7	13%
Structure	4	7%
Tires	4	7%
Electrical system	4	7%
Steering	3	5%
Seat belts	3	5%
Wheels	2	4%
Service brakes	2	4%
Vehicle speed control	2	4%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

VEHICLE FIRE. NAR 06/18/2003. *MR DAMAGES TO THE HOOD, ENGINE, BUMPER, AND WHEELS. *CB
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE RIMS ON THE VEHICLE ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AGO THE FIRS ONE BROKE WICH WAS THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND NOW THERE IS A SECOND ONE WAS THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE. MANUFACTURER
NHTSA complaint: Wheels

VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING ANTIFREEZE WHILE LEAVING DEALERSHIP, AND BEGAN SMOKING.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

THERE IS A NOISE IN LEFT FRONT DOOR, MECHANIC STATED WINDOW RUN CHANNEL WAS LOOSE, GLUED DRIVERS DOOR RUN CHANNEL AT TOP RIGHT.*JB CONSUMER STATES AFTER 4000 MILES THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUST, CONSUMER STATES IT IS GETTIN
NHTSA complaint: Structure

THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AREA, WHEN BACKING UP OR MAKING TURNS, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE NOISE IS FROM THE POWER STEERING CUT OUT SWITCH FOR A/C ONLY WHEN A/C IS ON AND CORNERING FULL LEFT OR
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

CONSUMER STATES HE HAS HAD TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES WITH ONLY 22,500 MILES ON VEHICLE. NO TIRE INFO GIVEN.*JB
NHTSA complaint: Tires

4 TIRES PURCHASED AT SAM'S WHOLESALE CLUB ALL DEVELOPED SIDEWALL BUBBLES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: BHKATT 114 TIRESIZE: P195/75R14)
NHTSA complaint: Tires

ON HE MORNING OF JAN 17, 2001 I STARTED THE CAR AND HEARD A LOUD POP IN ENGINE. THE CARD WOULD NOT START. TOWED CAR TO HAVE A MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. TWO OTHER MEC
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1990 Pontiac Grand Am. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Fuel system 06E043000

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE

Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

The seven scores

Reliability raw	86	excellent
Longevity est.	80	excellent
Maintenance	89	excellent
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	48	below average
Efficiency	43	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 50% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 63% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 82% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 56% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 86: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 80: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1990 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 89: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1990 Pontiac Grand Am?

Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 15 of them (27%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1990 Pontiac Grand Am reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1990 Pontiac Grand Am last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1990 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1990 Pontiac Grand Am?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.