1993 Pontiac Grand Am

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

72/100

Worth a look

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

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 273 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 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	58	21%
Electrical system	54	20%
Service brakes	45	16%
Power train	17	6%
Steering	14	5%
Seats	13	5%
Structure	11	4%
Visibility	9	3%
Vehicle speed control	7	3%
Unknown or other	6	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

KEY GOES TO ACCESSORY AT ANY TIME. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR.CAR SHUTS OFF AT ANYTIME! *TR
NHTSA complaint: Power train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ONLY STARTS IN NEUTRAL, NOT PARK. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS NOTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIG
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

1993 GRAND AM WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS HIT IN THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. THEN IT CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM, 124,OOO MILES. THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS GOOD. WHEN I GO 10 TO 15 MILES AND IF I COME TO A STOP, THE CAR STALLS. IT STARTS WITH NO PROBLEM BUT WHEN I SHIFT A GEAR, THE CAR STALLS. IF I WAIT FOR THE
NHTSA complaint: Power train

1993 GRAND AM ENGINE HEAD CRACK..ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC HE'S SEEN MULTIPLE HEAD CRACKS ON QUAD 4 ENGINES. CAUSED ANTI-FREEZE FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND PUDDLE OF ANTI-FREEZE UNDER CAR. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER LIFTED UP THE HOOD, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THEN, DROVE IT TO DEAL
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *PH *NM
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

MY CAR STARTS AND RUNS GOOD. WHEN I GO 10 TO 15 MILES AND IF I COME TO A STOP, THE CAR STALLS. IT STARTS WITH NO PROBLEM BUT WHEN I SHIFT A GEAR, THE CAR STALLS. IF I WAITE FOR THE CAR TO COOL OFF, THE CAR WILL MOVE WITH
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1993 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.

Electrical system:ignition:switch 93V153000

THE NEUTRAL START SAFETY SWITCH COULD HAVE BEEN FRACTURED DURING INSTALLATION.

Risk: A FRACTURED SWITCH CAN RESULT IN A NO-START CONDITION.ALSO, A VEHICLE WITH A FRACTURED SWITCH CAN BE STARTED IN GEAR, CAUSING THEVEHICLE TO MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

Fix: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE NEUTRAL START SWITCH. THE MANUAL SWITCH OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF AN OVERSIZED CONDITION EXISTS.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	80	excellent
Longevity est.	78	good
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 33% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 47% 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 80: 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 78: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1993 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 1993 Pontiac Grand Am?

Owners have filed 273 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 58 of them (21%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1993 Pontiac Grand Am reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (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 1993 Pontiac Grand Am last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1993 Pontiac Grand Am?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. 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.