1995 Pontiac Grand Am

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

70/100

Worth a look

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

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 470 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 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
Electrical system	109	23%
Service brakes	72	15%
Engine and engine cooling	44	9%
Air bags	44	9%
Power train	23	5%
Exterior lighting	18	4%
Visibility	16	3%
Structure	12	3%
Equipment	12	3%
Steering	11	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE KEY SUDDENLY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED OPERATING AS NORMAL DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTA
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT OF A FAST FOOD PLACE WE CAME OUT AFTER WE ATE AND GOT IN THE CAR ATTEMPTED TO START IT BUT IT DID NOT START AT FIRST THEN I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN TRIED AGAIN IT STARTED AND AFTER A SHO
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 4 MY STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE MAKING ME PULL THE CAR OVER AND JUMP OUT ALONG WITH 2 OTHER PERSONS , AFTER THAT WE CALLED THE TOW TRUCK TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME TO SEE WHAT WE WERE GOING TO
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

MY FAMILY, AND I WERE RETURNING HOME ON I-77 FROM A CAMPING TRIP, WHEN WITHOUT WARNING, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD. WE MADE IT SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SCARED, AND DAZED, TRYING TO F
NHTSA complaint: Visibility

WHILE DRIVING THE OVERHEAT LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND ENGINE DIED. THE MECHANIC SAID IT IS A CRACKED HEAD GASKETS. I HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE IN OWNER MANUAL. OIL CHANGES EVERY THREE MONTHS ETC.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM COILS WENT BAD. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE COILS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THE GARAGE STATED THEY WERE BAD, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER KEPT THE COILS AND PLACED THEM BACK IN TH
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING 1995 GRAND AM THEFT. *TS THE CONSUMER LISTED BRAKES AS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM ON HIS VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM OVERHEATING. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT FOUR TIMES AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKETS WARPED. PAID FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND CALLED GENERAL MOTORS. MEDIATOR WAS OF VERY LI
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1995 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:starter assembly 00V287000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE STARTER FAILS TO ENGAGE AND THE DRIVER HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRODUCING HEAT THAT CAN MELT SWITCH PARTS.

Risk: A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT AND VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION (ADEQUATE RESERVE CAPACITY, OR COLD CRANKING AMPS). THIS CAMPAIGN D

The seven scores

Reliability raw	77	good
Longevity est.	76	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 26% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 36% 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 77: 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 76: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1995 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 1995 Pontiac Grand Am?

Owners have filed 470 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 109 of them (23%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1995 Pontiac Grand Am reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 77/100 (good) 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 1995 Pontiac Grand Am last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1995 Pontiac Grand Am?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. 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.