1996 Pontiac Grand Am GT from North America - Comments

Engine light periodically comes on, then goes off, at which point I sense a very bad misfire, as though I were running on about three cylinders. No one has been able to diagnose the problem.

Mysterious antifreeze leaks appear, and then disappear. I had the whole front end of the car torn apart trying to figure out where it was coming from. When I put it back together, it stopped leaking.

Joints in the front suspension on both sides have gone bad, resulting in an awful clunking and squeaking noise.

The arms that raise and lower the windows on both sides have gone bad, resulting in the windows going up crooked (I hear this is common).

Window stopped rolling up and down for no reason, and miraculously began working again.

My 1996 Grand am is the biggest piece of junk I have ever owned. I bought it in hopes of having a nice, reliable car for daily driving, through college. Boy, was I wrong. So much crap has gone wrong with this car, I'm tempted to run it into a tree and collect the insurance. Everything about this car reeks of being poorly made, from the cloth inserts on the door panel that are falling off, to the mirror adjustment lever that fell down inside the door for no reason, to the windows that I must guide with my hands to get to go up straight. Several friends of mine who also own them concur with me on these feelings. Thank God I own a Trans am for sunny days, because if I had to drive this piece of junk every day, I'd probably go nuts. I used to preach to people about buying American cars. Well, after owning this, a Cavalier, and a Buick Century, all of which had low mileage, and all of which resulted in some astronomically expensive engine problem, I would give my left arm to have a nice four cylinder, five speed Accord.

I've owned a Buick Century and I loved it, the car ran excellent and I never had a problem with it. My father owned the same Grand Am as yours since it was new, and didn't have one major problem with it after the 145000 miles he put on it. Anyway, I'm just saying that you should really think about looking into the cars you buy, by checking their history, shopping around, and you should always have a mechanic that you know check out the car with you.

Another thing to mind, is the way you drive the car. I'm not saying that you do, but if you beat your car, or the previous owner did, it isn't going to last too long.

My Grand Am has been pretty bad for maintenance. 5 A/C repairs at two different garages (dealer garage and another independent mechanic which has never failed us on other cars we've brought to them) and the A/C still needs work. 3 ABS repairs. It has also had a new ball joint and a new rocker arm on the left front wheel, and new rocker arm bushings on both front wheels. I've never seen a car need that kind of suspension work at 80,000 miles.

The engine and transmission are great. For a four-banger, I've yet to see the kind of power it offers replicated (especially at stock) in another car. Our family has owned 5 GM cars over the years and we've never had a drivetrain problem with any of them, but every single one of them nickel-and-dimed us to death with little stuff, the Grand Am being the worst yet. I've never had a problem that's left me stranded anywhere, but I wouldn't wish this thing on a first-time car owner, or for that matter on anyone who doesn't know their way around under the hood of a car.

I own a pontiac grand am gt 1996 the ets light along with my check engine light comes on then they both go out one doesn't go on by itself I don't know what that is, both my power windows get stuck at times, there is a clunk in my front end and my shifter makes a noise when I put it in either reverse neutral or drive, other than that it looks good I have tinted windows (a little humor) I like the car it only has 74,000 miles on it, but it runs loud the seats are uncomfortable also.

I have a 1996 Pontiac Grand Am GT, and yes, this too has had the alternator go, always over heats for no reason, anti-fluid disappears, brakes go, rods, suspension, joints, struts, check engine light always comes on, I leaned against my car once, and I got 2 dents and I only weigh 140 pounds, the right front tire has popped 5 times for no reason, and the trunk leaks through the car wash. The Pontiac Grand Am GT is not something to invest in. They have the 2003 editions going for under $8,000 now, so what does that tell you off the bat??? These cars are not a good choice, even for a first car. I'd rather own a truck or car that runs off 2 cylinders. My car is only a 1996. I've done flow master customs, cold air-intake, $3000 system, ram air hood, a turbo kit so it now has 250hp, a body kit, and euro lights, which together comes to about after $10,000 worth of work. this car actually kind of runs now, but even still after even adding a turbo kit and fixing up the engine, the car still has the engine light come on... It's mine, I love what I've done to it, but don't waste your time with one, trust me...

I have a 1996 Grand Am GT. I have only had minor problems with it. While it has been in my possession for 2 years now, I have kept top maintenance on her. Maybe the reason you all are having problems is that the vehicle has not had correct maintenance or they are just basic problems with each of the cars. But you shouldn't dis a car just because of your own experiences. All cars screw up once and a while, they are not perfect.

I completely agree. This was my first car and everything and it's grandma was nickel and dimed out of it. This car is a pain to keep running like decent. An outstanding work of American craftmanship...

I have a 1996 Grand Am GT. I had a few minor things go wrong, but got them fixed easily. I don't see where you guys are getting all these problems from (yet), have any of you taken into account that the person that had the car before you bought it, or maybe you guys' cars have a lot of miles, you know? Wear and tear happens to every car, you might have caught the car on the down fall. You know cars eventually have to get fixed even if you don't drive them, so think about all this before you trash a car, unless you got the car brand new, then that's a different story.

Um, if your car is loud, maybe you need exhaust work...