1992 Pontiac Grand Am SE review from North America
"Please read if you're interested in purchasing a Grand Am"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Mass air flow sensor not working.
Throttle position sensor not working.
Oxygen sensor not working.
Heater core leaking.
Head gasket leaking.
Radiator replaced three times.
Radiator leaking from plastic tank.
Thermostat housing leaking.
Radiator fan stopped working.
Coolant temperature sensor was faulty.
Problems with the torque converter.
Catalytic converter clogged.
Gasoline smells of oil.
Black smoke from exhaust.
Ignition switch replaced.
Coil pack replaced twice.
Ignition module replaced.
Alternator replaced twice.
Starter replaced once.
Battery replaced three times.
Water pump bearing seized.
Power steering lines blew.
Front passenger brake line blew.
Rear defrost not working.
Front brake calipers seized.
Wheel cylinders leaking brake fluid.
Anti-lock brake system stopped working.
ABS light comes on frequently.
Speed sensor faulty.
Stabilizer links broke.
Cruise control stopped working.
Windshield washer pump stopped working.
Muffler developed large holes.
Power window regulators bent/broke.
Power windows work when they want to.
Wipers work when they want to.
Power door locks stopped working.
Passenger seat adjuster not working.
Hood cable snapped.
Gas cover cable snapped.
Trunk is constantly filling with water.
Horn stopped working.
Cassette player will not eject tapes.
Cassette player works when it wants to.
Oil light comes on from time to time.
Service engine soon light burnt out.
Motor mounts have worn out.
Front windshield replaced.
Rust on the usual Grand Am locations.
Factory paint chips off frequently.
General comments?
Believe it or not, I have indeed encountered all of these problems mentioned above in the four years that I have owned this car.
Parts for this car are generally affordable and easy to locate, but I would not say that this car is very reliable.
This 3.3L engine has a lot of power when it's running well and the handling is decent. I have seen these engines with over 400,000 kilometers on them and they are still running well.
The seats in this car are extremely comfortable as they are not too stiff.
I will never buy another General Motors or North American vehicle again and I would strongly discourage others from making the mistake that I have.
Recommended reviews
| A great entry level sports car |
|
| This beast won't even play dead let alone quit |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1992 |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.3 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 3 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 192000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 270000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Dodge Charger |
| Date of Entry | 4th December, 2003 |