1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM Electrical System Problems

60 complaints about Electrical System

60
Complaints
1
Crashes
14
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Electrical System Complaints (60)

May 27, 2014

KEY GOES TO ACCESSORY AT ANY TIME. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR.CAR SHUTS OFF AT ANYTIME! *TR

Mileage: 63,095

Jan 29, 2008

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 CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 93V153000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH), HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 215,000. UPDATED 02-25-08 *BF

Mileage: 150,000

Sep 10, 2004 Fire

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 DEALER FOR INSPECTION, MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A RECALL ISSUED DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. *AK

Feb 10, 2004 Fire

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *PH *NM

Oct 22, 2003

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND BEGAN SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. AN INDEPENDENT SHOP STATED THAT SWITCH LAMP BURNED OUT CAUSING SMOKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE VEHICLE DIDN'T START. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED A JUMP, THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH WAS OFF. THE SWITCH WAS UNABLE TO BE MOVED. THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF. ON THE SECOND OCCASION, THE LIGHTS WERE STILL ON WITH THE SWITCH AND THE IGNITION OFF. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 108,119

Jul 11, 2003 Fire

WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS *JB

Mileage: 106,600

Jun 6, 2003 Fire

WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE AND THEN FLAMES EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *AK

Apr 21, 2003

A COMPONENT IN THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED WHICH CAUSED TURN SIGNALS TO GO OUT. THE MECHANIC CHANGED A BULB AND WITHIN AN HOUR THE BULB WAS OUT AGAIN. *NLM

Mar 25, 2003 Fire

MY BROTHER'S (JOHN STURGILL) 1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND WITH THE IGNITION OFF. MY BROTHER HAD JUST DRIVEN THE CAR HOME FROM WORK. HE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION WENT INTO HIS HOME. JUST 10 MINTUES LATER HIS WIFE SAW SMOKE COMING BY THE WINDOW. THEY IMMEDIATELY WALKED OUTSIDE AND SAW THE CAR COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THEY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT THE CAR BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE OUTER VINYL SIDING ON 2 SIDES OF THE HOUSE, DAMAGED A BRAND NEW CARPORT, COMPLETELY BURNED A 2 YEAR OLD RIDING LAWN MOWER AND DESTROYED A STORAGE BUILDING WITH OVER $2,000 IN PERSONAL BELONGINGS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CAR BURN THAT QUICKLY AND WITH THAT MUCH FORCE. IT WAS THE SCARIEST DAY OF MY LIFE.IF MY BROTHER AND HIS WIFE HAD DRIVEN 10 MORE MINUTES THEY WOULDN'T BE HERE WITH ME TODAY. I SHUDDER THE THOUGHT THAT SOMEWHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE STILL DRIVING 1993 PONTIACS WITH THEIR LIVES AT RISK ALSO.

Mileage: 130,000

May 15, 2002

IGNITION SWITCH IS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 93 V 153 000; BUT, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Mar 27, 2002

MY CAR HAS MANY RECALLS. HOW DO I GO ABOUT GETTING THEM FIXED

Aug 8, 2001

DRIVER HAD PARKED AND LEFT VEHICLE. IGNITION SWITCH HAD SHORTED OUT AND FILLED VEHICLE WITH SMOKE. KEY WAS NEVER IN IGNITION SWITCH AT THE TIME IT HAD OCCURRED*AK.

Apr 2, 2001

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE HESITATION/ BACK FIRING AND STALLING DUE TO AN INTEGRATED IGNITION INJECTOR SYSTEM COMPONENT FAILURE. DEALER HAS REPLACED THIS COMPONENT ON TWO OCCASIONS. PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED FOR THIRD TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK

Mar 20, 2001

BURNE TOAST SMELL FROM STERING COLUMN, AND IF TILT WHEEL IS IN CERTAIN LOCATION ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.. TURN SIGNAL FAILURE AND HEADLIGHT FAILURE.. ALSO IGNITION SWITCH ALWAYS SENSING KEY INSERTED

Mar 20, 2001

BURNE TOAST SMELL FROM STERING COLUMN, AND IF TILT WHEEL IS IN CERTAIN LOCATION ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.. TURN SIGNAL FAILURE AND HEADLIGHT FAILURE.. ALSO IGNITION SWITCH ALWAYS SENSING KEY INSERTED

Mar 20, 2001

BURNE TOAST SMELL FROM STERING COLUMN, AND IF TILT WHEEL IS IN CERTAIN LOCATION ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.. TURN SIGNAL FAILURE AND HEADLIGHT FAILURE.. ALSO IGNITION SWITCH ALWAYS SENSING KEY INSERTED

Mar 7, 2001 Fire

AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM FUSE BOX, BURNING PLASTIC DRIPPED ONTO THE CARPET, IGNITING ENTIRE INTERIOR. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, PUT OUT FIRE. TOTAL LOSS. NO PREVIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.*AK

Jan 9, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

Oct 22, 2000

VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO START AND CONSUMER BELIEVES IT'S DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION DESIGN. NLM

Feb 16, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

Nov 28, 1999 Fire

THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT GOT FIRE UNEXPECTEDLY WITH NO ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BEFORE INCIDENT. SMELL ELECTRICAL BURNING AFTER THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS NO FUEL OR OTHER LEAKING. TOTAL LOSS AFTER THREE MINUTES OF QUICK EXTINGUISHED BY USING FIRE EXHINGUISHERS. INSURANCE DECLARED TOTALED LOSS. THE PARTS SHOWED A LOT OF FLAMMABLE PLASTIC PARTS AND WIRINGS. THIS IS NOT PROPER DESIGNED AS ALL THE WIRINGS WERE INTERGRATED IN ONE CABLE.

Nov 15, 1999

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE &TURNING SIGNAL SWITCH ON, IT WILL START SMOKING, AND LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT WILL STAY ON. DEALR CLAIMS SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Nov 9, 1999 Fire

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE AND A BURNING SMELL CAME FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

Oct 29, 1999

TCC SOLENOID FAILED. NLM

Oct 18, 1999

WHENEVER THE FUSE IS REPLACED, THEY WOULD CAUSE SPARKS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. THE FUSE CONNECTS THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER & THE DOOR LOCKS. THE WIRES WOULD BE SHORTED OUT. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED.

Mar 31, 1999

MY ALTERNATOR ALSO FAILED IN 1997. *AK

Feb 24, 1999

PROBLEM RELATES TO INTERMITTENT FLASHING CHECK OIL LIGHT ON DASH. NOTED THAT SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 93-8-2 MAY ADDRESS PROBLEM. HAVE REQESTED SERVICE BULLETIN VIA E-MAIL BUT NOT RECEIVED.

Sep 22, 1998

BATTERY FAILED.

Sep 17, 1998

INGNITION WILL NOT TURN WHEN KEY IS INITIALLY INSERTED INTO SWITCH. AFTER TAPPING/HITTING KEY SEVERAL TIMES, WHILE IN IGNITION , IT WILL EVENUTALLY TURN. THE SAFETY MECHANISM THAT IS INCORPORATED INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT FUNCTION.

Aug 17, 1998

THE "FLASHER FUSE" MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE TURN SIGNALS AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. PROBLEM OCCURRED 3 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINTHE LOCATION OF THE FLASHER. *AK

Jul 7, 1998

RECALL 93V153000, IGNITION SWITCH; THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP SAID THAT MR CAPALANO IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. BUT, MOBILE AUTO REPAIR SAID DIFFERENTLY. THEY SAID THAT CONSUMER'S VIN IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

Feb 3, 1998

VEHICLE HAD TROUBLE STARTING. DEALER REPLACED STARTER SAFETY SWITCH WHICH REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. *AK

Dec 6, 1997

ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD/ENGINE HEAD GASKET/ALTERNATOR AND BELT TENSIONER FAILED. *AK

Nov 21, 1997 Fire

(IN REFERENCE TO 93V153; THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO START ON ITS OWN WITHOUT THE KEY IN IGNITION AND CAUSED A FIRE. *AK

Sep 1, 1997

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TRACE MODULE ON IGNITION FAILURE.

Sep 1, 1997

BATTERY FAILURE.

Sep 1, 1997

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

Sep 1, 1997

BATTERY FAILURE.

Sep 1, 1997

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

Aug 14, 1997 Fire

A FUSABLE LINK FAILED IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, THEREBY IGNITING THE CABLES LEADING TO THE STARTER, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK

Jan 13, 1997

SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING OR STARTING CAR T CAR CUTS OFF, TOOK TO DEALER, COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. *AK

Jan 13, 1997

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT STALLS, OWNER NOTES THAT HE HAD COMPUTER MODULE REPLACED BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR. *AK

Dec 26, 1996

WHENEVER IT RAINS THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF, THE SPARK PLUG/ ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE DESCRIBE PROBLEM. *AK

Dec 26, 1996

WHENEVER IT RAINS THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF, THE SPARK PLUG/ ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE DESCRIBE PROBLEM. *AK

Dec 26, 1996

WHENEVER IT RAINS THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF, THE SPARK PLUG/ ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE DESCRIBE PROBLEM. *AK

Dec 16, 1996 Fire

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH AREA. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

Nov 6, 1996

ERRATIC VOLTAGE FLUCTUATION, CAUSING BATTERY TO DRAIN.

Sep 9, 1996 Fire

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN FRONT UNDERHOOD AREA , FUEL WAS LEAKING IN THE FRONT OF PASSENGER SIDE.*AK

Sep 4, 1996

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR HESITATES AND STALLS . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

Aug 9, 1996

HORN ENGAGES WITHOUT BEING ACTIVATED.

Jul 8, 1996

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAR CUT OFF, PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

Jul 1, 1996

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

Jun 4, 1996 Fire

UNDER THE DASH FIRE, SAW SMOKE, ELECTRICAL SHORT OF MODULE AND ALTERNATOR. *AK

Mar 23, 1995 Fire

ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION UNDER DASH RESULTED IN ELECTRICAL FIRE. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SKD

Mar 21, 1995 Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, CAUSING FAILURE IN ABS SYSTEM. TT

Feb 21, 1995

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED.

Feb 6, 1995

VEHICLE STALLS OUT WITH NO WARNING. TT

Feb 3, 1995

ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 45 TO 50 MPH; LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT; POWER LOCKS UP; OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS; ALSO, OIL AND FUEL GAUGE INOPERATIVE. TT

Jan 3, 1995

HORN PAD SHORTED OUT. *AK

Jan 3, 1995

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT CRANCKING/STARTING PROBLEMS. *AK