Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Pontiac Grand AM owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owned a 1999 Pontiac Grand AM. The contact stated that while driving about 60 MPH, the vehicle crashed into a concrete barrier that was pushed over to the contact's lane, following an accident that involved two trucks. The passenger's air bag deployed. No other air bag deployed, including the driver's. There was no warning. A police report was filed. The contact sustained minor abrasions on the upper left shoulder and a big bump on the back. The contact would be going to the doctors ata a later point in time. The vehicle was totaled and was towed to a tow yard. The dealer and the manufacturer were not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 268,500.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Pontiac Grand AM. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle hydroplaned and crashed into a median. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). A police report was filed and the contact sustained minor injuries from the seat belt. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 1999 Pontiac Grand AM. While driving 25 MPH, the contact lost control on a sharp turn and caused the vehicle to flip and crash into a ditch. The front air bags failed to deploy. The contact and the front passenger were injured, but did not need medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a repair facility. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 177,000.
Tl-the contact owns a 1999 Pontiac Grand AM. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 MPH attempting to avoid a crash, the power brakes failed causing the contact to crash into a vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was not aare of any injuries sustained or if a police report was filed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 141,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Pontiac Grand AM. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle spun out of control and crashed into a sidewall. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Dt: air bags did not deploy. It had been raining and there was sand across the road. Consumer hit the sand and started spinning and spun around several times at least 5 times, went down an embankment and hit a big pine tree with the front of the car. The air bags never deployed.
11/15/1999 involved in 25 to 30 MPH frontal collision, airbags did not deploy, resulting in 2 injuries, Pontiac contacted several times and each time given different answers as to why the air bags did not deploy. First reason given was it liked a fraction of an inch to deployment, 2nd time pontia contacted they advised that it wasnt at fast enough speed for deployment, 3rd time contacted Pontiac advised that I should be glad that the airbags did not deploy ,4th time contacted Pontiac advised that car airbags do not deploy when other vehicle is pick-up size or larger the dealership and the body shop where I had vehicle repaired both advised that the air bags should has deployed on impact. Have had the brakes rotors turned once and 2 months. Now have to get new brakes on vehicle.
I leased this new car in 11/98. My family and I were on our way home when we were hit by a woman who failed to see a stop sign. She hit the right front side of the car & went across the front of the car. My husband was driving & his air bag went off immediately. My daughter was in the front passenger seat & her seat belt allowed her to hit the dash & the air bag did not deploy until she hit the dash. The car was 8 days old. My daughter received facial injuries & will have permanent damage. I was a passenger behind the driver. All of us had our seatbelts fastened. I received a fractured sternum & severe whiplash to my neck. I will have permanent neck damage. My complaint is that the passenger airbag didn't deploy as it should have.
Was hit on driver side front panel going 45 MPH (not sure of the other driver's speed - posted speed for him was 30 MPH), was pivoted and hit telephone pole head on. Neither airbag deployed and the passenger restraint failed causing the passanger to hit the dash board and fracture her collarbone and caused injury to her left knee. My owners manual states any impact to the front no less than 14 MPH should deploy the airbags. Had the airbags deployed, my passenger would not have been injured so severely. I did not see the driver coming and had no time to brake. He ran a stop sign and did not brake either. There is no way he could have slowed my car down 31 MPH with a full force pivot into a telephone pole that was only a few feet away.
Had coolant leak from intake gasket at 65,000 miles. Horn does not work again (been to shop 3 times previously) 2 times could not duplicate, 1 time replaced spring in switch. This was while under warranty, now that it is not under warranty, the dealership has asked me to pay $188.34 to fix a short under the airbag. This short had to exist previous to the warranty expiring. I have never opened the steering wheel cover. Also, when vehicle was less than 2 years old, the brakes would pulse and make heavy rumbling noise whenever trying to depress the brakes going down a very minor hill. Had dealer replace pads, still exhibited same behavior.
Airbag complaints in other Grand AM years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1999 Pontiac Grand AM?
NHTSA has 76 complaints about the air bags of the 1999 Pontiac Grand AM, 9% of the model year's 849 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (51 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Pontiac Grand AM airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1999 Pontiac Grand AM, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Pontiac Grand AM airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 98,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 46 crashes, 0 fires and 40 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.