Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
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).
The gas gauge will show full then without warning quickly drop to "E" and the low fuel indicator will ding and the light will come on then just as quickly as it started it will go back to full or 2/3rds the slow creep back to the full position. (The tank was not full) While driving all the electrical components start going wild, everything goes on and off quickly. The accelerator will rev(while foot is on or off accelerator) and drop over and over (as if there were bad gas in it) then go back to normal. This happens while I'm on the road and is a massive hazard. I'm so afraid this will cause an accident that leads to loss of life.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Pontiac Grand AM. The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle traveled over an unknown object which caused the ignition switch to change to the off setting independently. As a result, the steering and brakes malfunctioned causing the vehicle to swerve off the roadway and crash into a creek. A police report was filed. The contact sustained unknown injuries and medical attention was required. The vehicle was removed from the creek and after several attempts it was able to be restarted. The contact had also received notification of NHTSA campaign number 14V400000 (electrical system) however, the dealer refused to perform the recall remedy on the vehicle because it had previously been involved in a crash. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown. …
Ignition has shut down numerous times also activating GM passlock system, vehicle has been towed numerous times, raw fuel has disintegrated muffler and catalytic converter, notified GM numerous times about this, stonewalled, given local number to call, they had no knowledge of it, car not safe to drive, parked it, incurred insurance/taxes etc to keep car in driveway, mostly inoperable now waiting on GM to address, they refuse to even acknowledge phone calls/e-mails nor will they try and reach an accord in regards to a car unsafe to drive. I AM disabled and relied on this car to go to doctor offices, being left stranded numerous times and waiting to be towed by aaa was difficult enough yet when I asked about being at least disabled, they wanted to then charge a "diagnosis" fee on top of being treated like dirt. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Pontiac Grand AM. While driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled without warning. The failure recurred twice. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,000. Updated 6/30/15 updated 07/02/15
I bought this car from a friend about 2weeks ago and he told me that there was a recall on the ignition but he took it up there. But he just done this about a week before I bought the car , so now the key won't even turn the ignition to start. What can you do for me?the car was in my driveway when I went out to leave and notice that I could not.
I have had to have the following repaired: the fan replaced 2 times, the brakes repaired 4 times, the radio replaced once, the water pump replaced once and the battery replaced twice. I AM also having problems with the transmission it has been slipping. The intake gasket needs to replaced because antifreeze is leaking out and one of the lifters is knocking. Most of these problems started at about 30,000 miles and gradually there was just one problem after another. I took it in to the dealership for the tranmission at about 32,000 miles and since the dealership couldn't get it to slip they wouldn't do anything about it. The brakes started having problems at 40,000 miles. I called GM to complain about the car and GM told me there was nothing they could do because it was out of warranty. …
I bought my 1999 Grand AM in oct' 04. The first 2 mo. Of owning it my alternator went out. A few months later I had to replace my front brakes. Shortly after that my(2nd) alternator and A/C pump went out not to mention the battery too. Oh and not only has the service engine light been on most of the time, a second service engine light came on! I have never known a vehicle to have 2 service engine lights on at the same time!! Was this some kind of premonition!? As soon as I got the car back,I went and picked my kids up to go to the fair. We were not even 2 miles out of town yet when my engine started overheating. I had to pull over and wait for quite sometime before I could make it home safely with my children. Now my car that I've spent a lot of money on, not just purchasing the car,but also in parts is currently in the shop for either a blown head gasket or the engine block is damaged. …
My car has been leaking antifreeze which can be smelled in the car. No one has been able to determine as of yet where it is coming from. However, shortly after it had been noticed that my car was leaking antifreeze, my alternator went out. When it was pulled out from the engine, it was assumed that it had been on fire. It is felt that the alternator looks like it had been electrocuted. All of the rubber that covers the wires had been completely burned away. Considering that I drive my infant son around in this vehicle, not to mention myself this can not possibly be safe if the vehicle is catching on fire. The car has approximately 68000 miles on it. It also has all types of problems with the locks and the ignition. This is the worst car that I have ever owned in my life, not to mention the most dangerous. …
I noticed the ignition key could be removed from ignition regardless of position. Since hearing of GM including the 99 Grand AM in its recall I called the local GM dealer. I was told there was noting that could be done until I receive a recall notice from GM. I contacted GM and was told I could get it repaired at my expense and them file paperwork to get reimbursed. I relaise there is probably a huge back-up related to parts. As this is a known problem and my car is effected by the recall, this is unacceptable. I would not expect GM to fix the problem immediately, but I do think it is reasonable to be able to be put on a waiting list. As things stand right now, GM will do nothing to correct the problem. I AM a Toyota master technician, ase master technician, and was a Nissan master technician, so I do understand how recalls work ate the dealer level.
5 speed fan motor relay switch failed after only 22,000 miles on a 1999 Pontiac Grand AM se sedan. Four speeds will not work at all. 5th speed works, but is the highest speed. Lower speeds are needed for adequate ventilation of interior. Was told by dealership that replacement/repair of relay would cost $200.00 for labor and parts. I have read online of similar failure of this part from reading hundreds of complaints from other owners with the exact same occurrence happening to them. I was told that the 5th speed of this relay was "the only one hot wired", and that the others were not, so that the fan will fail eventually, no matter if it is turned on or not. I have never owned a car that the fan switch quit working, ever. I think this constitutes a safety hazard and should be covered by GM as a safety defect.
Related recalls
Electrical system › Ignition
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014.
Electrical complaints in other Grand AM years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1999 Pontiac Grand AM?
NHTSA has 132 complaints about the electrical system of the 1999 Pontiac Grand AM, 16% of the model year's 849 complaints. The component named most often is alternator/generator/regulator (19 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Pontiac Grand AM electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-400 (ignition, Jul 3, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Pontiac Grand AM electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 9 fires and 2 injuries to electrical system 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.