Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
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).
I have a 1999 Grand AM,purchased new. Less than 35000 miles. In March as I was backing out of my drive the entire front right of my car literally "fell" with a deafening bang. Upon service we found that the spring had broken and punctured my tire. It was embeded in the tire and was difficult to remove. If I had been driving my car down the road in traffic I probably would have been killed. The impact of just backing out of my drive was jolting and terrifying. Then to make matters worse as I was making a left hand turn onto a subdivision street from a major road June 7, 2005, I heard and felt a loud bang once again. I immediatley stopped the car as people ran to see what happened and if I was OK. Laying in the street was a piece of coil. This time it was the back right spring which broke. Fortunately it did not pierce the tire and I was able to get the car off the road. …
The passenger side front coil spring has broken on 2 separate occasions. The first time, in aug. 2003, I was making a right hand turn when there was a loud bang. I got out to investigate but could not see anything wrong. Just to be on the safe side I drove it to a mechanic who upon investigation informed me that the coil spring on the passenger side had broken. It was replaced. Then in aug. 2006, I was backing out of a garage when I heard the familiar bang but this time the front passenger side dropped so I was unable to drive the car. I had it towed to the mechanic who said the coil spring had broken. Again it was replaced. …
1999 Pontiac Grand AM gt was backed out of garage and a light thumping was noticeable from the front of the car. Vehicle backed out of driveway and proceeded down street - light thumping sound still noticeable. Suddenly, front left end of car dropped - steering became difficult and burning rubber smell was noticed along with some smoke coming from under front left wheel well. Car was turned around and returned home - 500 yds. Car was towed to dealer. Dealer diagonosed problem as broken spring - complete older break and new break identified in spring. Collapsing of spring also damaged strut. Spring, strut and mounting assemblies were replaced and covered under extended warranty of owner. Owner inquired about recalls and requested dealer to also replace front right spring and strut assembly. Dealer and GM representative refused to pay for front right replacement. …
I was backing up slowly out of a parking spot. As I turned me wheel to the right, I heard a very loud noise. It sounded like a pop or a crack. It was midnight so I couldn't see anything wrong when I inspected my vehicle. As I was driving home I heard a loud scraping sound. As I would break it got louder and louder. It was scraping and tearing. I got home and still couldn't see anything. I checked the next day and I noticed that the front drivers side coil was completely cracked. Because of this cracked coil, the protruding piece of metal from the coil was jammed and resting on the tire wall. Because of having to drive the vehicle home, the coil has torn and ripped up my tire wall and I AM afraid to drive it. This has happened to me before with a cracked coil on the opposite side of my vehicle on the passenger side. This is craziness and completely unsafe! …
I was turning from my driveway to an alley when I heard an unusual pop. I got out of the car and did a visual to see if I could notice anything out of the ordinary. At that time, it was about 5:00 AM, I couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. I continued on my way to work and drove approximately 1/2 a mile when I noticed smoke billowing out from my hood. Because it was dark out, I parked my car for the day and walked to work. After I left work, I had the car towed to my residence and I removed the front passenger wheel. When I looked behind the wheel I saw that my coil spring was in two pieces. I had also noticed that there was a gouge in my tire from where the coil spring had rubbed against it. I had to have my car towed to the mechanic in order to have it fixed. He had to replace both front coil springs in order for the car to ride correctly. …
1. Drove 1999 Pontiac Grand AM with 55,000 miles about 600 miles at highway speeds over 3 days, then parked car overnight. 2. Pulled out of driveway at slow speed next morning. Rubbing noise and some resistance from right front (passenger) side wheel. Stopped car after 50 feet. Thought it was wet brakes. Stopped car and started up again and same rubbing noise. Backed car slowly back into driveway. Shut off car. Heard loud metal snap noise from right front (passenger) side wheel. Car then dropped down with no space between top of tire and suspension. 3. Called local garage and had car towed. Replaced right front (passenger) wheel spring. Checked, adjusted and did full alignment on car. Would have replaced both springs but parts on national backorder. 4. Tire puncture and major accident or death could have occurred if this had happened only a few hours earlier while driving at 65 MPH!
I was pulling my 1999 Pontiac Grand AM out of my driveway when the car was making a strange scraping noise. I looked under the car and did not see anything touching the ground. I did not drive the car. My husband checked it out and pulled the car out of the driveway. The wheel popped as he was doing this. The car was in the middle of the street so he had to pull it forward. The tire was shredded. After jacking up the car, he saw that the spring was broken and was poking into the tire. Lucky for us this happened at home. If this had happened on the highway I don't know if I would still be here. The car is currently at the garage. We have not heard back yet. We are a bit worried, my brother-in-law also has a 1999 Pontiac Grand AM and all four of his spring assemblies broke when he hit a pot hole several weeks ago.
1999 Pontiac Grand AM -- the vehicle is equipped with a coil spring-over-strut front suspension with the spring itself resting in compression between two polymer isolators. This is regarding fracture of this spring. The fractures occur in the first active coil above the lower isolator. I had both coils fracture. First (passenger front at approximately 95,000 miles and the driver front happened at about 110,000 miles). There appears to be very little wear or pitting on these coils. Coil coating is in tact and is in very good condition for the year and miles. The coils fracture in the same location. The fracture is very dangerous and can cause a puncture in the tires. I AM referencing an existing complaint notice #pe03-031. Investigate reports.
While traveling at 50 MPH on a 4 lane road there was a loud noise (bang) from the right front of the vehicle. Suddenly the right front tire blew out, the front of the car drop and pulled severely to the right, causing the car to travel completely accross the right hand lane and into the shoulder of the road before being able to stop. After stopping it was found that the right front coil spring broke in half, ripping into the inner side wall of the front tire for approximately 12" and seizing the right front wheel from rotaing. Replaced both front strut assemblies and the right front tire, which had less than 1,000 miles useage.
My daughters 99 Grand AM has had both front springs break approximately one year apart. In both instances the car was traveling forward at less than 25 MPH. The broken spring punctured the tire and the car had to be towed on both occasions. No accident or injury occurred. New springs/struts were installed along with new tires. Further inspection revealed that the right rear spring was cracked and was also replaced. No old parts are available. From the number of complaints I have read this appears to be a common defect on this vehicle. I'm very glad that my daughter was not driving at freeway speed when these springs broke.
NHTSA investigations
Front suspension coil spring fracture
The subject vehicles are equipped with a coil spring-over-strut front suspension with the spring itself resting in compression between two polymer isolators.pe03-031 was opened to investigate reports of fracture of this spring.the fractures occur in the first active coil above the lower isolator and apparently originate in corrosion pits found beneath regions of damaged epoxy coating.consumer complaints and warranty…
Front suspension coil spring fracture
The failure rate of the subject vehicles is low relative to past odi investigations.the engineering analysis is therefore closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.the agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if…
Suspension complaints in other Grand AM years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 1999 Pontiac Grand AM?
NHTSA has 107 complaints about the suspension of the 1999 Pontiac Grand AM, 13% of the model year's 849 complaints. The component named most often is front › springs › coil springs (43 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Pontiac Grand AM suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension 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 suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 72,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to suspension 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.