Faults:

The alternator's voltage regulator burnt out, causing the replacement of the entire alternator. The dealer explained this was due to a recent change in the placement of the alternator. The rotation was reversed causing the fan to draw air through the unit to cool it in lieu of forcing the air through. This decreases it's life.

The paint began peeling after first year of ownership, but was repaired by the dealer under warranty.

Head Gasket cracked allowing the seepage of coolant into one of the cylinders causing a giant blue cloud to erupt from the exhaust every time the accelerator was depressed.

The car does not seem to be very well though out technically... and on one point cosmetically - The chrome accent molding that runs the length of the car above the body-side molding is cheesy, and constantly shifts, making the owner slide it back into position periodically. This leads me to believe it was an afterthought. Yet it remained on Grand Ams until 1996.

General Comments:

This car is very innovative for the time period it was released. It still remains competitive in today's market. The car has excellent handling, wonderful power, and extensive versatility. It also averages 25 MPG in the city, and 35 MPG on the highway. I would like to see stats like this from ANY S.U.V. crazed American.

My particular car is a hybrid model. (LEs) It is the base LE Grand Am, but with all of the amenities short of the Pontiac Gran Touring Aero Package making it then, an SE. I preferred the looks of the LE more, but did not want to strip the car of the options it gains as an SE; including the High Output QUAD 4.

The stock sound system is stellar, and so is the climate control system, as well as the Driver Information Center.

The braking system unfortunately, is incredibly futile for stopping the car. The car has great power, and rides well at high speeds, but the braking system is inferior for stopping it safely. It requires more than double the stopping distance than a comparable car with ABS, so if you do not want to redesign the front of the car on the back of someone else's, do not tailgate.

Faults:

A broken belt.

A few flats.

Water pump wheel fell off.

General Comments:

I bought the car at a car auction for 200. the vacuum hose was off and after putting it back in place it runs great. I can cruise at 110 mph. its small and runs good.

I previously had another grand am that I put 220,000 miles on it.

It is the fifth grand am the family has owned. I still have the last one and it still runs. I blew a seal in th trans mission racing it, but it still runs smooth, it just smokes badly.

Faults:

What hasn't gone wrong with this hunk of junk! I have replaced the motor mounts, heater core, alternator, starter, radiator, radiator fan, and now, I've been told it has a blown head gasket! This car started running hot on me from the very first time I started driving it. It has put me on the side of the road, as of yesterday, 8 times and I'm sick of it. It seems with these Grand Ams, you pay to have something fixed, then a week or so later, it's something else! And the mechanic isn't totally positive that it is a blown head gasket. And I forgot to mention the speed odometer doesn't work. The thing that goes in the transmission, that makes the speed odometer work, it can take 4 different ones. So if you are hunting for one at the salvage yard, good luck, unless you have yours in hand! The air conditioner went out, or should I say, it works when it feels like it. The radiator fan, even though I had to replace it, it only works hooked straight to the battery. Let's see, did I leave anything out? The Pontiac Grand Am is a worthless piece of junk.

General Comments:

I really don't have anything good to say about this car. In fact, my neighbor has the same car and he's had basically the same problems with his too.

However, the radio does sound good.