The 1985 Pontiac Grand Am has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 408,126 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
STRUCTURE87V1240001987-08-10261,171 affected
Defect
SMALL CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN THE BODY PILLAR AROUND THE DOOR STRIKER BOLT HOLE.
Consequence
CRACKS WOULD INCREASE LEADING TO DIFFICULTY IN CLOSINGTHE DOOR AND MIGHT ALLOW DOOR TO COME OPEN DURING A CRASH, INCREASINGLIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.
Remedy
INSTALL INNER AND OUTER REINFORCEMENT PLATE ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT BODY PILLARS.
THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING ASSEMBLY MAY FAIL PREVENTING THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE CLOSED (IDLE) POSITION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. CONSEQUENCE OF…
Remedy
REPLACE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING.
VISIBILITY84V1460001984-11-20973 affected
Defect
THE SWITCH USED MAY NOT BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE WIPER MOTOR. THIS SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH FUNCTIONAL, IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 104, "WINDSHIELD WIPING AND WASHING SYSTEM". THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SPEED MAY REMAIN NEARLY CONSTANT WHETHER IN HIGH OR LOW SPEED MODE. THE STANDARD REQUIRES…
Remedy
WIPER SWITCHES WILL BE REPLACED IF NECESSARY, WITHOUT CHARGE.
STEERING84V1240001984-10-1010,359 affected
Defect
THE TIE RODS ARE PART OF THE STEERING LINKAGE AND TRANSMIT TURNING MOVEMENTS TO THE WHEELS. THE BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE TIE RODS TO THEIR ADJUSTERS MAY NOT BE TIGHT ENOUGH. THIS COULD ALLOW THE TIE ROD TO LOOSEN AND DETACH ITSELF FROM THE ADJUSTER.
Remedy
THE TIE ROD END BOLTS WILL BE TIGHTENED WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNER.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1
1fires
INTERIOR LIGHTING
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
1
1crashes1injuries
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
1
Total complaints8
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“While driving vehicle caught on fire underneath the hood. No prior warning. Insurance company said it may be due to faulty wiring. Please provide further information and vin#. Ak”
“Seat belt buckle failed to latch upon impact, resulting in injuries. *ak”
“Engine stalling since new, continues and is more frequent, several repairs however not rectified. Mjs”
“Windshield washer pump and wiper switch failed. Mjs”
“Windshield washer pump and wiper switch failed. Mjs”
“Dash panel lights on right side failed due to failed bulbs. Mjs”
“The consumer state's when driving at any speed vehicle stalls and cuts off without prior warning. Also, there is loud knocking noise coming from the vehicle and when turning the key, the vehicle is very hard to start. *ak”
“The consumer state's when driving at any speed vehicle stalls and cuts off without prior warning. Also, there is loud knocking noise coming from the vehicle and when turning the key, the vehicle is very hard to start. *ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA86025 Opened 1986-08-25 · closed 1988-03-02
WINDSHIELD WIPERS
SUMMARY:GM BELIEVES THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED THROUGH ITS PUBLI-CATION OF 7 SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING THIS MATTER. IN ADDITION, GMDOES NOT BELIEVE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD.ANALYSIS: THREE FAILURE MODES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED; INSULATING FILM MAYBUILD UP BETWEEN THE BRUSH FACE AND THE…
InvestigationEA91045 Opened 1991-11-07 · closed 1992-10-26
SEAT BELT SEPARATION
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE88027 Opened 1988-02-09 · closed 1988-05-11
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1985 Pontiac Grand Am as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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