Is the 2000 Pontiac Grand Am a bad year?
674 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 100, 3.6× a quiet Grand Am year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 43k–88k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2000 Grand Am owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 61,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 156 (23%) | 48k–99k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 49 (7%) | 42k–75k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 44 (7%) | 48k–89k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 130 (19%) | 50k–115k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 80 (12%) | 44k–89k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Steering | 34 (5%) | 46k–119k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Suspension | 34 (5%) | 38k–104k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Equipment | 23 (3%) | 50k–97k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine and cooling | 20 (3%) | 32k–75k miles · around this mileage | Water pump replacement $400–$1,106 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bags | 31 (5%) | 69k–142k miles · ahead | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 129 (19%) | 15k–50k miles · mostly behind | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Body structure | 25 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exhaust | 24 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 17 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 61,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 674 complaints: 43 mention a crash · 14 mention a fire · 34 report an injury.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in May 2022.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Excessive dex-cool coolant and oil leakage have been occurring in my 2000 Pontiac grand am V6 on a daily basis.
About 6 months ago, I noticed my "Low coolant" Light came on for the first time ever. I filled the coolant filling take to the level as indicated on the tank with dex-cool as instructed.
My car started over heating, the coolant light was going on and off, when I checked the coolant there was none in there, but the day before I checked it and it was at the correct line.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 61,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2000 Pontiac Grand Am: 8
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, and FP10027-11B1, sold after january 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. The universal pressure regulators (Upr) were produced without an o'ring and retainer. Fuel may leak, possibly resulting in a fire.
Certain tradesonic combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash.
Certain passenger vehicles have hazard warning switches that may experience solder joint cracking caused by rapid temperature transitions and the soldering process. If solder joint cracking occurs and results in an open circuit, the turn signals/hazard lamps become intermittent or inoperative. When the turn signals are inoperative, the driver cannot use them to signal intent to turn that could result in a crash.
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles equipped with manual transaxles (Rpo M86) fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 114, "Theft protection." In this situation, the key can be removed from the ignition while the transmission is in a forward gear, which is not permitted by the standard.
Vehicle description: these vehicles do not comply with the occupant protection requirements of FMVSS no. 201, "Occupant protection in interior impact." The console cover on these vehicles does not stay closed when a specified vertical load is applied. In the event of a crash, the console cover could open and the cover or items stored under it could injure an occupant.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The bolt that attaches the rear suspension trailing arm to the left rear knuckle may not have been tightened to specifications during assembly. The bolt could back completely out of the joint affecting vehicle control.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Pontiac: 78
Repair instructions Pontiac sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2000 Pontiac Grand Am. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Will need to be provided to TAC to aid in diagnosing if a vehicle comes in with misfire and DTC Codes P0300 - P0308 and/or P050D
NHTSA defect investigations: 5
Turn signal failures
Turn signal failures
Erratic fuel gauge
Engine stall due to fuel starvation
Erratic fuel gauge
Neighbouring years
2001 Grand Am: 538 complaints, keep it.
Every Pontiac Grand Am year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · All Grand Am years side by side
Other Pontiac models: Pontiac Aztek · Pontiac Bonneville · Pontiac G5 · Pontiac G6 · Pontiac G8 · Pontiac GTO · Pontiac Grand Prix · Pontiac Montana · Pontiac Solstice · Pontiac Sunfire · Pontiac Torrent · Pontiac Vibe. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2000 Pontiac Grand Am a bad year?
674 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 100, 3.6× a quiet Grand Am year. At 61,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 43k–88k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Pontiac Grand Am?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: exterior lighting (156), fuel system (49), visibility and wipers (44), electrical system (130), engine (80). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 43k–88k miles.
How many recalls does the 2000 Pontiac Grand Am have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-400), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09E012000), Fuel system (NHTSA 07E021000), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 06E064000) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.