Is the 2001 Pontiac Grand Am a bad year?
538 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Grand Am years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2001 Pontiac Grand Am are in line with other Grand Am years. Electrical system and exterior lighting stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2001 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 86,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 232 (43%) | 58k–120k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 98 (18%) | 38k–97k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 60 (11%) | 54k–125k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel system | 39 (7%) | 70k–121k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Visibility and wipers | 33 (6%) | 40k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Equipment | 32 (6%) | 43k–89k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 24 (4%) | 43k–118k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Suspension | 16 (3%) | 37k–94k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Body structure | 15 (3%) | 50k–132k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 14 (3%) | 60k–144k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 68 (13%) | 31k–69k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Engine and cooling | 16 (3%) | 33k–75k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exhaust | 9 (2%) | 52k–75k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Tires | 13 (2%) | 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 86,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 538 complaints: 21 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 14 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Nov 2023.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
The intake manifold gasket started leaking coolant & oil. Said this is a common GM problem since they switched to plastic.
I purchased my 2001 grand am gt second hand in september 04. The 1 previous owner was my mechanic's brother in-law and has been well maintained when he owned it as well as since I have owned it.
When I bought the car it was used with just a little over 100000 miles on it. I noticed anti-freeze leaking out of the intake gasket onto the engine.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 86,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2001 Pontiac Grand Am: 7
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.
Certain minivans, passenger and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "Child restraint anchorage system." The owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the child restraint lower universal anchorage system. This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
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.
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: 86
Repair instructions Pontiac sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2001 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: 3
Turn signal failures
Erratic fuel gauge
Erratic fuel gauge
Neighbouring years
2000 Grand Am: 674 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2002 Grand Am: 395 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
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 2001 Pontiac Grand Am a bad year?
538 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Grand Am years. At 86,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Pontiac Grand Am?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (232), exterior lighting (98), engine (60), fuel system (39), visibility and wipers (33).
How many recalls does the 2001 Pontiac Grand Am have?
7 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.