CarBrief

Owners of the 2002 Grand Am filed 395 complaints with NHTSA, and electrical trouble leads the list[1][2]. The car has one recall, for the ignition switch, and the fix is a new key setup that dealers install free[3].

395owner complaints[1]
1recalls[4]
21–25MPG combined (EPA)[5]

Most reported problems

NHTSA lists 395 owner complaints for this model year[1]. 22 mention a crash, 3 a fire and 23 injuries[1]. No deaths are reported[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one part.

Here are the largest groups, with the median mileage at failure.

Component group Complaints Crashes Median miles
Electrical system[2] 148 3 80,000
Exterior lighting[6] 97 0 79,157
Engine[7] 65 2 66,700
Brakes[8] 40 3 43,500
Visibility[9] 23 0 48,155
Steering[10] 22 6 54,000
Air bags[11] 19 12 87,000
Power train[12] 13 0 45,000

What owners describe, based on a small sample of complaint texts we read:

Air bags and steering have fewer complaints, but more of them mention crashes. 12 of the 19 air bag complaints mention a crash, and they report 13 injuries[11]. 6 of the 22 steering complaints mention a crash[10]. We did not read the texts for these two groups, so we cannot say what owners describe.

Recalls

NHTSA lists one recall for this model year in our data[4].

If you are shopping for one, ask whether the key rings and insert were installed.

Fuel economy

The EPA lists three versions.

Engine City / highway / combined MPG Annual fuel cost
2.2L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd[13] 21 / 30 / 24 $2,800
2.2L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd[5] 22 / 30 / 25 $2,700
3.4L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd[14] 18 / 27 / 21 $3,200

All three use regular fuel and front-wheel drive. The annual cost uses the EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA 5-Star ratings are listed as not rated for both the 4-door[15] and the 2-door[16]. That means there is no star rating to compare.

Engine and size

The sizes below are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so they can differ slightly from US cars[17][18]. The EPA lists a 2.2L 4-cylinder and a 3.4L 6-cylinder[13][14].

2-door coupe SE/GT 4-door sedan SE/GT
Length 186 in 186 in
Width 70 in 70 in
Height 55 in 55 in
Wheelbase 107 in 107 in
Curb weight 3,049 lb 3,115 lb

How 2002 compares with other years

1995: 409 complaints, 1 recalls19951996: 450 complaints, 4 recalls19961997: 383 complaints, 2 recalls19971998: 172 complaints, 1 recalls19981999: 849 complaints, 3 recalls19992000: 675 complaints, 5 recalls20002001: 538 complaints, 4 recalls20012002: 395 complaints, 1 recalls39520022003: 325 complaints, 2 recalls20032004: 293 complaints, 2 recalls20042005: 102 complaints, 2 recalls2005
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Grand Am model year. The 2002 is highlighted[4].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19954091
19964504
19973832
19981721
19998493
20006755
20015384
20023951
20033252
20042932
20051022

Across the 1995 to 2005 model years, the 2002 Grand Am sits in the middle on complaints. It has 395[4]. Five years have fewer: 1997 (383), 1998 (172), 2003 (325), 2004 (293) and 2005 (102)[4]. Five have more: 1995 (409), 1996 (450), 1999 (849), 2000 (675) and 2001 (538)[4].

On recalls, the 2002 has 1, which ties with 1995 and 1998 for the fewest[4]. The 2000 model year has the most at 5[4]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so read them as a rough guide.

Should you buy a used 2002 Grand Am?

The complaint count is mid-range for the model's run, and the recall list is short[4]. The ignition key recall matters because it ties a stalled engine to air bags that may not deploy, so confirm the fix was done[3]. Electrical and turn signal complaints lead the reports, so test the starting and the signals before you buy[2][6]. There is no NHTSA star rating to lean on[15][16]. Owner reports are unverified, so a pre-purchase inspection is a fair way to check the points above.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Pontiac Grand Am?
Electrical system complaints are the largest group at 148 of 395[1][2]. Exterior lighting follows with 97[6]. In the texts we read, owners describe hard starting and turn signals that click or fail[2][6].
Does the 2002 Grand Am have any recalls?
Yes, one in our data. Recall 14V400 covers the ignition switch, and dealers install a new key setup at no charge[3].
How many miles per gallon does a 2002 Grand Am get?
The EPA rates it at 24 combined MPG for the 2.2L automatic[13], 25 for the 2.2L manual[5] and 21 for the 3.4L automatic[14].
Is the 2002 Grand Am a better year than 2001?
By the numbers we have, yes. The 2002 has 395 complaints and 1 recall, against 538 and 4 for 2001[4]. Counts are not adjusted for sales.
What is the safety rating of the 2002 Grand Am?
NHTSA lists both the 4-door and the 2-door as not rated[15][16].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 395 owner complaints on file for the 2002 Pontiac Grand Am (22 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 23 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 148 complaints name the electrical system component group (3 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 80,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Recall 14V400, filed July 3, 2014: Electrical System › Ignition. NHTSA recall database
  4. Owner complaints and recalls for every Pontiac Grand Am model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  5. EPA rating for Grand Am, 2.2L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 30 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  6. 97 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 79,157). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 65 complaints name the engine component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 66,700). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 40 complaints name the brakes component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 43,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 23 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 48,155). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 22 complaints name the steering component group (6 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 54,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 19 complaints name the air bags component group (12 crashes, 1 fires, 13 injuries, median mileage at failure 87,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 13 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. EPA rating for Grand Am, 2.2L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 30 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  14. EPA rating for Grand Am, 3.4L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 27 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  15. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  16. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 2 DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  17. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, GRAND AM 2DR COUPE SE/GT: length 186 in, width 70 in, height 55 in, wheelbase 107 in, curb weight 3,049 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  18. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, GRAND AM 4DR SEDAN SE/GT: length 186 in, width 70 in, height 55 in, wheelbase 107 in, curb weight 3,115 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.