2002 Pontiac Grand Am Consumer Reviews

Never again

Written by: ronnie on 09/24/2008

Vehicle

2002 Pontiac Grand Am SE1 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I absolutely loved this car. Even though it would bottom out from time to time. And the head lights seemed to get very dirty very fast. Then the warranty ran out. Then the draining of my pocketbook started. The driver's window mechanism has been replaced twice. The spark box module needed to be replaced. Now the timing chain has went and I need a new motor! My mechanic says that this particular size motor (2.2) in his particular (2002) year has had this problem with both the Windows and the timing chain ruining the rest of the motor. From reading the other reviews, I see that this is true. I hope that people read these before they buy a grand am. I sure wish that I did!

Favorite Features

The look and the handling of the car was awesome. The gas mileage was good also. Very comfortable for me, by not so much for my 6' husband.

Suggested Improvements

Fix the defects in this particular year/size motor and help out the people who have been stuck with the lemons. These cars give gm a bad name.

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Good Riddance!

Written by: jimdes on 07/26/2008

Vehicle

2002 Pontiac Grand Am GT1 4dr Sedan (3.4L 6cyl 4A)

Review

I thought I'd be stuck with this car, but fortunately, I totaled it. It was nothing but trouble from day 3. First, the radio had to be replaced because it was draining the battery when the car was parked. Then there was a series of electrical issues, primarily with the brake warning lights coming on indicating the ABS and ETS were not functioning. Pontiac didn't know how to fix this and just told me to keep driving it. Finally, on the 5th attempt, it was fixed. There's also a common issue that the blinker sound will come on while driving. Thank God I purchased a 60K warranty on this when I bought it brand new! My partner, on the other, hand purchased a 2002 Grand Am SE1 and had 0 probs

Favorite Features

Fun to drive when it's not in the shop! Great style and comfortable driver seat. Great Sound System! Love the moonroof!

Suggested Improvements

Poor gas mileage. The trunk and rear door openings were oddly sized and shaped for this class of car, making it difficult (or impossible) to transport things like a 25-inch TV. This car was extraordinarily unreliable!

0 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Horrible!

Written by: Mom on 07/24/2008

Vehicle

2002 Pontiac Grand Am SE 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5M)

Review

This car was so cheaply made. We had to replace the passlock system twice, fuel pump, driver's side window motor, something else under the hood that was $600 (My husband isn't home and I can't remember the name of it) and the list goes on and on. We have poured roughly 5-6 thousand dollars into this car since we bought it. On repairs that were required unless we wanted the car as a lawn decoration. Pontiac should have stepped up and recalled so many of these problems. I will never again in my life buy another GrandAm, or anything within that family.

Favorite Features

The orange and red dash lights! Ha ha. It felt "cool" when we bought it.

Suggested Improvements

Uh, improve everything. This car is and is poorly and cheaply made.

1 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Windows, Brakes, Steering, now what?

Written by: Deb on 07/04/2008

Vehicle

2002 Pontiac Grand Am SE1 2dr Coupe (2.2L 4cyl 5M)

Review

My 2002 40,800 miles, I'm the original owner. I commute to work via train so my mileage stays low & I only use it on weekends around town. It has gone to neighboring states for family visits & a trip from IL to AK once, hence most of the mileage. I've been through window clip replacements, brakes, battery, tires/wheels, and thought I had the steering shakes corrected while under warranty but never could get to the bottom of it. The car shakes at 55 mph so we take my husband's car for trips that require high speed. Just this week I noticed a squeaking/rattle coming from what might be suspension/under carriage? I should have stayed with Honda. Again, only 40,800 miles!!!!!

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Love this car!

Written by: shopgirl24 on 06/24/2008

Vehicle

2002 Pontiac Grand Am SE 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I bought this car 3 years ago with 19k miles on it. It now has about 60k miles; I have had to replace the O2 sensor once (about $300). Otherwise my only expense has been the usual maintenance - oil changes and first full round of tires 4 months ago. This car has been extremely reliable, and is a great family vehicle. It also gets decent mileage for its size; I get 28 mpg city/hwy combined. It is also quite stylish for the price and fun to drive! I am very satisfied with my purchase.

Favorite Features

comfort, good mileage, style, roomy interior, color (gold, hides the dust well)

Suggested Improvements

I have to agree with another reviewer the paint scratches off the bumpers very easily. The 2 front corners of mine are about 1/2 black from accidental light garage scraping. (I have scraped other cars similarly with NO resulting paint damage.)

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Love/Hate Relationship

Written by: capnvonbaron on 05/14/2008

Vehicle

2002 Pontiac Grand Am GT 4dr Sedan (3.4L 6cyl 4A)

Review

I fell in love with it the moment I saw it at the dealer. Finally, a car that didn't look like a dumb Toyota! For a long time it was great. Then a series of maddening little problems cropped up. Brakes are too small, easily overheat & warp. Turn signal clacker frantically clacks all by itself at random. Rear speakers rattle at 80K miles. CD player sometimes has a mind of its own. Theft deterrent system will occasionally shut off the ignition system for no reason (easy fix, but takes 20 minutes). Dexcool coolant system is stupid. Original battery blew a cell, shocks started squeaking at 65K. Overall, I love how it looks and drives, but the little problems keep it from being truly great.

Favorite Features

Sexy exterior. Silver paint and wheels shine like a new $.25 when clean. Great big torquey V6 with great pickup, sips fuel when driven easy. Love that dual-tip exhaust note! Solid, smooth transmission. Comfy, spacious interior (for a compact), loads of trunk space.

Suggested Improvements

Wish it had a little more power on the top end, but thats trivial. Quality control inspector needs to be fired. Come on, GM! Quit putting third rate parts on your cars and compete with import cars for once! Customer happiness = increase sales = more profits! Doesn't take a degree in marketing...

3 out 4 people found this review helpful

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No wonder everyone is buying foreign.

Written by: Paladin96 on 04/15/2008

Vehicle

2002 Pontiac Grand Am SE1 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5M)

Review

We bought this car brand new, It ran fine until the warranty expired and then the fun began. Wheel bearing, Transmission rebuild, 3 complete sets of brakes in 100,000 miles, intake manifold gasket replace, multifunction switch, and now my abs/trac off light keeps coming on. These are mostly highway miles and we're not rough with the car. I would expect a car company who is trying to compete with the likes of Honda and Toyota to sell a decent vehicle. I have never had a car with so many issues. This is the first GM car I have ever owned and I guarantee, it will be the last.

Favorite Features

Body Shape

Suggested Improvements

reliability, quality, and back up what you sell.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Fantastic

Written by: sneece on 06/25/2007

Vehicle

2002 Pontiac Grand Am SE 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I just totaled my '02 Grand Am and I miss her sorely. For the 5 years I had her and the 104K miles I put on her, I never had to replace anything on her that wasn't expected. I kept my up on my oil changes and took good care of her with tune-ups, alignments and everything. She was a great car. I never had any complaints and I drive in Atlanta!

Favorite Features

Sound system rocked. Loved the daytime running lights, automatic shut-off for headlights. Handled really well. Turning radius and response not too shabby

Suggested Improvements

None at the moment.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Don't Buy a Grand Am

Written by: Gary Harris on 06/20/2007

Vehicle

2002 Pontiac Grand Am GT 2dr Coupe (3.4L 6cyl 4A)

Review

I bought a 2002 Grand Am GT a couple of months ago and the passlock system started acting up. I have read a lot about this subject on message boards so I took my radio out to look at the yellow wire. Someone had soldered it to the black wire. I disconnected it from the black wire but left the yellow wire cut. Now the car won't even turn over let alone start. I wish I had never bought this car.

Favorite Features

None

Suggested Improvements

Recall on the passlock system

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Great Car

Written by: solitaryberry on 05/08/2007

Vehicle

2002 Pontiac Grand Am GT 4dr Sedan (3.4L 6cyl 4A)

Review

I love my Grand Am. I am a young mom of two so I didn't really want to be relegated to driving a minivan. This is a great alternative for me. I get great gas mileage, which is important these days. I only spend about $40 a month in gas. It's a really comfortable car to drive and has quite a bit of get up and go. The only problem I have found is that it bottoms out fairly easily if I am not careful.

Favorite Features

The console shift is really comfortable to use. I prefer it to the shift on the wheel. I also love the stereo, which for a factory stereo puts out great sound.

Suggested Improvements

2 out 3 people found this review helpful

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