Head-to-head reliability
Pontiac Grand AM vs Honda Accord
How the Pontiac Grand AM and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Pontiac Grand AM vs Honda Accord: The Grand Am averaged 398.5 complaints per year over 6 years, with 14 deaths, while the Accord averaged 452.4 per year over 10 years, with 3 deaths. The Grand Am's issues often involve electrical and lighting failures; the Accord's include engine and forward collision avoidance problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Pontiac Grand AM or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Pontiac Grand AM
The Pontiac Grand Am is a compact car that owners often describe as having electrical gremlins and lighting problems. Over six years, it averaged about 398.5 complaints per year, with the most common issues in the electrical system and exterior lighting. Many complaints involve stalling, starting problems, and brake lights that work intermittently. With 14 deaths reported in crash-related complaints, it's a vehicle that demands careful inspection before purchase.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize car with a higher annual complaint rate of about 452.4 per year over ten years. The most frequent complaints involve engine problems, electrical system failures, and forward collision avoidance issues. Owners report serious safety concerns like sudden power loss, braking failures, and unintended automatic braking. Despite these issues, the Accord has only 3 reported deaths in crash-related complaints, far fewer than the Grand Am.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Pontiac Grand AM | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,391 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 32 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 154 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 398.5 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 135 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 14 | 3 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Pontiac Grand AM
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM834
- 02EXTERIOR LIGHTING489
- 03ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING293
- 04SERVICE BRAKES286
- 05HYDRAULIC237
Owners report stalling while driving, ignition key failures, and random security sensor illumination. These issues can leave you stranded or cause a crash, as one owner stalled at 10 mph and hit a curb.
Brake lights and other lights may work intermittently, often testing fine at the shop but failing later. This can lead to rear-end collisions if brake lights don't illuminate when needed.
Complaints include engine overheating and cooling system failures, which can lead to costly repairs or breakdowns. This is a common problem for older vehicles with neglected maintenance.
Owners report brake problems, including hydraulic issues that can reduce stopping power. With 286 complaints, this is a critical safety area to inspect.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CRASHED INTO A CURB. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHEN THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE FAILED TO START ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE SECURITY SENSOR RANDOMLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIA…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden power loss, rough transitions between electric and gas modes, and rattling noises. One complaint describes losing speed at highway speeds with multiple alarms, which is a serious safety risk.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of power steering and braking at highway speeds, and tire pressure monitoring system issues that led to a tire blowout. These failures can cause loss of control.
Owners report unintended automatic braking or failure to brake when needed, sometimes under adaptive cruise control. This can cause sudden deceleration or a crash if the system doesn't respond correctly.
Complaints include fuel pump failures and hybrid system issues that can cause stalling or power loss. This is especially concerning in newer models with complex hybrid systems.
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Pontiac Grand AM — 32 recalls
The defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency o…
The risk: 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.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
The defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES…
The risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
The defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLE BOLTS THAT ARE NOT TO SPECIFICATION AND COULD FRACTURE UNDER HIGH LOADS THAT CAN OCCUR IN SOME DRIVING CONDITIONS.
The risk: IF THE BOLT FRACTURE, THE REAR SUSPENSION LINKAGE COULD DETACH FROM THE KNUCKLE AND THE REAR WHEEL WOULD BE ABLE TO TURN INBOARD OR OUTBOARD. SUDDEN CHANGES IN VEHICLE HANDLING COULD OCCUR, PARTICULARLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS, AND THE DRIVER MAY…
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLE BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
The defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency o…
The risk: 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.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Pontiac Grand AM or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Pontiac Grand Am has fewer complaints per year (398.5) than the Honda Accord (452.4), but the Grand Am's complaints are concentrated in older, simpler systems. The Accord's higher rate includes many issues with advanced safety and hybrid systems, which can be more expensive to fix. In practice, the Grand Am may have more frequent but cheaper problems, while the Accord may have fewer but more complex and costly failures.
Key differences
- The Pontiac Grand Am has 14 reported deaths in crash-related complaints, while the Honda Accord has only 3, despite the Accord having more total complaints.
- Grand Am complaints often involve stalling, lighting failures, and brake issues, while Accord complaints include sudden power loss, braking failures, and forward collision avoidance problems.
- The Accord has a higher annual complaint rate (452.4 vs 398.5) but covers more model years and includes advanced driver-assist systems that can fail.
- Both have electrical system complaints, but the Grand Am's are often ignition-related, while the Accord's involve power steering, braking, and hybrid components.
- Check for intermittent brake lights and other lighting issues; have someone watch while you press the brake pedal and test all lights.
- Test the ignition system thoroughly: start the car multiple times, look for security light warnings, and listen for any stalling or rough idling.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system if equipped; look for any warning lights and ask if the software has been updated per recalls.
- Check for hybrid system issues: listen for rattling noises during acceleration and feel for rough transitions between electric and gas modes.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the electrical system, including battery, alternator, and ignition components.
- Test drive at highway speeds to check for stalling, power loss, or unintended braking.
- Inspect all lights, including brake lights, turn signals, and headlights, for proper function.
- For the Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance and hybrid system if applicable.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Pontiac Grand AM or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Pontiac Grand AM vs Honda Accord
- Pontiac Grand AM total complaints
- 2,391
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Pontiac Grand AM total recalls
- 32
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Pontiac Grand AM avg complaints/year
- 398.5
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Pontiac Grand AM
- Pontiac Grand AM top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE