Saturday, August 8, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2001 Kia Rio vs 2001 Pontiac Grand AM

Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.

Metric2001 Kia Rio2001 Pontiac Grand AM
NHTSA complaints223538
Recall campaigns34
Service bulletins (TSBs)21406
Investigations63
Crash reports2121
Fire reports144
NCAP overall rating
EPA MPG (combined)25–2622–23
Median reported incident mileage49,000 mi75,000 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentKia RioPontiac Grand AM
Electrical System25232
Engine and Engine Cooling5275
Exterior Lighting598
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1759
Air Bags3314
Fuel System, Gasoline2324
Visibility932
Wheels319

Symptoms owners describe

Stalling2833
Vibration / shaking2221
Airbag warning light160
Check engine light156
Clunking / rattling57
Won’t start054
Overheating014
Rust / corrosion09

Compare all Kia Rio vs Pontiac Grand AM years →

Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.