2002 Pontiac Grand AM vs 2002 Volkswagen Golf
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Pontiac Grand AM | 2002 Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 395 | 73 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 457 | 222 |
| Investigations | 1 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 22 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–25 | 23–38 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 73,000 mi | 59,940 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Pontiac Grand AM | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 148 | 11 |
| Exterior Lighting | 97 | 11 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 54 | 13 |
| Air Bags | 19 | 22 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 29 | 3 |
| Visibility | 23 | 7 |
| Steering | 22 | 3 |
| Power Train | 13 | 4 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 35 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 33 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 9 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 8 | 0 |
| Overheating | 8 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 5 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 0 |
2002 Pontiac Grand AM
2002 Volkswagen Golf
Compare all Pontiac Grand AM vs Volkswagen Golf 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.