PontiacGrand Am2000Overview/pontiac/grand-am/2000/base/

2000 Pontiac Grand Am

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2000 Grand Am.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2000 Pontiac Grand Am is a passenger car that takes 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 API oil, and its ownership record includes 703 complaints, eight recalls, and a primary trouble spot in exterior lighting. Within the model’s 1990–2005 history, this year’s complaint count sits just below the 1999 peak of 909 but remains far above the 1990 low of 56, indicating that while some issues were receding, the vehicle still carried a significant reliability burden.

Model year200520042003200220012000199919981997

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 75 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 75 · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnTAILOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215-60R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731175 alt 25322835
Engine air filter25161977
Fuel filter25121293 discontinued
Spark plug19301813 alt 19301811
Front wiper blades22711469 discontinued · alt 22711468
Serpentine belt12588408 alt 10101899
Thermostat24507563 alt 24577288

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length186.2 in
Overall width70.5 in
Overall height55.1 in
Wheelbase107.1 in
Curb weight3049 lb
Track (front / rear)59.1 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)64/36

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Grand Am of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.70 sec — 1999 GT Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1999GT Sedan 3.4L V67.70 sec15.90 sec175 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts129 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts76 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts9.6 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsUpper: 18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts12 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5,000-8,000 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5000-7000 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Type41-942
Spark Plug Gap0.050 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.75 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number75

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature195 °F
Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature185-205 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum58.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)52-58.0

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket81 ft-lbs / 85 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle85 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0015 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.433 in / 1.031 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
1Bolts 1-840 ft. lbs
2Bolts 9-1030 ft. lbs
390 degrees.90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2000 Pontiac Grand Am sits at the apex of a pronounced complaint and regulatory action spike that began in 1999 with 909 complaints, 6 recalls, and 3 investigations. The target year of 2000 recorded 703 complaints, the highest recall count in the dataset at 8, and matched the investigation peak at 5 cases—all indicating this model year experienced the most intense federal scrutiny of its generation. While complaints declined steadily after 2000 (from 551 in 2001 down to 102 by 2005), the 2000 model carried forward the elevated defect rates from 1999, with Exterior Lighting (135), Engine & Engine Cooling (90), Electrical System (89), and Service Brakes (85) comprising the dominant complaint categories. Additionally, the 44 crash-related complaints and 17 fire complaints for 2000 are notable figures within the federal record. This concentration of recalls, investigations, and high-volume complaints in a single model year—combined with the trend data showing the problem arc peaking precisely at 2000—suggests this is not an advisable purchase; the data indicates structural reliability concerns that were most acute in this specific model year.

8
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
382
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
703
Owner complaints
44 involved a crash · 17 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 703 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Exterior Lighting135
Engine & Engine Cooling90
Electrical System89
Service Brakes, Hydraulic85
Visibility30
Air Bags24
Fuel System, Gasoline19
Suspension19

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 8 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V400000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 03/07/2014

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… Remedy: 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…

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 382 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIP4723J2024-10-25Electrical SystemThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIT5099H2024-09-12Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5099H2024-09-12Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
General Communication2024-08-26Electrical SystemVehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It…
18-NA-0992024-06-17Unknown Or OtherThis bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Grand Am. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2000 Grand Am take?

4.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2000 Grand Am have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.