Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1978 Grand Am.
The 1978 Pontiac Grand Am sits as a single model year within a nameplate whose NHTSA complaint record, tracked from 1990 through 2005, traces a steep and uneven reliability arc, beginning with a quiet baseline of just 56 complaints in 1990 and climbing to a peak of 909 complaints in 1999. For a researcher approaching this page, the 1978 entry functions less as a standalone spec sheet and more as a fixed point at the front end of a subsequently troubled ownership history, with the volume of consumer complaints against the broader model rising more than sixteenfold between the dataset's earliest and most reported years. Read in that context, this model year is best understood as the reference point against which the later surge of complaints — concentrated in the late 1990s — can be measured, framing 1978 as a relatively low-complaint foundation rather than a problem year in its own right.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 201.2 in |
| Overall width | 72.8 in |
| Overall height | 53.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.3 in |
| Curb weight | 3183 lb |
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.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Coupe 4.9L V8 | 11.00 sec | 18.10 sec | 145 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
THE REAR BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER RETAINER ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED. SHOULD THE WHEEL CYLINDER RETAINER BECOME COMPLETELY DISENGAGED, THE WHEEL CYLINDER COULD MOVE OUTBOARD CAUSING A… Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPOSITION THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER RETAINERS, FREE OF CHARGE, ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.