1996 Pontiac Grand AM

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/1996· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  AIR INTAKE SUCKED INSULATION FROM LEFT/FRONT WHEEL WELL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER.

• 12/29/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS, FAILURES CAUSING MISFIRE. *MJS

• 12/28/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CHECK ENGINE HAS BEEN RESET, BUT CONTINUES TO COME (3 TIMES) CODE READS P1870, BUT NO TRANSMISSION SLIPPING.

• 12/27/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CRUISE CONTROL & ETS INOPERATIVE DURING CHECK ENGINE OPERATIVE PERIOD.

• 12/26/1999· VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE

  HAD ALL 4 POWER WINDOW MOTORS FAIL WITHIN THE PAST YR. ALSO PASS POWER LOCK FAILURE

• 12/26/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  IGNITION COIL FAILED CAUSING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND EXHAUST COMPONENTS TO BECOME HOT ENOUGH TO MELT AND CATCH SURROUNDINGS ON FIRE

• 12/24/1998· VISIBILITY

  LEFT MIRROR PLASTIC RETAINING CLIP BROKE TWICE SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASE, UNABLE TO ADJUST DRIVER SIDE BECAUSE CONTROL FELL INSIDE DOOR.

• 12/23/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES, THE BATTERY FAILED AND WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE DASH LIGHTS FLICKER, THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHT FLUCTUATE, THE IGNITION CLICKS AND THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE STARTED. NLM

• 12/23/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, IN THE DARK, IN THE RAIN, DRIVING DOWN A HILL. WITHOUT WARNING THE LIGHTS FLICKERED AND DIMMED, HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT, LOST POWER, UNABLE TO USE BRAKES OR POWER STEER CAR. WAS ABLE TO COAST ON A SIDE ROAD AND APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE. AFTER STOPPING, UNABLE TO RELEASE KEY FROM CAR OR OPEN DOOR, ABLE TO ESCAPE THROUGH ROLL DOWN WINDOW. *AK

• 12/23/1998· TIRES

  THE TIRE ON VEHICLE WENT FLAT. REPLACED WITH SPARE TIRE. THE SPARE TIRE WAS DRY ROTTED & DECAYED. ALSO HAD LARGE HOLE IN IT. TIRE HAS NEVER BEEN USED SINCE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE DRY ROTTED, DECAYED TIRE. *AK

• 12/20/2012· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  I STARTED MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS DRIVING APPROX 10MPH WHEN THE CAR DIED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, AFTER RESTART, IT DID IT AGAIN. THEN, IT WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A BAD FUEL PUMP. TURNS OUT IT WAS THE PONTIAC ANTI-THEFT DEVICE THAT WAS KEEPING IT FROM STARTING. WHEN YOUR KEY STARTS GETTING WORN AND ROUNDED OFF, (AS MOST KEYS DO AFTER SOME USE!) THE THEFT SYSTEM LOCKS YOUR CAR UP. THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN REPLACING THE ECU, IGNITION SYSTEM, KEY TUMBLER, OR A COMBINATION OF THE SAME, AND REPROGRAMMING IT, WHICH COSTS UPWARDS OF 1000.00 THIS ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IS PREVENTING ME FROM USING MY LAWFULLY OWNED CAR! THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP REPLACE DEFECTIVE PONTIAC PARTS. AN ANTI THEFT SYSTEM SHOULD BE A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE TO KEEP CROOKS FROM BOOSTING YOUR CAR, NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL COST THE OWNER MORE MONEY LATER WHEN THEIR KEY WEARS DOWN! WORSE YET, IF THE CAR IS DISABLED ON A HIGHWAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, YOU RISK KILLING YOURSELF OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD! THIS HAS GOT TO BE A SAFETY VIOLATION AND A RED FLAG FOR A RECALL. I'M GOING TO PROBABLY SELL THIS RAT-TRAP FOR SCRAP/CRUSH VALUE TO A JUNK YARD AND BUY ANOTHER CAR, SO ALTHOUGH THIS COMPLAINT WON'T BENEFIT ME, HOPEFULLY MY COMMENT WILL HELP SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR POS PONTIAC. *TR

• 12/20/2004· AIR BAGS

  ON WENESDAY DECEMBER 15 AT APPROXIMENTALLY 7:20 P.M. I WENT OUT TO MY BOYFRIEND, SCOTT FULLER'S CAR TO ROLL UP A WINDOW THAT WAS DOWN. AS I PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, AND TURNED 1 CLICK, THE AIR BAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED IN MY FACE. I HAVE A CUT IN THE MIDDLE OF MY THROAT, AND I BIT THROUGH MY LIP ON THE RIGHT SIDE, I HAVE BRUISING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY CHEST AND I CAN BARELY HEAR IN ME LEFT EAR. HIS WINDOWS ARE ELECTRIC THAT IS WHY I NEEDED TO PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. HE HAS A 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT, VIN # 2NW12M6TC813666, CAR MILEAGE:142,441AND HIS INSURANCE COMPANY IS AA&J INSURANCE COMPANY 109 E. MAIN ST. GOUVERNEUR N.Y. 13642 POLICY # 17772843-1. *AK

• 12/19/2001· AIR BAGS

  BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH FOR NO REASON, THIS OCCURRED ONE DAY AFTER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *YH

• 12/16/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  BEGINNING MARCH 1999 MY HORN HAS FAILED TO WORK. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM THEN - SAID THE CONTACTS WERE LOOSE. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR THE HORN STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER IN JUNE 2000 AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CONTACTS WERE LOOSE AND IT NEEDS A HORN PAD. IN ORDER TO FIX THE HORN IT WOULD COST $600 DUE TO THE AIRBAG. ONCE THEY PUT THE HORN BACK TOGETHER IT WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE. IT HAS SINCE STOPPED WORKING AGAIN.*AK

• 12/14/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  DT:THE CONTACT STATED WHEN PLACING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SMOKE POURED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SMOKE QUICKLY ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. BOTH THE FIRE AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED TO THE SCENE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE DASHBOARD PANEL AREA AND STEERING COLUMN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED THIS MAY HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, BUT NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

• 12/13/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ENGINE SHUTS DOWN/ALL POWER IS GONE/ THERE ARE NO BRAKES/ NO STEERING AND NO LIGHTS. CONSUMER INDICATES THERE IS NO POWER AT ALL, AND FEELS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY COULDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK

• 12/11/2002· VISIBILITY

  CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MOTORS ON ALL FOUR POWER WINDOWS FAILED IN 06/98. DEALER REPAIRED, BUT MOTORS FAILED AGAIN IN 06/99. WINDOWS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENLY WITH PROBLEM GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL FAILURE. MR

• 12/11/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS SON WAS INVOLVED IN A 45 MPH SIDE IMPACT COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RELEASED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

• 12/09/2002· VISIBILITY

  THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE WINDOW MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BUT THE PROBLEM RESURFACES. *PH *NLM

• 12/08/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE HEADLIGHTS WENT DIM WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE CUT OFF / WOULD NOT RESTART, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK. CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED IN VEHICLE FOR 20 MINUTES BECAUSE DOORS AND WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPEN. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED YET. *AK *YC

• 12/06/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY

  NO SUMMARY. DT

• 12/05/1997· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING ONE CANNOT READ THE RADIO OR CLOCK LIGHTS. THE ONLY WAY TO SEE THEM IS IF THE VEHICLE IS IN THE SHADE OR PARKING BRAKE IS ON. *AK

• 12/04/1996· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN DRIVER DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURY.

• 12/03/2004· AIR BAGS

  UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. WHILE CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED THE MECHANIC. *AK *SC

• 12/02/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TEMPERATURE GAUGE ERRATIC.

• 11/29/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  SINCE PURCHASE HAD TO REPLACE 3 ALTERNATORS/ 2 IGNITION SWITCHES/ 2 STOP-HAZARD SWITCHES/ABS SWITCH, AND 2 BATTERIES. *AK WINDSHIELD IS LEAKING DURING HEAVY RAINS. THE CONSUMER INDICATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS QUESTIONABLE DESIGN WHICH CAUSING MOST OF THE PROBLEMS. *YH

• 11/28/1997· SUSPENSION

  REAR SHOCKS REPLACED DUE TO VIBRATION.

• 11/26/1997· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  SPEED INCREASES WHEN GOING DOWN HILL WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED.

• 11/25/2003· AIR BAGS

  WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT 25 MPH TO MAKE A TURN, THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. PLEASE DESCRIBE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM

• 11/25/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE RAN OVER A SMALL PUDDLE AND THE ENGINE WENT OUT. DEALER SAID ENGINE SHOULD BE REPLACED. *AK

• 11/24/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  COOLANT LEAKING INTO CRANKCASE, ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. ALSO I HAVE REPLACED 3 ALTERNATORS SINCE I OWNED THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST ONE AT 40000 MILES. THIS CAR BY MY BOOK IS CRAP. DT

• 11/23/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ABS BRAKE PADS WENT OUT AT 19,000, AND 20,000, NEW PADS WERE PUT ON AND NOW THE BRAKES MAKE NOISE. DEALER HAS THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

• 11/22/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY CAR HAS STALLED FOUR TIMES WHILE DRIVING. I LOSE ALL POWER AND THE CAR WILL NOT RESTART FOR FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR. TWO TIMES THE SITUATION WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND I WAS NEARLY IN AN ACCIDENT. ONE TIME IT STALLED ON A BLIND TURN ON A BACK ROAD AND PEOPLE HAS TO SWERVE TO AVOID ME. THE OTHER TIME THE LOSE OF POWER STEERING MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO AVOID OTHER CARS AS I TRIED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR AND I AM SO SCARED THAT I'M GOING TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT. I'VE HAD THE CAR ON A FLATBED FOUR TIMES AND BROUGHT TO THE DEALER. EACH TIME THE CAR STARTS FOR THE DEALER AND THEY CAN FIND NO PROBLEMS. THEY SAY IT COULD BE TO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS AND CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE CAR HAS ALSO FAILED TO START ON SIX OCCASIONS AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT THIS PROBLEM EITHER.

• 11/21/1996· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT SWITCH DESIGNED TO TURN OFF RUNNING LIGHTS AND TURN ON LOW BEAMS WHEN IT GETS DARK, HOWEVER IT ACTIVATES LOW BEAMS DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, WHICH ACTIVATES DASH LIGHTS, CAUSING DIFFICULTY FOR DRIVER TO SEE DASH CONTROLS/LGAUGES.

• 11/20/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY,AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE

  CONSTANT PROBLEMS MOSTLY ELECTRICAL, BUT FROM WINDOWS AND LOCKS TO MAJOR THINGS LIKE ALTERNATORS AND IGNITION SWITCHES MULTIPLE TIMES. CONTACTED PONTIAC OVER A YEAR AND NEVER HEARD EVEN A REPLY. ANY RECALLS OR FACTORY FIX INFO WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *AK

• 11/19/2008· AIR BAGS

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE EYES AND MOUTH, IN ADDITION TO BROKEN TEETH. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 122,000. UPDATED 12/12/08 *CN UPDATED 12/15/08. *JB

• 11/19/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY COOLING SYSTEM.I'M ALWAYS LOSING COOLANT . SOMETIMES IT'S VISBLE AND LEAKS TO THE GROUND. OTHER TIMES I CAN'T FIND WHERE THE COOLANT IS LEAKING TOO. I ALWAYS HAVE TO CHECK MY COOLANT LEVEL AND ADD COOLANT MOST OF THE TIME. I HEAR A LOUD NOISE IN MY DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING SOMETIMES. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE. *AK

• 11/19/1997· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE RECEIVED NECK/BACK AND CHEST INJURIES. SHE ALSO RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER ANKLE AND FOOT. *AK *SLC

• 11/18/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE BRAKES. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR AND "RUN OFF" ROAD TO MAKE STOP. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT A "PUSH ROD" CLIP WAS MISSING FROM MASTER CYLINDER. CLIP WAS REPLACED TWICE, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURED TWICE RESPECTIVELY. FINALLY DEALER REPLACED "SEMI-WORN" FRONT BRAKE PADS AND PROBLEM DID NOT REOCCUR. DEALER DETERMINED THAT WHEN BRAKE PADS WEAR DOWN THE "PUSH ROD" CLIP COMES OUT OF PLACE(CLIP CONNECTS TO BRAKE PEDAL) CAUSING BRAKE LOSS. TS

• 11/18/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE

  THE WIRING MUST BE SHOT BECAUSE ANY THING THAT IS ELECTRIC IS ALWAYS GOING OUT. DT

• 11/18/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  SERVICE ADVISOR COMMENTS LEAD ME TO SUSPECT THAT SHORTNESS OF ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS CAUSED ELECTRICAL SHORTS WHICH CAUSED THREE ALTERNATOR FAILURES AND ONE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. INTIAL ALTERNATOR FAILURE RESULTED IN SUDDEN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTDOWN ON I-880 AT THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS SUMMIT, A NEAR SAFETY MISHAP. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. ON THE OTHER TWO ALTERNATOR FAILURES, WARNING LIGHTS GAVE US ENOUGH NOTICE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK

• 11/18/1998· AIR BAGS

  DRIVING DOWN GRAVEL ROAD AT 15-20 MPH, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, RESULTING IN AN INJURY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT. *AK

• 11/17/1999· SUSPENSION,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  WHILE DRIVING UPHILL CAR MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE FRONT END WAS SHIFTING TO THE RIGHT. ALSO, ENGINE HAD EXPLODED AND VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

• 11/15/1996· AIR BAGS

  THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A POT HOLE AT 7-9 MPH,(ACCORDING TO POLICE REPORT), BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURY TO A 5'1 1/2" 104 POUND WOMAN. *AK*JB

• 11/10/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY CUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 11/07/2001· SUSPENSION

  BUSHINGS ON CONTROL ARMS DETERIORATED,CAUSING CONTROL ARM SEPARATION. ALSO STRUT MOUNT AND STRUT WORN OUT ON THE SIDE WITH THE SEPARATED CONTROL ARM. *AK

• 11/06/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  INTERMITTENTLY, THE DEFECTIVE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNTIONCTIONS WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THERE'S A SPONGY FEELING AND GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER REPLACE FUEL PUMP AND BRAKE PADS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

• 11/06/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  WHENEVER GETTING IN THE CAR AND TURNING THE IGNITION KEY ON SMELLED VERY STRONG GAS FUMES INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 11/05/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  EXHAUST OUTLET PORT HAS BURNED PEOPLE ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE REMOVING ITEMS FROM THE TRUNK AREA.

• 11/04/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING IN ANY KIND OF WEATHER CONDITION THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCK UP AND VEHICLE VEERS TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. *AK *JB