1998 Pontiac Grand AM

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

• 12/28/2005· STEERING,SUSPENSION,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY

  GENERAL MOTORS NEED TO RECALL THEIR VEHICLES TO DIAGNOSIS THIS MAJOR ISSUE. MY CASE NUMBER WITH GM 1382341310 HOWEVER, THEY WONT ASSIST ME AND SAID THEY ARE CLOSING MY CASE. I INFORMED THEM NOT TO I AM NOT DONE WITH THIS ISSUE WITH THEM... THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM OR DEFECT WITH MY GENERAL MOTORS PONTIAC GRAND AM SE 3.1L V6 ENGINE IN THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD, 3 INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURES IN LESS THAN 40,000 MILES, THE FIRST OCCURRING AT APPROX 24,000 MILES THE SECOND AT APPROX 27,000 MILES AND NOW AGAIN AT 40,000 MILES BUT I HAVE SUSPECTED THE ANTI-FREEZE I HAVE BEEN SMELLING IN THE CAB WHEN I TURN THE HEATER BLOWER ON, IS SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO THIS LEAK. WHICH MEANS ITS BEEN LEAKING FOR SOME TIME JUST NOT BAD ENOUGH TO DRIP ONTO THE GROUND BRINGING MY ATTENTION TO IT. I AM ONLY ONE OF THOUSANDS OF VICTIMS THAT GENERAL MOTORS HAS RAPED FINANCIAL OVER THE YEARS. THE REPEATED FAILURES OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET STARTED LONG AGO AND DUE TO THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO THE BBB AND GM YOU WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO ALARM GENERAL MOTORS THAT THEY ARE HAVING A MAJOR ISSUE, AND THEY SHOULD OF BEGAN A RECALL OF THEIR VEHICLES LONG AGO. IN THE YEAR 2002 THEY COULDN'T SUPPLY ENOUGH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS TO KEEP UP WITH THE GM VEHICLES THAT NEEDED REPAIR EITHER UNDER WARRANTY OR OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD OTHER MAJOR NON-RELATED REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE AS WELL, 19,693 MILES THE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED, HEATER CORE REPLACED, THE RACK AND PINION STEERING ROD REPLACED. NOW MY CAR AND MANY THOUSANDS OF OTHER GM OWNERS VEHICLES ARE OUT OF WARRANTY AND GM WON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR OWN VEHICLES, EVEN THOUGH WORK WAS DONE REPEATEDLY UNDER WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE. I AM CURRENTLY 3 YEARS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT ONLY 12,900 APPROX MILES SINCE THEY DID THE LAST REPAIR ON MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. I BELIEVE A CLASS ACTION SUIT IS THE ONLY THING GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION WILL RESPOND TO. *JB

• 12/26/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY PASSLOCK SYSTEM KEEPS ON ACTING UP. I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE DESIGN OF IT, BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION IS ABSOLUTELY HORRID AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

• 12/22/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VISIBILITY

  THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE FUNCTION PREVENTS ME FROM BEING ABLE TO BRAKE MY CAR ON WET, SNOWY OR SLUSHY DAYS, BOTH MY DAUGHTER AND I HAVE HAD TO SHIFT DOWN AND PULL ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO PULL OVER, WE LIVE ON A LONG STEEP HILL. THIS RESETS THEABS BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY. ALSO, THE AUTO LOCKS MALFUNCTION AND THE FRONT WINDOWS DON'T ROLL UP AND DOWN, I AM AFRAID WE'LL BE TRAPPED IN AN OUT OF CONTROL CAR. ALSO THE ADJUSTMENT KNOB FOR THE EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRRORS FELL INTO THE DOOR SO I CAN'T ADJUST THEM WITHOUT STOPPING AS THE WINDOWS DON'T OPEN.*AK

• 12/22/2000· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSAXLE CASE WHEEL BEARING FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER STATES THAT IT STILL ISN'T CORRECT. *SLC

• 12/21/1999· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVER SEAT BELT CONTINUED TO TWIST BY ITSELT WHILE RETURNING INTO THE RETRACTOR. DEALER NOTIFED, AND REPLACE BELT ON THREE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE AWARE AND LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 12/14/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER.

• 12/13/2011· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  1999 ENGINE INSTALLED A 1998 CAR...FAULTY WIRES, CAR LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS, LOOKS TO HAVE BEEN IN A FIRE. KNOCK SENSOR BAD,EGR VALVE BAD...NUMEROUS THINGS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND LESLIE REED'S AUTO KNEW IT WAS A LEMON CAR. IT HAS A SALVAGED TITLE AND LESLIE REED'S AUTO NEVER GOT THE CAR REPAIRED BEFORE THEY SOLD THE CAR. *TR

• 12/13/2003· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  SEEMS A FEW WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE I STARTED NOTICING MALFUNCTIONS WRONG WITH MY PONTIAC GRAND AM. I BROUGHT IN MY CAR FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION IN SEVERAL TIMES, KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND HARD TO RELEASE. IGNITION LOCKS AND CAN'T TURN KEY TO START ENGINE. MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND NEVER WAS I TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FROM THE DEALER. I WAS CHARGED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST AFTER SEVERAL SERVICES TO MY CAR. NOW MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND PROBLEM STILL EXIST. I THINK I MAY HAVE PURCHASED A LEMON. *AK

• 12/13/2000· POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE IDLES VERY HIGH WHICH WHEN LETTING GO OF BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. *AK THE VEHICLE'S RPM WAS HIGH, ESPECIALLY WHEN STARTING. THE DEALER WORKED ON IT BUT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMING ON DUE TO EVAP PURGE VALVE AND SOLENOID FAILURE. PCM FAILED. *YH

• 12/13/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/13/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  VEH. P&U CAUGHT FIRE.TOTALED. THE FIRES ORIGINALLY WAS ON THE COWL CENTERED AROUND WIPER MOTOR AREA AND RELAY TO LEFT OF POWER BOOSTER. GMAC IMMEDIATELY TOOK CARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

• 12/12/2003· VISIBILITY

  BOTH FRONT POWER WINDOWS OPERATE SPORADICALLY. THEY WILL ROLL DOWN (NOT CONSISTENTLY) AND FAIL TO ROLL UP. THEY CAN BE STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION FOR DAYS. THIS MATTER HAPPENED ON A WINDY, SNOWY JANUARY DAY ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER PAYING A TOLL. I COULD BARELY DRIVE WHILE GOING THE MINIMUM, 45 MPH, ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF THE COLD AIR AND SNOW BLOWING INTO MY FACE. I HAVE PUT UP WITH NOT USING ANY WINDOWS FOR ABOUT A YEAR, BUT FOUND OUT THAT I COULD NOT PASS THE WEST VIRGINIA SAFETY INSPECTION NOR OBTAIN A MANDATORY YEARLY SAFETY STICKER IF MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. IT IS AGAINST THE STATE LAW TO HAVE AN INOPERABLE DRIVERS WINDOW, BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT IF YOU ARE PULLED OVER, THE POLICE OFFICER NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH YOU THROUGH THAT WINDOW. IN ADDITION, IT JUST MAKES SENSE THAT IF YOU ARE TRAPPED FOR WHATEVER REASON, A WINDOW MAY BE YOUR ONLY ESCAPE.*AK

• 12/11/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NOTICED A COOLING LEAK IN ENGINE. MECHANIC FOUND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING AND SAID HE HAD REPAIRED OVER A DOZEN THIS YEAR ON GENERAL MOTORS SMALL V6 ENGINES. APPARENTLY THE PLASTIC/RUBBER COMBINATION USED FOR THE GASKET FAILS AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. IT IS VERY COMPLICATED TO REPLACE WHICH IS WHY IT WAS SO EXPENSIVE. DT

• 12/07/2006· POWER TRAINCrash

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE EXITING A VEHICLE PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE ROLLED ONTO THE FOOT OF THE CONTACT, WHICH LEFT THE CONTACT TRAPPED FOR 18 HOURS. MINOR BRUISING INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A PASSERBY ASSISTED, AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ROLLING, AND COLLIDED WITH A NEARBY TREE. MODERATE DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WAS IN PARK. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO AWAIT FURTHER INSPECTION BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO ALERTED.*AK UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB

• 12/01/2003· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. AS A RESULT, THE DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

• 11/30/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE HEAD BLOCK CRACKED. YH

• 11/29/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THIS COOLANT SYSTEM HAS FLUID THAT DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR OVER 100,000 MILES. HOWEVER, THE WATER PUMP MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT ONLY 50,000. PONTIAC CALLED THIS NORMAL. IT SEEMS A LITTLE DECEPTIVE TO ADVERTISE A FLUID THAT LASTS SO LONG WHEN THE MECHNICAL PARTS MAY NOT. PONTIAC AND GM WOULD NOT OFFER REPAIR ASSISTANCE. THE REPAIR COST OVER $800.00. MANY LOCAL MECHANICS, SOME PONTIAC, SAID THIS WAS NOT NORMAL FOR THIS PART, BUT GM AND PONTIAC STILL REFUSED TO OFFER ANY WARRANTY ASSISTANCE.*AK

• 11/28/2000· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD START TO SHAKE WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED THAT BRAKES WERE WARPED & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER HAVING ROTORS REPLACED, PROBLEM HAS REAPPEARED AGAIN.*AK

• 11/24/1999· SUSPENSION

  HAVE TURNED VEHICLE IN AND REPORTED THIS INSTANCE TWICE, AND BOTH TIMES THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. YET VEHICLE LOSSES SOME TRACTION AND BOUNCES CONSTANTLY.

• 11/24/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE BEGINNING. THEY HAVE TURNED THE DISKS AT LEAST TWICE, REPLACED THE ROTORS ONCE, RESURFACED THE PADS. THIS LAST TIME THAT I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP, THEY SAID THAT THEY SUSPECT THE ROTORS TO WARPPED. YET I HAD PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY TO EXTEND THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, YET THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT REPRESENT THE QUALITY OR PERFORMANCE AS STATED OR ADVERTISED. THIS CAR IS A LEMON NO MATTER WHICH STATE YOU MAY PURCHASE IT.

• 11/23/1999· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I HAVE HAD MY ROTORS REPLACED THREE TIMES NOW. EVEN THOUGH MY MILAGE IS RATHER HIGH FOR THE TIME OWNED, MOST OF MY DRIVING IS FREEWAY DRIVING. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BREAKS FAILING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS DAMP OR WET. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE ANTILOCK BREAKS KICK IN WHEN I WAS DOING NORMAL BREAKING. THIS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST HAVE AN ACCIDENT, BECAUSE IT INCREASED MY STOPPING DISTANCE. I WAS GOING ONLY APPROXIMATELY 5-25MPH IN EACH OF THE SEVERAL INCIDENTS. WHEN THE BREAKS FAILED IT FEELS LIKE SOMEOPNE PUT VASELINE ON THE ROTORS. I STEP ON THE BREAK PEDAL, AND GET NO RESPONSE. I USUALLY HAVE TO PUMP THE BREAKS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO WORK. THIS PARTICULAR CAR ALSO HAD A BEDSPRING, CREAKING, CRACKING NOISE THAT SEEMS TO APPEAR WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS AND WHEN THE BODY FLEXES. NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME WHAT THE NOISE IS, BUT MY DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY DID PUT SOME TAPE AROUND SOMETHING AT ONE POINT THAT HELPED SOME, BUT THE NOISE IS VERY DISTRACTING AND CONTINUES. THE DEALER ACTUALLY TOLD ME THAT I SHOULDN'T BRING THAT CAR BACK TO THEM FOR THAT PROBLEM. ON MY LAST TRIP TO THE DEALER, THEY DID SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY, BUT WHEN I WAS ON THE ON RAMP TO THE FREEWAY, SOMETHING "CRACKED" AGAIN, AND THE NOISES ARE HEARD DAILY NOW. I ALSO HAD ONE OF MY FROMT TIRES FAIL. THE SIDEWALL BUBBLED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOTHING FOR ME. I WAS MORE OR LESS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PROVE THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE TIRE. I STILL HAD ALMOST ALL OF THE ORIGIANL TREAD. THE NOISES IN THE SUSPENSION/BODY ARE IRRITATING, AND THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL APART ON THE ROAD SOMEDAY, BUT MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE BREAKS. I AM A VERY SAFE DRIVER, BUT FIND THE BREAKING SYSTEM THAT IS IN MY CAR VERY UNRELIABLE. I HONESTLY FEEL THAT I WOULD BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT THE ABS, AS I DON'T NEED THEM KICKING IN WHEN I AM DOING NORMAL SLOW STOPPING, SUCH AS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY OR JUST SLOW DOWN. VERY SCARY WHEN I DON'T STOP.

• 11/19/2005· VISIBILITY,EQUIPMENT

  WINDOW REGULATORS, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER REGULATORS HAVE GONE BAD TWO TIMES. ONCE AT 40,000 AND AGAIN AT 80,000. *JB

• 11/12/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE TRAVELING AT NORMAL SPEED, CONSUMER STATES' PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP BRAKE TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

• 11/10/2004· SUSPENSION

  I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE DIFFICULTY DRIVING MY GRAND AM AND THE LOUND CLUNKING NOISE AND THE INTENSE "SHIMMY" WAS BECAUSE MY RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD SNAPPED AND MY LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS CRACKED ABOUT TO SEPARATE AS WELL. I DO KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT CARS AND THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A NORMAL MAINTENANCE PROBLEM. THIS IS COSTING ME WELL OVER 600.00 TO REPAIR.

• 11/10/1999· STEERING

  POWER STEERING FAILS WHEN ON WET ROAD. LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL INTO DEEP PUDDLE AND SUBSEQUENT WATER DAMAGE TO ENGINE

• 11/09/2005· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,EQUIPMENT

  I OWN A 1998 GRNAD AM GT AND FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD ALL SIX INJECTORS REPLACED TWICE TOTALING OVER $600.00 EACH TIME. OTHER PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WHO ALSO OWN 1996-1999 GRAND AMS/GRAND PRIX HAVE ALSO SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE INJECTOR CLEANERS THAT ARE ONE THE MARKET DON'T SEEM TO GET RID OF THE BUILD UP AND EVENTUALLY THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOME KIND OF DEFECT IN THE INJECTORS AND WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION TO FIND OUT. *NM

• 11/08/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN BUT COULD BE RELATED TO A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER. *TS *NLM

• 11/07/2000· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  COSTLY REPAIRS ON VEHICLE-VERY DISAPPOINTED -FEEL NEED TO FILE COMPLAINT. NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK

• 11/04/2004· STEERING

  CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN LEFT. DEALER STATED THAT RACK AND PINION FAILED. A RECALL FOR THE STEERING RACK AND PINION WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

• 11/03/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING. THE DASH ILLUMINATED AND THEN SHUT DOWN. THE BATTERY CABLE CAME UNDONE. SHUTTING THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPLETELY DOWN. THE CONSUMER HIS WIFE, AND DOG WERE TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT COME DOWN THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN, THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE. THEY COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE AUTOMATIC KEY BUTTON WOULD NOT WORK. ALSO THE BRAKES WENT OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. DOOR HANDLES WOULD NOT OPEN DOOR. BREATHING BECAME DIFFICULT WHILE THE CONSUMER AND FAMILY HAD NO WAY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. *TC

• 10/26/2004· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  SEVERE ACCELERATION WHEN AUTO IS MOVING AT SLOW OR IDLE SPEED WHEN MOVING FROM A COLD START OR NEARLY COLD START. MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN AUTO IS MAKING A TURN AFTER A COLD START OR NEARLY COLD START. THE PROBLEM OCCUR 100% OF THE TIME WHEN DESCENDING FROM A PARKING DECK AND REACHING THE LOWER LEVEL OR LOWEST LEVEL OF THE PARKING DECK. MY ACTION IS TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL UNTIL IT DROP BACK TO A NORMAL IDLING SPEED, WHICH NORMALLY TAKE( AS A GUEST), ABOUT 45 TO 60 SECONDS. *AK

• 10/26/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK 1998 3.1LITER ENGINE PONTIAC GRAND AM 2ND VEHICLE I OWN. *LA

• 10/26/2003· STEERING

  WHEN TRYING TO TAKE KEY OUT OF IGNITION THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK IN PLACE AND KEYS COULD EITHER NOT BE REMOVED OR WOULD BE REMOVED BUT WHEEL STILL WOULD NOT LOCK IN PLACE. *LA

• 10/26/1999· AIR BAGS

  FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON, PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT ACTIVATE. MJS

• 10/14/1999· SUSPENSION

  NO SUMMARY

• 10/11/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY FROM A STOP (USUALLY WHEN HUMID)

• 10/10/2000· STEERING

  THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATES ON CAR W/O WARNING WHEN TRYING TO START CAR. CAR THINKS IT'S BEING STOLEN. IT STARTS AND THEN SHUTS DOWN WITH THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT BLINKING. CAN ONLY MOVE BY TOWING IT AWAY. HAVE HAD IT TO DEALER ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. LAST TIME REPLACE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE, THE NEXT DAY HIT A BUMP AND THFT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. DID THIS ON 4 OCCASIONS BUT CAR STARTED AFTER CUTTING IT OFF. LAST TIME ABOUT 5 WEEKS AFTER LAST REPAIR, IT GAVE ME NO WARNING WHEN I TRIED TO START IT. THE THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND IT SHUT THE CAR DOWN. IT WAS TOWED TO DEALER THAT DID PREVIOUS W ORK (FROM GA. TO FLA.), THEY INFORMED ME I NEEDED NEW KEYS AND A LOCKING SYSTEM. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE FEBRUARY 2000, I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED 5 TIMES, TWICE IN ONE DAY.

• 10/08/2003· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  WHILE DRIVING DRIVER STARTED TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, PULLED OVER, POPPED HOOD, AND DRIVER NOTICED THE ALTERNATER WIRE WAS BURNING. *AK

• 10/06/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE ACCELERATING CAR HAS NO POWER. CAR IS VERY SLUGGISH. TOOK CAR TO DAELER, DEALER COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 10/04/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  PROBLEMS STARTING UP VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR

• 10/01/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE KEY KEPT GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION. TOOK IT TO A PONTIAC SERVICE DEPT. THEY SAID IT NEEDED LUBING. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER THE KEY STARTIED TO STICK AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK AND THE ORDERED A NEW FLOOR SHIFT.. A MONTH LATER MY WIFE STOPPED ON TOP OF A HILL AT OUR MAIL BOX AND SHE COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO GO IN PARK, THE CAR CUT OFF AND BEGAN ROLLING DOWN HILL BARELY MISSING CHILDREN PLAYING IN OUR DRIVEWAY. SERVICE DEPT. PICKED UP THE CAR AND THEY COULDN'T GET IT INTO REVERSE. THEY ORDERED A NEW GEARSHIFT LEVER. THREE TIMES FOR SIMILAR DEFECTS SHOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH OUR VEHICLE THAT HAS MY WIFE REFUSING TO DRIVE IT.

• 09/28/2004· STEERING

  WHILE BACKING OUT IN REVERSE OR DRIVING VEHICLE HAD A RATTLING SOUND. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE SHIFTING THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

• 09/27/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  A LEAKING FUEL LINE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FROM A 2YR OLD CAR WHICH WOULD CAUSE A FIRE,ALSO THERE IS NO REASON (PERMITING THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABUSED) THAT AN INTAKE GASKET SHOULD BE REPLACED AT LESS THAN 70,000 MILES, ESSPECIALLY IF HISTORY ON THE 3.1L ENGINE NO MATTER WHAT VEHICLE IT IS IN HAS THIS PROBLEM FOR SUCH A PERIOD OF TIME AND HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

• 09/26/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  IGNITION STARTED SMOKING WHILE TRYING TO TURN KEY IN IGNITION. MR

• 09/24/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKES. BRAKES WERE RUINED. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 DIFFERENT TIMES, BUT PROBLEM WOULD REAPPEAR AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE.*AK

• 09/23/2004· SUSPENSION

  I HAVE HAD LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURES ON BOTH SIDES OF MY 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE REAR BUSHING PULLS APART CAUSING A SEVERE SHIMMY WHEN BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND CLANKING WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. IT IS EITHER A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO PAY COSTS. *JB

• 09/22/2003· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,EQUIPMENT

  THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HAS FAILED THREE TIMES IN THIS VEHICLE, IN AS MANY YEARS. SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURS AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, VERY FRIGHTENING. POTENTIALLY DEADLY. *JB

• 09/22/2000· POWER TRAINCrash

  THIS ALMOST KILLED MY WIFE THE CARS SPEDOMITOR IS STILL STUCK ON 70, AND PONTIAC AND THE DEALER ARE NOT INTERESTED AT ALL, I WILL NEVER BUY AMERICAN AGAIN! MEAN WHILE WE ARE PAYING FOR A CAR WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT DRIVE AGAIN.

• 09/21/1999· SUSPENSION

  TIRES GOING BALD FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE. VEHICLE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT DUE TO CRACKS. DEALER WANTS OWNER PAY FOR ALIGNMENT & FRAME CHECK. WILLING TO PAY FOR 1/2 TIRES. (THEY CHECKED FRAME ONLY AND BOUGHT TWO TIRES, WILL NOT DO ALIGNMENT, WHICH CONSUMER FEELS IS NECESSARY). *MJS

• 09/21/1998· SEAT BELTS

  CONSUMERS CHEST WAS INJURED BY A SAFETY BELT DURING A CRASH.