1999 Pontiac Firebird

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

• 12/27/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WARPED BRAKE ROTORS CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHAKE. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR VEHICLE THREE TIMES. *AK

• 12/15/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  WHENEVER ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS APPLIED, THE PEDAL WOULD STICK TO FLOOR & WOULD NOT LET UP. VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY TAKE OFF. WOULD APPLY BRAKES, BUT VEHICLE FAIL TO STOP. VEHICLE HIT A CURB & WENT AIRBORNE & LANDED 200 FEET FACING THE OTHER DIRECTION. DRIVE VEHICLE TO SHOP TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK THE THROTTLE LINKAGES ON VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/12/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,VISIBILITY,WHEELS

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/10/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I HAVE TAKEN IN MY CAR THREE TIMES WITH IN FEB/00 TO 12/00 PUTNUM HAS ONLY CHANGED MY BRAKES AND I ALSO HAVE ROTOR PROBLEMS AND I FEEL ABS PROBLEMS. THEY ARE SAYING I HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM TO BE FIXED AND THE REASON WHY MY ROTORS ARE WORPED IS THE BREAKS GET HOT SO THEY SAY. I AM NOT FEELING GOOD ABOUT THIS DUE TO WHEN DRIVING MY CAR AND BREAKING MY CAR SHAKES REALLY BAD. I JUST WENT THROUGH A STOP SIGN TODAY AFTER APPLYING MY BRAKESTHEY DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY. I HOPE TO GET THIS BREAKING PROBLEM IN CONTROL BEFORE I OR SOMEONE ELSE GETS HURT. OTHER WISE I AM VERY HAPPY WITH MY TRANSAM. PUTNUM HAS BEEN GOOD TO OTHER THEN THIS PROBLEM CAN WE FIX THIS? THANKS SO MUCH. *AK

• 11/28/2003· STEERING

  WHEN MAKING A U TURN STEERING LOCKED UP AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD TO STOP AND PLACE GEAR SHIFT IN PARK AND THEN MOVE BACK TO DRIVE BEFORE THE WHEEL WOULD TURN. THE ENGINE DID NOT DIE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED IN THE 1 1/2 THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. ALYSE ECKER. *AK

• 11/08/2001· EXTERIOR LIGHTINGCrash

  WHENEVER TURN SIGNAL IS IN USE IT FAILS TO FLASH, IT WOULD REMAIN SOLID. VEHICLE WAS REARENDED DUE TO RIGHT SIGNAL NOT BLINKING. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AND MECHANIC REPLACED TWO BULBS. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK *SLC

• 11/05/2001· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHEN TURN SIGNAL IS EXECUTED IT WILL NOT BLINK, IT JUST STAYS LIT UP INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. OTHER VEHICLES ARE UNABLE TO TELL THAT I AM TURNING.*AK

• 11/05/2001· VISIBILITY

  BOTH POWER WINDOW MOTORS WILL FREEZE WHEN ROLLING UP OR DOWN. THE MOTOR WILL HAVE TO REST AND COOL OFF BEFORE THE WINDOW WILL CONTINUE TO WORK, ONLY TO FREEZE AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES BETWEEN BOTH WINDOWS.*AK

• 11/05/2001· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  GAS GAUGE NEEDLE JUMPS AROUND ALL THE TIME AND IT IS HARD TO TELL HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

• 11/02/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE VEHICLE JUST SHUTS DOWN WITH NO NOTICE AT ALL, THE ENGINE JUST DIES. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM OFF AND ON FOR OVER A YEAR AND MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP FOR WEEKS OR MORE AND I'M TOLD THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT SO I GO AND GET IT AND IT DIES ON ME. ONCE THIS HAPPENED WITHIN MINUTES. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AFTER I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP, I WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AND I DROVE IT FOR A WEEK , BEFORE IT DIED ON ME AFTER THEY HAD IT FOR 2 WEEKS AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS AT THE MOMENT STATING THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG SO THEY RESET THE TROUBLE CODES IN THE COMPUTER AND WAIT TO SEE IF IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT HAS DIED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND THAT'S VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS IN MY OPINION. AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS FOR A WHILE IT USUALLY STARTS BACK UP, AND DRIVES AS IF NOTHING HAS EVER HAPPENED TO IT UNTIL IT DIES AGAIN BUT ONE NEVER KNOWS WHEN EVERYTHING WILL JUST GO DEAD. IT DOES TURN OVER BUT HAS NO IGNITION AND AFTER ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES OF INTERMITTENT CRANKING IT WILL START BACK UP. THEY CHANGED A CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND THAT LASTED FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS AND THEN THEY CHANGED IT IN MARCH OF 2005 AND THAT LASTED FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN WITH THE VEHICLE DOING BASICALLY THE SAME THING BUT I'M TOLD ITS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. THE 10 FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN THE PAST YEAR TO YEAR AND A HALF. THERE ARE SITES ON THE INTERNET WHERE THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM IS BEING DISCUSSED ABOUT GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES. THE DATE OF OCT 20 2005 IS THE LAST TIME THAT THIS PROBLEM APPEARED, AND THEY HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE THE 24TH OF OCT. IT WAS TAKEN TO THEM ON THE 24TH BECAUSE THAT'S THE EARLIEST THAT THEY COULD LOOK AT IT SO I WAS TOLD. *JB

• 11/02/2003· STRUCTURE

  ON MY 1999 PONTIAC FIREBIRD THE DRIVER'S PASSENGER DOOR PANELS ARE CRACKING SINCE NEW WINDOW MOTORS WERE INSTALLED ALSO HAVE TALKED TO 5 OTHER PEOPLE DRIVING FIREBIRDS WHOSE DOOR PANELS ARE CRACKING ALSO. THE CRACKS OR 2-4 INCHES LONG AND ARE OCCURRING ABOUT 6 TO 8 INCHES FROM DOOR JAM SAME SPOT ON DRIVER AN PASSENGER DOORS ALSO SAME ON THE OTHERS I HAVE SPOKE WITH. *LA

• 10/30/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 4 TIMES WITHIN PAST YEAR FOR ALTERNATOR, ELECTRICAL POWER DROP OFF UPON RELEASE OF ACCELERATOR AND OR BRAKING. PROBLEM CAUSES INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS TO DIM 50% AND ALTERNATOR GAUGE NEEDLE FALLS WAY INTO CAUTION ZONE. I'VE BEEN INFORMED AT LAST REPAIR SERVICE, 10-20-00, TSB 43-64-07A STATES THIS PROBLEM IS NORMAL FOR FIREBIRDS. I DON'T BUY THAT.

• 10/20/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES/ROTOR AND EXCESSIVE BRAKE NOISE WHEN BRAKING AT ALL TIMES, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS/HOT WEATHER. 6/17/99, TOOK CAR INTO DEALER FOR EXCESSIVE BRAKE NOISE, THEY GAVE ME BULLETIN #88-5-13 DATED 9/88, SAID NOISE WAS NORMAL IT WILL GO AWAY WITH TIME. TOOK CAR IN AGA IN ON 7/30/99 FOR SAME PROBLEM, NOTHING WAS DONE, DEALER SAID I HAD TO GIVE BRAKES SOME TIME TO WEAR DOWN, THEN IT WILL GO AWAY. AGAIN, ON 09/08/99, WITH 4,477 MILES, BRAKE NOISE WAS WAY EXCESSIVE, THEY REPLACED THE PADS AND REFACED THE ROTORS. AGAIN ON 7/6/00 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THEY REMOVED PADS AND INSTALLED BRAKE QUIET AND NEW PADS. ON 8/01/00, TOOK CAR IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, THEY REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AND CLAIMED THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED CAR HAD 8,544 MILES AT THE TIME. SUMMER OF 2001, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT IGNORED IT, I WAS TIRED OF RUNNING TO DEALER WITH THIS PROBLEM EVERY YEAR. ON 7/12/02, CAR HAD 20,926 MILES. I TOOK CAR INTO DEALER AGAIN, THIS TIME BRAKE PEDAL WAS PULSATING, SQUEALING OVER EXCESSIVELY AND STEARING WHEEL WAS SHAKING SEVERELY, WHEN I WAS BRAKING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN, CAUSING ME TO STOP BEYOND THE SIGN. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO INCOMING TRAFFIC, OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS FOR THE 3RD TIME BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED AGAIN. THIS CAR IS ONLY DRIVEN 6MOS. EACH YEAR. IT IS STORED BEFORE WINTER , FROM MID OCTOBER UNTIL MID APRIL EVERY YEAR. I WAS TOLD THAT GM WILL NOT EXTEND WARRANTIES ON CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM. WHEN MY 5 YR. WARRANTY EXPIRES, I WILL BE STUCK WITH A YEARLY BILL OF REPLACING ROTORS ON THIS CAR, WHICH DOESN'T COME CHEAP. GM SHOULD GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PROBLEM THAT IS CAUSING THESE ROTORS TO WARP, AND FIX IT ONCE AND FOR ALL. THE FIREBIRD I OWNED PREVIOUSLY, I PURCHASED IT NEW IN 1994, I NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTOR ON THIS CAR FOR THE SIX YEARS I OWNED IT, THE ONLY THING I HAD TO REPLACE WAS THE PADS. I HAVE HAD EXCELLENT SERVICE FROM THE DEALER. DT

• 10/07/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY,EQUIPMENT,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON (STEADY AND FLASHING). ALL IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, PATH LOCK SENSOR AND IGNITION CYLINDER, REMOTE ALARMS AND KEYS, SPARK PLUG WIRES, CLEAN FUEL INJECTORS, REPLACE SERPENTINE BELT AND UPGRADED MY GAS OCTANE IN A V6. AND NOW THE STUPID SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON AGAIN AND THE ENGINE IS HESITATING AND THE BEARINGS ON PULLEYS ARE MAKING A NOISE (AFTER REPLACING THE SERPENTINE BELT). I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR ALL OF IT SO FAR. I AM GOING TONIGHT TO READ THE CODE FOR WHAT IS WRONG NOW!!!!! ALSO I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, MY RADIO VOLUME KNOB HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY, AND MY LOW TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON EVERY TIME I HIT A PUDDLE OF WATER. THIS CAR IS A LEMON. *NM

• 10/07/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE AIR INLETS ON THE BREATHER FOR ENGINE AIR INTAKE ARE POSITIONED AT THE FRONT CENTER OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN FRONT OF THE RADIATOR. THE ANGLE OF THE RADIATOR IN RELATION TO THE ROAD SURFACE PROVIDES A CHUTE FOR WATER TO TRAVEL DIRECTLY TO THE AIR INLETS AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO THE INTAKE AND INTERNAL ENGINE AREAS. THERE IS ALSO A RESEVOIR JUST BEHIND THE AIR FILTER TO CATCH ANY FLUIDS PRIOR TO ENGINE INTAKE. WHY? WATER IS NOT COMPRESSIBLE, SO DISASTER IS WAITING TO HAPPEN WHEN IT IS INTRODUCED INTO A CYLINDER. WHY ISN'T THE AIR BREATHER ASSEMBLY LOCATED ELSEWHERE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT IS NOT DIRECTLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO ROAD WATER INDUCTION. POOR ENGINEERING IS A RESPONSIBILITY THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO ADDRESS, NOT THE CONSUMER. *JB

• 10/01/2012· POWER TRAIN

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CLUTCH SYSTEM DISENGAGED WHENEVER THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE UNINTENTIONAL VEHICLE MOVEMENT, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V239000 (POWER TRAIN: CLUTCH ASSEMBLY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

• 09/30/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  DEALERSHIP MACHINED ROTORS IN 8/99, 3/2000 AT 20,000 SAME PROBLEM, 9/00, 33,000 SAME PROBLEM. *AK

• 09/25/2003· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE MOTOR THAT OPERATED THE POWER HEAD LIGHTS FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO DOWN. *PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. NLM

• 09/25/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  CLUTCH DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN IT IS DEPRESSED. THIS MAKES VEHICLE DIFFICULT IN SHIFTING. ALSO, ENGINE STALLS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER REFERRED TO RECALL# 99V239000. CONTACT DEALER ,AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON VEHICLE.*AK

• 09/22/2011· POWER TRAIN

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC FIRE BIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CLUTCH SYSTEM TO DISENGAGE WHEN BEING DEPRESSED. THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V239000 (POWER TRAIN: CLUTCH ASSEMBLY) BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,200. UPDATED 10/27/11*BF UPDATED 11/16/11*JB

• 09/21/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES PULSATE AND SQUEAL DUE TO WARPED ROTORS. BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE AND DEALER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE DEFECT FOR WARRANTY REPAIR.

• 09/20/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I HAVE NOTICED WHEN BRAKING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 45 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES LIKE THE ROTORS ARE DAMAGED OR WARPED. THIS BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS. I DON'T THINK IT IS VERY SAFE. I HAVE NOTICED ON LS1.COM MANY OTHER FIREBIRD OWNERS HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AND A RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. IT IS MOST LIKELY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.

• 08/31/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  BRAKE ROTORS HAVE WARPED SEVERAL TIMES EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT. SEEM TO BE DEFECTIVE. SES (SERVICE ENGINE SOON) LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF AND DEALERSHIP COULD NOT LOCATE PROBLEM.

• 08/14/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,PARKING BRAKE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VISIBILITY,EQUIPMENT

  BEFORE THE FAILURE OF MY BRAKES FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS I HAD THIS NOISE EVER SO OFTEN AND SLIPPING FEELING WHEN BRAKING. I ALSO STARTED TO HAVE BAD TRACTION ACCORDING TO MY TRACTION LIGHT AND MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AFTER EITHER GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS OR TURNING A RIGHT HAND TURN OR HITTING A POT HOLE. I WOULD THEN HAVE TO RESTART MY CAR TO GET RID OF THE MESSAGES ON THE DASH TELLING ME WHAT WAS WRONG. I HAD THEM CHECK AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WHERE PUT ON ALL THE WAY AROUND ALONG WITH NEW TIRES. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. I HAVE ALSO LOST MY EMERGENCY BRAKE IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS BUT I HAVEN'T HAD IT LOOKED AT YET AND HEARD THAT IT MIGHT NEED TIGHTENED. I ONLY BOUGHT HIS VEHICLE RECENTLY AND IT DOES HAVE OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS THAT I HEAR SO MANY GRAND AM OWNERS HAVE. LIKE THE LOOSE RIGHT SIDE VIEW MIRROR AND THE VOLUME DIAL ON THE RADIO AND THE INABILITY TO TURN OFF THE RADIO ITSELF ALSO ALONG WITH THE # 1 AND 2 ON THE A/C...AND HEATER DO NOT WORK. I FOUND THIS TO BE TRUE IN MORE THAN A DOZEN GRAND AMS I LOOKED AT OVER THE PERIOD OF TIME I WAS LOOKING FOR A NEW VEHICLE AND I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.... *NM

• 08/10/2007· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE

  THE 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM - POSSIBLY THE WORST CAR EVER MADE. AT 30,000 MILES, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. AT 40,000 MILES, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. RECALLS REPLACED THE STEERING WHEEL & CENTER CONSOLE, AND OTHER RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE. AT 50,000 MILES THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN. SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN, MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS CAUSED A $2,500 COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. UNDER 90,000 MILES, THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS NEEDED REWIRING. NOW, UNDER 92,000 MILES A NEW PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL: THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, THE TRUNK POPS OPEN ON ITS OWN, THE AIRBAG COMES ON AND OFF, THE CAR ONLY STARTS RANDOMLY, AND WORST OF ALL IT SHUTS OFF ALL ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, SO YET AGAIN WE ARE FORCED TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS RUN TO FIGURE OUT WHAT NEW AND COSTLY REPAIRS WILL NEED TO BE MADE. PONTIAC/GM SHOULD ADMIT THEY MADE A MISTAKE WITH THE GRAND AM/OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND PAY ALL THE CURRENT OWNERS SOME $$ AND TAKE ALL THE CARS TO A JUNK YARD. THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA COMPLETELY RECALLED THESE CARS FOR THE CITIZENS OF CANADA, YET IN THE U.S. IT'S THE UNFORTUNATE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WHO ARE GETTING TAKEN. DO WHAT I AM DOING AND CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BBB, STATE AG, OR ANY OTHER POLITICAL OFFICE (IN ADDITION TO PONTIAC/GM) AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT PIECES OF CRAP THE 99 GRAND AM/ALERO ARE. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY REPAIR SHOPS AND OTHER OWNERS OF THE CAR, AND BY FAR EVERYONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT TYPES OF MAJOR PROBLEMS THIS CAR HAS BEEN. WHAT OTHER CAR MANUFACTURER WOULD ALLOW SO MANY PROBLEMS TO EXIST (SUCH AS CAR COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING) AND HAVE THE GALL TO SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT? *TR

• 08/10/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  PREMATURE WEAR OF ROTORS, RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. *AK

• 08/03/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS DO NOT FLASH WHEN SWTICH IS ACTIVATED. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM. DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. WIRING WAS REPLACED/ FIXED. *AK

• 07/30/2003· WHEELS

  CONSUMER STATES THAT FOUR ORIGINAL RIMS ARE CORRODED FROM INSIDE OUT WHICH MAKES UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. DEALER STATED HE NEVER HEARD SOMETHING LIKE THIS. *AK

• 07/17/2003· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  DEALER HAD TO REPLACE IN MARCH AND IN JUNE THE TURN SIGNAL LENS. ONCE AGAIN NEEDS TO REPLACE THE LENS. *AK

• 07/17/2000· AIR BAGSCrash

  IN A HIGH SPEED CRASH, AND FLIPPING OVER SEVERAL TIMES, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

• 07/13/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTORS WHICH NEEDED TO BE RESURFACED CAUSED THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

• 07/07/2014· STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES

  LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAN NOT TURN VEHICLE

• 07/06/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I AM HAVING A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE ROTORS WARPING. I HAD THEM TURNED AT AROUND 18,000 MILES AFTER FINDING SIGNS OF WARPINGWHICN INCLUDED VIBRATIONS WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. NOW ABOUT 8,000 MILES LATER I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ALL OVER AGAIN AND ONCE AGAIN THE ROTORS NEED TO BE TURNED. IT IS GETTING VERY ANNOYING AND I KNOW FOR FACT THAT THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS.

• 06/17/2004· VISIBILITY

  WINDOWS FREEZING UP, SPORADIC, INCONSISTENT. POWER WINDOW EVENTUALLY FAILED COMPLETELY AT 35,000 MILES. BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW REGULATORS NEED REPLACING. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW, DRIVEN OFF THE SHOW-ROOM FLOOR, STORED IN SEMI-HEATED STORAGE THROUGHOUT COLD MONTHS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO CORRECT FAILURES, BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO COST OVER $600.00, AND I AM WAITING FOR GM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT. I FEEL THAT IT IS TOO IRONIC THAT BOTH REGULATORS WENT AT THE SAME TIME. THIS SHOWS POOR QUALITY FOR AN EXPENSIVE CAR. *JB

• 05/21/2008· POWER TRAIN

  I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1999 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. WHILE LOOKING UP RECALLS ON WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV, I CAME UPON A RECALL FOR MY CAR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V239000). I CALLED THE LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER, AND INQUIRED ABOUT SPECIFICS. THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE CHECKED MY VIN, THEN TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAD NO RECALLS SHOWING FOR IT. MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT IS STATED IN THE RECALL. WITH ONLY 56,000 MILES ON IT, THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION, COSMETICALLY AND MECHANICALLY OTHERWISE. THE RECALL STATES THAT A 'POTENTIAL' 69 VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED. DOES THE WORD 'POTENTIAL' MEAN AN AVERAGE OR POSSIBLY MORE? *TR

• 05/16/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  1999 GRAND AM GT SECURITY LIGHT HAS BEEN A ONGOING PROBLEM EVERY SENSE I PURCHASED MY CAR AND THAT WAS OVER A YEAR AGO. PROBLEM HAPPENED A MONTH AFTER A HAD THE CAR I COULD NOT TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER THE WARRANTY WAS OVER WITH 30 DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *AK

• 05/11/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM SQUEALING EVERY TIME I APPLY THE BRAKES. IT GETS WORSE AS THE WEATHER GETS HOTTER. I TOOK TO THE DEALER, THE FIRST TIME THEY APPLIED SOME CHEMICAL TO STOP IT FROM SQUEALING, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED 2 WEEKS LATER. WHEN I TOOK IT BACK I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY FORD COMPANY KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKES TO SQUEAL. *AK

• 04/29/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES PULSATED WHEN APPLIED AT OR ABOVE 50 MILES PER HOUR. TOOK INTO DEALER FOR SERVICE AND FOUND THAT FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED. DEALER RESURFACED THE ROTORS AND SAID THAT GM KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS. WITH LESS SURFACE AREA ON THE ROTORS NOW, I AM WORRIED THEY WILL WARP AGAIN IN LESS MILES. THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH HIGHER QUALITY ROTORS TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING. *AK

• 04/21/2005· SEAT BELTS,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  PROBLEMS W/SEAT BELTS-PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEAT BELT WILL LOCK AT VARIOUS TIMES USUALLY BEFORE CAR IN PUT INTO GEAR. LASTS AT LEAST FIVE MINUTES. CHILD SAFETY LOCK BACK PASSENGER DOOR HAS BEEN LOCKED AT LEAST 3 YEARS DOOR WONT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE. *NM

• 04/21/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *NLM

• 04/20/2000· AIR BAGS

  THERE IS NO REASON FOR AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY AFTER HITTING A CURB, AND THAT IS WHERE ALL THE DAMAGE CAME FROM ON MY CAR. *AK

• 04/19/2001· VISIBILITY

  DOCUMENT NUMBER 766918 IN THE GM DATABASE ON THIS ISSUE. "DISTORTION IN OUTER SURFACE OF VEHICLE GLASS" THE WINDSHIELD HAS AN "ORANGE PEEL " EFFECT THAT IMPAIRS SAFE VISON THROUGH IT. PONTIAC CLAIMS THAT THIS IS DUE TO OWNER NEGLIGENCE AND THAT DETERGENTS WITH HYDROCHLORIC ACID HAVE BEEN USED TO CAUSE THIS. I HAVE NEVER USED A DETERGENT ON THIS CAR CONTAINING IT. PONTIAC STANDS FIRM ON NOT COVERING THIS PROBLEM THROUGH THEIR 3/36000 BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY.

• 04/12/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE GM PASSLOCK SYSTEM. RECENTLY, IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE. IN THE PAST 5 DAYS IT HAS MALFUNCTIONED 1-2 TIMES A DAY. WHEN I AM DRIVING, THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND I KNOW FROM MY MANUAL THAT IT MEANS THERE IS A PROBLEM. OTHER TIMES IT CUTS THE FUEL SUPPLY AND I AM STRANDED. I DON'T THINK IT IS SAFE FOR A YOUNG FEMALE TO BE STUCK SOMEWHERE WHERE HER VEHICLE WON'T START. WHAT IF THERE WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION OR AN EMERGENCY? IT HAS MADE ME LATE TO CLASSES AND TO WORK. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT OTHERS WERE HAVING A PROBLEM UNTIL I LOOKED IT UP ON THE INTERNET. IT REALLY SHOCKED ME THAT MANY OTHERS WERE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS. I THOUGHT I JUST BOUGHT A DEFECTIVE CAR. I HAVE TO LOOK INTO DISABLING THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO TRY TO FIX IT. AND FROM THE SOUND OF IT IS NOT ALWAYS A GUARANTEE. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO WORKS PART TIME; I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO DEAL WITH THIS. NOR DO I FEEL I SHOULD IF MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD RECALL OR REIMBURSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEFECTIVE SYSTEMS. IT IS REALLY A PAIN IN NECK TO HAVE TO ADD THIS PROBLEM TO SCHOOL WORK AND WORK ISSUES, ETC. ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS A PROBLEM THEY ARE AWARE OF. I WOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR IF I HAD KNOWN THIS WOULD BE A ISSUE. APPARENTLY, THIS IS NOT A GOOD SYSTEM TO USE SO I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY CONTINUE TO USE IT. I GUESS FOR NOW THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS PAY TO HAVE IT DISABLED AND BE WITHOUT A SECURITY SYSTEM FOR MY VEHICLE, WHICH IS PARKED ON A CROWDED COLLEGE CAMPUS, WITH ITS SHARE OF BREAK . *AK

• 04/09/2000· STEERING,POWER TRAIN

  MECH. SAYS THAT THESE ITEMS SHOULDN'T GO BAD. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

• 04/08/2003· POWER TRAIN

  THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 99 V 239 000, REGARDING THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB SCC

• 04/01/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *JB SCC

• 03/17/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY

  I HAD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TWICE IN THE FIRST YEAR OF PURCHASE. I HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR AT 37500 MILES (WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 37000). THE MOTOR IN DRIVER SIDE DOOR WENT BAD FOR NO REASON. HAD TO REPLACE REAR SEAL AND PINS 4 TIMES OR MORE. I BELIEVED FOR A LONG TIME THAT IT WAS JUST ME BUT AFTER READING THROUGH THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, I REALIZE IT'S THE CAR! I HAVE ALSO HAD SEVERAL OF THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEMS MENTIONED BY OTHERS ON THIS SITE. PURCHASED NEW, DROVE IT OFF THE PONTIAC LOT. *NLM

• 03/01/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE FAILURE AT ONLY 94,000 MILES, WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED. 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM, VIN [XXX] - LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING DUE TO FAULTY RODS/PISTONS/BEARINGS - REQUIRES REBUILD OF REGULARLY SERVICED ENGINE WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. OCCURS DURING OPERATION WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *JB *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

• 02/21/2002· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  CARS ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY GO TO FULL THROTTLE ON ITS OWN. RPMS WOULD RACE FOR A MOMENT THEN RETURN TO NORMAL. DEALER SAID IT WAS CARBON BUILD UP. WE HAD HUNTER CHEVROLET IN HENDERSONVILLE, NC PERFORM THE 30,000 MILE SERVICE MAINTENANCE 10/30/01 WHICH INCLUDED CLEANING OUT THE THROTTLE BODY. ON 11/3/01 WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN, THE THROTTLE AGAIN WENT TO FULL THROTTLE CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF CAR AND CRASHING. DID $7,500.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE. GOT THE CAR BACK IN JANUARY 2002 AND ON 2/13/02 THE CAR AGAIN WENT TO FULL THROTTLE ON ITS OWN CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND WRECKING IT AGAIN.*AK

• 02/20/2003· POWER TRAINCrash

  THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND ENGINE WAS OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FENCE.*JB