1995 Pontiac Grand AM

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE STARTER FAILS TO ENGAGE AND THE DRIVER HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRODUCING HEAT THAT CAN MELT SWITCH PARTS.

Risk. A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT AND VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION (ADEQUATE RESERVE CAPACITY, OR COLD CRANKING AMPS). THIS CAMPAIGN DOES NOT COVER BATTERY REPLACEMENT OR UNRELATED STARTING SYSTEM OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIRS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE KEY SUDDENLY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED OPERATING AS NORMAL DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RE-INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 290,000.

CAR WON'T START AND CUT OFF WHEN CAR IS IN DRIVE. *TR

I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT OF A FAST FOOD PLACE WE CAME OUT AFTER WE ATE AND GOT IN THE CAR ATTEMPTED TO START IT BUT IT DID NOT START AT FIRST THEN I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN TRIED AGAIN IT STARTED AND AFTER A SHORT TIME IT SEAMED LIKE IT TRIED TO START ITSELF AGAIN AND IT STARTED SMOKING FROM BELOW THE STEERING COLUMN SO I TURNED IT OFF AND JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND OUT THE BATTERY BY THE TIME THE BATTERY WAS OUT IT HAD ALREADY CAUGHT FIRE AND HAD TO BE PUT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHICH WAS SUPPLIED BY A TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHO JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE GETTING LUNCH THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED BUT NEVER FILED A REPORT THEY JUST MADE SURE ALL WERE OK THEN LEFT THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 4 MY STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE MAKING ME PULL THE CAR OVER AND JUMP OUT ALONG WITH 2 OTHER PERSONS , AFTER THAT WE CALLED THE TOW TRUCK TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME TO SEE WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WHO TO CONTACT IN THE MEAN TIME THE DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR FOR 4 MONTHS AND TO THIS DAY STILL HAS IT AND IS REQUESTING ME TO PAY HALF OF THE BILL TO GET IT FIXED AND I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD PAY A DIME FOR A RECALLED CAR WITH AN OPEN RECALL ON IT SO THEREFORE I AM FILING A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE CAR TO BE FIXED AND FOR ALL THE INCONVENIENCE IN WHICH IT HAS CAUSED ME GETTING BACK AND FOURTH TO SCHOOL, I AM IN COLLEGE FULL TIME SO THEREFORE I HAD TO DO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION GETTING TO AND FROM MY DESTINATIONS. AND WHEN THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN WHICH IT HAD EVER HAPPENED. SO NOW MY GRANDFATHER IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT TO GET FIXED AND WOULD LIKE ALL OF HIS MONEY BACK AND I WANT ALL I CAN GET FOR ALL THE INCONVENIENCE IN WHICH THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED MYSELF AND ALL OTHERS WHO WERE INVOLVED AND ALSO WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM IF ANYONE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HURT DO TO THE FIRE AND OR ANY OTHERS DAMAGES THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE OVERHEAT LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND ENGINE DIED. THE MECHANIC SAID IT IS A CRACKED HEAD GASKETS. I HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE IN OWNER MANUAL. OIL CHANGES EVERY THREE MONTHS ETC.*AK

1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM COILS WENT BAD. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE COILS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THE GARAGE STATED THEY WERE BAD, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER KEPT THE COILS AND PLACED THEM BACK IN THE VEHICLE WHICH HAS BEEN RUNNING EVER SINCE. *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING 1995 GRAND AM THEFT. *TS THE CONSUMER LISTED BRAKES AS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM ON HIS VEHICLE. *JB

1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM OVERHEATING. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT FOUR TIMES AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKETS WARPED. PAID FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND CALLED GENERAL MOTORS. MEDIATOR WAS OF VERY LITTLE HELP. TOOK IT BACK UNDER THE REPAIR WARRANTY, THEN THE RADIATOR BLEW BECAUSE THEY HAD REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP WITH A HIGHER PRESSURE RATING. WE TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR, HOSES, HEATER CORE AND NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS. IT CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. IN GENERAL WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $2500.00 AND STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, WE NOW HAVE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMING ON OCCASIONALLY AND I FOUND SOME ENGINE WIRES TWISTED UP OVER THE MANIFOLD. I HAVE SINCE MOVED THEM BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION AND HAD TO USE ELECTRICAL TAPE ON ANOTHER WIRE CONNECTION THAT THE LOCK (SNAP) WAS BROKE OFF. SINCE DOING THIS I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR OVERHEATING AS OFTEN. ADDITIONALLY SINCE REPAIRS WERE MADE, WE NOW HAVE HEAVY CONDENSATION ON THE INTERIOR WINDSHIELD, (WINDOW WIPERS ON THE INSIDE COULD BE A SOLUTION...) ALONG WITH PUDDLES OF WATER ON THE PASSENGER FLOOR AND IN THE TRUNK....GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THEY DID TO MY CAR AFTER I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS, EVERYTHING JUST SEEMED TO GET WORSE FROM THERE.. COINCIDENCE, I THINK NOT. THEY ARE NOW BANKRUPT SO THERE IS NO RECOURSE IN MY CASE OF RETRIEVING MONEY NEEDLESSLY SPENT ON REPAIRS THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED PROPERLY IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND WHILE I'M AT IT, I WONDER IF THEY EVER TOOK CAR OF THAT IGNITION RECALL? I AM

DT: 1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AFTER BEING IN THE VEHICLE FOR 30 MINUTES. THIS WAS A NEW SUMMIT TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP GAVE THE CONSUMER HIS MONEY BACK AND PUT THE OLD TIRES ON VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS GOING 60 MPH. THIS CAUSED FRONT END DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRASH DUE TO TIRE BLOWOUT. *AK

CONTACT STATES: ON THE FRONT DRIVERS' SIDE THE METAL PART BROKE AWAY AND THE TIRE CAME AWAY FROM THE PART IT WAS ATTACHED TO. THE TIRE HIT THE SIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE, AND THEY HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY CONSUMER WOULD BE UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. ALSO, IT STALLS. CONSUMER IS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE AFTER 45 MINUTES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND STRUCK A LIGHT POST. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

THE ORIGINAL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND I DID NOT HAVE ANY DASH LIGHTS OR TAIL-LIGHTS. THE SECOND SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED TOO AND THE HEADLIGHTS NOW GO OUT WHEN I TRY TO CYCLE THEM FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM OR DON'T COME ON UNTIL I CYCLE THEM AGAIN. *JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SWERVED RIGHT ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY PULLED LEFT, CAUSING REAR AXLE TO BREAK OFF, AND RESULTING IN A CRASH. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

MY VEHICLE'S (1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM) DIMMER SWITCH IS MALFUNCTIONED. THE HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT IF YOU TRY TO CYCLE FROM HIGH BEAM TO LO BEAM. I ALSO KNOW OF ANOTHER PERSON WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.I RECENTLY EXPERINCED THIS PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *AK

A RECALL (#00V287000) WAS ISSUED FOR THE STARTER ASSEMBLY THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE TWICE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE, BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE WITH SPEED. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A DITCH AND A FENCE. A 2X4 STEEL POLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND HIT THE DRIVER IN THE FACE THE DRIVER WAS UNCONSCIOUS. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOWS NOT WORKING. WE'VE HAD TO PUSH UP THE WINDOW WITH OUR HANDS WHILE PUSHING THE POWER WINDOW BUTTON AND IT DOESN'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY. NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. ALSO WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS STAYING ON. WE NOTICED IF WE PLAY WITH THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH (LIKE TURNING THE HIGH BEAMS ON AND OFF) THEN THE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON AFTER A FEW TRIES. WE RECENTLY REPLACED ALL 4 BRAKES AND NOW THE ABS LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. DEALER STATED THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ABS BRAKES.*AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A SPACE BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND THE INTERIOR. THERE WAS A SPACE WHERE WATER RAN DOWN, AND LEAVES GATHERED. THERE THE FIRE STARTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, AS A RESULT THE FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. THE MECHANIC INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO CORROSION. *JB THE REAR FRAME BOLT ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE, WHICH PUT ALL THE WEIGHT ON THE FRONT FRAME BOLT OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. *NM *JB