1996 Pontiac Grand AM complaints

IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN ON AT ALL WHEN APPLYING INSIDE OF IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK DEALER PERFORMED RECALL 02V07000 RELATING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER IS SATISFIED WITH REPAIRS. *TT

IGNITION SWITCH WILL LOCKUP. ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF ,THEN LOCK, SO THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS STILL ON, AND YOU CANNOT PULL OUT THE KEY.*AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT ALLOW CONSUMER TO TAKE KEY OUT OF IGNITION. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITHCH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT CAUSE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA RECALL 02-V-070-000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008 DEALERSHIP: ART GAMBLIN 1047 HWY 410, ENUMCLAW,WA. PHONE NUMBER 360-825-2567 WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WAS NOT SERVICED FOR THE RECALL DUE TO PARTS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL JULY OF 2002. CONSUMER STATED THAT IGNITION SWITCH MADE THE CLICKING NOISE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL LETTER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE LEAVING A PARKING SPACE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BY ITSELF. VEHICLE WAS NOT IN A CRASH. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

CAR WOULDN'T START, IT STARTED SMOKING, BURNED IGNITION SWITCH AND STARTER. HAVING SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL # 02-V-070-000, BUT DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS NOT THE SAMETHING.*AK

I WAS DRIVINGON A PAVED ROAD WHEN MY DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE ROAD WAS SMOOTH AND I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING.A FRIEND CUT THE AIR BAG OUT AND WE TOOK IT TO DEALER WERE I PURCHASED CAR. THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO A PONTIAC DEALER. I ASK IF THE OTHER AIRBAG WOULD GO OFF THEY SAID MAYBE. WHILE BACKING INTO DRIVEWAY THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT OFF. TOOK IT TO BROWN PONTIAC AND THEY RAN A CHECK TO GET CODES ,THEY FOUND NO CODES. CALLED PONTIAC WITH INFO. AND I HAVE A FILE #06730530. A REPRESTITIVE IS SUPPOSE TO CALL BACK ITS BEEN 4 DAYS, NOTHING . I WAS JUST GLAD THERE WASN'T AN ACCIDENT. CAN'T GET CAR FIXED UNTILL INSPECTOR FROM GM COMES OUT IN 4 WEEKS TO 2 MONTHS. CAN YOU HELP?*AK

CONSUMER HAD IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL 02V07 AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SLC

WINDOW MOTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND I STILL HAVE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. WINDOWS STILL WILL NOT GO UP AND DOWN PROPERLY OR STICK AND WON'T GO DOWN OR STICK AND WON'T GO UP. GRINDING IN STEERING COLUMN; NOISE HAS BEEN THERE SINCE 6/96 AND DEALERS CAN'T SEEM TO LOCATE PROBLEM. STRUTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS FAULTY AND ARE BAD ONCE AGAIN. BACK WINDOW LEAKED THEY REPLACED IT, NOW LEAKS AGAIN. THIS IS VERY FUSTRATING KNOWING THAT I HAVE TWO CHILDREN ONE IS A TODDLER AND THE OTHER IS 8, RIDING IN THIS CAR WITH THESE PROBLEMS.

WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT AND TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE AFTER MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN, VEHICLE HIT INTO FRONT OF A PARKED CAR, AND NONE OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

VEHICLE HAD A STRONG FUEL ODOR. TOOK IT TO GARAGE AND MECHANIC INDICATED A PIN HOLE LEAK IN FUEL LINE AT TOP OF ENGINE.*AK *YH

SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION TO START CAR, KEY WON'T TURN.*AK

RECALL 02 V 070 000/IGNITION SWITCH: ALTERNATOR/ BATTERY AND IGNITION COIL HAD TO BE REPLACED. , DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RECALL WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF OTHER FAILURES. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, BRAKES GRAB AND PULL BEFORE STOPPING. *AK *TT

AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE HAS HAD A DIFFICULT TIME TRYING TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. HAS TAKEN ABOUT 4 HOURS. MECHANIC HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND HAS NOT FOUND PROBLEM. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT IT. *AK

THE FUEL LINE WAS DEFECTED THE GASOLINE SHOOTS OUT INSIDE OF THE ENGINE CARPARTMENT. NLM

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND LOOSES ALL STEERING FUNCTION, ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE CAN BE RESTARTED, THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM

ONE HOUR AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, A FIRE IGNITED IN THE TRUNK AREA. TRUNK LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF, ALL DASH LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. *AK *TT

WE HAVE HAD COOLANT LOSS THREE TIMES WITH NO VISIBLE LEAKAGE. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE CAR WAS "SUCKING THE COOLANT IN" RATHER THAN LEAKING OUT. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE 1ST TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET & OIL PUMP DRIVE RING AND VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKING. THE 2ND TIME, THE DEALER SIMPLE RESEALED THE INTAKE GASKET BUT DID NOT REPLACE. THE 3RD TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS AND RECHECKED FOR LEAKS. ALL OF THESE REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER EITHER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY (GOOD THRU 72,000 MI). WE NOW HAVE ALMOST 70,000 MI ON THIS CAR AND THE ENGINE IS SHOT! THE MAIN THROTTLE BEARING GAULDED AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY IS DENYING OUR CLAIM (EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE 2,000 MI LEFT ON EXTENDED WARRANTY) BECAUSE THEY SAY THE OIL IS "CONTAMINATED". I HAVE MAINTAINED REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND AM DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE IN APPROX 200 MI. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT INFORM ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE HAD THE OIL CHANGED AFTER ANY OF THE COOLANT LEAK REPAIRS. ALSO, WE HAD TO HAVE THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED WHEN THEN CAR WAS JUST 2 YRS OLD. PLUS WE HAD TO HAVE THE R&R SHAFT SEAL & BEARING KIT REPLACED 3 TIMES DUE TO SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. ALSO HAD TO HAVE SHIFTER ASSEMPLY REPLACED BECAUSE THE KEY WAS STICKING IN THE IGNITION.*AK

VEHICLE LOST POWER THEN ENGINE QUIT. DEALER MECHANIC INDICATED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE TO LET COOLING FLUID INTO CRANKCASE OIL. GASKET REPLACED, ENGINE FLUSHED 5 TIMES ($480) SUGGESTED ENGINE OVERHAUL. TWO WEEKS, ENGINE FAILED WITH KNOCK DUE TO PREVIOUS PROBLEM. RECEIVED LETTER FROM DEALERSHIP WARNING OF POSSIBLE INTAKE GASKET FAILURE RESULTING IN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. NO SATISFACTION FROM GM, FOUND 5 IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA WEB SITE, ATTORNEY CONTACTED, WE WILL BOTH INVESTIGATE. MY SITUATION IS, "NO CAR, STILL PAYING PAYMENT." OBSERVATION: GROSS DIREGARD FOR OBVIOUS ENGINEERING FLAW, SMAKS OF FIRESTONE WITHOUT THE DEATHS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS, BRAKES LOCK UP, REGULAR BRAKING, NO PANIC STOP. DEALER HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT ABS SYSTEM IS WORKING NORMALLY. *AK *JB

LOWER CONTROL ARM HAVE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND HAVE FALLEN OUT. HOLDING ON BY A METAL BAR UNDERNEATH THE BUSHINGS. ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR GOING OVER A BUMP THE VEHICLE GRINDS MAKING A METAL TO METAL SOUND.

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITHOUT COLLISION OCCURRING DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

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

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

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY GRIND AND SEEM NOT TO CATCH THE CAR JUST KEEPS GOING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TO THE SHOP 3 TIMES IN ONE MONTH AND NOBODY CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

I HAVE RAN ACROSS A FEW PEOPL THAT HAVE HAD THEIR WATER PUMPS FAIL ON THEIR CARS LIKE MINE HAS. IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IS IT A RECALLABLE ISSUE RIGHT NOW. *AK

THE LIGHTS ON THE CLOCK/RADIO FADE IN AND OUT. THEY ARE OFF MORE THAN THEY ARE ON BOTH AM AND PM YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS OR WHAT STATION YOU HAVE ON THE RADIO. *AK.

CONTROL ARMS BUSHING WEARS OUT, UNABLE TO REPLACE THE BUSHING WITHOUT REPLACING THE WHOLE CONTROL ARM. CAUSES TIRE TO MOVE, ALIGNMENT TO BE THROWED OFF, AND SEVERE JERKING WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. HAVE NOTICED THAT THE NEW CONTROL ARMS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED SO RUBBER BUSHING CANNOT COME OUT, UNLIKE THE ONE THAT WAS ORIGINALY ON THE CAR, REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR CONTROL ARMS WHICH ARE $160 A PIECE.*AK

CONTROL ARM BUSHING FELL OUT PREMATURELY AT 59K MILES, MAKING HANDING OF AUTO DIFFICULT, MECHANIC SAID HE DOES SEVERAL BUSHINGS A MONTH ON MY MODEL. *AK

FRONT AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES TO DRIVER. INSPECTION OF VEHICLE BY THE DEALER, DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO LOGICAL REASON FOR DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. *AK DRIVER WAS INJURED. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES HE EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND THE RADIATOR FLUID MIXED WITH THE ENGINE OIL WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BE RUINED, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER WAS ALSO ADVISED BY BOTH MECHANICS THAT THIS IS MOST LIKELY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.*JB

I CAN DEAL WITH MOST OF THE THINGS THAT WENT WRONG WITH MY CAR BUT I DONT THINK THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH MY INTERIOR COMING DOWN FROM MY DOORS AND MY PAINT FADING AND CHIPPING AND EVEN MY CD PLAYER DONT WORK.. I KNOW IT IS A 1996 BUT THESE THINGS SHOULD NOT BE MESSING UP ALREADY.. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE THINGS.. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY OUT MY POCKET FOR THINGS LIKE THIS. *AK

LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE WEAR AND HAVE DISINTEGRATED. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS DUE TO A FACTORY RELATED DEFECT. ALSO, FRONT STRUTS ARE NOISY AND SQUEAKY, A METAL TO METAL SOUND. *AK DEALER REPLACED TIE RODS WHEN CRUSHING SOUND IN FRONT END WAS FIRST HEARD. *SLC

REAR POWER WINDOWS COULD COME DOWN, BUT COULD NOT GO BACK UP. PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW WAS THE SAME WAY. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55 MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR UNKNOWN REASON. DEALER /MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND WAITING ON MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I AM ABLE TO GET PONTIAC TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. I HAVE HAD COUNTLESS THINGS HAPPEN TO THIS CAR. DURING AND NOW RIGHT OUT OF WARRANTY AT 62000 MILES. THEY ARE WANTING TO CHARGE ME 850.00 TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANAFOLD GADGETS. THIS IS AN EMMISSION PROBLEM AND I FEEL AS IF I PURCHASED A LEMON BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD ON THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP ME.*AK

VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. ALL GAUGES READ NORMALLY VEHICLE RUNS FINE THEN DIES. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM IN WHICH DEATH COULD EASILY RESULT. HAS HAPPENED ON RURAL ROADS AS WELL AS BUSY ROADS AND EXPRESSWAYS.*AK

ANTI THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATES WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. THEN, VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THE CAR HAS BEEN GIVEN A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND NOW ONE OF THE PULLEYS THAT HOLDS THE ENGINE'S BELT BROKE, ALSO MY HORN DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON FLAT ROAD PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. RAISED HOOD, AND SAW SMOKE FROM DRIVER'S SIDE. AT THAT MOMENT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. PONTIAC TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS.*AK

HORN IS HARD TO PRESS, CONSUMER HAS TO USE TWO HANDS TO PRESS ON HORN. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARANT REASON RIGHT SIDE FIRST, THEN 3 TO 5 MINUTES LATER THE LEFT SIDE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT COLLISION OCCURRING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THE MANUFACTURER'S INSPECTOR COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE FOR AIR BAG DEPLOYING. *YH

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK *YH

DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT COLLISION OCCURRING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A BUZZING NOISE; THEN, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT.*AK