Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
DRIVING AND ENGINE QUITS, NO WARNING LIGHTS, JUST STOPS, SHUTS DOWN. SOMETIMES IT RESTARTS RIGHT OFF, OTHER TIMES IT TAKES UP TO 30 MINUTES. HAVE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE MANY TIMES AND PLUGGED INTO DIAGNOSTICS. SHOWS NO PROBLEMS OR ERROR CODES. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT. NEED HELP. *AK
AFTER DRIVING CONSUMER PARKED CAR, ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER, CONSUMER STARTED CAR AGAIN, CONSUMER HAD TO GO BACK IN HOUSE AND TRIED TO TURN OFF AND THEN IT WENT OFF BY ITSELF. *AK
VEHICLE KEPT STALLING OUT INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER . ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER, VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. EVENTUALLY, VEHICLE STALLED OUT FOR DEALER , WHICH WAS THEN HOOKED UP TO A TACKOMETER 2 MACHINE, AND CODES INDICTED DEFECT WAS DUE TO IGNITION MODULE SENSOR AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIECES STALLING PROBLEM. INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS/GAUGES WOULD ACT ERRATICALLY BEFORE VEHICLE STALLS. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ON THIS MATTER. *AK
FLEXIBLE FUEL HOSE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FAILED, CONSUMER STATES THAT A CORRUGATED FLEXIBLE PLASTIC SHIELDING COVERS MOST OF THE HOSES, HOWEVER THE COVERAGE IS NOT COMPLETE, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS WHY THE HOSE FAILED. *SLC
THE STARTER BENDIX FROZE UP, CAUSING THE IGNITION TO BURN UP. *AK
WHILE DRIVING COOLANT SIGNAL CAME ON. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO A SERVICE SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT WATER PUMP WAS NOT WORKING AND WAS REPLACED. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE HESITATES WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES JERKS BADLY, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NLM
WHILE DRIVING COULD HEAR NOISE FROM VEHICLE. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT BUSHINGS AND PINS HAD TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR PROBLEM. *AK THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM HAD WORN OUT, INCLUDING BUSHINGS AND PINS. *YH
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, AND VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART SOON AFTER. PLESASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
I BELIEVE THIS CAR TO BE A LEMON, MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS DESCRIBED BY OTHER OWNERS THIS YEAR MODEL EXIST WITH THIS VEHICLE. HOW CAN I GET HELP, NOW SOMETHING IS SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD, I BELIEVE IT TO BE ELECTRICAL BUT I DON'T HAVE THE CASH TO TAKE TO A MECHANIC. HELP. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND WILL NOT RESTART FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. HAS TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. *AK
COOLANT DETECTED IN OIL, SVC ADVISOR SAID THAT 3 VEHICLES W/SAME ENGINE HAVE SAME PROBLEM--BLOWN HEAD GASKET.-CAUGHT BEFORE TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE.
WHEN IT HAS BEEN RAINING AND BRAKES HAD BEEN APPLIED TO STOP, ABS SYSTEM WOULD DISENGAGE AND THEN LOCK UP. VEHICLE WOULD START TO SLOWDOWN. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. HAD CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER NO RECALLS, BUT NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE PROBLEM. *AK
DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK, DOOR LOCKS CONTROLED BY ALARM SYSTEM, WHICH MAY HAVE MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO CHANGES IN CLIMATE, REASON GIVEN TO CONSUMER BY CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. *CJ
POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED. NLM
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
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
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
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
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
WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISION FAILED/WENT OUT WHEN ATTEMTPING TO PLACE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER NOTICED A PLACE WITHIN TRANSMISISON WAS MISSING TEETH WHICH CAUSED MALFUNCTIONING OF TRANSMISSION. ALSO, MANUFACTURER HAS CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE PART TO PREVENT PIECES OF THE TEETH FROM BREAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
DUE TO SHELL REACTION CONVERTER, TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. THERE IS A NEW DESIGN FOR THIS PART. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
TIRE IS SEPERATING AND THE TREAD IS LIFTING OFF OF THE TIRE CASTING (B.F GOODRICH TOURING TA P195/65R15). *ET
A ROD FAILED IN THE ENGINE CAUSING DAMAGE TO CRANKSHAFT. GENERAL MOTORS ACKNOWLEDGES THE FACT THAT THE 2.4 LITER ENGINE HAS EXPERIENCED MANY FAILURES. BUT, GENERAL MOTORS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURES HAVE TAKEN PLACE ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE ENGINE. GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO ASSIST ME WITH REPAIRING THE ENGINE. THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIRING THE ENGINE IS $3,600.00. I WANT GENERAL MOTORS TO REPAIR THE ENGINE BECAUSE THE COMPANY ACKNOWLEDGES THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE HAS A RECORD FOR FAILURES. I REQUESTED TO HAVE A GENERAL MOTORS AREA MANGAGER TO CALL ME TWO WEEKS AGO. I WAS TOLD BY A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT MY REQUEST WOULD BE FORWARDED ON, BUT THE REPRESENTATIVE WENT ON TO SAY THAT I SHOULD NOT EXPECT THE MANAGER TO CALL ME.
IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE OF MY CAR WHICH HAD GONE FLAT AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE, I PARKED ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I LIFTED THE VEHICLE AT THE DESIGNATED LIFTING POINT USING THE AUTOMAKER-PROVIDED JACK AND PROCEEDED TO REMOVE THE TIRE. JUST AS I WAS PULLING THE TIRE OFF OF THE WHEEL, THE JACK SPLIT INTO TWO PIECES AND THE CAR FELL DOWN. FORTUNATELY, THE TIRE WAS NOT YET COMPLETELY OFF, AND BY VIRTUE OF ITS POSITION, MANAGED TO KEEP THE CAR FROM FALLING COMPLETELY AND CRUSHING MY HANDS. HOWEVER, THERE WAS SOME ADDITIONAL DAMAGE INCURRED TO THE WHEEL AND THE ALIGNMENT. THIS JACK HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER THE ORIGINAL JACK PROVIDED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE WAS STUCK CLOSED (WOULDN'T OPEN). THIS WAS, THEREFORE, THE SECOND FAILURE OF THIS JACK. I CONTACTED PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN WILLING TO REPLACE THE JACK AS THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. REPORTS HAVE BEEN FILED WITH BOTH THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND THE LOYOLA UNIVERSITY POLICE DEPARTMENT. *AK
IN JUNE 2000 HORN STARTED SOUNDING OFF AT ALL HOURS I HAVE TO TAP THE HORN SEVERAL TIMES TO MAKE IT STOP. I TOOK THE GRANDAM TO A PONTIAC DEALERSHIP COURTESY OF LEX. THE SERVICE DEPT. IFORMED ME THAT MY AIRBAG WAS SWELLING AND COULD DEPLOY AT ANYTIME. THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME $700.00 TO REPLACE THE SYSTEM. I REFUSED. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT.
A FEW DAYS AFTER BUYING 96 GRAND AM. I NOTICED THE BRAKES DIDNT WORK EFFECTIVELY. WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE CAR WOULD JERK SEVERAL TIMES AND CONTINUE TO JUMP FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE TIMES THAN I CARE TO COUNT. EACH TIME A NEAR COLLISION. I DONT DRIVE AT ALL WHEN IT RAINS IT WONT STOP AT ALL. I'VE HAD BREAKS CHECKED AT LEAST THREE TIMES AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. NO ONE CAN FIND A PROBLEM.
CONSUMER WAS SITTING STILL WAITING TO MAKE A TURN & VEHCILE STALLED. TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THE ALTERNATOR WASN'T CHARGING THE BATTERY. CONUSMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER. *AK
ALTERNATOR REPLACE TWO TIMES WITHIN A YEAR AND A HALF. BRAKES ALL WAYS GOING BAD ABS LIGHT STAYS ON ALL OF THE TIME I HAVE TO PAY FROM 300 TO 700 ALL OF THE TIME TO GET THIS CAR FIX NOW KOONS WANT A 1000 TO FIX THE EBTCM I HAVE SO MANY PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR I AM STILL PAYING A CAR NOTE I NO THAT THIS CAR HAS A DEFECT IT STAYS IN THE SHOP.
CAR RUNS HOT. WHEN STARTING UP WINDOWS WOULD FOG, COULD SMELL ANTIFREEZE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED HEATER CORE, THEY SAID IT HAD A PIN HOLE IN IT. CONSUMER SAID CAR WASSTILL RUNNING HOT, CONSUMER COULD HEAR A FLAPPING NOISE, LIKE A HELICOPTER UNDER THE HOOD.*AK THE POPING FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION WAS DUE TO SWAY BAR LINK FAILURE WHICH MADE STABLIZER BAR LOOSE. HORN MALFUNCTIONS DUE TO DIRTY CONTACTS. WINDOW DOES NOT GO UP OR DOWN PROPERLY DUE TO WINDOW MOTOR FAILURE. THE NOISE IN ENGINE AREA WHEN COLD WAS DUE TO ALTERNATOR FAILURE. WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING. TEMPERATURE GUAGE WAS INACCURATE. THE NOISE FROM FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WAS CAUSED BY WORN BRAKE PADS. DRIVER SIDE MIRROR CONTROL FELL INTO THE DOOR PANEL. *YH
IGNITION KEY WAS BEING RELEASED FROM IGNITION SWITCH INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WASA UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING BRAKES STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED DUE TO WARPED BRAKE ROTORS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
IS THIS STILL A FREE FIX? YOUR CAMPAIGN #: 96V249000. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK
WHEN CONSUMER STARTS VEHICLE TACHOMETER DROPS DOWN TO 0, AND THEN IT GOES UP TO WHERE IT SUPPOSE TO BE.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE SERVICED TWICE BECAUSE THEY WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF WHEN THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AND PARKED. AFTER I HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT PUT OUT ANY COLD AIR. WE HAVE REFILLED THE FREEON ONCE AND THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP AT ALL. THE DRIVERSIDE POWER WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN UNLESS ITS BEEN A VERY WARM DAY AND THE CAR HAS SAT IN THE SUN. THE FUSE WAS CHECKED AND IS OKAY.*AK
THE VERTICAL BUSHING ON THE LOWER A FRAME SEPARATES FROM THE STEEL SLEEVE ALLOWING AFRAME TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACK 3INCHES STOPPING OR ACCELERATING ALSO ON TURNS IT WILL SHIFT. THIS DEFECT IS IN ALL GM N BODY J BODY CARS 94 AND UP AND NOT BEING REPAIRED WHEN RESOLD BECAUSE OF COST TO THEM. *AK
THIS IS THE THIRD REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WITHIN TWO YEARS 1998-2000. IT SEEMS TO NEED REPLACED EVERY 9-12 MONTHS. I FEEL THIS IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. THE SEAT ANCHOR HAS BEEN REPORTED EACH TIME I TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE LAST TIME I WAS TOLD TO RECLINE THE SEAT TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60 MPH REAR WINDOW DETACHED FROM VEHICLE AND SHATTERED IN MID -AIR, REASON UNKNOWN. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WOULD BE DONE UNLESS COST GO TO CONSUMER. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INSIDE OF VEHICLE . STARTED VEHICLE UP, AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED.*AK
UNDER WARRANTY, REPORTED THE TRUNK AND REAR SPOILER FOR WATER LEAKAGE. EVERY TIME DEALER ANSWER, RESEALED TRUNK. AT 5TH ATTEMPT TO REPAIR LEAK OWNER REQUESTED SPOILER TO BE REPLACED DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE, OWNER FRUSTRATED. 2. ENGINE CONSUMES 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1500-3000 MILES DEALER RESPONDS WITH NO PROBLEMS. 2ND ATTEMPT DEALER PERFORMED OIL CONSUMPTION TEST RESULTS: NO PROBLEM, OWNER REPORTS STILL CONSUMES OIL AT SAME RATE. 3. CLUTCH: OWNER REPORTED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT OUT OF 1ST AND 3RD GEAR DEALER RESPONDED NO PROBLEM DRIVETRAIN. ALL REPORTED DURING WARRANTY PERIOD. OWNER CONTINUES TO DRIVE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. DEALER SERVICED VEHICLE OVERFILLED ALL FLUIDS OWNER DID NOT DISCOVER PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER 500 MILES OF DRIVING OWNER INFORMED DEALER THAT THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES TO VEHICLE AT A LATER DATE DUE TO PRE MATURE WEAR. CURRENT: 30000 LATER ENGINE CONTINUES TO CONSUME OIL AT HIGHER RATE APP. 1000 MILES 1 QT OF OIL , CLUTCH BURNED OUT AT 62000 MILES CURRENTLY IN SHOP AND GMAC WILL NOT REPAIR IN LUE OF PROIR SERVICE HISTORY. *AK
THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN MADE GRINDING NOISES WHEN MY 1996 GRAND AM SE WAS DRIVEN. THE NOISES EVEN PERSISTED AFTER THE GRAND AM WAS RETURNED TO THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM FOR SERVICE/REPAIR IN DECEMBER 1999. THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THE NOISES FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN COULD NOT BE FIXED AND SINCE THE CAR WAS "OLDER"- ONLY 3 YEARS OLD, ANY NOISES IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN SHOULD BE EXPECTED AND ARE NORMAL FOR A 3 YEAR OLD CAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME HE WOULD LOOK AT THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AS WELL AS THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENETS UNDER THE DASHBOARD TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT HE DID THE BEST HE COULD DO TO FIND AND REPAIR THE NOISES IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER, AND CONTINUED TO HEAR GRINDING NOISES FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, ON MARCH 31, 2000, AFTER DROPPING MY INFANT TO THE DAYCARE CENTER, I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN IN ADDITION TO THE TURN SIGNAL CHAMBER ON THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN BEGAN TO SMOKE. FLAMES BEGAN TO APPEAR FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AND A STEADY FLOW OF SMOKE. THE ELECTRICAL FIRE INCREASED IN SIZE AND WAS FINALLY BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL BY TWO FIRE ENGINE COMPANIES. MY 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM WAS TOWED, ASSESSED FOR DAMAGES AND FINALLY DEEMED UNSALVAGEABLE- A TOTAL LOSS. MY 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD. THIS INCIDENT SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED.*
SENSOR FAILED AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT INDICATE THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. THE ENGINE SEIZED UP AND WAS SOLD FOR SALVAGE VALUE OR $1,500. THERE IS DOCUMENTED OIL CHANGES EVERY THREE THOUSAND MILES WITH SIMULTANEOUS COOLANT CHECKS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED TWO TIMES. *ET
BUSHING THAT HOLDS THE CONTROL ARM THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE CHASSIS MAY DEVELOP MORE WEAR AND TEAR. THIS COULD CAUSE IT TO BREAK OFF, AND RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Pontiac Grand AM → · Every Grand AM year → · How the figures are calculated →