1996 Pontiac Grand AM complaints

WHILE TRAVELING AND AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WITHOUT INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE CAR HAS BEEN A GOD CAR, BUT I HAVE READ AND TALKED WITH MANY OTHER THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. WHAT CAN BE DONE? NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

ANTI FREEZE ODOR COMES AS SOONS AS HEATER IS TURNED ON DUE TO HEATER CORE FAILURE. YH

GAS IS LEAKING FROM FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) KEEPS FAILING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. PART HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *AK *ML

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH,FOR MAJOR REPAIRS, NOW ITS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 2 WEEKS AND THEY STILL CANT FIND THE PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,,,,AND THE VEHICLE IS MY LIVELY HOOD,,,,,,SO STRESSED DUE TO THIS VEHICLE BEENING IN THE SHOP AND THEY CANT FIND THE MAJOR PROPLEM,,, THIS CAR IS A LEMON,,, DATES THIS VEHICLE BEEN IN THE SHOP 9.30.99,,,10.18.99...11.08.99....12.17.99....1.24.00.. PLEASE HELP ME ONE THIS VEHICLE THANK YOU STRESSED OUT. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE . CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK GASKET LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING CLICKING NOISE AND THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO WARNING TO THIS PROBLEM AND DUE TO THE FAULTY GASKET THE ENGINE WAS RUINED. *YH

ALTERNATOR AND ABS PROBLEMS: ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS, AND WILL NEED REPLACING AGAIN. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOORBROAD AND THE VEHICLE TRAVELS ADDITIONAL DISTANCES BEFORE STOPPING. DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES ON WET PAVEMENT REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE ARE NO DEFECTS INVESTIGATIONS IN THE DATABASE FOR THE 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED CONCERNING THIS VEHICLE. WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN A DEATH? MY VEHICLE LIKE SEVERAL OTHERS I'VE READ ABOUT , STALLS AT ANY GIVEN TIME WITH THE MOST RECENT BEING ON THE INTERSTATE WHERE I HAD TO TAKE THE MEDIAN FOR SAFETY. OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE BEEN RUN OVER BY A RIG. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND WAS REPORTED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER AS SUCH; HOWEVER, NO INVESTIGATION HAS TAKEN PLACE. THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, LOSING ALL POWER (INCLUDING STEERING AND BRAKES). ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR IS DEAD; THAT'S RIGHT DEAD. LEAVING THE OCCUPANTS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC HOPING THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SMASHED BY SPEEDING TRAFFIC CONSIDERING NO SIGNAL WILL WORK AND NEITHER DO BRAKE LIGHTS OR ANYTHING. PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE AT STAKE HERE AND COMPLAINTS ARE BEING HANDLED BY THIS DEPARTMENT AS IF THEY COULDN'T CARE LESS. HOW COULD ANYONE WITH THEIR RIGHT MIND NOT ASSESS THIS SITUATION AS A SAFETY VIOLATION. THE REPORTS FOR THIS SAME DEFECT ARE JUST TOO NUMEROUS AND IF YOU CAN'T SEE IT THEN I NEED A HIGHER OFFICE AND THIS OFFICE NEEDS TO CLOSE SHOP! *AK

DUE TO CARBON BUILD UP EGR VALVE FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AT ANY SPEED. *AK

FRONT FUEL LINE SEPARATED FROM HOSE RESULTING IN A LEAK. NLM

WHEN A/C IS FIRST TURNED ON THE CONSUMER SMELLS ODOR FROM A/C DURING HUMID DAYS. *ET

WHEN DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON,THEY FLICKER OFF/ON. ALSO, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS TURN OFF, CAUSING POOR DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. HIGH BEAM LIGHTS ARE THE ONLY OTHER OPTION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. CONSUMER HAS YET TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED A SLIP DUE TO "REPL 2ND CLUTCH INPUT CLUTCH" AND HAD TO BE COMPLETELY OVERHAULED. MECHANIC STATED THAT PROBLEM COULD ONLY BE LINKED TO MECHANICAL FAILURE. THERE WAS NO POSSIBLE WAY THAT HUMAN INTERFERANCE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION. A TRANSMISSION KIT, VALVE, PISTON, AND 12 ATF'S HAD TO BE PURCHASED FOR A TOTAL OF $861.49 IN PARTS AND $1224.00 IN LABOR. FRONT SUSPENSION IS ALSO LOOSE. ENTIRE FRONT END IS "LOOSE AS A TOOTH" ACCORDING TO DEALER MECHANIC. ALSO STATED THAT PROBLEM SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED AT ONLY 40,000 MILES. NEED TO BALANCE WHEEL, ALIGN FRONT, AND PERFORM A TUNE-UP. LABOR IS ESTIMATED AT $200.00 WITH ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR PARTS. *AK

FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS, FAILURES CAUSING MISFIRE. *MJS

HAD ALL 4 POWER WINDOW MOTORS FAIL WITHIN THE PAST YR. ALSO PASS POWER LOCK FAILURE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, IN THE DARK, IN THE RAIN, DRIVING DOWN A HILL. WITHOUT WARNING THE LIGHTS FLICKERED AND DIMMED, HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT, LOST POWER, UNABLE TO USE BRAKES OR POWER STEER CAR. WAS ABLE TO COAST ON A SIDE ROAD AND APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE. AFTER STOPPING, UNABLE TO RELEASE KEY FROM CAR OR OPEN DOOR, ABLE TO ESCAPE THROUGH ROLL DOWN WINDOW. *AK

THE HEADLIGHTS WENT DIM WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE CUT OFF / WOULD NOT RESTART, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK. CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED IN VEHICLE FOR 20 MINUTES BECAUSE DOORS AND WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPEN. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED YET. *AK *YC

I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY COOLING SYSTEM.I'M ALWAYS LOSING COOLANT . SOMETIMES IT'S VISBLE AND LEAKS TO THE GROUND. OTHER TIMES I CAN'T FIND WHERE THE COOLANT IS LEAKING TOO. I ALWAYS HAVE TO CHECK MY COOLANT LEVEL AND ADD COOLANT MOST OF THE TIME. I HEAR A LOUD NOISE IN MY DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING SOMETIMES. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING UPHILL CAR MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE FRONT END WAS SHIFTING TO THE RIGHT. ALSO, ENGINE HAD EXPLODED AND VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE IDLE TO BE TOO HIGH, RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCLERATING AND SLOWING DOWN. THIS MAY CAUSE A CRASH. THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS HAVING MORE WEAR AND TEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35- 40 MPH, VEHICLE HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT, AND DRIVER/PASSENGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT. ALSO, DRIVER'S SEATBELT DID NOT RETRACT DURING THE IMPACT, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN INJURIES. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH AIRBAG OR SEATBELT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE DRL SENSOR CAUSES THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS TO BE ON DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS

THE SENSOR, DUE TO WATER IN AND UNDER THE CARPETING,CAUSED THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. YH

WHILE TRAVELING AND MAKING A TURN STERRING WHIEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO JERK THE STERRING WHEEL . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORJMATON. DRL HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

MY EXTENDED WARANTY PUT A USED ENGINE IN AFTER THE ORIGINAL BLEW UP. THE ENGINE THEY SENT HAD TO BE SENT BACK BECAUSE IT WAS ALSO NO GOOD . IT HAD 18,000 ON IT WHEN IT WAS SENT TO REPLACE. NOW THEY ARE SENDING ANOTHER ENGINE . IT IS NOW A MONTH LATER THEN WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. I THINK SOMEONE OWES ME SOMETHING.

ON 09/09/99 MY LEFT REAR DOOR POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED ME AND WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $310.27. ON 10/02/99 THE RIGHT REAR DOOR POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED AND I AM SCHEDULED TO HAVE IT REPLACED ON 10/06/99.

CONTINUALLY DISREGARDED BY DEALERSHIPS AND CORPORATE OFFICES

DUE TO THE CARPET GETTING WET, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

COMING TO A STOP SIGN AND ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 60-70MPH HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON TAIL END, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

DRIVER WAS IN REVERSE GEAR WITH FOOT ON BRAKES ABOUT TO ENGAGE INTO DRIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF/ SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

ENGINE STALLED WHICH TOOK THE POWER AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS. THE OWNER WAS TRAPPED IN VEHICLE FOR AN HOUR. DEALER SAYS IT WAS AN INTERNAL SHORT WITHIN THE BATTERY. *AK

HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 69,000 MILES DUE TO A PISTON GONE BAD! GM WOULD GIVE NO ASSISTANCE, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD THE CAR WORKED ON AT 15 DIFFERENT TIMES, SO I HAD TO PAY ALMOST $4,000! DEALERSHIP, WHERE TAKEN, WAS NO HELP EITHER, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO HAVING THE OIL CHANGED AT "JIFFYLUBE" OR "Q-LUBE" OR "WAL-MART". THEY SAID THOSE PLACES USE "REFINED OIL" AND NOT NEW OIL LIKE THE DEALERSHIP DOES. THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN EXCUSE AND NOT A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO ME! LIKE I MENTIONED, SINCE BUYING THE CAR I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE "SHOP" ON 15 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR WARRANTY & NON-WARRANTY WORK. INDIANA DOES NOT HAVE A LEMON LAW SO I AM NOT SURE WHAT ELSE TO DO TO GET SOME HELP IN THIS MATTER! THE DEALERSHIP EVEN MENTIONED THEY HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THESE ENGINES! LOOKING FOR SOME HELP! I NOW HAVE TO KEEP THE CAR FOR ATLEAST 3 MORE YEARS TO GET MY MONEY BACK FROM THE NEW ENGINE!

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL NOT START . THE DEALER HAS REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING, ALSO WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY VIBRATES, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN REVERSE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT THROUGH DASHBOARD, WHERE ACCORDING TO CONSUMER ,THEY FOUND THREE WIRES THAT WERE RUBBING TOGETHER. WIRES ARE CURRENTLY KEPT APART, AND CONSUMER COULD START VEHICLE WITHOUT SMOKE COMING FROM DASHBOARD. *AK

THE PAINT PEELING ON THE MIRRORS AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION SQUAK HAS BEEN REPAIRED ONCE BY THE MANUFACUTER AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE REPAIRS NOW. THE COLD START RATTLE HAS NEVER BEEN FIXED, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM.

I DRIVE 50 MILES A DAY TO AND FROM WORK THATS THE REASON FOR HIGH MILEGE ON MY CAR. I STILL BELIEVE THIS CAR SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN ITS PAYMENTS.

BRAKE PEDAL STARTED GOING ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, WITH NO WARNING OF ANY KIND. IT DOES NOT DO THIS EVERY TIME. THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS ALL ORIGINAL, THE PADS AND SHOES WERE CHECKED RECENTLY WHEN THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, AND HAS SHOWN NO PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS POINT. THE FLUID LEVEL IS OK, THERE ARE NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF LEAKAGE ANYWHERE.

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DRIVER HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A TRUCK, HITTING A BARRIER AND LANDING IN A DITCH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, PEDAL HAS TO BE PUSHED ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS AND RELINED BRAKE PADS. PROBLEM STILL EXISTED, RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. *AK *ML

BRAKES DID NOT GRIP PROPERLY WHEN TRYING TO SLOW DOWN FOR A TURN. THIS RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED 3500 MILES PREVIOUSLY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT (2 DAYS). THE BRAKES (FRONT) HAD TO BE RELINED AND WERE AT A RATING OF 7B 3500 MILES PREVIOUSLY. THIS APPEARS TO BE BOTH A FAULTY INSTALLATION AND MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM.

THE ALTERNATOR WA SNOT GETTING ENOUGH OF A CHARGE. HAD TO BE RECHARGED EVERY WEEK. THE PANEL LIGHTS WOULD BLINK ON/OFF. THE VEHICLE THEN SHUT DOWN. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER & THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

I WAS TOLD THAT THAT ENGINE HAD BEEN DISCONTIUED BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT HAD ACCURRED, AND I WANT PONTIAC TO FIX OR REPLACE THIS ENGINE AT NO COST TO ME. THE ENGINE WAS DISCONTINUED, SO SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE RECALLED THAT ENGINE. *AK

MALE COMPONENT OF THE SEAT BELT HAD A PLASTIC CLIP THAT HAS FALLEN OFF CAUSING THE BELT CLIP TO SPIN ON THE BELT AND NOT GRIP TIGHTLY. NLM

ALSO SEE ODI ID 706555. THIS COMPLAINT IS IN ADDITION TO THAT ONE. AGAIN, THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MOVED FORWARD ON ITS TRACK WHEN I HAD TO BRAKE SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. OCCUPANT IN SEAT WAS THE SAME AS WHEN THE SEAT FAILED BEFORE. OC. *AK

UNDERDASH WIRING HARNESS FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE. MJS

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL/JERK.UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, STEERING IS TURNING ON ITS OWN, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK