1997 Pontiac Grand AM complaints

CONSUMER STATES HE HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, SENSOR SYSTEM THAT RUNS THE ABS, BRAKING SYSTEM. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT HE HAS BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HIS AUTO WILL NOT GO INTO THE NEXT GEAR, AND HE IS IN FAST TRAFFIC. MR

THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS PAID OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE BEING A RECALL EVEN DO I WAS NEVER CONTACT AND THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHSED BRAND NEW. I SPEND APRROX $300.00 BETWEEN TOWING FEES AND MECHANICAL REPAIR. I NEED TO GET REFUNDED THIS MONEY. OTHERWISE, I WILL CONTACT THE BBB AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS. DT

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STARTER AND HAS HAD THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOP FOR A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE STATERTED HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH SO THERE FOR THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. MR

THIS CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. YOU MUST PUSH THE PEDAL COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE CAR WILL STOP. I HAVE HAD BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, ALTERNATOR, SERPINTINE BELT REPLACED. I HAVE HAD MY COMPUTER REPLACED 3 TIMES AND SIX INJECTORS INSTALLED. THIS CAR IS A NIGHTMARE GM SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS HORRIBLE CAR. AS WE ALL CAN SEE THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA'S WEB SITE. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP US! DT

CONSUMER STATES HAS BEEN CHANGE THE BRAKES PAD MANY TIMES, GOT BROKEN EVERY MONTHS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

IGNITION FIRE--INSERTED KEY INTO IGNITION SLOT AND THERE WAS A TERRIBLE SMELL OF INSULATION & SOMETHING LIKE GUNPOWDER--THE CAR'S ELECTRIC SYSTEM WAS AFFECTED---RECENTLY WATCHED TV & HEARD THAT PONTIAC RECALLS GRAND AM '97 BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS W/ IGNITION SWITCH AND RELATED FIRE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND BECAUSE OF THE RECALL EXPECTS REIMBURSEMENT IN FULL. *JG

IN AUGUST 2002, WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM PONTIAC SAYING THE IGNITION CIRCUIT THERMAL EVENTS ON OUR PONTIAC WAS A PROBLEM WHICH COULD CAUSE SPEARKS OR A FIRE AND WE SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO OUR LOCAL DEALER. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WYATT-JOHNSON, OUR LOCAL DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY--OR AT LEAST THAT IS THE PART THAT THEY SAID WERE COVERED BY THE RECALL. JUST PRIOR TO TAKING THE CAR INTO THE SHOP FOR THE RECALL NOTICE REPAIRS, MY WIFE NOTICED THAT WHEN SHE STOPPED AT A LOCAL STORE, THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND SHE SAW SPARKS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. WE HOPED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE THE MECHANIC AT WYATT-JOHNSON SAID IT SHOULD. HOWEVER, AFTER THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE MADE, MY WIFE AGAIN EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION--IT WOULDN'T STOP RUNNING AFTER STOPPING--AND SHE COULDN'T SEEM TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AND, AGAIN SHE SAW SPARKS FROM THE IGNITION. MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTOMOTIVE DEALER--OUR LOCAL NAPA GARAGE AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE NAPA MECHANIC SHOWED MY WIFE A PONTIAC TENICAL BULLETIN WHICH CLEARLY STATES THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY WAS INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS RECALL AND ACCORDING TO THE NAPA MECHANIC, THE GMAC DEALER SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE PART. HE SAID THE RECALL NOTICE NUMBER WAS 97038. WE AGAIN CONTACTED WYATT-JOHNSON AND THEY AGAIN SAID THAT THEY HAD MADE THE RECALL REPA

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE HAVING VEHICLE SERVICE BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WAS INFORMED THAT RECALL FOR IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT DONE, BUT IS STATED AS BEING DONE IN GMC DATE SYSTEM,BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. WHEN OTHER DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED,THEIR REPLY WAS FOR THE CONSUMER TO PAY TO HAVE RECALL DONE.

CONSUMER STATES WHILE HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT DONE,BUT ON GMC DATABASE STATES THAT IT WAS DONE.WHEN THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED OF THIS THE DEALER REPLIED THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD BE CHARGED FOR RECALL REPAIR. *AK *YH

WHILE IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AND DIM SPORADICALLY. CONSUMER TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN TURNED THE IGNITION ON. THE VEHICLE STALLED, PRESENTING IT INOPERABLE AT THAT TIME. THE STEERING BECAME STIFF AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH GEARS TO NEUTRAL. SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT FACILITY AND REPAIRED BECAUSE THE GM FACILITY WAS CLOSED. THE REPAIR SPECIALIST INFORMED CONSUMER THE PROBLEM TRACED BACK TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF AN ALTERNATOR AND A BATTERY RECHARGE. PONTIAC WAS CONTACTED SHORTLY (REQUEST C20753090) AND INFORMED CONSUMER THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS OR RECALL RELATING TO THE INCIDENT. IN APRIL 2002, GM SENT CONSUMER A RECALL LETTER (02V07) REGARDING FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES. CONSUMER WAS REIMBURSED FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH REPAIR, BUT HAS NOT BEEN REIMBURSED FOR REPAIR CAUSED BY THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER EXPECTS GM TO REIMBURSE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE COST. *JG

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL AREA. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, MADE A THUMPING NOISE. REPLACED DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROLL ARM, WAS TOLD IT WAS BAD. 3 OR 4 DAYS AFTER I PICKED UP MY CAR, I NOW HAVE A SINGLE THUMP WHEN I BRAKE AND RELEASE THE BRAKE. THIS NOISE IS SO LOUD AND SCARY SOUNDING THAT I AM ABSOLUTELY AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT SOUNDS LIKE MY WHEEL IS READY TO FALL OFF. TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE SHOP AGAIN TOMORROW. I READ SEVERAL REPORTS ON YOUR WEBSITE REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CRASH OR COLLISION. CONSUMER'S INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE DAMAGES INCURRED TO VEHICLE BECAUSE THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT. CONSUMER HAS A POLICE REPORT AND PHOTOS TAKEN ON THE DAMAGED VEHICLE AND THE MINOR SCRAPES AND BURNS SUSTAINED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WHO REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER. AFTER FAILING TO INSPECT DAMAGED VEHICLE, MANUFACTURER CONCLUDED THAT DUE TO THE YEAR, MODEL AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHCLE, THAT IT WAS NOT THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE DAMAGES. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNJUST AND UNFAIR BECAUSE THERE IS NO RELEVANCE AS TO HOW OLD OR HOW MANY MILES IT HAD ON THE VEHICLE. *TT

WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO PONTIAC AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES PADS. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL, CONSUMER COULD SMELL RUBBER BURNING, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAKE A STOP. CONSUMER SAW FIRE NEAR FRONT BRAKES. *AK THIS PROBLEM WAS ASSOCIATED WITH GM'S ORIGINAL PONTIAC FRONT BRAKE HOSE RESTRICTION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. IT LEAD TO OVERHEATING OF THE BRAKES AND FINALLY BRAKE FAILURE AND FIRE. WHILE IN MOTION THIS COULD HAVE LED TO AN ACCIDENT. *JG

CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 10 MPH, NO BRAKING ACTION, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. BRAKES WERE APPLIED AGAIN. THIS TIME BRAKES WERE OPERATIONAL. DEALER STATED THAT ABS COMPUTER WAS FAULTY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

CONSUMER TRIED TO START VEHICLE WHICH HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. IT WOULD NOT START. WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE THERE WAS SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. CONSUMER DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY FOR SAFETY REASONS. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALLED PART WAS INSTALLED AT NO CHARGE, BUT THE DAMAGE CAUSED DUE TO THE FAULTY PART WILL CHARGED. CONSUMER FEELS GM SHOULD REIMBURSE THE MONIES PAID. *JG

VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT AT MULTIPLE SPEED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INCIDENTALLY. THERE WAS NO CRASH OR COLLISION.*AK

RECENTLY MY WIFE'S 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT HAS ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, EVEN IF YOU BRAKE OR MANUALLY SELECT THE OFF POSITION ON THE CRUISE CONTROL SELECTOR SWITCH.*AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTENED THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING THE LOW BATTERY TO ILLUMINATE, LIGHTS TO BECOME DIM AND VEHICLE TO STALL OUT. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE AND WITHOUT WARNING GEARSHIFT LEVER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. ALSO, DOORS AND WINDOWS LOCKED.*AK

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL. BRAKES BEGAN TO SMOKE/SMELL WITH SOFT PEDAL. DEALERSHIP REPLACED PADS AND CHECKED BRAKE SYSTEM. THE NEXT DAY WHEN DRIVEN DOWN A HILL FRONT BRAKES CAUGHT FIRE. PLEASE DESCCRIBE DETAILS.*JB

TRIED TO START CAR, DASH BOARD LIGHTS CAME ON, CAR WOULDN'T START, KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT, THEN TRIED TO START CAR AGAIN AND IT STARTED. THE NEXT DAY-WENT TO RUN ERRANDS-STOPPED AT STORE AND KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION, HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK, THEY HAD TO DISENGAGE TRANSMISSION TO TOW, GARAGE MECHANIC HOOKED UP TO COMPUTER AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, HAD TO BE REKEYED AND BATTERY REPLACED. WE DID HAVE THE MANUFACTURERS RECALL DONE ON THE IGNITION SWITCH AT DAVE CROSS MOTORS, LEE'S SUMMIT MO 816-524-3636 ON APRIL 15,2002. WONDERING IF TWO PROBLEMS ARE LINKED?*AK

WHEN KEY IS PUT IN IGNITION IT WILL NOT TURN . HAS TO JUMP START VEHICLE.CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

SEVEN ALTERNATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN VEHICLE WITHIN FOUR YEARS BY A REPAIR SHOP. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK *JB

AFTER RECALL 02V070000 REPAIRS WERE DONE AT ROGER PONTIAC IN CHICAGO, PHONE 312/225-4300 IGNITION SWITCH BECAME HOT, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET KEY OUT OF IGNITION SWITCH, AND THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. *AK

THE ORIGINAL DELCO BATTERY WAS BURNED WHEN THE VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. *YH

THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE RELAY SWITCH, AND THEY SAY THAT I HAVE TO PAY THEM (PONTIAC) TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

AFTER TURNING OFF ENGINE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION, CONSUMER HAS TO WIGGLE KEY TO GET IT OUT.*AK

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S FRONT WINDOWS WILL NO LONGER OPERATE. REGULATORS NEED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE, WOULD CONTINUE TO RESTART BY ITSELF UNTIL CONSUMER SWITCHED IGNITION SWITCH TO ACCESSORIES. STARTED TO STOP, BUT SPARKS AND SMOKE WERE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, THE BACK OF CONSUMERS PANTS WERE ON FIRE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITON WAS RECALLED, AND CONSUMER SUFFERED 2ND DEGREE BURNS.*JB

I HAD A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE CLUSTER THAT OPERATES ALL THE GAUGES. SPEEDOMETER, FUEL,RPM, ETS AND TEMPERATURE. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED WITH A USED CLUSTER AS I COULD NOT AFFORD A NEW ONE. I JUST RECENTLY LEARNED OF A RECALL OF THE IGNITION RELAY AND I WONDERED IF THIS COULD BE ANOTHER DEFECT WORTH CHECKING INTO. I RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION OF THE IGNITION RECALL, I JUST HEARD ABOUT IT ON THE NEWS. SO I THOUGHT THIS COULD BE A RECALL THAT I HAD NOT HEARD ABOUT.*AK

CONSUMER HAS ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS FOR THREE MONTHS. REAR BRAKE DRUMS WERE TURNED, AND THREE SETS OF BRAKES SHOES WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE HA BEEN IN A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. WHEELS LOCKED UP AT THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH OF BRAKE PRESSURE OR WHEN BRAKES OVERHEATED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ECALL 02 V 070 000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER: HUBERT MOTORS, LONGMONT CO; PHONE# 303/776-2650 UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. PLEASE FILL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION AND PLEASE FILL IN THE VEHICLE MILEAGE.*AK

I MAILED YOU A LETTER-NO RESPONCE. RSVP!!!!NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

RECALL 02 V 070 000 ELICTRICAL SYSTEM; IGNITION; SWITCH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR RECALL TO HAVE A RELAY SWITCH INSTALLED. AFTER SWITCH WAS INSTATLLED, QUARTER OF A MILE DOWN THE ROAD ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A BURNED SMELL. TOOK BACK TO DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA RECALL 02 V 070 000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH: DEALER: SUNRISE PONTIAC, BARTLETT, TN ; PHONE# 901//333-8000, WAS NOT ABLE TO HONOR RECALL BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE WOULD BE A POPPING NOISE PRESENT, AND BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT INTO ANOTHER LANE. ALSO LEFT REAR AND RIGHT FRONT WINDOW WAS INOPARTIVE, ALSO THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING.*JB

WHEN CONSUMER TURNS VEHICLE ON THERE IS SHORT WHEN SHE TAKES KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION VEHICLE IS STILL RUNNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

IT'S RECALL PROBLEM ,I GOT ARECALL LETTER FROM GENERAL MOTORS AND I WENT TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES; THE FIRST ONE THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT THEY ARE ALL BUSY THEY CAN'T DO IT ,THE SECOND TIME THE SAME AND HE TOLD ME TO COME EARLY SO I WENT AT 8 AM TODAY AND THEY SAID YOU SHOULD LEAVE FOR FEW DAYS AND NEXT TIME SHOULD COME EARLY ,EARLY THAN 8 AM!!!!!!!!! COME ON , I CAN'T LEAVE MY CAR FOR FEW DAYS THEN I CALLED THE 1800 FOR PONTIAC BUT THEY COULD NOT , A FIRE CAN ACCUR ANY TIME IN THE STEERING COLUM ,CAN YOU HELP?*AK

STEERING WHEEL IS WHINING AND PULLING VEHICLE TO THE LEFT.AK

NHTSA RECALL 02V070000/ MANUFACTURER 02008. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD RECALL REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK

NHTSA RECALL# 02V070000/ MANUFACTURER# 02008. GOT RECALL NOTICE, AND HAD RECALL REPAIRS DONE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 80MPH DRIVER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN FRONT END. THEN, OIL LIGHT CAME ON ,AND BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM TAILPIPE. FUEL ENTERED THE ENGINE AND BEARINGS FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE OIL TO BECOME BLACK AND THE BEARING TO GRIND.*AK

WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENS UP AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AKCONSUMER COULD NOT TURN VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AS IF POWER STEERING FOR THE RIGHT SIDE COMPLETELY FAILED. TURNING TO THE LEFT POSED NO PROBLEM. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED REPLACING. *JG

VEHICLE HESITATES TO START. DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPROGAM COMPUTER SYSTEM.*AK

PRIOR TO RECALL 02V07000 NOTIFICATION VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SHORTAGE IN THE COMPUTER FOR THE STEERING WHEEL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. CONSUMER BELIEVES THE SHORTAGE IS A RESULT OF RECALL. *TT

NHTSA RECALL 02 V 070 000 MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH: DEALER: DONNY BOHN GMC; HARVEY, LA; PHONE# 504/347-4070 REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL UNTIL A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AT CONSUMER'S COST. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLES INTAKE MAINFOLD GASKET. *JG

THERE IS AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO TWO SERVICE STATIONS AND THEY BOTH AGREE THE OIL LEAK IS NOT COMING FROM CONSTANT DRIVING. CONSUMER WANTS PONTIAC TO FIX THE OIL LEAK. *JG