Page 5 of 8 · complaints 201–250 of 383

1997 Pontiac Grand AM complaints

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 1997 record →

Air BagsCrash2 injured2 killed
Filed Jan 30, 2001WV

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER THERE WAS A CRASH ON JULY 28, 2000 AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED 18 HOURS AFTER THE CRASH ON JULY 29 2000 *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Jan 24, 2001MI

BRAKES ARE TOO SENSITIVE; WHEN TAPPING ON BRAKES CAR JERKS.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Jan 18, 2001MD

AFTER APPROXIMATELY EVERY 12 MONTH THERE IS A SHUDDER TO THE CAR WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES TO STOP. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME TAKING THIS CAR AND HAVING NEW ROTORS PUT ON. DEALERSHIP STATES ROTORS KEEP WARPING.

Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Filed Jan 15, 2001WV

I HAVE HAD 3 LUG STEMS BREAK OFF OF 3 DIFFERENT WHEELS IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR. I HAVE FILED 2 PROBLEM REPORTS WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE. I DON;T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH THIS RECORD OF LUG STEMS BREAKING. I THINK GM SHOULD REPLACE MY LUG STEMS AND BOLTS WITH A SAFE PRODUCT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO.*AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Filed Jan 12, 2001TX

WHILE UNDER WARRANTY SWAYBAR BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED 4 TIMES. THE REAR WINDSHIELD LEAKED WATER INTO THE TRUNK WHICH CAUSED MOLDY CARPET THAT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL RATTLES AS WELL AS THE PLASTIC COVER WHERE THE RADIO AND CLIMATE CONTROL KNOBS ARE LOCATED. DEALER HAS SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THE SIDEWALLS ON THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A PATCH IN IT BEFORE I EVEN RECEIVED THE CAR. THE FUSE FOR THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL KEEPS BLOWING AND WHEN THE DEALERSHIP WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT THIS THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOTHING. IT HAS NOW BLOWN 15 TIMES. THE WATER PUMP "SHREDDED" AT 37,000 MILES. THE CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN AFTER BEING TAKEN OUT OF PARK AND PUT IN DRIVE. THE BRAKES "PULSE" AT 10 MILES AN HOUR. THE RADIO CONTROLS WORK OPPOSITE OF WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO (IE TURN UP AND IT DOES NOTHING, TURN DOWN AND IT GETS LOUDER). BATTERY WENT DEAD AT 40,000 MILES. REARVIEW MIRROR LEVER "FELL OFF" INSIDE DOOR FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SEVERE PAINT CHIPPING ON FRONT OF CAR.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 2, 2001WI

AT 45 MPH SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING A DEER, WENT INTO DITCH, AND ROLLED OVER. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear
Filed Dec 26, 2000WI

BOTH FRONT WINDOWS HAVE FALLEN OUT OF THEIR ORIGINAL TRACKS AND HAVE TO BE REALIGNED BY HAND WHENEVER THEY ARE ROLLED DOWN. NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Dec 11, 2000WV

1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM HAS MULTIPLE BRAKE PROBLEMS I HAVE REPLACED CALIPERS AND ROTORS AND PADS WITHIN 2 TO 3 WEEKS THE BRAKES START CLUNKING AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE TIME IS DECREASED.I HAVE CONTACTED THE MAIN PONTIAC COMPANY WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Dec 7, 2000NY

DEX-COOL WAS USED AS ONLY COOLANT. MY MECHANIC FAXED ME SOME INFORMATION ON DEX-COOL STATING THAT IT WAS STARTING TO CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE 1ST CARS USING IT. EVERYTHING COOLING RELATED IS STARTING TO GO OUT.*AK

Tires
Filed Nov 21, 2000MI

TIRE CASING STARTED TO PEEL OFF. WE WERE AWAY FROM HOME FOR THE WEEKEND. WE IMMEDIATELY CHANGED TO THE SPARE TIRE, AND LIMPED HOME. THE PONTIAC DEALER TOLD US THAT WE HAD TO GO TO THE GOODYEAR DEALER FOR AN ADJUSTMENT. THEY GAVE US AN ALLOWANCE TOWARD A NEW TIRE. BUT, I CAN'T HELP THINKING I CAUGHT OUR TIRE BEFORE IT GOT A CHANCE TO FALL APART LIKE ALL OF THOSE ONES I'VE BEEN SEEING ON TV. MY SON HAS A 1995 GRAND AM WITH THE SAME TIRES, AND HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A GOODYEAR EAGLE GA, THE SAME SIZE AS OURS. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU FOLKS KNOW. *AK (DOT NUMBER: MKT2E2DR12 TIRESIZE: P205/55R16)

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Nov 18, 2000OH

THIS FAILURE IS PARTICULARLY BAD BECAUSE BOTH TIMES THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 10 MILES BEFORE THE OCCURRENCE (WHICH IN HINDSIGHT) I SEE WAS THE ONLY WARNING OF DANGER AND BOTH TIMES WERE PITCH DARK OUTSIDE, FIRST THE CAR SEEMED TO BE IN NEUTRAL IN THE DRIVE POSITION, IN THAT THE ENGINE REVVED, BUT HAD LITTLE REAL POWER AND WHILE IN ANTICIPATION (FEAR) THAT THE CAR WOULD LUNGE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY TOOK HOLD DIDN'T COME TO FRUITION, WHAT OCCURRED COULD HAVE BEEN AS BAD. THE DASH LIGHT INDICATORS STARTED FLASHING BUT THE MAIN DASH LIGHTS SEEN FREGUENTLY (SPEEDOMETER) DISAPPEARED AND THEN I NOTICED THAT I WAS ONLY BEING GUIDED BY STREET LAMPS (SECOND OCCURENCE, I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THAT) AND THE CAR DIED AT THE SAME TIME, MAKING ME LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND HAVE TO GET THIS THING OFF THE ROAD. THIS CAR HAS NEVER MISSED A BEAT BEFORE THAT, BUT WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME, A BUNCH OF CITY WORKERS OUT TRYING TO FIX A BURST PIPE IN THE STREET AT 5:30 A.M. WERE WATCHING THIS HAPPEN AND CAME RUNNING OVER AND SAID THAT THE WAY THIS CAR FAILED SHOULD BE REPORTED BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN BAD FOR ANY DRIVER TO LOSE CAR MANUEVERABILITY AT THE SAME TIME AS EXTERIOR LIGHTS. THE SECOND TIME, WHEN I SAW THE ABS LIGHT COME ON, I WAS PREPARED. I CALLED MY HUBBY ON THE CELL PHONE AND HE CAME AND FOLLOWED ME FROM THERE AND I HAD ABOUT 10 MILES OF DRIVETIME BEFORE MY CAR BECAME POSSESSED AGAIN. IT IS SITTING BY THE ROAD ON AN ISOLATED SECTION IN INDIANA AND I'M FEELING PRET

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Nov 17, 2000OH

THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED ACCURATELY BY ANOTHER PERSON 0DIID 726109/ WE JUST PURCHASED A BATTERY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, WHICH IT DID FOR ABOUT 100 MILES, THEN IT WAS DITTO, BUT WOULD LIKE AN EMAIL AS TO WHAT THE PERSON ODIID 726109 FOUND TO BE THE PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND IS A MASTER MECHANIC. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Nov 9, 2000CO

ABS: STEERING GROANS AFTER HARD BRAKING OR TIGHT HIGH/LOW-SPEED TURNS/WARNING LIGHT COMES ON; ALTERNATOR: NOT CHARGING-REPLACED TWICE; THERMOSTAT REPLACED TWICE

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 29, 2000NC

TRANSMISSION SHUTS DOWN ENGINE WHEN PUT IN GEAR, ENGINE SHUTS OFF LIKE TRANSMISSION IS LOCKED UP

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Oct 27, 2000MT

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AFTER 15-20 MINUTES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS AND PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING, CONSUMER STATES THAT IT FEELS AS IF THE ENGINE IS NOT RECEIVING FUEL AND A HOT BURNING ODOR IS COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK AREA, POSSIBLE FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE. *SLC

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Oct 26, 2000OH

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SUDDENLY BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. ALSO, WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN STEERING DID THE SAME. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS. DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. OWNER WAS TOLD TO CHECK WITH MANUFACTURER. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages
Filed Oct 18, 2000LA

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN BY APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL LIGHTLY WHEN BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY FELL OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES. CONSUMER HAD TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY AND GET INTO RIGHT LANE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC TO PREVENT ACCIDENT. THEN, GRADUALLY APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE. PONTIAC DEALER STATED THAT 30 CENT CLIP BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO FALL.*AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 16, 2000MS

WAS DRIVING 40MPH & LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HIT EMBANKMENT HEAD ON & FLIPPED OVER SEVERAL TIMES, HITTING THE RIGHT FRONT. ONCE HITTING THE GROUND AFTER FLIPPING, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE DECLARED TOTALED. DRIVER SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES & WAS HOSPITALIZED.*AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Oct 9, 2000NC

I HIT A DEER AT 50-55 MPH, AIR BAG SENSORS INDICATED DEPLOYMENT, DIDN'T DEPLOY

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Oct 6, 2000FL

DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW GOES UP AND DOWN AND GETS STUCK BY IT'S SELF.*AK

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Sep 20, 2000HI

AFETR MARKET TIRES, P185/80R13 SIZE. RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPLORED WITHOUT WARNING ON THE INSIDE WALL WHILE DRIVING 40-45MPH.*AK FAILED TIRE WAS A GOODYEAR REGATTA, CONSUMER NOTED THAT THE BLOWOUT RESULTED IN A PERPENDICULAR CUT TO THE INNER SIDEWALL FROM THE RIM, AFTER INSPECTION, THE OTHER THREE TIRES WERE FOUND TO HAVE CUTS ON THE INNER SIDEWALL ALONG THE RIM AREA, TIRES WERE REPLACED AT A PRORATED COST. *SLC

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Sep 19, 2000RI

WHEN PUTTING KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THERE IS NO RESPONSE, VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OVER. CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC REPLACED INNER MECHANISM OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE BROKE DOWN AGAIN, VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Linkages
Filed Sep 11, 2000OH

ENGINE ACCELERATED FROM LOW TO HIGH-PREDOMINANT ENGINE SURGE AT 3500-4000 RANGE/HUBBY IS ASE MASTER MECHANIC-WILL LOOK INTO. *AK

Tires › Tread/BeltCrash
Filed Sep 8, 2000GA

PE00 020 ; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND SHE WAS ON HER WAY TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT FRONT LEFT TIRE HAD SEPARTED. TIRE SIZE WAS P205/55R16. TIRE WAS AN EAGLE GOODYEAR. SECOND INCIDENT ON 06-JUN-99, WHILE SHE WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY REAR LEFT TIRE SEPARATED. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 29, 2000MI

NO SUMMARY

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Hose, Piping, and Connections
Filed Aug 23, 2000CA

COOLANT IS LEAKING ONTO RACK AND PINION, DETERIORATING THE RACK AND PINION, AND MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER VEHICLE WHEN MAKING A TURN. ALSO, THERE IS ALOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOISE WHEN TURNING. POWER STEERING HOSE HAS GONE BAD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK POWERE STEERING HOSE AND WATER PUMP LEAKED CAUSING RACK AND PINION DAMAGE. FRONT BRAKE SHOES FAILED. *YH

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Aug 11, 2000IL

WHEN TRAVELING IN WET WEATHER, WHEN BRAKES APPLIED, IT IS LIKE A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE BRAKES TO BEGIN GRIPPING...IT IS AS IF THE BRAKES ARE SATURATED WITH WATER.NO BRAKING ACTION FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IS AN UNSAFE PERIOD OF TIME. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE DRIVEN. IT IS AS IF THE DISCS ARE COMPLETELY EXOSED TO WATER. MECHANIC SAYS NOTHING WRONG WITH BRAKES. *AK

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm
Filed Aug 10, 2000NE

BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WORE OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO LEFT AND RIGHT DURING ACCELERATION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Tires
Filed Aug 5, 2000OH

COMING APART AT SEAM. ANOTHER TIRE DOES NOT HAVE DOT NUMBERS. IT IS ALSO COMING APART. *AK( DOT NUMBER: MKT2E2BR29 TIRE SIZE: 205-55-R16 )

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Jul 27, 2000NC

WHEN THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATURE FAILED THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELLERATED AT FULL THROTTLE, SYSTEMS BEGAN TO ALARM ONE AT A TIME FIRST THE ABS THEN THE ETS, ECT LOCKING UP THE BRAKES KEPT THE CAR FROM MOVING FOWARD WHEN THE ALTERNATOR FAILED THE ENGIN FINALY STOPPED. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT WHEN THE BATTERY FAILED THE ALTERNATOR WAS UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE LOAD AS THE VOLTAGE DROPPED SYSTEMS BEGAIN TO BECOME UNRELIABLE AND EITHER THE COMPUTER OR CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO ACCELLERATE. A VOLTAGE THRESHOLD LOCKOUT IS NEEDED SO THAT WHEN POWER FALLS BELOW THE LEVEL WHERE A SYSTEM CAN NO LONGER OPERATE SAFELY THE SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN.*AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jul 18, 2000NY

OWNER WASHING VEHICLE WHEN FRONT HEADLIGHT LENS COVER FELL OFF WHILE PARKED. THIS CAUSED THE LIGHT BULB TO BE EXPOSED.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Jun 28, 2000MD

ENGINE IDLES TO 3500 RPMS WITHOUT APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE PUT INTO THE NETURAL TO GAIN CONTROL. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jun 26, 2000WA

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE IDLING, AND CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE SO BADLY THAT IT APPEARED TO STALL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANY MORE REPAIRS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed Jun 19, 2000MI

THERE ARE MORE PROBLEMS THEN LISTED. EVERY TIME I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER IT HAS BEEN A WASTE OF TIME. PHONE CALLS NEVER RETURNED. I GET BLOWN OFF BY THEM. I WAS IN ROYAL OAK,MI WITH MY FRIENDS WHEN THE CAR FROZE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. EVERY DASH LIGHT WAS BLINKING, AND WE COULDN'T GET THE CAR OUT OF DRIVE TO PUSH IT. ONCE WE FINALLY GOT THE CAR MOVED TO A SIDE STREET, MY FRIENDS WENT TO LOOK FOR HELP, AND I GOT JUMPED AND MASED WHILE I STOOD BY MY CAR WAITING FOR THEM TO RETURN. THE DRIVERS SIDE KEY DOESN'T WORK, DEALER SAYS IT'S CAUSE OF KEYLESS ENTRY, AIR CONDITIONER KILLS BATTERY, CRUSE CONTROL KICKS OUT, HEAD LIGHTS ALWAYS ARE ON, AND IT'S NOT THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS. WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS TO PASS SOMEONE, NOTHING HAPPENS, ABOUT 5 OR MORE SECONDS LATER, IT WILL KICK IN UNEXPECTIDLY. THIS IS THE SECOND CAR I HAVE BOUGHT FROM THIS DEALER, THE FIRST WAS A 91 PONTIAC SUNBIRD, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A 90 WHEN I TRAIDED IT IN AT ANOTHER DEALER. SO I ENDED UP PAYING WAY TO MUCH FOR THE CAR, AND LOST ON IT WHEN I TRADED IT IN. I LIVE 1 HOUR AND 45MINS. AWAY FROM THE DEALER NOW WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE I FOUND OUT THAT THEY GAVE ME ONLY MECHANICAL ON THE EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT, NO ELECTRICAL, SO EVERYTHING COMES OUT OF MY POCKET. THEN TO FIND OUT I HAVE TO LEAVE MY CAR THERE FOR DAYS UP TO WEEKS, WITH NO LOANER, AND NO WAY TO GET BACK HOME, AND THE SERVICE MANAGER, AND DEALER BOTH SAID "NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU."*AK

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Jun 15, 2000FL

POWER WINDOW MOTOR WAS NOT OPERABLE. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND LET IT COOLDOWN, AND THEN THEY WOULD PULL THE WINDOW ON TRACK MANUALLY, PUSHING THE SWITCH. 3 MOTORS HAVE FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER. *AK *ML

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Jun 14, 2000SC

ALTERNATOR GONE AFTER 2 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP/INTAKE/MANIFOLD AS STATED/POWER WINDOWS DEFECTIVE/AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER - HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS IN ONLY 1 YEAR OF OWNERSHIP!

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Jun 6, 2000UT

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE IDLED HIGH AND RAN ROUGH IN TRAVELING. *AK *ML

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jun 6, 2000WV

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CONDENSATION GETTING INTO THE HEADLIGHT LENS, CAUSING DISCOLORATION AND POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT WOULD ONLY BE DONE AT CONSUMER'S COST.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Injectors1 injured
Filed Jun 5, 2000MI

FUEL INJECTORS FAILED RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. NLM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed Jun 5, 2000MI

FUEL INJECTORS FAILED CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed May 25, 2000NY

CAR ENGINE STARTED TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLE, FUEL SYSTEM WAS DAMAGE, NEW SYSTEM NEEDED.

Suspension › Front
Filed May 22, 2000TN

THIS 1997 GRAND AM IS NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL FAILURES AND AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE AT ALL. PLEASE CONTACT AT THE PHONE NUMBERS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS FORM ! NO AFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash1 injured
Filed May 16, 2000WV

TAPPED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT & ROLLED OVER. VEHICLE DECLARED TOTALED. PRIOR TO ACCIDENT, VEHICLE WAS IN REPAIR SHOP TWICE FOR BRAKE FAILURE. STATE TROOPER & INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INDICATED BRAKES WERE LOCKED UP AFTER ACCIDENT. EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › GasolineFire
Filed May 14, 2000TX

CHRISTMAS EVE 1999 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ACCESS ROAD A LOUD BOOM WAS HEARD AND THE CAR BEGAN TO LOSE TO POWER. LUCKILY, WE WERE ABOUT 200 FEET FROM A GAS STATION. WE MANAGED TO GET THE CAR INTO THE GAS STATION. AT THIS TIME I SAW AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MY HUSBAND OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. AS HE RAN INTO THE STORE TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, A MAN FROM THE FIREWORKS STAND NEXT TO THE GAS STATION ARRIVED WITH AN EXTINGUISHER AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. HE HAD SEEN US COMING DOWN THE ACCESS ROAD WITH BIG BALL OF FIRE UNDER THE CAR. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY SAYS THAT A PISTON GAVE OUT AND AS THE ENGINE BEGAN FAILING OIL BEGAN TO DRIP ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OR SOME OTHER COMPONANT CAUSING THE FIRE. THIS IS NOT COVERED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY BECAUSE THE FIRE WAS DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURE. WE NEED TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE. THE DEALER ESTIMATE IS $6500.00. THIS IS JUST THE LATEST MECHANICAL FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE SPENT OVER $4,000.00 IN REPAIRS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. *AK

Electrical System
Filed May 8, 2000FL

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RECALL ITEM HAS BEEN INSTALLED BUT STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH KEY, THE KEY CONTINUALLY STUCK OFF AND ON AS THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, RECALL CAMPAIGN # 02V070000. ALSO, THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT TWICE WHILE DRIVING AND ONCE IN THE YARD, THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *YD

Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood
Filed May 5, 2000TX

THE MODULES IN QUESTION GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. IN FACT THE DAY WE BOUGHT THE CAR ONE OF MODULES WENT OUT, AND WE WERE WITHOUT A CAR FOR SIX WEEKS. THE DEALER SAID THE MODULE WAS ON BACK ORDER. AND DIDN'T EVEN OFFER US A LOANER. ONE TIME IT WENT OUT ON MY WIFE IN THE MORNING IN THE DRIVEWAY. ONECE WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTHER LATE AT NIGHT AT PARKS MALL. ANOTHER INCIDENT I ARRIVED AT WORK, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T RESTART A QUITING TIME. MAC CHURCHILL HAS BEEN NICE, BUT I WANT THE CAR REPLACED. MY WIFE IS SCARED BE CAUSE SHE DOESN'T KNOW IF THE CAR WILL START. THANK YOU. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed May 4, 2000WV

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKED UP WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. YH

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed May 3, 2000WV

WATER PUMP FAILED. YH

Electrical System › IgnitionFire
Filed May 3, 2000AL

PONTIAC GRAND AM 1997, ON 5/2/00 CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING DRIVEN DURING THE DAY, IT TURNED OVER ONCE, THEN NOTHING SAW SMOKE TRAIL COMING FROM TURN SIGNAL ARM CUT IGNITION SWITCH OFF, GOT OUT OF VECHILE, WENT INTO THE HOUSE, ABOUT 3MINUTES HEARD THE HORN OF THE VEHICLE SOUNDING, WENT OUTSIDE TO CHECK , CAR WAS ON FIRE AT THE DRIVERS SIDE, OPENED UP DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, FLAMES WERE IN THE STEERING UNIT, AND ON THE DRIVERS SEAT , AND STEERING WHEEL AND TOP SUN VISOR, RAN AND GOT A FIRE EXTINQUISHER, PUT OUT THE FIRE, HORN STILL GOING OFF, POPPED HOOD RELEASE AND DISCONNECTED THE HOT CABLE FROM THE BATTERY. CAR IS NOW AT DEALERSHIP PENDING INVESTIGATION, CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING THE VECHILE, WAS JUST LUCKY IT DID NOT HAPPEN DURING USE.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Apr 26, 2000KY

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

Reading these

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.

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