1998 Pontiac Grand AM complaints

DRIVETRAIN FAILED AND VEHICLE WAS MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE.*AK

TRANSAXLE CASE WHEEL BEARING FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER STATES THAT IT STILL ISN'T CORRECT. *SLC

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE IDLES VERY HIGH WHICH WHEN LETTING GO OF BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. *AK THE VEHICLE'S RPM WAS HIGH, ESPECIALLY WHEN STARTING. THE DEALER WORKED ON IT BUT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMING ON DUE TO EVAP PURGE VALVE AND SOLENOID FAILURE. PCM FAILED. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD START TO SHAKE WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED THAT BRAKES WERE WARPED & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER HAVING ROTORS REPLACED, PROBLEM HAS REAPPEARED AGAIN.*AK

COSTLY REPAIRS ON VEHICLE-VERY DISAPPOINTED -FEEL NEED TO FILE COMPLAINT. NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK

THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATES ON CAR W/O WARNING WHEN TRYING TO START CAR. CAR THINKS IT'S BEING STOLEN. IT STARTS AND THEN SHUTS DOWN WITH THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT BLINKING. CAN ONLY MOVE BY TOWING IT AWAY. HAVE HAD IT TO DEALER ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. LAST TIME REPLACE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE, THE NEXT DAY HIT A BUMP AND THFT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. DID THIS ON 4 OCCASIONS BUT CAR STARTED AFTER CUTTING IT OFF. LAST TIME ABOUT 5 WEEKS AFTER LAST REPAIR, IT GAVE ME NO WARNING WHEN I TRIED TO START IT. THE THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND IT SHUT THE CAR DOWN. IT WAS TOWED TO DEALER THAT DID PREVIOUS W ORK (FROM GA. TO FLA.), THEY INFORMED ME I NEEDED NEW KEYS AND A LOCKING SYSTEM. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE FEBRUARY 2000, I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED 5 TIMES, TWICE IN ONE DAY.

A LEAKING FUEL LINE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FROM A 2YR OLD CAR WHICH WOULD CAUSE A FIRE,ALSO THERE IS NO REASON (PERMITING THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABUSED) THAT AN INTAKE GASKET SHOULD BE REPLACED AT LESS THAN 70,000 MILES, ESSPECIALLY IF HISTORY ON THE 3.1L ENGINE NO MATTER WHAT VEHICLE IT IS IN HAS THIS PROBLEM FOR SUCH A PERIOD OF TIME AND HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKES. BRAKES WERE RUINED. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 DIFFERENT TIMES, BUT PROBLEM WOULD REAPPEAR AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE.*AK

THIS ALMOST KILLED MY WIFE THE CARS SPEDOMITOR IS STILL STUCK ON 70, AND PONTIAC AND THE DEALER ARE NOT INTERESTED AT ALL, I WILL NEVER BUY AMERICAN AGAIN! MEAN WHILE WE ARE PAYING FOR A CAR WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT DRIVE AGAIN.

I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY 1998 WITH 6000 MILES ON IT. REPLACED TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES IN LAST YEAR (9-99, 2-00, 8-00). FIRST TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT NOT ON CAR HISTORY, NOT SURE WHY.

CONTROL ARM BUSHING KEPT PULLING OUT OF BRACKET. PROBLEM REOCCURRING EVERY FIVE MONTHS. ALSO, SWAY BAR EXCESSIVE WEAR, CAUSED BOUNCE/LOSS OF CONTROLAND WANDERING. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FIVE S,AND PROBLEM STILL RECCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE ABS MOTOR KIT (91172172) FAILED AND SHORTED OUT WHICH CAUSED THE HYDRAULIC MODULATOR VALVE SHORTED OUT AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AS WELL. *MJS

THERE ARE MANY MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE CAR IS BROKEN DOWN DOWN. ITS TOO MUCH OF A DANGER TO DRIVE. IT ALMOST STARTED ON FIRE. I NEED FOR PONTIAC TO COME AND GET THERE PIECE OF JUNK. ITS NOT WORTH FIXING. IF YOU FIX THE PROBLEM, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IT WILL BREAK DOWN THE FOLLOWING WEEK. *AK

THIS IS APPLICABLE TO BOTH FRONT POWER WINDOWS: POWER WINDOWS FAIL TO OPERATE RANDOMLY, UP OR DOWN. GMC IS RELUNCTANT TO REPLACE THE UNITS UNLESS THEY SEE THE DEFECT OCCUR. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF THE WINDOW WERE TO FAIL TO CLOSE IN THE RAIN OR SANDY SITUATIONS WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OR THEFT. BEING UNABLE TO OPEN A WINDOW COULD BLOCK AND ESCAPE PATH IN AN ACCIDENT. NOT TO MENTION DAILY PROBLEMS, LIKE TOLL BOTHS, DRIVE THRU'S ETC. *AK

NON-METALLIC FUEL LINE HAD RUPTURED 1/2 INCH FROM THE METALLIC LINE. THIS CAUSED GASOLINE TO SPRAY OVER ENTIRE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE THROTTLE REMAINED STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

I HAVE HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION, CALIPERS, GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM,2 LIGHTERS, ALTERNATOR,2 SETS OF WINDOW MOTORS, 1 BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT,STRUT TORQUE WASNT BOLTED TO THE CAR WHEN LEASED, A RADIAL PULL IN 1 TIRE IN WHICH I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE REPLACED, TIRE SCRAPING ON FENDER RIGHT AFTER LEASING, 2 NEW HEADLAMPS,FUEL CAP, BATTERY, AND HAVE HAD A SHORT SOMEWHERE AND DEALER REFUSED TO LOCATE. DEALER AND PONTIAC CUSTOMER DIVISION REFUSE A BUY BACK OR TRADE IN. SENT PACKAGE TO GENERAL MOTORS TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND THEY REFUSED THE PACKAGE ALL TOGETHER. PONTIAC TELLS ME THEIR FIELD REP WENT TO TALK TO JOHN MOORE AND HE REFUSED A BUY BACK SO IN TURN, SO DID PONTIAC. I JUST WOULD LIKE A CAR THAT RUNS. THIS IS MY SECOND PONTIAC THAT HAS BEEN A LEMON. I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTAION TO PROVE IT. HOW DOES A SINGLE MOM WORKING TWO JOBS GET HELP? ITS COSTED ME A FORTUNE IN MISSED WORK.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/65R15 )

BODY VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION STICKS INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REVE AND NOT PULL THE VEHICLE. YH

VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS AND POWER STEERING TO FAIL. *AK

VEHCLE MADE A THUMPING NOISE, AND IT FELT LIKE TRANSMISSION FELL OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS TRANSAXLE/DIFFERENTRAL AND TRANSFER CASE. CONSUMER FELT IT WAS UNSAFE, COULD HAVE BEEN THROWN INTO A DITCH. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT CONSTANTLY KINKS AND TWISTS IN THE UPPER DRIVERS SIDE ANCHOR AND HAS TO BE STRAIGHTENED OUT BEFORE IT WILL RETRACT OR BE ABLE TO BE PULLED OUT. NLM

HAD PROBLEMS WITH CAR SINCE BEGINNING. ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN AND LUNGES FORWARD WHEN STOPPING. ALSO THE BRAKES FAILED,CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. ROTORS HAVE WARPED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. DEALER CONTACTED 10-15 TIMES WITH NO PROBLEM FOUND. CAR IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

I HAVE REPLACED MY BRAKES 2ND TIME NOW - THIS TIME WILL BE THE 3RD TIME AND I ONLY HAVE 66,000 MILES ON MY CAR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING , CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP , VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, AIR BAG WENT OFF ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WITH SUCH FORCE THAT PASSENGER'S NECK WAS BROKEN. AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH OCCUPANT WAS WEARING SEAT BELT. *AK

PURCHASED VEHICLE 6/98. THREE DAYS AFTER PURCHASE CAR IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. VEHICLE TOWED 3 TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM. FOUND WIRES IN HARNESS BAD CAUSING PROBLEM. BRAKE PROBLEMS SINCE OWNING WHEEL CYLINDERS LEAKING BRAKE SHOES SOAKED WITH OIL. ROTORS MACHINED @ 10,462. EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST. BRAKE PADS WORN AT 10,465 MILES. REAR SHOES OUT OF ADJUSTMENT @ 10,465. 13,985 MILES ABS LIGHT FAILED. WHILE LIGHTS AND AC OR HEAT ON WHEN APPLYING BRAKES INTERIOR AND HEADLIGHTS DIM. CAN'T FIND PROBLEM! WHEN HEATER IS ON SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE. CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. FRONT SUSPENSION NOISE. STABILIZER BUSHINGS BAD CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. NO BRAKE PEDAL AT TIMES. WHEN ROAD SURFACE IS WET AND BRAKES APPLIED CAR WILL NOT STOP.

DRIVER SEAT BELT CONTINUED TO TWIST BY ITSELT WHILE RETURNING INTO THE RETRACTOR. DEALER NOTIFED, AND REPLACE BELT ON THREE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE AWARE AND LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEH. P&U CAUGHT FIRE.TOTALED. THE FIRES ORIGINALLY WAS ON THE COWL CENTERED AROUND WIPER MOTOR AREA AND RELAY TO LEFT OF POWER BOOSTER. GMAC IMMEDIATELY TOOK CARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

HAVE TURNED VEHICLE IN AND REPORTED THIS INSTANCE TWICE, AND BOTH TIMES THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. YET VEHICLE LOSSES SOME TRACTION AND BOUNCES CONSTANTLY.

I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE BEGINNING. THEY HAVE TURNED THE DISKS AT LEAST TWICE, REPLACED THE ROTORS ONCE, RESURFACED THE PADS. THIS LAST TIME THAT I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP, THEY SAID THAT THEY SUSPECT THE ROTORS TO WARPPED. YET I HAD PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY TO EXTEND THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, YET THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT REPRESENT THE QUALITY OR PERFORMANCE AS STATED OR ADVERTISED. THIS CAR IS A LEMON NO MATTER WHICH STATE YOU MAY PURCHASE IT.

I HAVE HAD MY ROTORS REPLACED THREE TIMES NOW. EVEN THOUGH MY MILAGE IS RATHER HIGH FOR THE TIME OWNED, MOST OF MY DRIVING IS FREEWAY DRIVING. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BREAKS FAILING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS DAMP OR WET. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE ANTILOCK BREAKS KICK IN WHEN I WAS DOING NORMAL BREAKING. THIS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST HAVE AN ACCIDENT, BECAUSE IT INCREASED MY STOPPING DISTANCE. I WAS GOING ONLY APPROXIMATELY 5-25MPH IN EACH OF THE SEVERAL INCIDENTS. WHEN THE BREAKS FAILED IT FEELS LIKE SOMEOPNE PUT VASELINE ON THE ROTORS. I STEP ON THE BREAK PEDAL, AND GET NO RESPONSE. I USUALLY HAVE TO PUMP THE BREAKS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO WORK. THIS PARTICULAR CAR ALSO HAD A BEDSPRING, CREAKING, CRACKING NOISE THAT SEEMS TO APPEAR WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS AND WHEN THE BODY FLEXES. NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME WHAT THE NOISE IS, BUT MY DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY DID PUT SOME TAPE AROUND SOMETHING AT ONE POINT THAT HELPED SOME, BUT THE NOISE IS VERY DISTRACTING AND CONTINUES. THE DEALER ACTUALLY TOLD ME THAT I SHOULDN'T BRING THAT CAR BACK TO THEM FOR THAT PROBLEM. ON MY LAST TRIP TO THE DEALER, THEY DID SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY, BUT WHEN I WAS ON THE ON RAMP TO THE FREEWAY, SOMETHING "CRACKED" AGAIN, AND THE NOISES ARE HEARD DAILY NOW. I ALSO HAD ONE OF MY FROMT TIRES FAIL. THE SIDEWALL BUBBLED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOTHING FOR ME. I WAS MORE OR LESS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PROVE THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE TIRE. I STILL HAD ALMOST ALL OF T

POWER STEERING FAILS WHEN ON WET ROAD. LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL INTO DEEP PUDDLE AND SUBSEQUENT WATER DAMAGE TO ENGINE

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON, PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT ACTIVATE. MJS

NO SUMMARY

CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY FROM A STOP (USUALLY WHEN HUMID)

WHILE ACCELERATING CAR HAS NO POWER. CAR IS VERY SLUGGISH. TOOK CAR TO DAELER, DEALER COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE KEY KEPT GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION. TOOK IT TO A PONTIAC SERVICE DEPT. THEY SAID IT NEEDED LUBING. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER THE KEY STARTIED TO STICK AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK AND THE ORDERED A NEW FLOOR SHIFT.. A MONTH LATER MY WIFE STOPPED ON TOP OF A HILL AT OUR MAIL BOX AND SHE COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO GO IN PARK, THE CAR CUT OFF AND BEGAN ROLLING DOWN HILL BARELY MISSING CHILDREN PLAYING IN OUR DRIVEWAY. SERVICE DEPT. PICKED UP THE CAR AND THEY COULDN'T GET IT INTO REVERSE. THEY ORDERED A NEW GEARSHIFT LEVER. THREE TIMES FOR SIMILAR DEFECTS SHOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH OUR VEHICLE THAT HAS MY WIFE REFUSING TO DRIVE IT.

TIRES GOING BALD FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE. VEHICLE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT DUE TO CRACKS. DEALER WANTS OWNER PAY FOR ALIGNMENT & FRAME CHECK. WILLING TO PAY FOR 1/2 TIRES. (THEY CHECKED FRAME ONLY AND BOUGHT TWO TIRES, WILL NOT DO ALIGNMENT, WHICH CONSUMER FEELS IS NECESSARY). *MJS

WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR VEHICLE WOULD JERK A LOT. DEALER REPAIRED. VEHICLE IS STILL HAVING GEAR SHIFT PROBLEMS. DEALER SAYS CONSUMER NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK

TRANSMISSION- R&R TRANS TO REPLACETHIRD GEAR INPUT AND REPLACED BUSHING RECONDITIONED TRANS ASSSEMBLY AND REPLACED AXLE SEAL / STEERING WHEEL REPLACED STREERING WHEEL SENSOR BUSHING , DEALER CLAIMS THEY COULD NEVER FIND PROBLEM / BRAKES DEALER SAID THIS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY WENT TO MIDAS REPLACED PADS, LEFT CALIPER , RIGHT CALIPER BOTH HAD DAMAGED BOOTS UNEVEN PAD WEAR DRUMS WERE HARDSPOTTED AND OUT OF ROUND HOSES -STEELINED WERE RUST SPOTTED ./ REPLACED FRONT BUSHING.DEALER SAID THEY COULD NEVER FIND PROBLEM WITH BRAKES WHEN FIRST REPORTED TO THEM

MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE.

BRAKE FUELED LEAK OUT OF MOTOR.

WHEN STARTING THE CAR ABS LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON DUE TO THIS ABS SENSOR MALFUNCTIONING. HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *AK

THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPEED UP UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH SEAT BELT UNLATCHING. ON TWO OCCASION THE SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE UNLATCHED BY ITSELF FOR UNKNOWN REASON. CONSUMER COULD HEAR THE CLICK WHEN FASTENED. BUT LATER ON, THE SEAT BELT WOULD UNLATCH. DEALER NOTIFIED. DEALER NEEDED TO ORDER REPLACEMENT PARTS WHICH WOULD TAKE TWO WEEK OR MORE. CAN NHTSA HELP IN TIS MATTER. *AK

VEHICLE IDLE SURGES UNCONTROLLABLY AT A STOP CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD.

WHILE DRIVING AT A REGULAR SPEED CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE.MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THEY COULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE SEAT BELTS HAVE A BLACK PLASTIC PIECE THAT WITHOUT THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT LATCH I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS HAPPENS IF THE SEATBELT GETS JAMMED IN THE DOOR. MY CONCERN IS THAT MY SEATBELT BROKE WHEN IT WAS NO WHERE NEAR A DOOR DOES THIS MEAN IT BECAME WEAK DUE TO A PRIOR INCIDENT AND WOULD IT HAVE HELD UP IN AN ACCIDENT OR WOULD IT HAVE GIVEN WAY AND PROVIDED NO PROTECTION. I WAS TOLD THIS HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY STALLS, UNABLE TO RECTIFY.