1999 Pontiac Grand AM complaints

I PUT NEW ROTORS AND BRAKES ON THE FRONT IN SEPTEMBER AFTER HAVING THE CAR ONLY A MONTH. IT WAS A DEMO WITH 18K MILES ON IT. NOW 11K MILES LATER I NEED THE ROTORS AND BRAKES CHANGED IN THE FRONT AGAIN. I CAN'T AFFORD TO DROP $300 AT MIDAS EVERY 6 MONTHS ON BRAKES AND ROTORS. THERE WAS ANOTHER WOMAN IN MIDAS AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE SAME MAKE CAR AND YEAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH LED ME HERE TO YOUR WEB SITE WHICH REVEALED OVER 20 COMPLAINTS OF SIMILIAR NATURE. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THESE ROTORS OR A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THESE CARS THAT I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT. THANK YOU. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED HIM. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WENT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, VEERED OVER INTO THE SHOULDER PART, AND FLIPPED OVER INTO AN ENBANKMENT. UPON IMPACT, SEATBELT BROKE, AND AIRBAGS CAME OUT, BUT THEY DIDN'T DEFLATE. *AK

ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEED OF 20 - 75 MPH. VEHICLE BE IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

SINCE THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW ON NOVEMBER 1998 (1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM) IT HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, FRONT END HAS BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES, BRAKES REPAIRED (WARPED ROTORS), AIR BAG COVER WARPED AND WAS REPLACED, DOOR PANELING CAME OFF AND WAS REPLACED WITH NEW PANELING, GLOVE BOX DOOR WAS LOOSE.

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT FULLY DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THREE FAILURES (AT 17,741; 27,336; AND 38,974 MILES) WITH WARPED FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS. GM NOW SAYS THAT FAILURE IS DUE TO IMPROPER DRIVING HABITS OR IMPROPERLY TORQUED LUG NUTS. THE LUG NUTS WERE NOT REMOVED SINCE THE LAST FAILURE. GM WILL NOT SAY WHAT TYPE OF DRIVING HABITS CAUSES ROTOR FAILURES. CAR DEVELOPS A SEVERE "SHIMMY" WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT HIGH SPEEDS.

WHEN RAINING WATER WOULD LEAK THROUGH THE DASHBOARD PANEL TO THE FUSE BOX. *AK

INTERNAL RADIO FAILURE CAUSING RADIO CLOCK DISPLAY AND LIGHT NOT TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS STOPPED FOR SCHOOL BUS, AND THEN REARENDED, CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SEATBELT FAILED TO RETRACT. *AK *ML

WITHIN 35 MINUTES OF PARKING THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY EMPLOYEE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FIRE MAY HAVE COMMENCED FROM THE COWL PANEL. STATE FARM INSURANCE, HOWEVER, SAID THAT THE FIRE WAS NOT THE RESULT OF MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE CAR, AND THAT THERE WAS NOT AN EXPLANATION FOR THE FIRE. *AK *ML

VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED A TOTAL OF 21 TIMES, 17 OF THEM SINCE 10/7/99. THERE IS NO AGENCY THAT WILLHELP ME SEEK RESTITUTION AGAINST ARROW PONTIAC. I WANT MY MONEY REFUNDED SO THAT I CAN PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

PLEASE CONTACT STATE FARM, NOT OWNER, ON REPORT VEH INFORMATION. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

ENGINE HESITATES AND STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE VEHICLE'S PURCHASE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

FRONT END SHAKES WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED. DEALER STATED THERE WAS A TECH BULLETIN ISSUED. FRONT ROTORS REPLACED 2/18/2000. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE REPAIRED WITH NEWER ROTORS THAT DEALER SAYS ARE UPGRADED/STRONGER. *AK

WIND NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT DOORS. EXTREMELY NOTICABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM AROUND THE DOOR SILL AREA. *AK

THIS CAR SAVED MY WIFES LIFE. BUT WHEN I EXAMINED IT, I NOTICED THE PAASENGER SEAT DIDN'T LOCK AND HIT THE DASH. THE SEAT SOMETIMES DIDN'T LOCK, I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A PRIORITY TO FIX FAST. THE CAR IS A LOSS, BUT I WILL BUY ANOTHER. I AM NOW AWARE TO FIX THE SEAT FAST IF IT OCCURS ON THE NEXT CAR.

RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 33000-34000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY DEALERSHIP. IT FAILED AGAIN WITHIN LESS THAN A YEAR AND THE DEALERSHIP WONT REPLACE IT BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE REPLACED BECAUSE NO CAR SHOULD HAVE 2 STEERING ASSEMBLIES REPLACED AT THAT MILEAGE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE MAKING A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE. ROTORS WERE TURNED ONCE AT 3,000 MILES, AND REPLACED AT 11,000 MILES. AT 12,200 MILES, BRAKES & FUEL INJECTOR LEAKAGE, MAKING A TERRIBLE NOISE LIKE ONCE BEFORE. VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK.ET.

THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM IS UNIDENTIFIED BY THE DEALERSHIPS I'VE BEEN TO FOR SERVICE. THE CAR WILL PERIODICALLY VIOLENTLY PULL TO EITHER SIDE (HAS OCCURED ON BOTH SIDES), THRVED OUT OF CONTROL, THE BRAKES IN GENERAL ARE POOR AND DON'T STOP THE CAR WELL; I HAVE TO DOWNSHIFT THE AUTOMATIC IN ORDER TO STOP AT TIMES, THE LOCKS QUIT WORKING AND NEEDED REPROGRAMMED THREE TIMES, THE CAR HAS LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AND TOOK A FEW MINUTES TO RESTART. THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR (SUCH AS REAR WINDSHIELD RATTLES, POOR GAS MILEAGE 14 CITY, 19 HIGHWAY, BAD GAS GAUGE) BUT THEY ARE NOT THE MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENT BETWEEN THE BRAKES AND THE 'VIOLENT PULLING' BUT PONTIAC KEEPS TELLING ME NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR SINCE THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITANTLY. I WAS TOLD THE CAR'S LEASE WOULD BE REPURCHASED, ANOTHER TIME PONTIAC PROMISED TO REPLACE THE CAR IF I TOOK IT IN THREE MORE TIMES, I HAVE COMPLIED WITH THEIR WISHES, BUT THEY ARE NOW INSISTING THAT I START BRINGING THE CAR BACK FOR SERVICE MORE. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN 9 TIMES, 7 FOR MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEMS. THE STATE LEMON LAWS SAYS AFTER 3 TIMES I SHOULD HAVE A REFUND OR REPLACED VEHICLE, MY CHOICE, BUT PONTIAC, AND THE DEALERSHIP EITHER DON'T RETURN MY CALLS, OR WHEN PONTIAC DOES CALL THEY TELL ME TO KEEP TAKING THE CAR BACK FOR SERVICE. IN THE MEAN TIME THE CAR IS A SERIOUS RISK TO MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS OR PEDESTRIANS BEING THAT I'VE LOST CONTROL OF TH

SUNVISOR HAS BEEN RPLACED THREE TIMES. WHEN THE VISOR IS MOVED INTO A POSITION TO BLOCK THE SUN, IT SNAPS BACK TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD, IT DOES NOT STAY IN A SET PLACE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

PSSENGER'S SIDE DOOR IS LEAKING SEAL AGAINST THE LEFT DOOR CAME OFF. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SEALS BEFORE. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER NOTICED TRANSMISSION COOLANT WAS VERY LOW. CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE TURN SIGNAL BEING INOPERATIVE DUE TO TO A WIRE WHICH WAS PINCHED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL FROM THE PONTIAC MANUFACTURER, AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX VEHICLE. THE BRAKES ARE NOT STOPPING. ALSO, HAS ENGINE PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE MAKES A KNOCKING OR TICKING NOISE WHEN IDLING IN PARK. *AK

WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN NC. IN DEC. 1998, AND MOVED TO LEXINGTON KY. IN SEPT. OF 1999. AT THAT TIME WATER STARTED TO COLLECT ON THE PASSENGERS FRONT FLOOR CARPET. WE HAD THE LOCAL GM DEALER COURTESY PONTAIC ATTEMP TO FIX IT 5 TIMES BETWEEN SEPT. AND DEC.. THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR MORE THEN WE HAVE IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS, SOMETIMES AS LONG AS 3 WEEKS. WHILE I AM STILL PAYING OVER 400.00 A MONTH FOR A LESSOR RENTAL CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED THE GM DIVISIONAL OFFICE AND THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREUR. THE DEALER PRESENTLY HAS THE CAR NOW UNTIL THE GM REP AND ME CAN DECIDE ON WHAT THE NEXT STEP SHOULD BE. I DO NOT WANT THE CAR BACK IT HAS JUST BEEN A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE. THEY WANT ME TO LOOK AT A GRAND PRIX GT BUT I AM NOT WANTING TO BE TAKEN. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU MASON L. FLINCHUM. *AK

IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILED CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH POWER LOCK SYSTEM. YH (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER)

SHAKES BADLY WHILE BRAKING ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED. ALREADY I AM TOLD ITS MY FAULT BY DEALER. *AK

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE TURNED AT 7737 .THIS SUGGESTS EITHER SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS OR SUBSTANDARD MFG. THE ROTORS CAN AND SHOULD ONLY BE TURNED NO MRE THAN 3 TIMES IN THIER LIFE, TURNING THEM THIS EARLY CREATES A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN FOR MYSEKF AND THE QUALITY OF PARTS USED IN THE MFG. OF MY AUTOMOBILE WHICH MY FAMILY RIDES IN. THANK YOU. *AK

I HAVE HAD MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, BUT NOT ANY TO HURT ANYONE. NO SAFETY DEFEC LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW BROKEN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS CAUSING IT TO GO OFF TRACK, FOUR REPAIRS TO FIX PROPERLY. MJS

WHILE DRIVING THE BOLTS THAT HOLDS THE SUSPENSION IN PLACE ON THE WHEELS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND WILL REPAIR VEHICLE. *AK

SINCE NEW, CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALER 7-TIMES FOR VIBRATION IN FRONT END, 5 TIMES FOR EXCESSIVE STEERING BACKLASH, 3 TIMES FOR STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY DURING BRAKING, AND 2 TIMES FOR ENGINE HIGH TEMPERATURE. (5 TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. 4 RIMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. 3 SETS OF BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. POWER RACK AND PINION UNIT REPLACED. FRONT END ALIGNED. TIRES BALANCED 9 TIMES.) VIBRATION STILL EXISTS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH CAR PULLING TO THE RIGHT. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE TIRES AGAIN ALONG WITH ONE MORE RIM. CAR ENGINE TEMPERATURE GOES UP TO 230 DEGREES, DEALER SAYS IT IS NORMAL. STEERING WHEEL STILL SHIMMIES DURING BRAKING AND DURING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FRONT TIRES SHOW CUPPING AND PREMATURE WEAR PATTERNS WITH ONLY 4000 MILES SINCE BEING REPLACED. SEEMS LIKE DEALER(S) DO NOT WANT TO SOLVE PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE A NEW CAR, BUT DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO GIVE ME ONE.( DOT NUMBER: 91S S2 TIRE SIZE: P225/50R16 )

MECHANIC NOTICE THAT UPON IMPACT TO THE RIGHT FRONT, WHETHER IT IS SMALL OR LARGE IMPACT, THE BATTERY TRAY EITHER BREAKS OFF OR THE BATTERY SLIDES OFF OF THE TRAY CAUSING SEVERE ACID DAMAGE TO THE ABS UNIT, RADIATOR FAN SHROUD ASSY, TRANSMISSION, WIRING, EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD, MANIFOLD AND INTAKE. NLM

DEFECTIVE SOLENOID EVAPORATED/EMISSION CANISTER BROKE, CAUSING THE FUMES TO ENTER AND BUILD INTO THE FUEL TANK WHICH ALREADY HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. DEALR REPLACED SOLENOID 3 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

HAVE HAD ALL BUT 1 OF 4 DOOR PANELS REPLACED. NOW GETTING INTO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHEN INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT HAYWIRE, CAR WOULD NOT START NEXT DAY. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR THE TRUNK OPENED. WHEN I TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION THE GAUGES LIT UP AND STAYED ON WITHOUT A KEY. THIS WAS 2 DAYS AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. NOW CAR WILL NOT START AT ALL. *AK

I HIT A POT HOLE GOING ABOUT 25MPH AND BROKE THE RIGHT ENGINE MOUNT MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. IT WAS A LOANER WHILE MY GRAND AM IS IN THE SHOP, SO I DON'T HAVE TO PAY, BUT THERE IS BARELY MORE THAN 36000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE ENGINE MOUNT SHOULD NOT BREAK.

WHILE STARTING UP CAR IN THE MORNING OR IF AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN STEERING VIBRATES. WHEN DRIVING AT 30 MPH, IT STARTS VIBRATING AND CONSUMER CAN FEEL IT IN THE STEERING AND FLOORBAORD. IF STAYING AT THE SAME SPEED ONE CAN REALLY FEEL TH VIBRATION, ALL THE WAY UP TO 65MPH. *AK

DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S NOT BROKEN AND WE ARE NOT WORKING THEM RIGHT, THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG

WHILE TRYING TO PARK VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE AND PLACED INTO DRIVE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT THE RPMS WERE VERY HIGH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. COOLANT LIGHT ON PANEL STARTED FLASHING.HEATER HOSE HAD SEPARATED & LEAKED COOLANT ON TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED HEATER CORE 4TIMES, AND PUT NEW HOSE CLAMPS ON. *AK

HAD SECOND SERVICE DONE FOR SAME FAILURE 10/14/99, 12312MILES.

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE ABS SYSTEM KICKED IN AND LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER NOT TO HAVE ANY BRAKES. THEN CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE BACK PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKE'S PEDAL IS SOFT, AND IT FEELS LIKE CONSUMER IS PUMPING THE BRAKES, ENTIRE VEHICLE SHAKES. *AK

NO SUMMARY.

1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO & PONTIAC GRAND AM - REAR CHILD-SEAT TETHER COULD FAIL. MINE HAS NOT, BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANY RECALL YOU ALL HAVE MADE. THIS IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND INFORMATION FOR OTHERS.

THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKING PADS AND ROTORS 2XS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. MJS

WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH VEHICLE HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A WALL. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, FAILING TO PROTECT OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY