2001 Pontiac Grand AM complaints

PASSLOCK SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN FUEL INJECTORS OR FUEL PUMP FOR NO REASON. IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED TWICE, MODULE BEHIND IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED TWICE. EACH REPAIR PROMPTED BY PASSLOCK SYSTEM. NOW THE FIFTH OCCURRENCE MEANS ANOTHER REPAIR. EACH TIME AT MY COST NOT TO MENTION TOW BILLS. THIS PROBLEM REQUIRES A RECALL. *JB

EVERYTIME THERE IS A HEAVY RAIN THE FLOORS OF MY 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM GETS SOAKED. YESTERDAY WAS BY FAR THE WORST OF ALL, THERE WAS ABOUT 3 INCHES OF STANDING WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. MY CAR SMELLS OF MILDEW AND THE CARPET IS RUINED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE WASTED MY MONEY AND I STILL HAVE 2 YEARS OF PAYMENTS REMAINING. *NM

DUE TO WATER LEAKING INTO THE CAR THE BCM COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC THAT FIXED THE CAR SAID THE FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED ALSO. *NM

TWICE NOW ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN TRYING TO START IT. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR WAS SITTING FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS WHEN IT WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND THE SERVICE GARAGE SAID IT WAS THE SECURITY CODES. THEY CLEARED THE CODES AND IT WAS FINE FOR A FEW MONTHS. THE NEXT TIME, WE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WENT TO START IT AGAIN IN A FEW MINUTES AND IT WOULD NOT START. AGAIN WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE SERVICE GARAGE AND AGAIN IT WAS THE SECURITY CODES. WE HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED IN ORDER TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN BECAUSE IT WAS REGISTERING THAT THE CAR WAS BEING STOLEN IN THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. SO, NOW ABOUT $400.00 LATER, I PRAY IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, 2 JOBS RELY ON THIS ONE CAR. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE COMPUTER MODULE WENT OUT WHICH CAUSED THE SECURITY SYSTEM TO LOCK THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DISABLED FROM STARTING AND THE HORN AND THE ALARM WOULD CONTINUOUSLY ACTIVATE. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED 4 TIMES AND THE MODULE WAS REPLACED EVERYTIME.

BOTH THE HAZARD SWITCH AND MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH SHORTED OUT AT THE SAME TIME CAUSING THE NEED TO REPLACE BOTH SWITCHES. THE HAZARD SWITCH SUBSEQUENTLY BECAME A RECALL, BUT GM WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AS WELL. THE DEALER'S MECHANIC COULD NOT TELL ME WHICH SWITCH CAUSED THE OTHER TO FAIL.

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FELL OFF TRACK WHEN TRYING TO ROLL UP WINDOW USING AUTOMATIC SWITCH. THE REGULATOR, MOTOR AND SASH-FRT. HAD TO BE REPLACED.

SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT AND COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE HEAD GASKETS TO BLOW. BESIDES HAVING TO REPLACE THE GASKETS, THE OXYGEN SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. ALSO, WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AT 32,567 MILES, THE DEALER FOUND A COOLANT LEAK AT THE UPPER INTAKE GASKETS AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS, AND REPLACED BOTH GASKETS, AS WELL AS THE OIL PUMP DRIVE SEAL AND RELATED PARTS.

I JUST RECENTLY REPLACED THE COOLANT INTAKE IN MY 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE 6 CYLINDER. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS MANY TIMES BEFORE AND THAT IT IS A COSTLY MANUFACTURING ERROR. I ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE MY MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL RECALL CAME OUT. I HAVE DONE A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE COOLANT INTAKE PROBLEM AND AS I HAVE STATED I HAVE FOUND THAT AS WELL AS MY GM DEALER HAVE ALL NOTED THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE GASKET IN IT'S RELATION TO THE DEX-COOL COOLANT (THE COOLANT IS ACIDIC AND EATS AWAY AT THE GASKET WHICH LEADS TO COOLANT GETTING INTO ENGINE OR OIL GETTING INTO COOLANT). I WOULD LIKE TO LOOKED AT FURTHER. *JB

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY PONTIAC GRAND AM FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS NOW. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL FILTER REPLACES, THE COILS, COVER AND PLUGS. 350.00 LATER, IT IS FOUND TO SUPPOSEDLY BE THE INJECTORS. MY MECHANIC STATED HE FOUND OUT THAT A BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THE INJECTORS THAT THEY WERE HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THEM. WHY WAS THERE NOT A RECALL? NOW IT IS GOING TO COST ME ANOTHER 650.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. IF THERE IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM, WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL OR WHY IS PONTIAC NOT REPLACING THE PARTS AT THEIR EXPENSE?*JB

FOR ABOUT A YEAR THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT (PASSLOCK) SYSTEM, RENDERING IT DISABLED UNTIL THE IGNITION KEY IS LEFT IN THE ON POSITION FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES. IT CAN THEN BE STARTED. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS WELL AS IT IS GOING TO EVENTUALLY CAUSE A FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM. I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE WRITER AT MY PONTIAC DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE MY IGNITION SWITCH, BUT SHE HAD NO DEFINITE ANSWER TO MY PROBLEM. ALSO, REPLACING THE SWITCH WOULD COST ME ABOUT $400.00. WE NEED A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM! IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF THESE CARS ARE PROBLEMATIC IN THIS AREA! *JB

THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND DO NOT WORK 99% OF THE TIME. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM AND THEY DID NOT FIX IT FOR ME. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HAVE HAD SEVERAL TICKETS DUE TO NOT PROPERLY USING MY TURN SIGNALS. *JB

SECURITY SYSTEMS KEEPS LOCKING MY CAR AND IT WON'T START. THEY SAY ITS THE HALL EFFECT SENSOR ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR AND I LOVE PONTIACS, BUT I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE IF THIS PROBLEMS ISN'T RESOLVED. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR. NO KEYLESS REMOTES CAME WITH THE CAR SO I AM NOT SURE WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THIS IS BEGINNING TO GET REALLY FRUSTRATING. *NM

FOR THE SECOND TIME I AM REPLACING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IN MY 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT. MY MECHANIC, ALSO THE PLACE THAT CHANGES MY OIL, AS WELL AS MY GM DEALER HAVE ALL NOTED THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE GASKET IN IT'S RELATION TO THE DEX-COOL COOLANT (THE COOLANT IS ACIDIC AND EATS AWAY AT THE GASKET WHICH LEADS TO COOLANT GETTING INTO ENGINE OR OIL GETTING INTO COOLANT). MECHANIC SAYS HE SEES AT LEAST ONE OF THESE A WEEK (VERY SMALL TOWN, LOW POPULATION, HIGH INCIDENCE -- IS RELATED TO THE ENGINE THAT GM USED FOR THAT YEAR AND MODEL (AND OTHERS AS WELL).. MINE HAPPENS TO BE THE 3.4 LITRE. *JB

I HAVE HAD A FAILURE WITH MY MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH CAUSING MY TURN SIGNAL SOUND TO CONSTANTLY BE GOING OFF. A COUPLE OF TIMES, MY STEERING COLUMN HAS STARTED SMOKING FROM THIS. IT IS ALSO A DISTRACTION FROM PAYING ATTENTION TO DRIVING. *JB

2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM, WENT TO START MY CAR AND THE ENGINE CRANKS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE I'M OUT OF GAS, AND WON'T START. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE RKE (REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY) SYSTEM HAS A DEFECT IN IT THAT CAUSES CAR NOT TO START. AS OF NOW THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE PASSLOCK SYSTEMS. AS FOR A FIX, THE EXPERTS ARE HONESTLY NOT SURE. THE MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKEN TO CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT AND THE ONLY FIX THAT SEEMS TO WORK IS ONE FOUND ON A DISCUSSION THREAD: TO RESET THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM, PUT KEY IN THE IGNITION AND LEAVE IT IN 'ON' POSITION FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES. THEN TURN IT OFF, AND TRY - IT SHOULD START THEN. WARNING: CONTINUED RESETTING OF THE COMPUTER THIS WAY WILL EVENTUALLY DAMAGE COMPUTER AND WILL COST LOTS TO REPLACE/FIX. IS PONTIAC GOING TO REPLACE OR FIX MY COMPUTER WHEN I GET IT MESSED UP BY RESETTING IT LIKE I DESCRIBED ABOVE? SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE AND THE BRAKES VIBRATED. THIS OCCURRED AT ALL SPEEDS ON NORMAL ROADS WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THE OCCUPANT TO ALERT THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO GET THE THRID SET OF ROTORS AND BRAKES INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. UPDATED *JB

BRAKE LIGHT ON DRIVER SIDE DEFECTIVE WILL NOT ILLUMINATE BOTH LIGHTS. BULBS WERE REPLACED. CIRCUIT BOARD WAS REPLACED, AFTER A FEW MONTHS, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE BOTH LIGHTS. *NM

IT STARTED WITH A VERY ANNOYING FAST CLICKING NOISE. IT GOT WORSE AND WORSE! THEN, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAD THE HAZARD SWITCH REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TODAY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT IS MY MULTIFUCTION SWITCH, IT SHORTED OUT THE HAZARD SWITCH, WHICH I ALREADY HAD REPLACED. NOW, I AM GETTING CHARGED 315.00 TO GET IT FIXED! I HAVE SEEN MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ON MANY YEARS OF THE GRAND AM. YOU WOULD FIGURE THAT IF THE COMPANY KNEW ABOUT IT, THEN THEY WOULD TAKE THE TIME AND MONEY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THE RIGHT WAY. I HAVE TOLD EVERYONE THAT I KNOW ABOUT THIS, AND NOT TO EVER BUY A PONTIAC THEY DON'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR CONSUMERS!! *NM

I HAVE A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE, AND THREE TIMES LAST YEAR (2005), AND CURRENTLY (09 MAY 2006), MY CAR IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DREADED PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO STOP THIEVES FROM STEALING MY CAR. ALL IT HAS DONE IS PREVENT ME FROM DRIVING IT. MULTIPLE TIMES, I HAVE HAD TO SIT FOR 10+ MINUTES WAITING FOR THE SYSTEM TO RESET IN ORDER TO DRIVE. ONCE, THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHED ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THIS IS GETTING TO BE A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD, AS THE CAR LOSES POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES, LEAVING ME IN A PERILOUS POSITION SHOULD THE FAULT CONTINUE TO OCCUR. *NM

I PURCHASED MY 2001 GRAND AM IN AUG OF 2005 AND HAVE SO FAR HAD THE PASSLOCK GO OUT ON ME TWICE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM AS WELL. THE FIRST TIME I REPLACED THE PASSLOCK WAS ONLY TWO MONTHS AGO AND YESTERDAY I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND IT WOULDN'T START. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON AND EXTENSIVE PROBLEM IN THIS PARTICULAR YEAR. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER AND CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE MY CAR TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC EVERY TIME THIS GOES WRONG - THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE PASSLOCK!!! OR PONTIAC SHOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS PROBLEM. *NM

BOUGHT CAR 10-06, HAS FAILED TO START 8 TIMES, HAVE REPLACED $2300 IN VARIOUS PARTS FOR MECHANICS TRYING TO GET STARTED. ALL SAID THAT VEHICLE WASN'T GETTING FUEL. DEALERSHIP IN ASHEVILLE NC, EVEN TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW MOTOR. QUOTE $3000 TO $5000. I TOWED TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC AND CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. WHAT IF I HAD BOUGHT THAT MOTOR. I STARTED RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET. 1000'S OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. SEVERAL TIMES MONE WAS TOWED AND WOULD START WHEN MECHANIC WENT TO FIX IT. WAS TOLD CAN'T FIX WHAT ISN'T BROKEN. 2 WEEKS AGO DID IT AGAIN. JUST WON'T START. HAD IT TOWED. STARTED UP WHEN MECHANIC WENT TO WORK ON IT. DID IT AGAIN LAST WEEK. I FOLLOWED ADVICE FROM WEBSITE. LEAVE IGNITION ON FOR 10 MINUTES FOR PASSLOCK SECURITY TO RESET. IT WORKED!!! THIS IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM FOR 1000'S OF PEOPLE. WHO CAN KEEP GETTING TOWED, BUYING EXPENSIVE PARTS NOT NEEDED, MISSING WORK, AND NOT TO MENTION WHAT IT DOES TO YOUR MENTALLY, DEALING WITH THIS OVER AND OVER. *NM

DRIVER'S SIDE EXTERIOR MIRROR SUDDENLY DETACHED UPON BEING BUMPED BY A PERSON'S HIP AS SHE WALKED BY MY PARKED CAR. IT WAS A VERY LIGHT BUMP, YET THE LARGE INTERNAL BOLTS HOLDING THE MIRROR IN PLACE SNAPPED CLEANLY IN HALF, LEAVING THE MIRROR DANGLING BY THE POWER CORDS ONLY. THE CAR'S BODY/EXTERIOR IS OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. NO PRIOR INJURY/BUMPING TO THE CAR'S MIRROR HAD OCCURRED TO CAUSE OR EXPLAIN ANY SORT OF WEAKENING OF THE ATTACHMENT BOLTS. I HAVE SINCE SPOKEN WITH 2 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN WITH SIMILAR SURPRISINGLY LIGHT CONTACT ON THEIR GRAND AMS. ONE, WHEN SHE WENT THROUGH AN AUTOMATED CAR WASH. THE OTHER, AS SHE WAS MERELY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (WIND FORCES.) NONE OF THESE VEHICLES HAD BEEN IN ANY SORT OF ACCIDENT THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED WEAKENING OF THE MOUNTING HARDWARE. NOR IS IT A 'WEAR AND TEAR' TYPE ISSUE. YET ONLY VERY MINOR PRESSURE CAUSED THE BOLTS TO BREAK EASILY. THE MIRRORS HAD TO BE HELD ON WITH DUCT TAPE AND/OR CORDS TO KEEP THEM FROM FLOPPING AROUND AND DAMAGING THE CAR'S EXTERIOR UNTIL REPAIR COULD BE SOUGHT. I HAD TO HOLD ON TO IT MANUALLY (IN VERY COLD WEATHER) TO KEEP IT FROM BANGING AROUND ON THE BODY OF MY CAR, UNTIL I COULD SECURE IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE (WITH MEDICAL IV TUBING, OFF ALL THINGS.) PONTIAC CLAIMS THAT THIS FALLS UNDER THE CATEGORY OF A 'COSMETIC' REPAIR...THAT IT WOULD NOT CONSTITUTE A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE (?!!)...AND SO REFUSES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT THEIR COST. THEY INSIST ON CHARGING FULL PRICE. THE

DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. TOLD BY SERVICES THAT IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR THE MOTOR NEEDED REPLACED ALSO. QUOTED OVER $600 FOR FIX. *NM

I PURCHASED MY 2001 GRAND AM GT SECOND HAND IN SEPTEMBER 04. THE 1 PREVIOUS OWNER WAS MY MECHANIC'S BROTHER IN-LAW AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WHEN HE OWNED IT AS WELL AS SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. MY PROBLEMS STARTED AS SOON AS I LEFT THE LOT. WITHIN A MONTH THE CAR HAD BEEN BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE BREAK PADS REPLACED AND ROTORS RE-SURFACED. MY BREAKS HAVE MADE A CONSTANT RUBBING/GRINDING NOISE AND NO AMOUNT OF WORK HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE THIS INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ISSUE. IN DECEMBER OF 05 THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON AS WELL AS THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT. I ATTEMPTED TO ADD COOLANT BUT THE CAP TO THE COOLANT TANK WAS BADLY BROKEN AND REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE TANK - SINCE THE CAP WOULD NOT COME OFF EVEN WITH A MECHANICS HELP. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS - BUT IN FEBRUARY 06 THE COOLANT ALARM STARTED AGAIN - I ADDED MORE COOLANT AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT FOR ANOTHER MONTH. WHEN THE COOLANT ALARM SOUNDED AGAIN IN MARCH I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE COOLANT LEAK FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. $800-$900 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS WAS THE SECOND INTAKE MANIFOLD HE FOUND ON A GM CAR THE SAME DAY AND HE TOLD ME THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS. WHY IS GM NOT BEING FORCED TO RE-CALL THIS? COME ON - I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING FOR 1 DAY AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF EXAMPLES OF THIS PROBLEM. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER ON A VERY TIGHT BUDGET - OWE MORE ON THIS PIECE OF $)%& THAN IT IS WORTH AS IT IS! MY CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A MONT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED, WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING 70-75MPH. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. ALSO, THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED AN INACCURATE READING AND NO MORE THAN SEVEN DOLLARS OF GASOLINE CAN BE PUMPED INTO THE TANK BEFORE THE PUMP SHUTS OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY THE SERVICE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM.

THE DAY AFTER THE CAR WAS IN FOR RECALL ON THE HAZARD SWITCH THE WIRE LEADING TO THE HORN, CRUISE CONTROL AND DRIVERS AIRBAG BECAME BOUND UP AND HAVE SHORTED OUT AT THE CLOCK SPRING. HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE, I ASSUME THE AIRBAG IS INOPERATIVE AS WELL. *NM

1. A FLAW IN THE 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM THINKS THE CAR OWNER IS TRYING TO STEAL THE CAR AND SHUTS OFF THE FUEL TO THE CAR, MAKING IT NECESSARY TO TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION AND WAIT 15-20 MIN BEFORE THE CAR WILL START... (PONTIAC IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE THEY EVEN HAVE INSTRUCTIONS TO RESET THE COMPUTER IN THE OWNERS MANUEL) WHAT HAPPENS IF U ARE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND THE CAR WILL NOT START FOR 20 MINUTES? THIS STARTED AT 50,000 MILES AND HAPPENED MAYBE EVERY 3 MONTHS NOW AT 67,000 MILES IT IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE... PONTIAC REALLY NEEDS TO REPAIR/RECALL THESE CARS!!!! MY FATHER (A MECHANIC FOR 40 YRS) ADVISES THAT IF U CONTINUE TO KEEP THE KEY TURNED TO ON (THE FIX FOR THIS) THAT EVENTUALLY IT WILL BURN THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION OUT PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS IF U NEED MORE STORIES ABOUT THIS JUST LOOK AT THE PONTIAC FORUM AT THE EDMUNDS SITE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS ISSUE!!! HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/WEBX?14@@.EE9E52F/2160. *JB

THE A/C- HEATER SPEED CONTROL SELECTION 1 AND 2 STOPPED WORKING IN 2002 SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE. ON APRIL 10,2006, THE SELECTIONS 3 AND 4 ARE ALSO NOT WORKING. THIS IS NOW THE 9TH PROBOLEM I'VE HAD WITH MY VEHICLE. TO INCLUDE BOTH POWER WINDOW BRACKETS BREAKING, MY HAZARD FLASHER, TRANSMISSION, STEERING, AND A/C. I'VE UNKNOWINGLY HAD JACKSON AUTO GROUP OF HAWAII DO REPAIRS WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A WORD ABOUT THE RECALLS. WHAT PROACTIVE STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO NOTIFY THE DEALERS ABOUT THE RECALLS AND DEFECTS? *NM

THE COOLANT SYSTEM HAS A CONTINUAL LEAK. IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT LEAST EVERY MONTH. FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH MAKES ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS AND GAUGES GO ON AND OFF AND SOMETIMES NOT COME BACK ON FOR DAYS (HAPPENS EVERYTIME THE CAR IS STARTED UP). MAKES SPEED LIMITS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL, ETC. *NM

FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. I HAVE HAD ME WHEEL BEARING REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR AND IT IS GOING BAD AGAIN SO THAT WILL MAKE IT 3 TIMES IN 12 MONTHS. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SECOND FAILURE HAPPENED JUST AFTER IS WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS REPLACED 5 MONTHS EARLIER. NOW IS IT BAD AGAIN. I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH ONE CAR. THE TURN SIGNALS WORK SOMETIMES, THE CAR DOESN'T START ALL THE TIME. *NM

SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON BUT WENT OFF AFTER NEXT START. NEXT DAY KEY FOBS NOT WORKING. REPROGRAMMED AT DEALER. AFTERWARDS CAR HAD BEEN MAKING BEEPING NOISE CONSTANTLY WHILE ON AND PARKED AND INSIDE LOCK SWITCH NOT WORKING. AFTER DRIVING OVER A CERTAIN SPEED BEEPING NOISE STOPS. CALLED DEALER WAS ADVISED PASSLOCK ISSUE ON THAT MODEL CAR. *JB

CAR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER AND MAKES A LOT OF NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS SUCH MOSTLY PARKING. REPAIR SHOP ADVISED RACK AND PINION PROBLEM THE THIS MODEL CAR IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED IT WILL NOT RESTART WITHOUT THE COMPUTER BEING REPROGRAMMED. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE ONLY THING THE DEALER DID WAS RESET THE COMPUTER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM THE CONTACT BEGAN RESETTING THE COMPUTER. THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER SHOWED THE CONTACT HOW TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER BY TURNING THE IGNITION ON, ALLOWING THE SECURITY LIGHT TO FLASH TEN MINUTES, TURN THE IGNITION OFF, AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AWAITING REPAIR OF THE IGNITION. THE DEALER OFFERED TWO OPTIONS FOR REPAIR, TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE IGNITION SYSTEM OR JUMP THE SECURITY SYSTEM. IF THE SECURITY SYSTEM WAS BY PASSED IT WILL NO LONGER ACTIVATE. THERE ARE TWO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSBS) CONCERNING THE IGNITION, TSBS 010849020 AND 020604011. *AK UPDATED 02/27/06. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM IN FEBRUARY 2003. SHORTLY AFTER THE 45K MILES I STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE DEX-COOL ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING AROUND THE INTAKE GASKET, HEAD GASKET WAS DAMAGED. ALSO, THERE WAS EXTENSIVE OIL USE, APPROXIMATELY A QUART EVERY 500 MILES OF DRIVING. DESPITE WHAT THIS MIGHT SOUND LIKE, THIS VEHICLE, WHILE IN MY POSSESSION HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. I HAVE HAD THE ABOVE PROBLEMS FIXED ON 11-20-05 AND AFTER THE MECHANIC WAS DONE I HAD PUT ANOTHER $1465.00 INTO A CAR THAT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. NOW, ONE MONTH AFTER GETTING MY CAR BACK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM EITHER. I HAVE HEARD FROM SEVERAL MECHANICS AND DEALERS THAT THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR DUE TO DEX-COOL ONLY SYSTEMS AND ALUMINUM ENGINES THAT ERODE HEAD- GASKETS PREMATURELY. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON ROUGH ROADS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. ALSO, THE REAR SEAT BELT MATERIAL FELL APART. THIS WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, THEY OFFERED NO FREE REPAIR. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V327000 CONCERNING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD WARNING SWITCH. . THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK UPDATED 1/11/2006. THE TURN/HAZARD SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON 12/10/2005 WITH GM PART 10359039. THE OLD PART NUMBER WAS 22624799 0691 E. *NM

FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW,WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THERE IS SOME TYPE OF A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING THE TRUNK RELEASE ACTUATOR TO OPERATE BY ITSELF,EVERY TIME THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS PENED. ALSO ,THE "AUTOMATIC-ON "DASH LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, MARKER LIGHTS AND SO-ON- SOMETIMES WILL NOT TURN ON IMMEDIATELY,WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS LOWERED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF AN INVESTIGATION COULD BE OPENED FOR THESE PROBLEMS; BECAUSE THEY ARE SAFETY RELATED ISSUES,AND THERE MAY BE MANY OTHER PEOPLE BEING AFFECTED WITH THESE SAME PROBLEMS-WITH THEIR 2001 GRAND AM'S. I BELIEVE PONTIAC SHOULD BE MADE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE ISSUES,SINCE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS TRUSTING THEM TO PROVIDE SAFE CARS. THIS SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT IS LIMITED TO A WARRANTY, SINCE IT INVOLVES A SAFETY ISSUE, IN WHICH THE LIGHTS COULD STOP FUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING OR THE TRUNK COULD RELEASE( BY ITSELF) WHILE DRIVING. THANK YOU. *NM

FAULTY INTAKE GASKET TO ENGINE FROM COOLANT. AFTER LESS THAN 80,000 MILES THE INTAKE GASKET IS LEAKING IN THE 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT RESTRICTED TO AN OCCASIONAL VEHICLE AND IT PRESENTS AN ISSUE OF LOSING FLUID. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR VEHICLE OWNERS, IT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD AS WELL. *JB

SECURITY LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. CAR WILL BECOME DISABLED AND WILL NOT START UNTIL SYSTEM IS RESET. TOOK CAR IN FOR REPAIR ON THIS PROBLEM ONCE. A YEAR LATER LIGHT STARTED COMING BACK ON. ASK SERVICE PERSONNEL ABOUT THIS SITUATION AND HE SAID IT COULD BE A NUMBER OF THINGS CAUSES THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SECURITY SYSTEM. *JB

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I HAVE A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM THAT HAS PROBLEMS STARTING. EVERY TIME I TRY TO START MY CAR THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND I HAVE TO SIT THEIR FOR TEN MINUTES WHILE IT RESETS ITSELF. I WOULDN'T HAVE MIND IF IT WAS ONLY ONCE, BUT IT'S NOT. IT CONTINUALLY DOES IT. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. MANY PEOPLE WHO I HAVE SPOKEN TO WITH A PONTIAC GRAND AM ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. VERY TRULY YOURS, KAREN. *NM

THE BODY CONTROL MODULE CAUSED TWO BATTERIES TO FAIL. THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH FAILED CAUSING CLICKING NOISE IN THE ASH. *TS WHEN THE BCM FAILED THE CONSUMER NOTICED A 1 AMP DRAW. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT REPLACED THE BCM PER THE CONSUMERS REQUEST. THE VEHICLE WAS BUCKING AND FELT AS IF THERE WAS A MAJOR MISS. THIS WAS DUE TO FAULTY #4 INJECTOR. THE INJECTOR WAS REPLACED AND THE PCM WAS REPROGRAMMED. *NM

WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR IT WILL NOT START AND THE SECURITY LIGHT IS LIT. A RESET PROCEDURE IS REQUIRED THAT TAKES OVER 10 MINUTES. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND MAKES THE VEHICLE USELESS FOR EMERGENCIES. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL FILTER AT QUITE SOME EXPENSE TO ME. *NM

CONTINUOUS RAPID CLICKING NOISE FROM DASH CAUSED BY SHORT CIRCUIT IN MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. ACCORDING TO MECHANIC THIS EVENTUALLY WILL RESULT IN TURN SIGNAL FAILURE IF NOT REPAIRED, DUE TO SHORT CIRCUIT CAUSING SWITCH TO BURN OUT. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE. HAD THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED THREE TIMES ALREADY (07/23/2003, 11/14/2004, 10/18/2005) . EACH REPAIR REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A NEW PART AND COST ABOUT $300 INSTALLED. SUSPECT SOME KIND OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS CAUSING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT RELATED TO THE FLASHER UNIT RECALL, SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS ALREADY SERVICED FOR THAT RECALL, BUT THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR. *JB

FAULTY TURNING SIGNALS. ALTHOUGH GM HAS HAD A RECALL ON THIS ITEM I DON'T THINK INCLUDED ALL VIN NUMBERS IN THE RECALL. MY CAR IS SUFFERING FROM THE SAME PROBLEM BUT WAS REFUSED RECALL SERVICE BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. I FEEL THERE MAYBE NUMEROUS CARS OUT THERE THAT WERE EXCLUDED FROM THIS RECALL. I HAVE A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT SEDAN. *JB

2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. CONTINUOUS RAPID CLICKING NOISE FROM DASH CAUSED BY SHORT CIRCUIT IN MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH CREATING A MAJOR DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING AND COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IF HAPPENED UNEXPECTEDLY. HAD THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED TWICE ALREADY (07/23/2003, 11/14/2004) AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED A THIRD TIME (10/18/2005) . EACH REPAIR REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH NEW PARTS AND COST ABOUT $250. SUSPECT SOME KIND OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE RECURRING SO MANY TIMES AFTER BEING REPAIRED. *NM

IN THE 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM, THE THEFT PROTECTION SYSTEM "PASSLOCK" WILL FAIL AND THE CAR CANNOT BE STARTED. I FIST THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY MY CAR. UNTIL I FOUND A WEBSITE AND IT APPEARS THIS HAPPENS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER AND OVER.. THE CAR HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE FIXED, BECAUSE IT ACTS AS IF THE OWNER IS TRYING TO STEAL THE CAR AND WILL NOT START.. HERE IS A COPY OF THE INFO ON A CONSUMER REPORTS SITE>>> BUG IN 2001 GRAND AM WON'T START CAR. A BUG IN 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM'S CAUSES THEM TO SIMPLY NOT START, RIGHT OUT OF THE BLUE. BETTER HOPE YOU'RE NOT IN THE WRONG NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN IT HAPPENS 'CAUSE ALMOST NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE FIX IS. (PRWEB) FEBRUARY 21, 2005 -- IF YOU OWN A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM, YOU'D BETTER HOPE YOU'RE NOT STUCK SOMEWHERE BAD WHEN THIS HITS: YOU GO TO START YOUR CAR, AND THE ENGINE CRANKS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE YOUR OUT OF GAS, AND WON'T START. NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THEN HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SHOP, ONLY TO FIND THAT THE CAR EASILY STARTS AFTER BEING TOWED, BUT NO CAUSE IS EVER FOUND. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE RKE (REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY) SYSTEM HAS A DEFECT IN IT THAT CAUSES CAR NOT TO START. AS OF NOW THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE PASSLOCK SYSTEMS. AS FOR A FIX, THE EXPERTS ARE HONESTLY NOT SURE. TO RESET THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM, PUT KEY IN THE IGNITION AND LEAVE IT IN 'ON' POSITION FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES. THEN TURN IT OFF, AND TRY - IT SHOULD START THEN. WARNING: CONTINUED RESETTING OF THE COMPUTER THIS WAY WILL EVENTUALLY DAMAGE COMPUTER AND WILL COST LO

DT: THE TURN SIGNAL WAS MAKING A CLICKING SOUND EVEN AFTER THE LIGHT WAS TURNED OFF. IT SEEMED TO BE MOSTLY WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THE PROBLEM WAS ONGOING SINCE APRIL 2005. IT CONTINUED TO MAKE THE CLICKING SOUND ANYWHERE FROM FIVE TO TWENTY MINUTES AFTER MAKING THE TURN. THIS WAS AN ON GOING PROBLEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE DASHBOARD TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT WAS STILL UNSURE OF WHAT THE EXACT CAUSE WAS. THE CONTACT HAS HEARD OF AN INVESTIGATION FOR THE 2002 MODELS.*AK

THREE BIG ISSUES WITH THIS CAR: 1) THE WORST-I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SECURITY SYSTEM SHORTING THREE TIMES. EACH TIME, THE CAR TURNS OVER BUT WILL NOT START. THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHED TWICE, BUT DID NOT COME ON THE THIRD TIME. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE SYSTEM (WHATEVER THAT MEANS) WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME (TWO MONTHS LATER), MY CAR WOULD NOT START AT 2AM OUTSIDE OF A BAR, SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. THIS TIME THE WHOLE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED UNDER MY WARRANTY. THE THIRD TIME (FOUR MONTHS LATER) MY CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE SYSTEM WAS AGAIN REPLACED, THIS TIME IT WAS COVERED UNDER A PARTS& LABOR WARRANTY SO AT LEAST I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING. 2) THE BRAKES. I HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED BECAUSE OF EXTREME VIBRATING WHEN BREAKING, AS WELL AS A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE THAT WOULD START AFTER THE BREAKS HEATED UP. THE SQUEALING NOISE DID NOT GO AWAY SO I HAD THE BREAKS' HARDWARE REPLACED. THAT WORKED FOR A WHILE. SIX MONTHS LATER, THE VIBRATING HAS COME BACK AND THERE IS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BREAKS GET WET (I.E. RAIN). 3) COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY. FIRST, I SIMPLY REPLACED THE COOLANT MUCH MORE OFTEN THAN SHOULD BE NECESSARY. FINALLY, I LET MY DEALER CONVINCE ME TO PAY THE $700 TO HAVE IT FIXED (I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS) A YEAR AGO. THE COOLANT LIGHT IS NOW COMING ON AGAIN, SO I'M JUST REFILLING IT FREQUENTLY. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR 18 MONTHS. I'M IN LOVE WITH THE LOOK AND THE PICKUP, BUT IT IS COMPLET

SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH 2001 GRAND AM V6. WHEN APPLY BRAKES AT ANY SPEED OVER 35 KM A PULSATING CAN BE FELT. THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM CONTINUOUSLY GOES OFF STOPPING ME FROM STARTING MY OWN CAR. HAD TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES 4 TIMES WITHIN LAST YEAR. AS THEY CORRODE AND CAUSE STARTING PROBLEMS (SO SAYS THE MECHANIC)*JB