1997 Pontiac Grand Prix complaints

HEADLIGHTS CONSTANTLY HAVE CONDENSATION IN THEM. ONE DAY WHILE DOING A QUICK STOP FROM 30 MILES AN HOUR, THE LEFT FRONT LENS FELL OFF AND FRONT WHEEL DROVE OVER IT, SMASHING IT TO PIECES. THE LENS ITSELF COULD NOT BE REPLACED, THE COMPLETE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR HAD TO BE PURCHASED AT $100.*AK

RIGHT FRONT FOG LIGHT CONSTANTLY BURNS OUT. DEALER REPLACED ONE TIME UNDER WARRANTY. BY THE TIME NEXT FAILURE OCCURRED, NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

BELTS ON WATER PUMP BEGAN SQUEALING AROUND 40,000 MILES. AT 72,000 PUMP WAS LEAKING BADLY AND SEIZING. THE BELT WAS VERY LOUD. SERPENTINE BELT ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED.

WIRE CONTACTS ON BATTERY WERE BADLY CORRODED. AFTER A TEMPORARY SHAKING, CONTACT WAS RE-ESTABLISHED AND ELECTRICAL WAS WORKING. OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, UNTIL ORIGINAL BATTERY WAS REPLACED. CAR IS PARKED NEAR SALT WATER OCEAN ABOUT 10 TIMES PER YEAR FOR 12 HOURS OR MORE. ALSO, CAR OPERATED IN NORTHEAST WHERE HEAVY USE OF SALT IS USED DURING WINTER, THOUGH THIS CAR HAD ONLY GONE THROUGH TWO WINTERS. *AK

APPEARS TO BE SOME SORT OF TAPE ON DIVIDER FRAMES BETWEEN FRONT AND BACK WINDOWS IS SLOWLY PEELING OFF, EXPOSING BARE METAL THAT IS SLOWLY RUSTING. ALSO, TAPE IS DETERIOTATING ON SMALL WINDOW FRAME DIVIDER IN BACK SEAT, EXPOSING BARE METAL AS WELL. THESE ARE OUTSIDE THE CAR, THUS THEY ARE SLOWLY RUSTING.

WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS SUCH AS SMALL POTHOLES OR RAILROAD TRACKS, SOMETIMES THE ABS AND LOW TRACTION LIGHTS COME ON. USUALLY THEY GO OFF. SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. ONLY METHOD TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF ARE TO PULL OF THE ROAD OR HIGHWAY AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF. ADDITONALLY, SOMETIMES WHEN BRAKING OVER POTHOLES / RAILROAD TRACKS, THE ABS ENGAGE AND THE CLICKING STARTS. FORTUNATELY, DUE TO MY CAREFUL DRIVING, I GIVE MYSELF PLENTY OF ROOM AND DON'T NEED TO PRESS HARDER TO PREVENT A COLLISION. ALSO, SOMETIMES WITH THE LOW TRACTION LIGHT COMING ON, THE ENGINE / TRANSMISSION WILL REV UP AND ENGAGE THE OTHER FRONT TIRE, WHICH IS COMPLETELY USELESS WHEN CONDITIONS ARE DRY AND NORMAL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER LOST COMPLETE STEERING ABILITY, STEERING WOULD NOT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. *AK DEALER INSTALLED REMANUFACTURED RACK AND PINION, REPLACED POWER STEERING HOSE, AND A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS ALSO PERFORMED. *TT

WHILE TURNING VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC DETERMINED RACK AND PINION CAUSED THE PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GO FOWARD.*SLC

CONSUMER STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER VEHICLE, AFTER INSPECTION OF VEHICLE BY THE DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *YD

STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID. DEALER HAS REPLACED RACK AND PINION. *AK THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP ALL OF A SUDDEN AND BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING THE WHEELS. *YH

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN POWER STEERING WHEEL BECOMES EXTREMELY HARD TO MANEUVER DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN RACK AND PINION STTERING .*AK CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL PUMP AND ALTERNATOR WAS ALSO REPLACED.*SLC

CONSUMER IS AFRAID THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING WILL LOCK UP. CONSUMER HAS NOT YET HAD A PROBLEM, BUT IS AFRAID IT WILL LOCK UP WHILE SHE IS DRIVING ALONG. *AK

STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER TURNING. THEN IT STARTED TO LOCK UP COMPLETELY. THEN WE REPLACED THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. *AK

PE-01038; STEERING WHEEL BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER. POWER ASSIST FELLS LIKE IT'S MISSING. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS DIFFICULT ESPECIALLY IN LOW SPEED AND COLD MORNING. THE ENGINE MAKES A RATTLING NOISE. *YH

1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX - RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS HAPPENED DURING NORMAL DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 35MPH + AND THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. TOOK PROBLEM TO DEALER AND MET EXTREME RESISTANCE. PONTIAC DOESN'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT.*AK

CAR SUDDENLY BECAME HARD TO STEER. FELT AS THOUGH POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW. DEALER SAYS STEERING RACK AND PINION NEEDS REPLACING. $600 PART FROM G.M. I' M NOT HAPPY.

ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, I TRIED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE STEERING BEGAN TO TIGHTEN UNTIL IT WAS ALMOST UNABLE TO ROTATE. IT IS NOT AS DIFFICULT TO TURN AT HIGH SPEEDS, YET IT IS STILL VERY RESISTANT. THE STEERING HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET DUE TO FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES. TO TURN THE WHEELS AT A STAND STILL IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. I AM STRONGER THAN THE AVERAGE MALE (220LBS. 5'11"). MY WIFE IS UNABLE TO MOVE IT. I SAW AN ARTICLE IN THE USA TODAY THAT MENTIONED THAT YOU WERE INVESTIGATING REPORTS OF THIS SITUATION OCCURING IN SPECIFICALLY, THE 1997 GRAND PRIX. I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD CONTACT ME SO THAT I MAY ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND ALSO KEEP ME UPDATED ON WHETHER THIS REPAIR WILL BE COVERED BY THE OEM.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR AB0VE VEHICLE. *AK

ON FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2001, THE RACK AND PINION ON MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX JAMMED UP AND CAUSED MY STEERING WHEEL TO FREEZE WHILE GOING AROUND A CORNER. DEALER CLAIMED PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND GMC DID NOT WANT TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. GM AND DEALER COVERED UP THE ISSUE, CONTAMINATING FLUID WHILE I WAS NOT AT DEALERSHIP. COMPLAINT FILED WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL'*AK

INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY "KNOCKS" AND MAKES NOISE. STARTED AFTER DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION DIAGNOSED. TERRIBLE PARTS QUALITY!!!*AK

COVER FOR LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHTS FELL OFF WITH OUT KNOWLEDGE OF A PROBLEMS. BOTH WITHIN 2 MONTHS APART. HAD TO BUY WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AT 72.00 DOLLARS EACH. RACK AND PINION WENT OUT OF STEERING BOX AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE RIGHT PART. HAD TO SUBSTITUTE FOR A STAND BOX. HEARD THERE WAS A REPORT OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IN THE USA TODAY.

RACK AND PINION STEERING STARTED LEAKING TO WHERE FLUID WAS RUNNING OUT OF VEHICLE. HAD RACK AND PINION REPLACED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY HAD NO RECORDS OF PREMATURE FAILURES. PLEASE ADD VIN . *AK

I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT AN INTERSECTION AND HALF WAY INTO THE TURN MY STEERING LOCKED UP AND ALL THE GAGES ON MY IP LIT UP. I LUCKED OUT, FOR THERE WAS A GRASSY AREA IN THAT CORNER OF THE INTERSETION AND LET THE CAR STEER INTO IT. I THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND THE STEERING CAME BACK. I THEN PROCEEDED TO MY DESTINATION ABOUT A 1/2 MILE AWAY AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK THE ENGINE BEGAN REVVING UP AND DOWN. I TURNED IT OFF AND AFTER THAT THE CAR HAS SEEMED FINE. ANY INFO WOULD BE APPRECIATED. COULD THE STEERING LOCK ON ME AGAIN ??!!

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1997 GRAND PRIX ON THE HIGHWAY AND WENT O MAKE A LANE CHANGE TO THE LEFT. THE STEERING WENT OUT AND THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE SLOWER THE SPEED OF THE CAR, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT WAS TO STEER. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RACK AND PINION SEIZED. THE COST TO FIX THIS WAS $1300 PLUS. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT AND LEADS TO VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BY THE MANUFACTURER (REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR?). I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT INFORM OWNERS OF PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. HOPEFULLY YOUR AGENCY CAN HELP.*AK

I READ IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT YOU WERE INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM. SO, I THOUGHT I WOULD ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE LIST. PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED ABOUT YOUR INVESTIGATION. THANKS. NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONED. *AK

STEERING - RACK & PINION FAILED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN - IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL SO THAT WE COULD CLEAR THE INTERSECTION. IT WAS ALSO DIFFICULT TO PARK THE VEHICLE. STEERING TO THE RIGHT WAS NORMAL. REPLACED RACK & PINION $780.54. HEADLIGHTS: MOISTURE BUILDUP IN FRONT HEADLAMPS. DEALER REPLACED SEALS 1/98 UNDER WARRANTY. ANOTHER MOISTURE PROBLEM DEVELOPED 3/99 -DEALER REPLACE BOTH HEADLAMPS. AIR CONDITIONER: SYSTEM FAILED ON7/01 - UNABLE TO ADJUST AIR FLOW AND AIR COULD BARELY BE FELT COMING FROM THE VENTS. DEALER FOUND THAT VAC LINE WAS SPLIT AT PUMP - $42.23 TO REPAIR. AIR SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN 6/99 - LOOSE VACUUM HOSE REPAIRED $21.59. AIR BAG INDICATOR COMES ON AND GOES OFF AT RANDOM. DEALER RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND AN ERROR CODE, WHICH THEY CLEARED, BUT NO PROBLEM - ISSUE UNRESOLVED. REAR POWER WINDOWS FAILED - DEALER REPLACE REGULATOR ON BOTH REAR WINDOWS - COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ALTERNATOR FAILED 10/01 - REPLACED $314.54

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, STEERING WILL UNEXPECTEDLY LOCK UP, CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT STEERING HAS BEEN BINDING FOR THE PAST 1 AND A HALF YEARS, ON THE LAST DATE OF SERVICE, THE POWER STEERING GEAR WAS REPLACED. *JB

VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO STEER IN EITHER DIRECTION. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.*AK CONSUMER STATES THERE IS ALSO A WINDING SOUND WHEN STEERING RIGHT OR LEFT, THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS. *JB

STEERING IS STIFF AND LOOSE TO RIGHT, AND IT IS NOT RELATED TO POWER STEERING PUMP. THERE IS NO NOISE PRESENT WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. RACK WAS REPLACED. *AK

ENGINE SHUTS OFF UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. LIGHTS AND RADIO STILL WORK. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES, VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS STARTED RIGHT BACK UP. THE TACHOMETER ALSO DROPS WHILE DRIVING VERY FREQUENTLY.*AK

I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF MY STEERING SYSTEM AND NARROWLY ESCAPED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I CONTACED PONTIAC CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY HAVE BEEN TOTALLY UNHELPFUL. THIS RESULTED IN A $1200 OUT OF POCKET REPAIR. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE DEFECTIVE STEERING SYSTEMS OR PEOPLE WILL BE KILLED DUE TO THE SUDDEN NATURE OF THE FAILURE. I WILL CO-OPERATE FULLY WITH ANY FORMAL NHTSA INVESTIGATION IF IT LEADS TO A RECALL.*AK

STEERING WENT OUT IN PARKING LOT. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT, BUT TURNING RIGHT SEEMS NORMAL. SINCE STEERING WENT OUT THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOW OFF CENTER TO THE LEFT.*AK

AFTER REPLACING BOTH HEAD LIGHT LENSES SIX MONTH AG RIGHT SIDE WAS MISSING. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. DEALER IN MORENO VALLEY CA SAID THE INFLATOR FAILED. REPLACED AND CHARGED ME $1065.00. 1 WEEK LATER, LIGHT ON AGAIN. DEALER SAID AIR BAG DEFECTIVE. REPLACED AGAIN, NO COST. SHOULD THEY HAVE CHARGED ME THE FIRST TIME?*AK

NO POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING RIGHT. VERY SCARY!!. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR I WAS AT A MCDONALDS DRIVE THROUGH, AND DRIVER'S SIDE LENS COVER FELL OFF HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. I PICKED IT UP, AND WHEN I GOT HOME I USED EPOXY CEMENT TO PUT IT BACK ON THE HEADLIGHT. TWO NIGHTS AGO WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN THE RAIN THE RIGHT COVER CAME OFF AND THE LAMP BLEW OUT AT SIXTY FIVE MILES PER HOUR. IF BOTH COVERS HAD CAME OFF AT THE SAME TIME SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT WITH ONLY FOG LIGHTS. WHEN I CONTACTED THE COMPANY, THEY SAID WELL IF THE GLUE GOT MOISTURE ON IT IT COULD FAIL, AND I REPLIED THAT WE DIDN'T DRIVE THE CAR IN A GARAGE, AND IT WAS RAINING THAT NIGHT. THANK YOU ROBERT STEARSMAN. *AK

MY 1997 GRAND PRIX WITH A 3.1 L ENGINE WAS CONSUMING COOLANT FOR A FEW MONTHS. ON DECEMBER 6 2001 I NOTICED COOLANT IN THE OIL.I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE THOUGHT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN.HE TOLD ME TO GO TO PONTIAC TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE HEAD GASKETS.WHEN I WENT TO MY LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS.I WAS FURTHER INFORMED BY A REPRESENTIVE AT PONTIAC THAT IT WAS PROBABLY NOT THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING BUT RATHER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WHIUCH THEY SEE ABOUT 10 TIMES A WEEK IN THESE ENGINES.A OBVIOUS DEFECT WHICH GM IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT.MY MECHANIC CHECKED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND INDEED IT WAS LEAKING INTERNALLY INTO THE ENGINE.THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR JUST OVER 600.00 DOLLARS. PONTIAC HAS DONE NOTHING TO TRY AND RECTIFY THIS SITUATION AS THE NEW GASKETS PURCHASED FROM PONIAC WERE THE SAME AS THE ORGINIALS.PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS IT APPEARS GM IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT A MAJOR DEFECT.THANK YOU.*AK

DIFFICULTY STARTING AND RESTARTING VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER. VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES CUT OFF 5-10 MINUTES AFTER IT WAS STARTED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER'S SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS. CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD THAT OIL PUMP COVER MAY CAUSE HIGH OIL PRESSURE AND ENGINE TO MISFIRE.*AK

PE 01 038/STEERING RACK AND PINION: WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH OR LESS, STEERING HAD LOCKED UP. VEHICLE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND LEARNED OF A RACK AND PINION FAILURE. *AK *JB

OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED ON INTERNET AT SIMILER MILEAGE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH, CONSUMER RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONTACTED DEALER AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN INJURY IN THE ACCIDENT. TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, WATER PUMP FAILED. ALTERNATOR FAILED. WINDOWS QUIT GOING UP AND DOWN. *SLC

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE FALLEN OFF THREE TIMES. GLUEING THEM BACK ON ONLY FIXES THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. EVENTUALLY MOISTURE GETS INSIDE AND THE LIGHT WILL FAIL OR THE REFLECTIVE SURFACE WILL TARNISH AND WILL RESTRICT VISIBILLITY AT NIGHT.

COVER FOR HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS FALLEN OFF THREE TIMES. FRONT-RIGHT COVER HAD FALLEN OFF TWO TIMES, AND FRONT-LEFT COVER HAD FALLEN OFF ONCE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND MADE REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING LOCKED UP. CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP AND STARTED TO TURN RIGHT AND STEERING WHEEL STUCK IN TURN POSITION. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED HAD TO REPLACE RACK AND PINION STEERING. *AK

COVERS WERE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER AT 40,000 MILES COVER FELL OFF AGAIN AT 85,000 MILES, BOTH COVERS WERE REPLACED AT 40,000, AND BOTH COVERS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THEY ARE HELD ON WITH GLUE AND IT KEEPS FAILING. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD PUNCTURE A TIRE IF IT FALLS OFF ON A MAJOR ROAD AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.