1997 Pontiac Grand Prix complaints

AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT PUSHING THE BUTTON IN THE STEERING COLUMN, AND COULD NOT SHIFT FROM PARK WITHOUT PUSHING THE SHIFT RELEASE BUTTON. THE DEALER DID NOT FIND WHAT WAS EXACTLY WRONG BUT SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. (POOR CONNECTION AT SPLICER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH) *SCC *JB

POWER STEERING - TURNING TO THE LEFT - RECALL?. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING SHE SMELLED GAS. SHE GOT OUT, POPPED THE HOOD ,AND SAW FUEL LEAKING ALL OVER ENGINE. IT WAS A WONDER THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. CONSUMER BOUGHT THE PART, AND WOULD REPAIR IT HIMSELF, BUT WONDERED WHY THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.*AK

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A WIRING MALFUNCTION IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. *JB THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND. *SCC *JB

PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING PUMP, ALTERNATOR, RACK AND PINION, POWER WINDOWS, AND HEAD GASKETS. *MR THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD SUDDENLY GONE OUT IN TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC(THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED), THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERATIVE UPON START DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE WIPER LINKAGE UNDER THE COWL, THE STEERING SKIPPED AS THE CONSUMER MADE RIGHT HAND TURNS(THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP), THE HEADLIGHT LENS HAD FALLEN OFF, THE CERAMIC HEADGASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE WAS A HESITATION AND ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A SECOND TIME, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON DUE TO A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS, THE TRANSMISSION GRABBED ALONG WITH HESITATION(A TUNE UP WAS PERFORMED AND WORK WAS DONE TO THE TRANSMISSION), THE VEHICLE COULDN'T BE TAKEN OUT OF THE PARK POSITION(THE SHIFTER WAS REPLACED), THE POWER WINDOW(S) FAILED, THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER PUMP LEAKED AND WOULD NOT HOLD FLUID. *SCC *CB

VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. *MR THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHEN A LEFT TURN WAS MADE, USUALLY AT LOW SPEEDS DUE TO THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. THE POWER ASSIST WAS NORMAL ON RIGHT TURNS. RECALL#02V286000 WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *SCC

THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT.*MR. THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*TS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GAS FOR REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER LATER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE STEERING RACK AND PINION, AND WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR REIMBURSEMENT SHE WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO MAKE SURE THE REPAIRS WERE DONE CORRECTLY AND TO BRING IN THE OLD PART IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED 6 MONTHS AGO, THE DEALER FINALLY STATED THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER, BECAUSE THE REPAIR WAS NOT DONE A GMC DEALER. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING HEADLIGHT LENS WILL FALL OFF, CAUSING A DISTRACTING TO CONSUMER'S VIEW. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY, SINCE 2000, AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHTS AND BLOWER HAVE SHUT OF FOR A PERIOD OF 5-10 SECONDS. THIS SUMMER, WHEN CONDITIONS ARE EXTREMELY HOT, THE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION, AND THE AC WILL NOT WORK UNLESS I SET THE FAN SPEED TO 5, AND THE A/C SELECTOR TO MAXIMUM WHEN TEMPERATURES COOL, FUNCTIONS RETURN TO NORMAL.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME OPERABLE ,OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDE DUE TO THE VIN. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED. TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE INTAKE PLASTIC MANIFOLD BEING CRACKED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN TO THE LEFT, INSTEAD IT TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND. *JB. ALSO THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATOR, RACK AND PINION, BRAKES, SEATS, WINDOWS, BATTERY, BULBS, STEERING PUMP, AND THE SUN ROOF LEAKED. PH *JB

THE DRIVER SIDE HEAD LIGHT LENS FELL OFF WHICH CAUSED THE BULB TO BLOW OUT. *NLM PH *JB

FRONT HEAD LIGHT LENSES HAVE COME OFF TWICE. THE FIRST TIME VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE SECOND TIME CONSUMER FOUND A LENS AND REPLACED IT HIMSELF. *AK

WHILE TURNING VEHICLE RIGHT THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE AND STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN DUE TO RACK AND MALFUNCTIONING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN THE RAIN MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT COVER FLEW OFF AND THE BULB EXPLODED. I HAVE NOTICED MOISTURE IN THE OTHER HEADLIGHT AND CAN ASSUME IT WILL DO THE SAMETHING.*AK

ABOUT 1 OUT OF 50 TIMES APPLYING BRAKES, THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES THE ABS MOTORS ON THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER, CAUSING A BRIEF (1/2 TO 1 SECOND) LOSS OF BRAKES. ADDITIONAL BRAKE PEDALIS NOT EFFECTIVE DURING THIS TIME. CLICKING NOISE FROM ABS MOTORS AND BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE ABS MOTORS ACTIVATING FOR 1/2 TO 1 SECOND BY: WITH KEY OFF, APPLY BRAKE, START ENGINE, RELEASE BRAKE. WHEN BRAKE LIGHTS TURN OFF, ABS MOTORS RUN FOR 1/2 TO 1 SECOND. UNABLE TO DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL DURING THIS TIME.REMOVING ABS FUSE PREVENTS PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING, BUT THE ABS LIGHT IS ON.*AK

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM OR NOT. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT IS A ONE TIME THING. THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAVE MOISTURE THAT FORMS ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT MAKING THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT TURN BLACK. MAKES IT VERY HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT! THE ONLY SOLUTION I SEE IS AN EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL NOT DO IT AGAIN. THIS IS A LOW MILE CAR (LESS THAN 30,000 MILES) AND SPENDS NIGHTS INSIDE THE GARAGE! THIS STARTED WHEN THE CAR WAS PROBABLY ONLY A YEAR & A HALF OLD ON THE ONE LENS BUT NOW BOTH ARE THAT WAY. *JB

THE ORIGINAL STEERING RACK HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH 50% REIMBURSEMENT FROM GENERAL MOTORS. AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE 01-03, WE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AGAIN AND RECEIVED THE OTHER 50% REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT AFTER GETTING THE LOWER PINION BEARING INSPECTED AND REPLACED. ON 06-06-03, THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN WITH FULL COST TO US THIS TIME. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT WAS MORE THAN 1 YR OLD. (WE ONLY GOT 18,000 MILES OUT OF THE 2ND RACK.). *TT

HEADLIGHT LENS KEEPS FALLING OFF! AND YOU CAN'T BUY JUST THE LENS - YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY. WHY? WHEN IT'S A KNOW FACT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM - IS THIS JUST A MONEY MAKER SCAM FOR PONTIAC DEALERS? I'VE ALREADY REPLACE IT 2 TIMES ON MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX THAT I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD FOR A YEAR. WHY ISN'T SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS AS I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO. *NLM

BOTH HEADLAMP LENS HAVE POPPED OFF. ONE 08/02 (RH) AND THE SECOND 05/03 (LH). AS A RESULT OF THE LENS LOSS, THE HALOGEN BULBS ARE EXPOSED TO WATER AND EXPLODE. FURTHER, THE LENS IS NOT AVAILABLE AS A REPLACEMENT PART. THE REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLIES COST $190.00 EACH. *NLM

I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE REAR BRAKES ON MY VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE THE LIFE OF THE BRAKE SHOULD ACTUALLY BE UP. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN CAUSED BY THE CALIPER (PARTICULARLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR), GETTING STUCK AND EATING THROUGH THE BRAKE ROTOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST THREE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. *TT

GENERAL MOTORS VOLUNTARY RECALL OF 1996/1997 AND 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND TRANSPORT, AND 1997/1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES CONCERNING POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF LOWER PINION BEARING IN POWER STEERING WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE.*AK *JB

1997 GRAND PRIX HAS SHORT IN PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WIRING, WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON, SERVICE BULLETIN 98839010 ISSUED JUNE 01, 1998. COST TO REPAIR OVER $700. SHOULD THIS BE A RECALL ITEM ?*JB

CONSUMER WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH RECALL 02049 REPAIRS OF RACK AND PINION STEERING ON HIS 1997, PONTIAC, GRAND PRIX. HAD THE SAME STEERING PROBLEM. *AK

AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING 02 V 286 000 WAS COMPLETED , THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T ALIGN THE VEHICLE. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL REGARDING THE STEERING RACK AND PINION, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. RECALL #02V286000 *JB

THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. *NLM THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER COULD NOT MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK. *MR

I EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING WHERE IT IS VERY HARD TO STEER TO THE LEFT AND I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY I HAD THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED. I RECEIVED A CAMPAIGN LETTER FROM PONTIAC STATING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WENT TO EWING PONTIAC AND THEY CONFIRMED THE PART WAS INDEED REPLACED AND I GAVE THEM THE ORIGINAL RECEIPTS FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR BUT THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME BECAUSE THE RECEIPT DID NOT STATE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HARD STEERING. I EXPLAINED THAT THE MECHANIC WAS A VIETNAMESE WHO COULD NOT WRITE IN TECHNICAL ENGLISH. CONTACTED PONTIAC ADN OPENED TICKET 1-89071665 AND AFTER A WEEK WAS BASICALLY TOLD THE SAME THING. PONTIAC WILL LOSE A LOYAL CUSTOMER BECAUSE OF THIS! *JB

THE ENGINE EXPLODED WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE TOP OF THE ENGINE AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE REPLACED. *NLM

THE CONSUMER HAD THE POWER STEERING RACK REPLACED PRIOR TO RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGEMENT INFORMED THE CONSUMER HIS VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY AND DID NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER WAS REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT AND STILL WISHES TO RECEIVE. OTHER PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: OIL PAN LEAKED-REPLACED GASKET ASSEMBLY, AND THE END SEALS OF THE RACK AND PINION LEAKED, WHICH WERE REPLACED. MR SCC *JB

THE VEHICLE STILL EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. *JB

WARNING LIGHTS, ABS, CHECK TIRE PRESSURE, TRAC OFF. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS IN A T-BONE ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED I AN ACCIDENT. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

RACK AND PINION RECALL WORK DIDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *TS

WHEN THE CONSUMER STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO MOVE. *JB

MANUFACTURING RECALL P020449-S ISSUED ON JANUARY 23, 2003, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REGARDING THE STEERING RACK AND PINION AND ALSO THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *AK *JB *TS

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND A BEARING IN THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE CONSUMER HEARD AND FELT A NOISE COMING THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE RACK AND PINION HAD FAILED, AND THE PREVIOUS PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RACK AND PINION. MR SCC *JB

CLEAR PLASTIC PORTION OF HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY FELL OFF AFTER CONDENSATION CAUSED GLUE TO FAIL. THIS HAPPENED ONCE WITH EACH HEAD LAMP. *JB

POWER STEERING MODULE FAILED AT 5-10 MPH WHILE TURNING AROUND IN A PARKING LOT.*JB

REAR BUSHINGS MAKE EXCESSIVE NOISE. REPLACED ONCE BY DEALER. CONTINUE TO MAKE SOME NOISE.*JB

LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING IS SHOWING SIGNS THAT IT IS ABOUT TO FAIL.*JB

THE ALTERNATOR FAILED.*JB

HEADLIGHT COVER CAME OFF AND LIGHT BULB EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. *AK

SRS AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. I ASSUME THAT IS THE PASSENGER SIDE HARNESS FAILURE WHICH I SEE SO MUCH INVESTIGATIONS ON. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER INVESTIGATIONS, WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SO I AM REPORTING THIS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET A RECALL CAMPAIGN STARTED. *JB

I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW. IN JANUARY OF 2003 THE CAR STARTED DYING WHILE DRIVING IT AT SLOW SPEEDS. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT. IT ALSO HAS TWICE STOPPED WHEN I AM GOING SLOW ON A LARGE LOOPING ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE INTERSTATE. EACH TIME THE CAR WILL START RIGHT UP AGAIN AND RUN FINE. THERE IS NO PRIOR WARNING THE CAR IS GOING TO DIE. I FIRST NOTICED IT DIED WHEN I WA NO LONGER ABLE TO STEER THE CAR, BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING IS GONE. IN FEBRUARY 2003 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT. I WAS CHARGED $36.25 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I ASKED WHAT I SHOULD DO SINCE THE CAR KEEPS STALLING AND I BELIEVE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I WAS TOLD TO TRADE IT IN. *JB

THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN TO THE LEFT, HOWEVER IT TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND. THE DEALER STATED THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB