1997 Pontiac Grand Prix complaints

NO SUMMARY. DT

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL BECAME TIGHT, THEN W/O WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL SNAPPED AND TURNED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND RAN OFF THE ROAD. *TS *NLM *DT

MR

ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN LEFT. TURNS TO RIGHT WITH NO PROBLEM. POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED WITH NEW ONE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. STEERING WHEEL IS OFF CENTER, TILTED TO LEFT. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. CONTACTED DEALER. THE WIRING HARNESS THAT SUPPORTS THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS DEFECTIVE. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON RESULTING IN VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLING OUT. CONTACTED DEALER. *MR

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE'S FRONT HEAD LIGHT LENSES DROPPED AND THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH LAMP ASSEMBLIES. *YH

WHILE DRIVING AT 3 MPH CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PREMATURE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. CONTACTED DEALER. *MR

FRONT LENS COVERING FALLS OFF AND HEADLIGHT BURNS OUT. THREE FAILURES TO DATE. TWO DEALERS SAID THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FAULT. MR

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEED TO BE REPLACED. *NLM *JG *NLM

CONSUMER STATES THEY WERE UNABLE TO REMOVE KEYS FROM IGNITION, AS A RESULT OF BEING UNABLE TO MOVE THE SHIFTER LEVER INTO THE PARK GEAR. DEALER CONTACTED. NLM

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE HEAD LIGHT COVER FELL OFF, WHICH RESULT IN THE BULB BLOWING, FROM THE EXPOSURE.DEALER CONTACTED. NLM

REAR VIEW MIRROR IS OOZING SOME SORT OF LIQUID THAT HAS MELTED ON MIRROR. THE UNKNOWN LIQUID HAS BURNED A HOLE IN THE PLASTIC (CONSOLE). THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE, AND WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE CONSOLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES, AND WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN ROAD RIGHT HEADLIGHT MODULE FELL OUT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

STEERING RACK HAS YET TO ACTUALLY GO OUT. WHILE DRIVING I HAVE BEEN NOTICING VERY SLIGHT LOCKUPS WHILE TURNING LEFT.*AK

I WAS GOING TO VOLLEYBALL, DOING 70MPH WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP. LUCK ME I WAS CLOSE TO THE TEE INTERSECTION OF HWY E AND I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND TURN TO THE RIGHT AND STOP ON THE SHOULDER. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AROUND, BUT NOTHING WHEN I STARTED IT AGAIN NO PROBLEM ALL WEEKEND. BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN SUNDAY NIGHT AND EVER SINCE. ALMOST IMPOSSIABLE TO STEER THE WHEEL LEFT BUT NO PROBLEM STEERING RIGHT. MY SHOP GUY SAID IT WAS THE RACK, HE SAID HE'S SEEN ABOUT 5 OF THESE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH ON A FLAT SURFACE AND WITN NO WARNING, THE CONSUMER TEMPORARILY LOST STEERING CONTROL, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC

STEERING WENT OUT AS WIFE WAS LEAVING DRIVE--WOULD TURN TO RIGHT WITH LITTLE EFFORT BUT NOT TO THE LEFT--PROBLEM WAS RACK & PINION---FUEL RELAY WENT BAD HAD TO REPLACE AT 48600 MILES

STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP, BINDING AS IF SYSTEM IS STUCK INTERMITTENTLY. OWNER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT ALL THE FLUID IS FULL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

DRIVERS SIDE HEADLAMP COVER FELL OFF AND WITHIN 2 MONTHS THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP COVER FELL OFF. I DID NOT WITNESS EITHER ACTUALLY TAKE PLACE. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR FACILITY I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS MODEL YEAR OF VEHICLE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SEALANT USED AND THAT IT WAS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. HOWEVER, NO RECALL WAS DONE FOR THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS WHICH CAUSED ME TO HAVE NO LIGHTS FOR DRIVING AT NIGHT. I WAS OUT OF POCKET $275 TO REPLACE THE TWO "CAPSULES" AS THEY ARE CALLED.*AK

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN STEERING WHEEL LOCK UP ON HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS, VEHICLE MAKES A GRINDING NOISE FROM FRONT END. FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO POWER STEERING THEN IT COMES BACK HAPPENS ALL OF THE TIME*AK

FOR SEVERAL MONTHS FELT THE STEERING OF VEHICLE GETTING VERY STIFF. HAD IT CHECKED OUT SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTHING WRONG. MADE A SHARP TURN ON 8/7/02 INTO WORKING PARKING LOT AND HAD ALMOST NO POWER STEERING. VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS THE REST OF THE DAY AND TIME UNTIL I GOT IT INTO A AUTOMOTIVE SHOP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG.*AK

HEADLIGHT COVERS KEEP FALLING OFF. RIGHT ONE FELL OFF ONCE, THEN LEFT HEADLIGHT COVER HAS FALLEN OFF 3 TIMES.*AK

THE FIRE STARTED FROM AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL, THE ALTERNATOR. WE POPPED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES SO THEY SPRAYED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER UNDER THE HOOD AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THERE WAS ALREADY 6,000 DOLLARS WORTH OF ENGINE/ELECTRICAL DAMAGE DONE AND 2.5 MONTHS OF ME NOT HAVING A CAR. MY INSURANCE COVERED THE FIRE.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HEARD A LOUD NOISE. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL WIRING. *AK

WHEN EXITING DRIVEWAY, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, PREVENTING OWNER FROM MANEUVERING VEHICLE. OWNER TOWED VEHICLE TO COVINGTON TIRE AND SERVICE. THEY FOUND THAT DUE TO REAR BEARINGS BEING CHEWED UP AND DESTROYED, STEERING WAS INCAPACITATED. *AK CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS TO THE PUMP/HOSE SEAL. RETURNED THE NEXT WEEK BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WAS STILL PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE COULD NEVER LOSE STEERING. ON THE DATE INDICATED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE AND THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED. UPON CALLING GM, CONSUMER WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE SINCE THE REPAIRS WEREN'T DONE BY PONTIAC. *JG

VEHICLES STEERING LOCKS WHILE DRIVING. *AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. IT SEEMS THAT A PIECE OF THE STEERING RACK IS MISSING. *AK

WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS STEERING WOULD MOMENTARYILY STICK. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

RECALL 99V348000 REPAIRS ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE DONE IN JULY OF 2000, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY.*AK MAP LAMP ASSEMBLY, DOOR LIGHTS, REAR DOOR LENS, GASKET LAMP AND HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WERE ALL REPLACED, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER ADJUSTED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. BOTH OUTER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. WINDSHIELD COWL PANEL LEAKED AND WAS REPLACED. STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. SERPENTINE BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, VALVE COVER GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES, VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED 3 OIL LEAKS, OIL PAN AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED, A BELT SNAPPED AND HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE SUPERCHARGER GASKET WAS REPLACED. THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT MECHANISM WAS REPLACED. THE RADIO SKIPS AND THE RADIO MODULE TO THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE. 2 FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR JUMPER WIRING WAS REPLACED. *SLC

THE FIRST HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF AT 42000 MILES DURING A RAINSTORM WHICH BLEW OUT THE LIGHT. THIS WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER RECENTLY THE OTHER SIDE HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND BLEW THE LIGHT OUT. IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN IF BOTH LIGHTS WERE TO GO OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE GLUE.*AK

PE 01 038/STEERING RACK AND PINION: RACK AND PINION FAILED FOR SECOND TIME WITHIN 80,000 MILES OF WEAR. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INORMATION. *AK

WE FOUND THE HEAD OF THE BOLT AND THE WASHER UNDER THE CAR WHEN IT WAS PARKED. THE HEAD OF THE BOLT HAD CRACKED OFF RIGHT WHERE IT JOINS THE SHAFT OF BOLT. MY FATHER BOUGHT A NEW BOLT AND REPLACED IT. IT SEEMED VERY UNUSUAL THE WAY THE BOLT HEAD HAD BROKEN OFF. THE ENTIRE FACE OF THE SHAFT AND THE HEAD WHERE THE SHAFT WAS WERE RUSTED SO IT APPEARS THAT THIS HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR SOME TIME. WE HAVE BOTH PIECES OF THE BOLT IF YOU NEED TO HAVE IT AND A PARTS DISPLAY OF THE REAR SUSPENSION WITH THE BOLT CIRCLED IF YOU NEED THEM. IF YO HAVE QUESTIONS CONTACT MY FATHER AT THE SAME NUMBER OR VIA E-MAIL AT [email protected].*AK

THE LENS ON THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FELL OFF. IN TURN, THE BULB FAILED/BROKE AS IT WAS DIRECTLY EXPOSED. FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS PRECEEDING THIS FAILURE, BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES SHOWED CONDENSATION ON THE INSIDE OF THE LENS. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALER, BOTH THE PARTS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENTS INDICATED THAT THE GLUE THAT HOLDS THE HEADLIGHT LENS TO THE ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN FAILING. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS SITUATION BUT THAT GM IS NOT COVERING THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS KNOWN FAILURE.*AK

THE LENS ON THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FELL OFF. IN TURN, THE BULB FAILED/BROKE AS IT WAS DIRECTLY EXPOSED. FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS PRECEEDING THIS FAILURE, BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES SHOWED CONDENSATION ON THE INSIDE OF THE LENS. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALER, BOTH THE PARTS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENTS INDICATED THAT THE GLUE THAT HOLDS THE HEADLIGHT LENS TO THE ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN FAILING. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS SITUATION BUT THAT GM IS NOT COVERING THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS KNOWN FAILURE.

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE STEERING SYSTEM. *YH

THE SPEED CONTROL DISCONNECTS WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE TURNED ON DURING RAINY CONDITIONS. THIS REPEATEDLY HAPPEND OVER A FOUR DAY PERIOD WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN THROUGH THE MIDWEST. THIS PROBLEM HAS NEVER OCCURRED WHEN THE WIPERS ARE USED TO SIMPLY CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD DURING DRY CONDITIONS. *AK

I WAS UPSET THE FIRST TIME THE RACK AND PIONON FAILED AND THE POOR ATTITUDE OF THE DEALERSHIP. FOR $1,200, THEY WOULD INSTALL A NEW RACK AND PINION. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR, BUT DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I HAD A NAPA REPAIR DEALERSHIP REBUILD THE ORIGINAL RACK AND PINION ATA COST OF $500. THEY REPLACED THE SEALS WITH STAINLESS STEAL. THIS REPAIR LASTED 120,000 AND IT FAILED AGAIN. AN AUTO ZONE REBUILT RACK AND PINION WAS INSTALLED THIS TIME. ALTHOUGH THE STAINLESS STEAL SEALS LASTED LONGER THAN THE FACTORY ORIGINAL SEALS, THEY WILL FAIL AGAIN. PONTIAC MUST HAVE KNOWN THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THIS RACK AND PINION AS IT WAS ONLY USED IN THE 97 MODEL. A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER WAS USED IN THE '98 AND NEWER MODELS. AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE, I WROTE TO PONTIAC BUT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INDICATION THAT THEY WOULD CHECK ANY FURTHER INTO RACK AND PINION FAILURES. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED.*AK

VEHICLE EXHIBITS INCREASING FREQUENCY OF HARD STEERING AND NOISE FROM RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT OF CAR. LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE SOURCE OF NOISE OR HARD STEERING PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION. A RUBBING SOUND IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THIS MAY BE THE ONSET OF ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF YOUR RACK AND PINION STEERING SAFETY ISSUE WITH 1997 GRAND PRIX.*AK

RAPID COOLANT LOSS RESULTED IN TRIP TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. DEALER SAID BOTH UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS ON MY 3.8L ENGINE WERE BAD. REPAIR ADVISOR SAID SO MUCH COOLANT WAS IN INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT I WAS LUCKY THE ENGINE DID NOT SEIZE UP. TOTAL COST FOR REPAIRS WERE $1,051. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 47,723 MILES. CALLED GM ASSISTANCE LINE. THEY SAID, SORRY, OUT OF WARRANTY. INTAKE GASKETS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE. THIS WILL BE A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN AN ENGINE OVERHEATS FROM NO COOLANT AND CATCHES ON FIRE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE REPLACEMENT GASKET IS THE SAME DEFECTIVE DESIGN AS THE ORIGINAL. GM SHOULD COME UP WITH A BETTER GASKET DESIGN AND NOTIFY OWNERS OF PROBLEM AND PROVIDE FREE REPLACEMENT UP TO 100,000 MILES LIKE FORD DID WITH THEIR DEFECTIVE 3.8L ENGINE HEAD GASKETS.

SRS LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A WIRE DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP.*JB

RACK AND PINION LOCKED UP WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERESTION. HAD TO STOP CAR IN MIDDLE OF TURN DUE TO LOSS OF STEERING. BY TURNING ENGINE OFF, AND RESTARTING, I REGAINED STEERING AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE INTERESTION. CAUSE MUCH CONFUSION TO OTHER DRIVERS.*JB

DUE TO MOISTURE THAT GETS TRAPPED IN HEADLAMPS, THIS CAUSES THE ADHESIVE TO TURN BRITTLE AND INTURN LENS CAN FALL OFF. NOW THE RIGHT HAND HEADLIGHT LENS IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF TOO. HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES DUE TO POOR ADHESIVE USED IN PRODUCING THE HEADLAMPS.*JB

THE FAN TO RADIATOR DOES NOT WORK AND IT MIGHT CAUSE A FIRE IF THE CAR GETS TO HOT. *AK

VEHICLE CUTS OFF, LEAVING NO STEERING OR BRAKES. ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP FAILS, CUTTING OFF SOME OXYGEN AND GAS FLOW TO ENGINE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT HIS SUPERCHARGED GTP MODEL EQUIPPED WITH TWO-STAGE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP HAS A CERAMIC MOUNTED RESISTOR WHICH (BLEW OUT) FAILED CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO SHUT OFF DURING NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER SAFELY. *TT

DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS FELL OFF..PASSENGER SIDE LENS IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. ALL DUE TO MOISTURE THAT GETS TRAPPED IN HEADLAMP. VERY POOR ADHESIVE USED ON LENS.*AK