1997 Pontiac Grand Prix complaints

WHILE PARKING VEHICLE AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT, STEERING FELT TIGHT AS IF THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED, HOWEVER WHEN TURNING TO LEFT STEERING FELT NORMAL. DEALER DETERMINED THE RACK AND PINION HAD BROKEN.*JB *MJ

I SEE THAT YOUR DEPT HAS INVESTIGATED PS PROBLEMS ON MY VEHICLES BROTHERS AND COUSINS, MY LOCAL DEALER SAYS TOUGH ****, IF GM HAS A PROBLEM WHY DO YOU NOT MAKE THE FIX IT AND REBURSE PREVIOUS EXPENDITURES? I AM JUST LUCKY MY WIFE WAS NOT KILLED, THE STEERING LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE WAS ABLE TO RUN IT OFF THE ROAD SAFTLY. IF THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS RECTIFYING I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS. [email protected] GM CAN FORGET ME EVER BUYING ANOTHER VEHICLE, ITS JAP OR KOREAN FOR ME AND ANYONE THAT I CAN CONVINCE!*AK

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE, GOT OUT AND SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF HOOD. CONSUMER CALLED 911, AND VEHICLE EXPLODED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO WIPERS WILL FALL OFF ONTO THE SIDEVIEW MIRROR. *AKWIPERS HAVE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE. PONTIAC FIXED THE WIPERS BECAUSE OF AN ORIGINAL RECALL. THE DEFECTIVE PART OF THE WIPER IS NOW FAILING BECAUSE OF THE RECALL PERFORMED. PONTIAC EXPLAINED TO CONSUMER THAT THEY WOULD REIMBURSE, BUT AS OF YET HAVE NOT. *JG

THE RACK AND PINION GEARS ARE WEARING BADLY. I TOOK THE CAR TO PINES PONTIAC AND THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE RACK AND PINION IS STARTING TO WEAR. I THOUGHT THE POWER STEERING UNIT WAS BAD BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT.*AK

POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT AND HAD IT REPAIRED. POWER STEERING PUMP HAS GONE OUT AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND, DEALER REPLACED PUMP VALVES/HOSES, AND SEALS. POWER STEERING PUMP WA SFAILING CONTINOUSLY. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE LOCKS UP AND THEN SHUTSDOWN. WAS CAUSED BY FILTER BEING CLOGGED. REPLACED PART, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE INCASED IN A NO VENTED SYSTEM. SYSTEM BUILDS UP PRESSURE. WHILE DRIVING, HE HEARD A BANG AND SAW THE HEADLIGHT COVER FLY OFF OF VEHICLE ABOUT 15 FEET. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. NLM SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. *JG

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

STEERING SEIZED UP MOMENTARILY AND LASTED A FEW SECONDS. NOW THE STEERING FEELS A LITTLE SLOPPY, AND I HEAR A POP NOISE WHEN I TURN LEFT OR RIGHT AT SLOW SPEEDS (15 MPH). NLM

HILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING HEADLIGHT LAMP CAME OFF, CAUSING GLASS TO BRAKE AND SHATTER ON HIGHWAY.*AK

AS WITH MANY OTHER 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PIRX'S, THE POWER STEERING RACK HAS FAILED. LUCKILY, I NOTICED MINE WHILE CHANGING TIRES, AND NOT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, AND INJURING PEOPLE. *AK

RECALL 99V348000 REPAIRS FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WAS DONE, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. CONSUMER CANNOT SEE WHEN DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

WAS DRIVING 40-45 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THEN, VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES. HAD EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT.*AK *TT

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP & THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL, IT ROLLED OVER. THE CAR IS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND THE TWO PEOPLE INSIDE WERE INJURED.*AK

THE POWER STEERING AHS LEAKED FOR OVER A YR. I'VE TRIED TO KEEP IT FULL, BUT SOMETIMES WHEN MY WIFE DRIVES IT, IT GETS LOW AND IS VERY HARD TO STEER. *AK

STEERING RACK AND PINION BINDING UP, TURNING OUT OF PARKING LOT, AFTERWARDS, VEHICLE WOULD STEER FINE TO THE RIGHT, BUT WOULD NOT TURN TO LEFT WITH EASE, I HAD TO DOUBLE GRIP THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN THE CAR LEFT, I HAD TO USE 3 TIMES THE FORCE TO STEER LEFT THAN USUAL. TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP, REPLACED RACK AND PINION.*AK

DEALER'S SEVICE MAN STATED THERE IS LEAKAGE FROM THE LOWER AND UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND RECOMMENDS REPLACING GASKET AND UPPER MANIFOLD. I DON'T BELIEVE A CAR WITH ONLY 33,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM LIKE THIS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. NLM

THE HEAD LIGHT COVERS HAVE POPPED OFF TWICE RESULTING IN THE BULBS BURNING OUT QUICKLY. THE VEHICLE HAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. NLM

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP TO THE LEFT AND I HAD TO PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE TO MOVE THE WHEEL ONCE THE WHEEL BECAME MOVEABLE IT FELT VERY LOOSE. LATER ON THE SAME NIGT I WAS LEAVING WORK AND LUCKILLY IT WASNT A VERY BUSY TIME BECAUSE I WENT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND THE WHEEL LOCKED AND THE CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT CAUSING ME TO BARELY MISS HITTING A LIGHT POST, I THEN PROCEEDED TO PARK THE CAR WHILE TRYING TO GET TO A SPACE IT LOCKED UP ABOUT SIX TIME AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE SPACE IT LOCKED UP AGAIN AND TURNED THE CAR TO THE LEFT ALMOST LIKE I WAS DOING A U-TURN. THE NEXT DAY I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION AND IT WOULD COST $1400 TO REPLACE. I AM VERY UPSET ABOUT ALL THIS IT SEEMS NOBODY NOT EVEN THE MANUFACTURER FEELS THAT THIS ISSUES IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO HELP SOMEONE OUT. MY CAR IS NOW PARKED BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR RIGHT NOW, I HOPE THAT THERE IS A RECALL OF SOME SORT TO KEEP OTHER PEOPLE SAFE BUT IT SEEMS THAT PONTIAC/GM IS WAITNG FOR A FATAL ACCIDENT TO PROVE THERE REALLY IS AN ISSUE WITH THE PART. ALTHOUGH AT THIS POINT IT WOULDNT BE AN ACCIDENT.*AK

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT TRANSMISSION VEHICLE WON'T MOVE INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

CAR IS VERY HARD TO STEERING, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING HOURS. WHEN MAKING TURNS THE CAR ALL SHUTS OFF ALSO, IM NOT SURE IF THIS IS DUE TO THE STEERING PROBLEM. ALONG WITH THE HARD STEERING THERE IS A LOUD SHREEKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL. IVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE STEERING BEING SO HARD AND THE CAR JUST DYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THANK YOU>AK (TIRESIZE: 225/60-16)

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

LENSE FELL OFF HEADLIGHT. THIS CAUSED BULP TO BLOWOUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY WANTED TO REPLACED WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER JUST WANTS ONLY THE BULB. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD BIND WHEN TURNING MAKING CONSUMER USE FORCE TO GUIDE VEHICLE BACK ONTO THE ROAD. DEALER REPLACED RACK AND PINION. *JG

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPER ON DRIVER'S SIDE LIFTED OFF AND LANDED ON DRIVER EXTERIOR MIRROR. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND MADE REPAIRS AT CONSUMER'S COST. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*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. *AK

EXPERIENCING SEVERAL STEERING PROBLEM, DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION.

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING STEERING FROZE UP. ONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MANAGE STEERING WHEEL MANUALLY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER WAS MAKING A TURN AND HAD SOME TROUBLE WITH STEERING. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY FOUND OUT THAT RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE FIXED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

SERPENTINE BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN INTO OFFICE PARKING LOT ON 07-03-2000 I FELT THE SNAP OF SOMETHING BREAKING IN THE STEERING. I TOOK THE CAR TO LOCAL TIRE CENTER AND THEY VISUALLY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. ONE WEEK LATER TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON IL 394 GOING OVER THE BRIDGE THAT TURNS LEFT TO MERGE ONTO 94 NORTHBOUND THE STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT! I HAD TO MUSCLE IT TO KEEP THE CAR FROM HITTING CONCRETE WALL. DEALER SAID A SHAFT BROKE INSIDE THE POWER-STEERING RACK. PROBABLY BROKE 3/4 WHEN I NOTICED AND THE REST OF THE WAY WHEN I WENT OVER BRIDGE. DEALER FIXED FOR 1170.96 -NO WARRENTY COVERAGE- REPLACED ENTIRE POWER STEERING RACK.

HAVE SENT LETTER TO GENERAL MOTORS EXPLAINING THAT THE SEAT BACKS OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS DO NOT LOCK 100% OF THE TIME. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT THE SEAT BACKS NEED TO BE RELEASED BY THE BLACK KNOBS ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT. THE DEALER SAYS THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO USE THOSE TO RELEASE THE SEAT . WHO IS RIGHT, DO I HAVE DEFECTIVE SEATS BY DESIGN OR NOT?I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE AN INSPECTION I NEVER RECEIVED A REPLY TO MY LETTER TO GM EITHER. I FEEL THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT.

THE STEERING STARTED TO LOCK UP WHILE TURNIG TO THE LEFT AND THEN THE WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER MAKING A TURN WITHOUT ACTUALY TURING THE WHEEL BACK. I'M NOT SURE HOW LONG THE PROBLEM WAS THERE BEFORE WE STARTED NOTICING THE STEERING DIFFICULTY BUT THE FLUID WAS REALLY CONTAMINATED FROM THE RACKS FAILURE THUS RUINING THE POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO. WE HAVE HAD BOTH REPLACED BUT THE MAGNA/STEER IS STILL INOPERABLE, THEY ARE GOING TO INSTALL ANOTHER RACK AND PINION. WHEN THESE RACKS FAIL IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF PONTIAC WILL REMBURSE US FOR THIS FAILURE, WE HAVE OVER A $1,000. IN IT AND IT'S STILL NOT RIGHT. AGAIN THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT LOW SPEEDS (APPROX 20- 30 MPH) THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN A HEAD-ON CRASH, SINCE I WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY MAKE MY LEFT TURN. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, WHERE I LEARNED THAT THE RACK AND PINION FAILURE WAS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DESCRIBE THE PROBLEMS I WAS HAVING WITH THE CAR PERFECTLY. AFTER PAYING APPROXIMATELY $1700 TO HAVE THE PARTS TOTALLY REPLACED, THE CAR NOW WORKS FINE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHT COVERS FELL OFF FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THIS WAS A REOCCURRING PROBLEM, CAUSING TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS AND SAFETY HAZARDS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN WET WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED. WIPERS GET STUCK AT A STRAIGHT UP POSITION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN STEERING SHARPLY TO THE LEFT,,,THE CAR WOULD FIGHT THE INPUT TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR AFTER THE TURN...SO WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AFTER A SHARP TURN TO THE LEFT,,THE STEERING WOULD BECOME VERY STIFF, ALMOST LIKE REVERTING TO MANUAL STEERING AND NOT POWER STEERING. BECAME DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE DRIVER INPUT NEEDED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TRY TO STOP YOUR INPUT OF A TURN. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF INVOLVED IN A MANEUVER TO AVOID SOMETHING IN ROAD. HAD TO HAVE STEERING RACK REPLACED. THANK YOU. *AK

WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE STEERING RACK FAILED CAUSING MY CAR TO CRASH. GM UNWILLING TO DISCUSS ISSUE.*AK

STEERING GRADUALLY BEGAN LOCKING UP ON TURNS, SO WE WERE FORTUNATE TO DISCOVER THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK

ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, STEERING COLUMN LOCKS, BRAKES BARELY FUNCTIONED. ALTERNATOR REPLACED TWICE. DIAGNOSED WITH SAME PROBLEM. ONCE IN JULY 2001, AGAIN IN AUGUST 2001. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. DRIVES OK NOW, BUT WORRIED IT WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS. IN AND OUT OF SHOP 4 TIMES IN PAST YEAR FOR SAME PROBLEM. BACK IN SHOP TODAY FOR WHO KNOWS WHAT.

ENTIRE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM REPLACED AT MY COST OF $829.00 ON JANUARY 3, 2002. DEALER INDICATED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH PONTIACS AND GMC MODELS. I HAVE WRITTEN TO GMC CUSTOMER CARE CENTER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT RACK AND PINION GEAR ASSEMBLY AND HOSES FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK UP WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT

WHILE DRIVING, STEERING LOCKED UP AND WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN LEFT. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND REPLACED RACK AND PINION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

POWER STEERING LOSS WHEN TURNING, STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT IS LOCKING CAUSING DRIVER TO OVERCOMPENSATE.*AK

THE POWER STEERING IS EXTREMLY HARD TO TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD. THIS CONDITION OCCURS FOR APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES AFTER STARTUP. I NOW WARM THE CAR UP FOR A WHILE BEFORE BEGINING TO DRIVE.*AK

WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN AT HIGH SPEEDS, BRAKES TAKE SOME TIME TO DRY OFF AND BEGIN TO BECOME EFFECTIVE. DRIVER MUST BE AWARE OF THIS AND ALLOW EXTRA STOPPING ROOM FOR WET BRAKES. *AK

WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HILL ON HIGHWAY ONTO A SLIGHTLY RAISED BRIDGE AND THE ACCELERATOR IS APPLIED TO GO UP THE NEXT HILL, THE ENGINE ENTERS RACE CONDITION (GOES FROM 2,000 RPMS TO 3,000). RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR STOPS THE CONDITION. HAS OCCURED 3 TIMES ON THIS DAILY COMMUTE OVER THE 4 YEARS.*AK