Page 5 of 5 · complaints 201–239 of 239

2006 Pontiac Grand Prix complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2006 record →

Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 28, 200940,000 milesNY

2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT FAILED DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING ,ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND PROBLEM WAS FAILURE OF THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT RELAY. HAVE SEEN THIS SAME FAILURE MANY TIMES IN THE PAST ON THE SAME MAKE AND YEAR CAR. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 40,000 MILES. OLD PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 29, 200985,000 milesMO

LOW BEAMS SHUT OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AND WON'T COME BACK ON, EVEN IF YOU TRY TO TURN THEM ON MANUALLY. THE HIGH BEAMS WILL WORK AND THE FOG LIGHTS WORK. IT SEAMS TO HAPPEN ALOT WHEN IT IS RAINING, AND WHEN IT IS WARM OUTSIDE. DOESN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN AS MUCH WHEN IT IS COLD. HAVE REPLACED THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CHECKED THE GROUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LIGHTS. HAVE ALSO CHECKED RELAYS, FUSES. AM CURRENTLY CHECKING WIRE CONNECTIONS AND TRACING DOWN WIRES FROM POWER SOURCE THRU TO ALL AREAS ASSOCIATED WITH LIGHTS. AFTER THAT, THE LAST STOP IS THE VEHICLE BODY CONTROL MODULE. IS GETTING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING. THE SAFETY HAZARD, IN MY OPINION IS HUGE DUE TO THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T TURN ON MANUALLY WHEN THEY GO OUT. *TR

Structure
Filed Sep 15, 200920,000 milesFL

ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY CAR I NOTICED MY DASH BOARD STARTING TO CREAK AND MAKE NOISES, WITHIN 2 MONTHS THE LEFT DASH BOARD SPLIT AND NOW 2 YEARS LATER SO HAS THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DASH BOARD CRACKED. MY HUSBAND DETAILS MY CAR AND KEEPS THE DASH PROTECTED BUT TO NO AVAIL I AM DRIVING AROUND WITH A CREAKING AND CRACKED DASH BOARD. *TR

Electrical SystemFire1 injured
Filed Jul 28, 200936,000 milesMO

2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX BASE MODEL 39000 MILES HEATER MOTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE THERE ARE NO MODIFICATIONS TO VEHICLE THE SPARE JACK ALSO COLLAPSED ON ME LANDING ON MY LEG GM HAS MADE NO EFFORT TO CORRECT OR REMEDY THE SITUATION BECAUSE OF BANKRUPTCY PLEASE POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 28, 200948,000 milesMO

I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE HEADING HOME IN THE RAIN. TRAFFIC WAS MOVING ABOUT 10 MPH. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, BUT I DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE. MY CAR DIED AND THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS BLANK-NO LIGHTS AT ALL. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SHUT IF OFF, AND IT RESTARTED WITH NO PROBLEM. HAS NOT OCCURRED BEFORE. OBVIOUSLY, A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN. *TR

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Jun 22, 200926,000 milesMO

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, AN ONCOMING VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND A CRASH OCCURRED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT BLACKED OUT AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS KNEE, HIP, BACK, NECK, AND SHOULDER BLADES. HE ALSO SUFFERED PINCHED NERVES AND OTHER MAJOR INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS ALSO TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS OR ITS CONDITION. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 26,000.

SteeringCrash2 injured
Filed May 19, 200994,500 milesCT

MY POWER STEERING WENT ON MY 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX THAT I PURCHASED FROM A DEALERSHIP ON 09/22/07. WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR THE STEERING COLUMN WAS MAKING NOISES. DEALER REPAIRED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IN APRIL MY WHEEL GOT TIGHT AND I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WASN'T NOTHING MUCH THEY CAN DO AND FOR ME TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION. I WAS UNABLE TO BRING IT IN DUE TO WORK SCHEDULE CONFLICTS. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND THE WHEEL LOCKED UP AND RESULTED IN MY CAR FLIPPING OVER AND A LOSS OF TOTAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR. THERE WERE 4 PASSENGERS AND WE ALL CLIMBED OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW WHILE THE CAR WAS FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. ME AND THE OTHER 2 PASSENGERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE ER VIA AMBULANCE. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed May 18, 200982,000 milesLA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND PROPERLY SECURE THE OCCUPANTS. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED APPROXIMATELY A WEEK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH OF 2009. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY TIME SHE WAS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER QUOTED HER AN INSPECTION PRICE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,336 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed May 10, 200925,000 milesWI

I AM WRITING A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY CAR. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2006. I HAD TO REPLACE THE STABILIZER PIN, WHEEL BEARINGS, FRONT BRAKES AND IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS WRONG IN THE STEERING WHEEL. PARTS INSIDE OF THE CAR ARE FALLING OFF. I'VE HAD TO BUY NEW TIRES DUE TO ALL THESE FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AND NOT KNOWING UNTIL IT HAS CAUSED A PROBLEM SOMEWHERE ELSE. NOW THE TIRES THAT I PURCHASED ABOUT A 1 1/2 YEAR AGO IS NOW VERY WORN FROM THESE FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. I AM VERY UPSET BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE, I HAVE BEEN ROBBED. I AM A SINGLE PARENT WORKING 2 FULL-TIME JOBS JUST TO PAY FOR A CAR THAT SEEMS TO BE BREAKING DOWN ON ME NO MATTER HOW MUCH I TRY TO TAKE TOTAL CARE OF IT. PAYING A VERY COSTLY CAR NOTE, INSURANCE, AND WARRANTY. I TELL MYSELF IS THIS WHAT I AM WORKING SO HARD TO PAY FOR. THIS CAR OUT WEIGHS WHAT I PAY FOR RENT EACH MONTH. I REMEMBER A TIME THAT PONTIAC MADE GOOD CARS THAT WAS BUILT TO LAST AS LONG AS YOU TAKE CARE OF IT. NOW IT SEEMS THAT IT IS BUILT TO BREAK DOWN BEFORE YOU COULD PAY THERE VEHICLES OFF. I AM REALLY FURIOUS AND OUTRAGED WITH THIS CAR THAT I CAN'T REALLY RELY ON. *TR UPDATED 06/02/09.*JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Dec 20, 200830,000 milesCA

TWICE, MY 2006 GRAND PRIX GXP HAS WORN OUT BOTH FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE FIRST INCIDENT SOCKED ME TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST $700! THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WITH FEWER THAN 13KMILES ON THE CAR. THIS TIME, I AM AT JUST OVER 30KMILES AND HAVE NOT YET APPROACHED MY DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEM! NEITHER TIME WAS THERE EVER A BRAKE-WEAR SENSOR INDICATOR NOISE; BY THE TIME ANY NOISE WAS HEARD, THE ROTORS WERE DESTROYED! I HAVE READ OTHER GRAND PRIX GXP OWNERS SAYING THE EXACT, SAME THING ON MANY AUTOMOTIVE-RELATED WEBSITES/BLOGS. PONTIAC DIVISION OF GENERAL MOTORS HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY NO HELP WITH THIS UNACCEPTABLY POOR PERFORMANCE!!! I FEEL THAT THIS IS LESS OF A BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM AND MORE OF A FRONT SUSPENSION DEFECT; TAKING PARTICULAR NOTE THIS TIME, THE ONLY NOISE IS MADE WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL EVEN SLIGHTLY AND I GET THAT AWFUL, SICKENING METAL-TO-METAL GRINDING NOISE!!!!!!! *TR UPDATED 2-3-09: WEB USER COMMENTS: PLEASE NOTE THAT SINCE I FILED MY COMPLAINT WITH YOU ON THE ROTORS AND PADS ON MY GRAND PRIX GXP, I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE PONTIAC DEALERSHIP WHERE I LEASED THE CAR. THIS TIME, THERE WAS BARELY ENOUGH THICKNESS LEFT ON THE ROTORS FOR THEM TO BE TURNED, BUT I HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS AT ALL 4 CORNERS DONE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ASSOCIATED BRAKE PADS! FURTHERMORE, THE REPAIR TECH NOTED ON THE RO THAT MY GXP WAS MISSING 3 HUB BOLTS ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION! THIS IS NOT GOOD! I COMPLAINED, ONCE AGAIN, TO THE SERVICE WRITER AND, THIS TIME, TO THE SERVICE MA

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Nov 11, 200850,000 milesFL

THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, > THE GMC MANUFACTURE FAILURE TO PROVIDER ADEQUATE COOLANT TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURE IS ALREADY AWARE OF THE ISSUES AND FAILS TO ADMIT OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING TO UNAWARE MOTORIST. THE ISSUE IS THE DEXCOOL COOLANT THAT DESTROYING THE CAR PERFORMANCE, RADIATOR, WATER PUMPS AND MAIN FOLD GASKETS. ONCE THIS DAMAGE HAS STARTED, THERE IS NO STOPPING IT. THE CAR IS A COMPLETE LEMON AND IT IS TOO LATE OR EXPENSIVE TO FIX THE DAMAGE. THERE HAS BEEN A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT ON VARIOUS GM MODELS DUE TO THIS DEX COOL ISSUE. UNLESS YOU KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUES AND RESEARCH THEM, THIS CAN BE HAPPENING TO YOU AS A GM CAR OWNER/LESSER AND YOU WOULD NOT KNOW IT. THE GMC DEALERS DOWN PLAY THE PROBLEMS YOU EXPLAIN TO THEM AND BLAME THE DRIVER OR JUST WEATHER CONDITIONS AND STATE" THIS IS NORMAL AND IT JUST HAPPENS SOMETIMES. THIS SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW AND REVIEW FURTHER BECAUSE NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS HORROR. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YOUR CREATING DAMAGE TO YOUR CAR BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST DRIVING AND THEN ONE DAY YOU GET A MESSAGE ON THE DASH BOARD THAT THE CAR IS OVER HEATING. YOU DO NOT KNOW WHY, HOE OR EVEN WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS. BY THIS TIME ITS TOO LATE. THE RADIATOR, WATER HOSES AND MAIN FOLD GASKETS HAVE BEEN ALL DAMAGED BY THIS ACID EATING DEXCOOL COMPONENT AND THEN ITS FINANCIALLY THE DRIVERS FAULT TO PAY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES, RANGING FROM ($400-$4000+). I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WHO PURCHASE A NEW V

Visibility
Filed Oct 22, 200845,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THEN STALLED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. SHE SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO PARK IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST TEN MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER, SHE NOTICED A LOUD NOISE AND HER VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE WATER PUMP THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC REVIEWED A DIAGRAM OF THE VEHICLE. THE DIAGRAM STATED THAT THE FUSE FOR THE WINDOW WAS NOT LOCATED IN THE PROPER PLACE. THE WINDOW HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 17, 20086,000 milesAZ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD HEADLIGHTS AND A BLUE TOOTH INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE STEREO MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE THAT COULD BE HEARD THROUGH THE SPEAKERS. WHENEVER IT POPS, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCES ELECTRICAL FAILURES AND THE CLOCK, INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES, AND THE STEREO WOULD RESET. OFTENTIMES, THE HEAD AND TAIL LIGHTS WILL DIM WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE TAIL LIGHTS HAVE BLOWN ON THE VEHICLE AT LEAST NINE TIMES. THE WINDSHIELD WAS BLURRY, WHICH RESEMBLED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND PREVENTED CLEAR VISIBILITY. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER INSTRUCTED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD ALREADY BEEN TO THE DEALER A MINIMUM OF NINE TIMES AND THE FAILURES COULD NEVER BE DUPLICATED. THUS FAR, THE BATTERY AND DASHBOARD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE MOLDING FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAS BEEN REPLACED AS WELL; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES PERSIST. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Oct 2, 200800

WET ROAD CONDITIONS, BRAKE APPLIED, NO GRIP FELT WHEN BRAKING, CAR TAKING A GREAT DEAL OF DISTANCE TO STOP. DID NOT SLIDE, SIMPLY DID NOT SLOW DOWN. NEAR ACCIDENT DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP WITHIN NORMAL DISTANCE. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, MOST NOTABLE IN THE RAIN. DRIVER STATE HEARD A GRINDING TYPE OF SOUND ON DRIVERS SIDE. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Aug 13, 200821,118 milesCA

INDICATED "CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE". THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THIS ERROR CODE HAS PRESENTED. IN OCTOBER 2007, ADDITIONAL FAILURES PRESENTED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE NEGOTIATING A CURVE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO PONTIAC DEALERSHIP FOR PROBLEM. FIRST TIME AT DEALER, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED, SECOND TIME, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. DEALERSHIP IS ONLY PROLONGING ANOTHER FAILURE. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed May 30, 200835,000 milesPA

I HAVE 36,378 MILES ON MY 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX AND HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE SHOP FOR ROTORS 2 TIMES NOW. THEY HAVE TURNED THE ROTORS BUT THE BRAKES ARE STILL NOT RIGHT AND NOW OF COURSE ITS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ROTORS IN MY LIFE. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR. I ALSO HAVE A GAS TANK PROBLEM WHEN I FILL IT UP, IT WILL OVERFLOW. THE SERVICE PROVIDER (OSBOURNES IN DUBOIS, PA) SAY THEY CAN'T GET IT TO DO IT BUT IT HAPPENS TO ME EVERYTIME I FILL UP THE TANK. *TR

Service Brakes, Electric
Filed May 12, 200829,000 milesMO

THE BRAKES ON MY 2006 GRAND PRIX GT WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY - AGAIN. THEY WERE "SPONGY". THIS TIME, IT WASN'T THE ROTORS THAT WERE TURNED; LIKE LAST TIME. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. THE DEALER REPLACED IT. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Apr 28, 200835,000 milesAZ

I HAVE A 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GXP WITH 35,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS JUST TOLD THAT IT NEEDS ITS THIRD SET OF FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS. AFTER THE LAST BRAKE AND ROTOR REPLACEMENT, GROOVES WERE BEING MADE ON THE FRONT ROTORS WITHIN 2 MONTHS AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE BRAKES WERE WEARING NORMALLY. I UNDERSTAND THAT GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR PROBLEM AND IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. THE LAST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED ROTORS AND BRAKES FREE EVEN THOUGH NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS TIME THEY ARE TELLING ME THEY KNOW OF NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES AND THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THESE BRAKES TO NEED REPLACING THIS OFTEN. THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE/VENTED ROTOR COMBINATION THAT IS CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR. *TR

Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly
Filed Apr 6, 200848,000 milesWI

THE OUTER TIE-ROD ON MY 2006 GRAND PRIX NEEDS REPLACED. MY VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES AND I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE MY TIRES AFTER AROUND 45,000 BECAUSE OF THE TIE-ROD PROBLEM. ALL TOGETHER THIS IS COSTING ME AROUND $700 WHICH IS A LOT TO SPEND ON A PROBLEM THAT I FEEL IS A RESULT OF IMPROPER MANUFACTURING. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 11, 200859,090 milesMD

APPROX. ONE WEEK OF TRANSMISSION TRYING TO KICK INTO NEXT GEAR, THEN ONE DAY (AFTER ABOUT 4 DAYS OF THIS OCCURRING) TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DIED. ABLE TO PUT INTO DRIVE BUT TRANS WAS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH WHEELS (PER ONSTAR DIAGNOSTIC REPORT). HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER WHO SAID THAT THERE WERE "SEVERAL NOTES ON COMPUTER SYSTEM" AND THAT THE FLUID WAS "BURNT BEYOND RECOGNITION." HAD CAR TOWED TO A DIFFERENT SHOP W/ ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT WHILE TRANS. FLUID WAS A LITTLE BURNT, WAS NOT THAT BAD. EITHER WAY, A NEW TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE PUT INTO CAR AND THERE IS A CHANCE OF THIS HAPPENING AGAIN. PONTIAC/GM IS AWARE OF PROBLEM DUE TO TSB'S BEING PUT OUT FOR PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED YET. REFUSE TO PURCHASE A 3-4K TRANSMISSION FOR THIS PROBLEM TO PROBABLY HAPPEN AGAIN BEFORE 60K MILES. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Mar 9, 2008OH

I'M SEEING A LOT OF CARS ON THE HIGHWAY RUNNING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON BUT NO TAIL LIGHTS ON. I'M ASSUMING THIS IS DUE TO THE "DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS" ON VARIOUS CARS. EITHER THEY ARE DEFECTIVE OR THE OPERATORS HAVE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON AND THEY THINK THE REGULAR LIGHTS ARE ON. THIS IS SURELY CAUSING ACCIDENTS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Mar 4, 200869,000 milesIN

MY SISTER WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHICH IS A 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. SHE WAS TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND ON A HIGHWAY, WHEN A JEEP CHEROKEE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HER. MY SISTER WAS GOING ABOUT 55 TO 60 MPH, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRBAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT DEPLOY. HOWEVER, MY SISTER WAS NOT INJURED TOO BAD FROM THE ACCIDENT. I CALLED THE PONTIAC MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THAT BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED THAT THEY WERE NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT IT. HOWEVER IF SHE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED THEN THEY WERE GOING TO BE CONCERNED AND LOOK INTO IT. I WOULD THINK THAT A VEHICLE COLLISION AT ABOUT 60 MPH THE AIR BAG WOULD DEPLOY. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
Filed Feb 17, 2008OH

MASTER CYLINDER FAILED, NEW ONE ON ORDER, COMES IN BOTH ABS AND NON ABS, CAR IN QUESTION IS WITHOUT ABS. *TR

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Feb 13, 200810,100 milesLA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED A REFLECTION IN THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD UNDER THE REARVIEW MIRROR. THE REFLECTION IS CAUSED BY THE DASHBOARD AND IS MOST APPARENT WHEN DRIVING TOWARDS THE SUNLIGHT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,100 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,787. UPDATED 3/25/08 *CN

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 20, 200842,790 milesWY

THE VEHICLE SLID ON ICE THEREFORE SPINNING INTO A 360 WHEREUPON THE VEHICLE IMPACTED WITH A BRIDGE THEN THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE WITH THE INITIAL IMPACT AT 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE HIT THE BRIDGE WITH THE FRONT END AND THE REAR END, HOWEVER THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED AND THE SEATBELT DID NOT TIGHTEN. *TR

Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly
Filed Jan 18, 200837,000 milesVA

PREMATURE WEAR OF THE OUTER TIE ROD ENDS. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE (2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GXP) NEW, IT CURRENTLY HAS 37,000 MILES ON IT. ON JANUARY 16, 2008 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A VA. STATE INSPECTION STATION FOR AN ANNUAL SAFETY CHECK. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT BOTH OF THE OUTER TIRE ROD ENDS WORN BEYOND SAFETY ALLOWANCES. THE ORIGINATING DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE SERVICE WRITER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER DENIED COVERAGE UNDER THE BASIC WARRANTY, BASIC WARRANTY EXPIRED @ 36,000 MILES. CONTACT WAS MADE TO PONTIAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND A CASE NUMBER WAS ASSIGNED. THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER IS STILL PROCESSING ISSUE, NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE ON WHETHER GM IS GOING TO COVER REPAIRS UNDER THE BASIC WARRANTY. THE TIE ROD ENDS ARE NON- SERVICEABLE ITEMS, THEY ARE LUBRICATED AND SEALED WHEN INSTALLED AND SHOULD LAST WELL OVER 100,000 MILES. WEAR OF THIS PART CAUSES PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. FAILURE OF THIS PART WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR

Steering › Rack and Pinion › Pinion Shaft
Filed Jan 3, 200817,707 milesOR

2006 PONTIAC GRANDPRIX WITH 25000 MILES DEVELOPED EXCESSIVE NOISE FROM FRONT OF CAR. RACK&PINION WAS LOOSE & STEERING STUB SHAFT WORN OUT. VEHICLE STEERING STILL MAKES NOISE AND WANDERS.CLUNKING NOISES FROM BOTH TIRE AREAS,OUTSIDE EDGE OF TIRES HAVE CHUNKES MISSING AROUND WHOLE TIRE.POWER STEERING NOW MAKING NOISE AGAIN,VEHICALE TAKES VERY LONG TIME TO RECOVER FROM NORMAL ROAD BUMPS .LOCAL DEALERSHIP TELLS ME CANNOT DUPLICATE COSTUMER COMPLAINT,FRONT-END CHECKS OUT. DURING THE LAST YEAR FRONT SUSPENTION NOISE HAS INCREASED AND CONTROL AND STABILATY IS CONSIDERABLY WORSE.ALSO DEVELOPED CLUNKING NOISE FROM TRANSMISSION AND TRANSAXLE AREA RECENTLY.*CN

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Oct 30, 2007NJ

I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALERSHIP THAT MY 2006 GRAND PRIX GXP NEEDS BRAKES AND ROTORS ALREADY AT 15K MILES. THIS DOES NOT SEEM NORMAL TO ME OR TO ANYONE THAT I TALK TO FOR THAT MATTER. THIS CAR IS A YEAR OLD. I HAVE OWNED GM VEHICLES FOR 10 YEARS AND NEVER ONCE HAD A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES OR ROTORS, THIS SOON. THIS SEEMS TO ME AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT NOT A DRIVER INDUCED PROBLEM. *TR

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
Filed Oct 12, 200737,860 milesKY

A/C COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING CAR, THUS LEAVING THE DEFROSTER INOPERABLE. WAS NOT ABLE TO CLEAR FROST FROM OUTSIDE OF WINDOW OR MOISTURE BUILDUP ON INSIDE OF WINDOW CAUSING DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. *TR

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Oct 11, 2007MS

I HAVE A 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE PAINT PROBLEMS. IT IS A BLUE COLORED CAR AND THE LEAST LITTLE SCATCH SHOWS UP. NOT ONLY THAT, THERE SEEMS TO BE NO BOTTOM COAT OF PAINT, THEREFORE EXPOSING THE METAL. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT FORCE OR HIT...IT STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM..ALSO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OUTER LAYER MELTED. *TR

Tires
Filed Oct 5, 200737,000 milesTX

OUTER TIE ROD ENDS FOR BOTH FRONT WHEELS FAILED AT 39,000 MILES PROBABLY EVEN SOONER. TIRES WERE WORN OUT VERY QUICKLY AND HAD TO PAY 300.00 TO GET TIE RODS REPLACED. MECHANIC SAID THE TIE ROD ENDS MAY HAVE COME FROM THE FACTORY WITHOUT BEING GREASED AND THE DID NOT HAVE GREASE FITTINGS ON THEM LIKE THE NEW ONES HE PUT ON. FAILURE CAUSED TIRES TO JUMP AND SLOPPY STEERING, WHICH COULD OF BEEN DANGEROUS. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED TIRES WERE WORN OUT AT 35,000 MILES WHICH COULD OF HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE TIE ROD END FAILURE. UPDATED 10/24/07 *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 25, 200760,000 milesMI

VEHICLE DRIVEN FOR 60,000 MILES - 95% HIGHWAY MILES. COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE - SLIPPING AND UNABLE TO DRIVE, AND OIL POURING ON GROUND. WALK HOME FAILURE ON HIGHWAY. PONTIAC REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL WEAR. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Jul 19, 2007CA

MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES CAUSING ERROR CODES OF "CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE", "TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE", "STABILITY CONTROL FAILURE". DEALER VERIFIES FAILURES HOWEVER, SINCE THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE FAILURES; NO SERVICE IS BEING PERFORMED. TWO FAILURES PREVIOUS AND THIRD OCCURRED THIS DATE. PRIOR SERVICE APPOINTMENT OIL LEAK SERVICE REQUEST RESULTED IN MAIN SEAL FAILURE WHICH WAS REPLACED AS WARRANTY ITEM. ONLY CONSEQUENCES TO DATE HAVE BEEN TIME AND MONETARY LOSS. *JB

Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod AssemblyCrash
Filed May 30, 200737,000 milesNJ

MY VEHICLE HAD 32,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IT SEEMED THAT THE STEERING HAD A GOOD AMOUNT OF PLAY IN IT FOR ONLY BEING A YEAR OLD. MY GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND HIT A PARKED CAR. SHE WAS NOT INJURED. SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHY SHE LOST CONTROL AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER IT. IT LOOKED LIKE THE WHEEL CAME LOOSE FROM THE AXLE. THE DAMAGE COST $3,000 TO FIX. THE STABILIZER BAR AND TIE ROD ENDS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Tires
Filed May 16, 200715,700 milesMO

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSIDE TREAD OF THE VEHICLE'S TIRES WERE PREMATURELY WORN. AS RESULT, THE TIRE PENETRATED THE STRUT MOUNTS WHEN THE VEHICLE STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE RUBBER DEBRIS ON THE STRUT MOUNTS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED SERVICE # 010232001 ON THE SERVICE BULLETIN, NHTSA ITEM # 618086. THE DAMAGED TIRES TREAD DEPTH WAS 1/4 INCH. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,700. THE CONSUMER STATED INFORMATION ABOVE IS INCORRECT, ODI HAS RECEIVED 69 COMPLAINTS THAT ALLEGE A FRONT TIRE TO FRONT TIRE INTERFERENCE IN 2004 TO 2006 MODELS. THE COMPLAINTS INCLUDE TIRE SIDEWALL WEAR, TIRE FAILURE TO STRUTS, TIRE FAILED AT 40MPH OR MORE, AND ONE CRASH. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEFECT IS MACPHERSON STRUTS AND NOT THE ACTUAL TIRE. UPDATED 06/08/07 *TR

Suspension › Front › Macpherson Strut
Filed May 16, 200715,000 milesMO

THIS IS A CUMULATIVE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND FAILURE MODES ARE IDENTICAL TO THE GTO FAILURE CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE07010. MAKE: PONTIAC, MODEL GTO , 2006. COMPONENT : SUSPENSION:FRONT: MCPHERSON STRUT. TIRES:SIDEWALL. DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED : FEBRUARY 16, 2007 AND STILL OPEN. ODI RECEIVED 69 COMPLAINTS THAT ALLEGED A FRONT STRUT TO TIRE INTERFERENCE CONDITION IN MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2006 PONTIAC GTO VEHICLES. THE COMPLAINTS INDICATED THAT THE CONDITION CAUSED INNER SIDEWALL WEAR TO THE TIRES. SEVEN OF THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED TIRE FAILURE CAUSED BY THE INTERFERENCE CONDITION OF THE STRUT TO THE ADJACENT TIRE. FOUR OF THESE COMPLAINANTS CLAIMED THEY WERE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH OR GREATER WHEN THE TIRE FAILED. ONE OF THESE COMPLAINANTS ALSO STATED THE TIRE FAILURE CAUSED A CRASH. A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION WAS OPENED TO ASSESS THE FREQUENCY, SCOPE, AND POTENTIAL SAFETY IMPLICATIONS OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT. *AK

SteeringCrash2 injured
Filed May 1, 200734,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A DEER CROSSING THE ROAD CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING AS SHE AVOIDED HITTING THE DEER. ALSO, THE BRAKES FAILED AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER 3 TIMES. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER WERE INJURED WITH BROKEN BACKS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF PHOTOS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34000. *AK

Suspension
Filed Feb 20, 200715,010 milesPA

CAR MAKES A GROAN NOISE FROM FRONT END WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AT SPEEDS BELOW 5 MPH. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Dec 12, 2005300 milesIL

AIR BECOMES TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE'S COOLING SYSTEM. PROBLEM IDENTIFIED IN GM PI# C3711. THREE GM SERVICE CENTERS WERE UNABLE TO PURGE THE AIR FROM THE COOLING SYSTEM. NM

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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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