1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM Complaints

INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, THERE ARE RECALLS 88V927000 AND 96V257000; BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED DUE TO VIN. *AK THE INVOICE STATES THAT THEY CHECKED THE RECALL/CAMPAIGN-THEY HAD TO INSTALL ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE STEERING COLUMN TILT LEVER. *SCC

WITH NO PRIOR WARNING MY '96 PONTIAC GRAND AM SUDDENLY 'SHIVERED' OR 'SNEEZED' WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 55 - 60 MPH. ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND WERE BLINKING. THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AS WELL ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TRAVELING AS A RESULT OF THE ORIGINAL SPEED. I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OVER SINCE I WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON A MAJOR US HIGHWAY WITH NO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I QUICKLY TURNED ON MY WARNING FLASHERS, GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTLY WITH BOTH HANDS AND TRIED TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS THAT I WAS IN DISTRESS. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST INDEPENDENT SHOP, WHO, AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS AT REPAIRS, WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I EVENTUALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A PONTIAC DEALER WHO REPLACED THE 'IGNITION COIL'. I BELIEVE THIS INCIDENT IS A SAFETY DEFECT AND WOULD LIKE TO REPORT IT AS SUCH.*AK

IN THIS VEHICLE, BY 80,000 MILES, ALL 4 POWER WINDOW MOTORS HAD SEQUENTIALLY OVERHEATED AND FAILED WITH ORDINARY USE. THEY HAVE ALL HAD TO UNDERGO REPLACEMENT. IN ADDITION, THE ALTERNATOR HAS TWICE BECOME CLOGGED WITH DEBRIS (LEAVES, ETC). THROUGH ORDINARY USE, OVERHEATED AND FAILED. BOTH THE ORIGINAL ALTERNATOR AND A MANUFACTURER-BRANDED REPLACEMENT HAVE FAILED IN THIS FASHION, AND HAVE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT.

REAR WINDOW, PASSENGER SIDE AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING DUE TO THE ELECTRIC MOTORS FAILURES. *YH

NHTSA# 02 V 07 000/IGNITION : WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HORN STARTED GOING OFF, AND THEN NOTICED VEHICLE ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK AN INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF FIRE WAS ARSON. *JG

AT 62MPH PUSHED ON THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE, STAYING AT SPEED OF 62MPH. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN OFF VEHICLE. IT COULD HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

AFTER RECALL 02V070000 REPAIRS WERE DONE, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE CONSUMER TO REPLACE RECALL AGAIN.*AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN ROLLOVER ACCIDENT AND NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *TT

CONSUMER HAS BEEN REPAIRING THE IGNITION SYSTEM FOR OVER TWO (2) YEARS. A RECALL NOTICE WAS SENT TO CONSUMER RECENTLY. CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. *JG

NHTSA RECALL 02 V 070 000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH: AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, OIL LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT BEFORE THE RECALL KIT WAS INSTALLED THE CAR HASN'T BEEN RUNNING PROPERLY. ONE INCIDENT THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AND A SEMI-TRUCK WAS FOLLOWING. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A BAD SENSOR WHICH STILL DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEN ON ANOTHER OCCASION WAS TOLD THAT IT WASN'T THE SENSOR BUT A BAD FUEL PUMP. THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON 75 PERCENT OF THE TIME. *SCC