1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM Complaints

AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE HAS HAD A DIFFICULT TIME TRYING TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. HAS TAKEN ABOUT 4 HOURS. MECHANIC HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND HAS NOT FOUND PROBLEM. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT IT. *AK

THE FUEL LINE WAS DEFECTED THE GASOLINE SHOOTS OUT INSIDE OF THE ENGINE CARPARTMENT. NLM

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND LOOSES ALL STEERING FUNCTION, ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE CAN BE RESTARTED, THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM

ONE HOUR AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, A FIRE IGNITED IN THE TRUNK AREA. TRUNK LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF, ALL DASH LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. *AK *TT

WE HAVE HAD COOLANT LOSS THREE TIMES WITH NO VISIBLE LEAKAGE. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE CAR WAS "SUCKING THE COOLANT IN" RATHER THAN LEAKING OUT. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE 1ST TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET & OIL PUMP DRIVE RING AND VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKING. THE 2ND TIME, THE DEALER SIMPLE RESEALED THE INTAKE GASKET BUT DID NOT REPLACE. THE 3RD TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS AND RECHECKED FOR LEAKS. ALL OF THESE REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER EITHER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY (GOOD THRU 72,000 MI). WE NOW HAVE ALMOST 70,000 MI ON THIS CAR AND THE ENGINE IS SHOT! THE MAIN THROTTLE BEARING GAULDED AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY IS DENYING OUR CLAIM (EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE 2,000 MI LEFT ON EXTENDED WARRANTY) BECAUSE THEY SAY THE OIL IS "CONTAMINATED". I HAVE MAINTAINED REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND AM DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE IN APPROX 200 MI. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT INFORM ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE HAD THE OIL CHANGED AFTER ANY OF THE COOLANT LEAK REPAIRS. ALSO, WE HAD TO HAVE THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED WHEN THEN CAR WAS JUST 2 YRS OLD. PLUS WE HAD TO HAVE THE R&R SHAFT SEAL & BEARING KIT REPLACED 3 TIMES DUE TO SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. ALSO HAD TO HAVE SHIFTER ASSEMPLY REPLACED BECAUSE THE KEY WAS STICKING IN THE IGNITION.*AK

VEHICLE LOST POWER THEN ENGINE QUIT. DEALER MECHANIC INDICATED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE TO LET COOLING FLUID INTO CRANKCASE OIL. GASKET REPLACED, ENGINE FLUSHED 5 TIMES ($480) SUGGESTED ENGINE OVERHAUL. TWO WEEKS, ENGINE FAILED WITH KNOCK DUE TO PREVIOUS PROBLEM. RECEIVED LETTER FROM DEALERSHIP WARNING OF POSSIBLE INTAKE GASKET FAILURE RESULTING IN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. NO SATISFACTION FROM GM, FOUND 5 IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA WEB SITE, ATTORNEY CONTACTED, WE WILL BOTH INVESTIGATE. MY SITUATION IS, "NO CAR, STILL PAYING PAYMENT." OBSERVATION: GROSS DIREGARD FOR OBVIOUS ENGINEERING FLAW, SMAKS OF FIRESTONE WITHOUT THE DEATHS. *AK

LOWER CONTROL ARM HAVE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND HAVE FALLEN OUT. HOLDING ON BY A METAL BAR UNDERNEATH THE BUSHINGS. ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR GOING OVER A BUMP THE VEHICLE GRINDS MAKING A METAL TO METAL SOUND.

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS, BRAKES LOCK UP, REGULAR BRAKING, NO PANIC STOP. DEALER HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT ABS SYSTEM IS WORKING NORMALLY. *AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITHOUT COLLISION OCCURRING DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH FOR NO REASON, THIS OCCURRED ONE DAY AFTER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *YH