1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM Complaints

UNDER WARRANTY, REPORTED THE TRUNK AND REAR SPOILER FOR WATER LEAKAGE. EVERY TIME DEALER ANSWER, RESEALED TRUNK. AT 5TH ATTEMPT TO REPAIR LEAK OWNER REQUESTED SPOILER TO BE REPLACED DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE, OWNER FRUSTRATED. 2. ENGINE CONSUMES 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1500-3000 MILES DEALER RESPONDS WITH NO PROBLEMS. 2ND ATTEMPT DEALER PERFORMED OIL CONSUMPTION TEST RESULTS: NO PROBLEM, OWNER REPORTS STILL CONSUMES OIL AT SAME RATE. 3. CLUTCH: OWNER REPORTED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT OUT OF 1ST AND 3RD GEAR DEALER RESPONDED NO PROBLEM DRIVETRAIN. ALL REPORTED DURING WARRANTY PERIOD. OWNER CONTINUES TO DRIVE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. DEALER SERVICED VEHICLE OVERFILLED ALL FLUIDS OWNER DID NOT DISCOVER PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER 500 MILES OF DRIVING OWNER INFORMED DEALER THAT THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES TO VEHICLE AT A LATER DATE DUE TO PRE MATURE WEAR. CURRENT: 30000 LATER ENGINE CONTINUES TO CONSUME OIL AT HIGHER RATE APP. 1000 MILES 1 QT OF OIL , CLUTCH BURNED OUT AT 62000 MILES CURRENTLY IN SHOP AND GMAC WILL NOT REPAIR IN LUE OF PROIR SERVICE HISTORY. *AK

THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN MADE GRINDING NOISES WHEN MY 1996 GRAND AM SE WAS DRIVEN. THE NOISES EVEN PERSISTED AFTER THE GRAND AM WAS RETURNED TO THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM FOR SERVICE/REPAIR IN DECEMBER 1999. THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THE NOISES FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN COULD NOT BE FIXED AND SINCE THE CAR WAS "OLDER"- ONLY 3 YEARS OLD, ANY NOISES IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN SHOULD BE EXPECTED AND ARE NORMAL FOR A 3 YEAR OLD CAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME HE WOULD LOOK AT THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AS WELL AS THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENETS UNDER THE DASHBOARD TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT HE DID THE BEST HE COULD DO TO FIND AND REPAIR THE NOISES IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER, AND CONTINUED TO HEAR GRINDING NOISES FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, ON MARCH 31, 2000, AFTER DROPPING MY INFANT TO THE DAYCARE CENTER, I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN IN ADDITION TO THE TURN SIGNAL CHAMBER ON THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN BEGAN TO SMOKE. FLAMES BEGAN TO APPEAR FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AND A STEADY FLOW OF SMOKE. THE ELECTRICAL FIRE INCREASED IN SIZE AND WAS FINALLY BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL BY TWO FIRE ENGINE COMPANIES. MY 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM WAS TOWED, ASSESSED FOR DAMAGES AND FINALLY DEEMED UNSALVAGEABLE- A TOTAL LOSS. MY 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD. THIS INCIDENT SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

SENSOR FAILED AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT INDICATE THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. THE ENGINE SEIZED UP AND WAS SOLD FOR SALVAGE VALUE OR $1,500. THERE IS DOCUMENTED OIL CHANGES EVERY THREE THOUSAND MILES WITH SIMULTANEOUS COOLANT CHECKS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BUSHING THAT HOLDS THE CONTROL ARM THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE CHASSIS MAY DEVELOP MORE WEAR AND TEAR. THIS COULD CAUSE IT TO BREAK OFF, AND RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AND AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WITHOUT INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE CAR HAS BEEN A GOD CAR, BUT I HAVE READ AND TALKED WITH MANY OTHER THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. WHAT CAN BE DONE? NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

ANTI FREEZE ODOR COMES AS SOONS AS HEATER IS TURNED ON DUE TO HEATER CORE FAILURE. YH

ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) KEEPS FAILING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. PART HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *AK *ML

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH,FOR MAJOR REPAIRS, NOW ITS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 2 WEEKS AND THEY STILL CANT FIND THE PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,,,,AND THE VEHICLE IS MY LIVELY HOOD,,,,,,SO STRESSED DUE TO THIS VEHICLE BEENING IN THE SHOP AND THEY CANT FIND THE MAJOR PROPLEM,,, THIS CAR IS A LEMON,,, DATES THIS VEHICLE BEEN IN THE SHOP 9.30.99,,,10.18.99...11.08.99....12.17.99....1.24.00.. PLEASE HELP ME ONE THIS VEHICLE THANK YOU STRESSED OUT. *AK