1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM Complaints

1) FRONT ABS BEGAN TO PULSATE AS IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN A SKID HOWEVER THIS HAPPENED DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND BRAKING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. 2) ABS WIRING HARNESS WAS FAULTY DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR FROM TURNING THE WHEEL 3) HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT ABS WIRING HARNESSES THIS BRAKING SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS BRAKING ISSUES. *TR

1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM TIRE BLEW CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND END UP IN A DITCH. *KB THE VEHICLE HAD DAMAGE TO THE REAR AXLE AND LEFT SIDE MIRROR. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AT A STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS OF OCTOBER 15, 2007, THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V070000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH). THE CONTACT FELT THAT HER VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ THE DEALER STATED ENGINE REPLACED IN JUNE. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

THE IGNITION KEY CONTINUES TO GET LOCK OR STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS REPRESENTS A SECONDARY SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT CAR HAS KEY IN THE IGNITION AT ALL TIMES. BATTERY COULD DRAIN LEAVING PASSENGERS AND DRIVERS STRANDED IN UNSAFE OR UNABLE TO REACT TO UNSAFE SITUATIONS (CRIMINAL PURSUERS, ASSAILANTS, ETC). BECAUSE YOUR CAR HAS BEEN DRAIN DUE TO AN IGNITION DEFECT THAT LOCKS YOUR KEY IN THE IGNITION. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND SPARKS UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT DID NOT MAKE THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL # 97V059000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 102,715.

PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM ON 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM DISABLES CAR'S ABILITY TO START. I HAVE HAD IGNITION SWITCH FIXED 2 TIMES ALREADY- THE LAST TIME BEING 2 YEARS AGO. AND THEY WANT ME TO REPLACE IT AGAIN! *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER. THERE WAS A RECALL ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE FOR THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE IN CANADA. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS 03-162. UPDATED 12/28/2006 - *NM

PURCHASED CAR NEW AT END OF 97 MODEL YEAR. WITHIN FIRST SIX MONTHS RETURNED CAR SIX TIMES DUE TO DEFECTIVE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS. PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN CORRECTED. CAR CLUNKS AS IT IS EITHER TURNED TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT OR TRAVELS (SLOWLY) OVER SPEED BUMPS. ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED PAINT PEELING FROM OUTSIDE MIRRORS, RADIO VOLUME CONTROL PROBLEMS, RADIO/CLOCK DISPLAY WORKS ONLY PART OF THE TIME, RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MOUNTING BROKE AND SLID PASSENGER INTO DASHBOARD, 2 DOOR SPORT COUPE-BOTH POWER WINDOWS MOTORS HAVE BROKEN AND BEEN REPLACED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW JUST BROKE FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS. PASSENGER WINDOW HAS ALSO STARTED TO ACT SLUGGISH. DISCOVERED LEAKY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. ANOTHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR. RAIN LEAKS INTO CAR AROUND WINDOW GASKETS WHICH ALSO MAKE A HISSING SOUND AT SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH. CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN WITH CARE FOR NINE YEARS(ODOMETER=80,000 MILES) AND HAS HAD OIL CHANGES, TIRE ROTATIONS, ETC. COMPLETED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. OWNER CANNOT AFFORD ADDITIONAL COSTLY REPAIRS ESPECIALLY SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE GOING DOWNHILL FROM HERE. DISGUSTED WITH PROBLEMS AS WELL AS WITH LACK OF SERVICE FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT PONTIAC DEALERS. OWNER CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY A [DECENT] NEW CAR AND WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE SOMETHING USED. MAKE NO MISTAKE- IT WON'T BE A GM PRODUCT! *NM

TOOK VEHICLE TO MURPHY MOTORS, DEALERSHIP HERE IN MY HOME TOWN. TOOK TO THEM DUE TO FACT MY HEAT GAUGE KEPT RISING AND I DIDN'T WANT TO RUN CAR HOT ;WENT TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. TECHNICIAN STATED THAT HE PUT THE CAR ON THE CODE MACHINE AND RAN IT. SAID CODE POPPED UP TRANSMISSION. I DIDN'T TAKE CAR IN FOR TRANSMISSION. THEY REFUSED TO FIX OVERHEAT PROBLEM. SAID WOULD HAVE TO PAY $2,500.00 TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. PICKED UP CAR TOOK TO CLIFFORD VINE GARAGE. HE LOOKED AT CAR AND IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME THE RADIATOR WAS POURING WATER OUT OF IT. HE REPLACED RADIATOR AND COOLING FAN. HE PUT CAR ON CODE MACHINE AFTER REPAIRING THOSE TWO ITEMS AND DID NOT SEE A CODE FOR TRANSMISSION. AFTER THAT ALTERNATOR WENT OUT, AND TWO DAYS LATER, MY COMPUTER AND FUEL INJECTORS WENT OUT. MURPHY MOTORS RAN CAR CHECKING TRANSMISSION NO TELLING HOW LONG AND PROBABLY RAN WITHOUT WATER SINCE RADIATOR WAS POURING IT OUT. THEY DIDN'T MENTION PROBLEM WITH RADIATOR AT ALL, JUST TRANSMISSION CODES. I FEEL THEY DAMAGED CAR WHILE RUNNING IT IN THEIR SHOP LOOKING FOR MORE MONEY TO GET OFF ME, LIKE $2,500.00 FOR A TRANSMISSION THAT HAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS CAR WAS A LEMON FROM THE FIRST DAY I GOT IT. I'VE HAD COIL HOUSING REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES BY MURPHY MOTORS AND BY JOHN HAYS PONTIAC-HOPE AR 71801 WHEN I BROKE DOWN. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED IN MORE TIMES FOR COIL HOUSING. GM NEEDS THIS CAR DROVE RIGHT UP THEIR BACKSIDE FOR THE PROBLEMS IT HAS CAUSED AND CONTINUES TO CAUSE ME. I CURRENTLY HAVE A $750.00 OUTSTANDING SHOP BILL TO CLIFFORD VINES GARAGE IN EL DORADO, AR 71730 FOR THE LAST 3 TIMES IT WAS TOWED TO HIS SHOP FOR THE RADIATOR, COOLING FAN, ALTERNATOR, FUEL INJECTORS, AND COMPUTER. I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER PONTIAC AGAIN, THAT'S FOR SURE. *NM

NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM FOR REPAIRS/ REPLACEMENTS OF PARTS. DOOR WINDOWS DO NOT FUNCTION, MOTOR HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY FORMER OWNER, WE HAVE REPAIRED MOTORS ON DOOR WINDOWS SEVERAL TIMES ON OUR OWN, WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO UP AND DOWN AT ALL, COST TO REPAIR AT MECHANICS WAS OVER 400 AND WAS DONE BY FIRST OWNER AT LEAST ONCE. CAR SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND NOW SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN, CAR IDLES HORRIBLY, SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL BE BLOWING UP, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. PRIOR TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPUTER CAR FREQUENTLY STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING IN MID TURN OR WHILE GOING FORWARD, AND CAR FREQUENTLY WAS DIFFICULT TO START, EVENTUALLY NEEDING TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHO HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE COMPUTER. CAR HAS WHEEL BEARINGS THAT MAKE A LOT OF NOISE, SOUNDS LIKE WHEEL IS GOING TO FALL OFF. CAR HAS ACCELERATED ALL ON ITS OWN WITHOUT THE DRIVER STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL OR DOING ANYTHING AT ALL WITH ACCELERATOR, CAR RANDOMLY DECIDES BY ITSELF TO LUNGE FORWARD AND TRY TO DRIVE ITSELF. THIS STOPPED BRIEFLY AFTER THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED AND IS NOW HAPPENING AGAIN. *JB