2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM Complaints

ON 3-14-12 THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD BEEN ON AND I TOOK IT IN TO GET LOOKED INTO AT THE DON LEDFORD'S CAR DEALERSHIP IN CLEVELAND TN. ON THIS DATE THEY RAN TEST AND FOUND NO LEAKS AT ALL. THEY SAID IT WAS OK TO DRIVE THE CAR. ON 07-27-12 I TOOK THE CAR IN TO GET A NEW IGNITION SWITCH BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME AT THE DEALERSHIP I NEEDED A NEW IGNITION SWITCH.THE CAR WOULD NOT START PERIODICALLY AND IT WAS CAUSING PROBLEMS GETTING TO WORK. THEY FIXED OR REPLACED IT AND A COUPLE OF DAYS WENT BY AND I WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR STARTING. I DO HAVE A WITNESS ON THIS INCIDENT THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT START WITH THE NEW IGNITION SWITCH. ON 08-09-12 AND THE ELECTRICAL PART ON THE IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT AND THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPEN IF I HAD GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS DEFAULT. I PAID OVER FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THIS IGNITION SWITCH AND NOW 2014 THEY ARE RECALLING THE IGNITION SWITCHES ON THESE CARS AND FIXING THEM FOR FREE AT NO COST. I DO BELIEVE THEY NEED TO GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK FOR THESE REPAIR COST WHEN THE PART WAS BAD AT FIRST WHEN THEY MADE THIS CAR? I TRIED TO GET A IN TOUCH WITH THE MANAGER OF DON LEDFORD'S ON NORTH LEE HWY. AND HE WILL NOT CALL ME BACK. SHOULD I GET A LAWYER?? *TR

LAST MONTH MY CAR STARTED REVVING UP RANDOMLY WHILE IN PARK. ONCE I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT WOULD PULL FORWARD ON IT'S OWN SPEEDING UP TO 40 MPH IN THE WORST CASE. IT RAN SO ROUGH PULLING AND STOPPING THE ONLY THING I COULD DO WAS PUT IT IN PARK UNTIL THE RPMS CAME BACK DOWN TO A NORMAL RATE. FROM THAT POINT ON, EVERY TIME I STARTED THE CAR WHEN IT WASN'T WARMED UP THIS WOULD HAPPEN. IT USED TO ONLY TAKE ABOUT A MINUTE FOR THE RPMS TO SETTLE AND THE CAR TO RUN FINE. NOW IT TAKES ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF WARMING UP, SETTLING AND THEN DRIVES VERY POORLY IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. ONE MONTH LATER THE CAR HESITATES WHEN GIVEN GAS, BEGINS TO "RUMBLE" SLOWING DOWN, AND FEELS LIKE IT WILL STALL OUT AS THE CARS RPMS APPROACH 0. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM. THEY SAID THE RPMS WERE LOWER THAN NORMAL ON IDLE. I READ ONLINE THAT THERE COULD BE A VACUUM HOSE LEAK CAUSING AIR TO BE FORCED INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING THE ISSUE BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. TODAY WHILE TURNING IN AN INTERSECTION MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, PRESSING ON THE GAS NO LONGER MOVED THE CAR BUT MY RADIO, AIR CONDITIONING AND ENGINE... WAS STILL RUNNING. LUCKILY I DIDN'T HIT ANYONE (OR WAS HIT BY ANYONE). AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR I REGAINED CONTROL OVER THE STEERING AND GAS. DRIVING HOME AFTER THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE PROPERLY AND HESITATED CONSTANTLY. IT WAS AS THOUGH I WAS DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR AND SHIFTING GEARS POORLY... *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. WHEN THE KEY FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION INDEPENDENTLY THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE ON POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. REMAILED 10/01/14*LJ

IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS VEHICLE MAY ALSO HAVE HAD A IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM LIKE LATER MODELS. I BELIEVE THAT LOOKING INTO THESE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES IN EARLIER MODELS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. FOR THE LAST 3.5 YEARS I HAVE JUST EXPLAINED MY DAUGHTERS ACCIDENT AS JUST AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT, BUT AFTER SEEING SOME OF THE CRASH SCENE PHOTOS FROM A NEWER VEHICLE ACCIDENTS THEY SEEM TOO FAMILIAR TO WHAT MY DAUGHTERS ACCIDENT LOOKED LIKE. THE AIRBAGS WERE NEVER DEPLOYED, THE ABS BRAKES DID NOT WORK, THE SKID MARKS SHOWED NO SIGN OF BRAKING ONLY SLIDING. IF YOU INVESTIGATE FATALITY ACCIDENTS WITH EARLIER MODEL GM CARS THE DEATH TOLL WILL MOST LIKELY BE GREATER THAN THE 13 THAT GM IS CURRENTLY ADMITTING TO. PLEASE INVESTIGATE OLDER MODEL CARS SO THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES CAN HAVE REAL CLOSURE AND NOT JUST SPECULATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD SLIP OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN 2005 - INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING OIL, CAR OVERHEATED ON MY WAY TO WORK COULD NOT DRIVE HOME. CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC - AFTER EVALUATION IT COST ME $700.00 TO FIX. THEN IN 2007 MY ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT LEFT WHEEL HUB WAS DAMAGED AND SENSOR WAS NOT WORKING, SO I HAD IT CHANGED $300.00. THEN IN 2008 I HAD THE RIGHT WHEEL HUB CHANGED DUE TO SAME PROBLEM AS LEFT SIDE $300.00 MORE. IN 2009 THE POWER STEERING BELT WAS PROBLEM LEFT ME STRANDED @WALMART IN PA, HAD CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC HE CHANGED POWER STEERING BELT PLUS OTHER TIME RUNNING BELTS AT SAME TIME. COST ME $375.00. NOW IN DEC. 2013 I HAVE A PROBLEM AGAIN WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING OIL & ANTIFREEZE MAKING CAR OVERHEAT, LEFT ME STRANDED IN ALLENTOWN, PA, HAD CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE IN STROUDSBURG, PA COST ME $225.00. NOW I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET MY CAR FIXED AND HAVE BEEN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS HERE AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME FROM 1,200 TO 2,000 FOR THE WORK. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I ALSO MAKE SURE THAT I SERVICE MY CAR FOR OIL CHANGES, ALL FLUIDS AND STATE INSPECTION ON TIMELY BASIS. GET NEW TIRES WHEN NEEDED I RATHER DONATE IT THEN SPEND MORE MONEY ON THE CAR. MANY MECHANICS I WENT TO SAY THAT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAS THESE ISSUES, THE COST OF THE PARTS IS UNDER $100 BUT THE LABOR IS THE MOST BECAUSE IT TAKES ABOUT 6 TO 7 HOURS TO DO WORK AND HALF THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REMOVED WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DO WORK QUICKLY. WORD OF ADVICE WHEN BUYING A NEW CAR, FIND OUT ABOUT REPAIR COST FOR CAR BECAUSE ONCE YOUR WARRANTY IS OVER THE COST ARE OUTRAGEOUS. IF YOU KNOW OF A GOOD MECHANIC THAT DOESN'T CHARGE AN ARM OR A LEG PLEASE ADVISE, THANKS. *TR

I BOUGHT A CAR FROM BUDGET AUTO SALES AND I HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES INCLUDING BRAKES, AIR BAG, ELECTRICAL, GAS LEAKING,BRAKE LINES, STEERING PROBLEMS, MUFFLER AND EXHAUST PROBLEMS ALONG WITH BAD TIRES AND GETTING MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED, CHANGING ALL FUSES AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE MIRRORS, TIRE RODS AND AXLE SHAFT ALSO. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP CONSTANTLY WHILE I MADE CONSISTENT ON TIME PAYMENTS. THE CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE HAD AN AIRBAG REPLACED WHEN I PAID FOR A RENTAL CAR. MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 4 DAYS . LATER ON I GOT INTO A BUMPER TO BUMPER ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY BRAKE LINES WERE INCAPABLE AFTER SENDING THEM INTO THE SHOP.AFTER GOING TO THE PONTIAC DEALERSHIP AND PAYING 200 DOLLARS TO HOOK MY AIRBAG UP IT WAS CODED THAT MY CAR HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT ON ONE OF THE DAYS THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP GETTING SERVICED. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD CLEAR MY DASH BOARD SO NONE OF MY LIGHTS WOULD APPEAR. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO NUMEROUS AUTO SHOPS MULTIPLE COMPANIES INFORMED ME THAT THEY EITHER COULDNT FIX THE CAR OR THAT IT WASN'T WORTH FIXING. THE VEHICLE IS BARELY RUNNING TODAY AND I AM STILL PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO IT. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES TO GIVE ME MY OLD CAR BACK OR GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK. EVEN AFTER I PAYED THE VEHICLE OFF EARLY THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE AND THAT THEY DIDNT WANT THE CAR. I BELIEVE THAT I WAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE AND THEY PUT ME IN A DEATH TRAP SO THEY COULD LINE THEIR POCKETS AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A SINGLE DISABLED MOTHER JUST TRYING TO HAVE DECENT RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. I WOULD HAVE FILED A REPORT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BUT THE CAR IS OVER 8 YEARS OLD AND I WASN'T AWARE THAT I COULD FILE A CLAIM UNTIL JUST RECENTLY. *TR

SEE BELOW. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SIGNALS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. I WOULD HIT THE HAZARD SWITCH OR HIT ON THE CONSOLE FOR THEM TO WORK, BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD. I TOOK VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION AND WAS REJECTED. I CALLED PONTIAC TO SEE ABOUT RECALL FOR THIS. MY VIN DID NOT MATCH RECALL. WAS TOLD IF I HAD IT INSPECTED AT GM DEALERSHIP THAT THE PRICE TO FIX IT MAY HAVE BEEN REDUCED. TOOK IT TO WHERE I HAD IT INSPECTED AND IT WAS FIXED FOR $80. PONTIAC DID NOT OFFER ME ANY AT COST OR REDUCED PRICE TO HAVE IT FIXED IF I TOOK IT TO GM BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE IT INSPECTED THERE ORIGINALLY. THEY GAVE ME A REF # IN CASE THERE WAS A REIMBURSEMENT OF THE SERVICE AND REPAIR AT A LATER DATE. REPORT RECEIPT DATE: AUG 28, 2003 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V327000 COMPONENT(S): EXTERIOR LIGHTING ALL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RECALL VEHICLE MAKEMODELMODEL YEAR(S)CHEVROLETMALIBU2000-2001OLDSMOBILEALERO2000-2001PONTIACGRAND AM2000-2001DETAILS 19 ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS MANUFACTURER: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.SUMMARY: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE HAZARD WARNING SWITCHES THAT MAY EXPERIENCE SOLDER JOINT CRACKING CAUSED BY RAPID TEMPERATURE TRANSITIONS AND THE SOLDERING PROCESS. IF SOLDER JOINT CRACKING OCCURS AND RESULTS IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT, THE TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD LAMPS BECOME INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE. CONSEQUENCE: WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS ARE INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER CANNOT USE THEM TO SIGNAL INTENT TO TURN THAT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. NOTES: GM RECALL NO. 03043. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236). *TR

INTAKE MANIFOLD ,LOWER GASKET ROTTED AWAY, MIXING OIL AND ANTIFREEZE, LIKE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, I HEAR THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ENGINE. I FEEL GM SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ,LIKE A RECALL. IT MADE ME FEEL VERY DISGUSTED ,I FEEL I WILL SWITCH TO A DIFFERENT MAKE OF CAR. OR AT LEAST COMPENSATE. 900.00 LATER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BLOODY NOSE AND FACIAL LACERATIONS AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.