1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE LINE FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO HER DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT SHE WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO BRAKE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SALES DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE FAILURE, ALTHOUGH SHE NOTICED IN MARCH OF 2009 THAT THE BATTERY FAILED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED ANOTHER BATTERY. THE SAME DAY, THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH THE CONTACT NOTICED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT HAD THE FAILURES REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT REMAIN ON. SHE HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER OR SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,533.

MY SON DROVE HOME FROM SCHOOL, PARKED THE 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX IN OUR FRONT YARD, WENT INSIDE FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE COMING OUT AGAIN TO FEED OUR ANIMALS AND NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. TRIED TO LIFT HOOD, BUT THEN NOTICED SMALL FLAMES AND DID NOT CONTINUE TO OPEN, BUT WENT AROUND THE HOUSE TO GET A WATER HOSE TO SPRINKLE ON THE CAR. LONG STORY SHORT, THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR BURNED AND IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AS IT WAS FAR BEYOND WHAT OUR HOME FIRE EXTINGUISHER COULD HANDLE. THE FLAMES AND DRIPPING MELTED PLASTIC IGNITED THE SHRUBS IN MY FRONT YARD IN FRONT OF THE DECK, AND IF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD NOT GOTTEN THERE WHEN THEY DID, MY DECK AND HOME WOULD HAVE BEEN BURNED DOWN AS WELL. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, BUT BELIEVE THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. I HAVE NOW FOUND A RECALL #08V118000 WHICH DESCRIBES WHAT MAY HAPPEN AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE DEFECT, AND IT MATCHES VERY NEARLY WITH WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN MY YARD. GM SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF MY VEHICLE, CLEANUP OF MY YARD, REPLACEMENT OF MY HEDGES, AND FOR SCARING (TRAUMATIZING) MY SON, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY. I AM THANKFUL THAT THE CAR WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT AM ANGRY THAT GM WAS AWARE THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AND WE NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION OF THIS THROUGH THE MAIL OR THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN 2005. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN HE LIFTED THE HOOD FLAMES WERE SHOOTING UP FROM THE TOP OF THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THE INCIDENT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,045 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. UPDATED 12/4/08 *CN UPDATED 12/05/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 51,000. UPDATED 11/12/08. *LJ UPDATED 11/14/08.*JB

THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF MY OFFICE ON 09/17/2008. IT HAPPENED ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER I PARKED IT AND WENT INTO THE BUILDING. CAR IS TOTALED... THERE IS ONLY TRUNK LEFT. *TR

1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAD A DEFECTIVE GASKET. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE GASKET AFTER HE HAD THE REPAIRS DONE. HE WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL COST. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO THE RECALL, HE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OIL LEAKAGE. IN 2007 THE CONSUMER HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. HE WAS TOLD THE SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITION WIRES WERE COVERED IN OIL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE PARTS HE HAD REPAIRED WERE NOT THE RECALLED PARTS. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS ALSO BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

I BROUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW . I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR EXCEPT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC CHECK THE CAR. HE CHECKED OVER MY CAR AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. HE USED A COMPUTER. AND THE CODE CAME BACK CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I CALLED GM TWICE AND THEY SAID THAT MY CAR WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL I SAW. I NEVER GOT A RECALL LETTER. ANOTHER MECHANIC USED A COMPUTER AND LASER LIGHT AND IT CAME BACK AGAIN CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. AFTER THAT I WENT TO A GAS STATION AND GOT GAS. STARTED MY CAR UP AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO START. AFTER 3 TIMES IT STARTED. THEN I NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE SHOT TO 260 DEGREES. ENGINE OVERHEATED FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I HAD THE CAR. I PARKED THE CAR IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT AND LET THE ENGINE COOL FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS BEFORE DRIVING HOME. IN LESS THEN 1 MILE THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AGAIN. FINALLY MADE IT TO THE HOUSE. PULLED INTO GARAGE. THEN BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND IT REALLY STARTED SMOKING AND POPPING. I GOT SCARED AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND LET THE CAR ROLL OUT THE GARAGE. BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND I TURNED THE CAR OFF. IT WAS POPPING, CRACKING AND SMOKING. IT TOOK A WHILE FOR THE SMOKE TO CLEAR. THE NEXT DAY AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC CAME BY THE HOUSE AND CHECKED THE CAR AND SAID THE ENGINE BURNED AND WAS SEIZED. MY ENGINE NEVER OVERHEATED BEFORE THIS. *TR

1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAD ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE RECALL WORK COMPLETED 8-14-08 . CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE SETTING IN DRIVEWAY AFTER 10MIN DRIVE ON 8-25-08. *TR

CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED, AFTER REPLACING, COULD NOT DRIVE CAR BECAUSE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO 260 DEGREES IN 6 OR 7 MINUTES OF DRIVING. NEVER HAD THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM OR ANY IDEA OF A PROBLEM UNTIL A WEEK AGO WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, CAR WAS SLUGGISH AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. I IMMEDIATELY WENT HOME WHICH WAS A 2 MILE DRIVE AND PARKED CAR. CALLED A GM ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND HIS COMPUTER CHECK READ THAT A MISFIRE OF #1 PLUG. PLUGS WERE REPLACED AND THEN MECHANIC LET ENGINE RUN SINCE THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE, UNTIL THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF SMOKE AT ALL. THEN HE CHECKED AND SAID TO GO AND HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CHECKED. CONVERTER WAS CHECKED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS CLOGGED AND NEEDED REPLACING. REPLACED CONVERTER, TRIED DRIVING HOME APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES AND CAR STARTED GETTING HOT TEMPERATURE AND WHEN STOPPED, WAS VERY HARD TO START, BUT KEPT GETTING UP TO 260 DEGREES, WHICH REQUIRED ME TO STOP AND LET ENGINE COOL AND TRY TO GET HOME AND PARKED CAR. CALLED CONVERTER INSTALLER AND THEY WILL CHECK AGAIN, BUT WAS TOLD TO ADD COOLANT, BUT DO NOT DRIVE. DEX COOL WAS ADDED, PER BOOK SPECS AND STARTED CAR. STARTED TO RUN, BUT THICK WHITE SMOKE BILLOWED OUT AND A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED. QUICKLY TURNED CAR OFF AND WILL HAVE TO CALL AAA TO TOW TO CONVERTER INSTALLER SHOP FOR ANOTHER SHOP. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE 3 MOTORS IN THE DRIVER FRONT WINDOW AND IT IS STILL NOT GOING UP OR DOWN. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO GM ABOUT THIS ISSUE BEFORE. OH, I CALLED GM ALSO ABOUT THE WARRANTY ON THE CONVERTER AND I WAS OVER THE MILEAGE FOR THE 8 YEAR WARRANTY. BEFORE THIS, I HAVE SPENT OVER $400.00 TO REPLACE GASKETS AND VALVES RECENTLY ON THE ENGINE AND I CANT AFFORD ANYMORE, I AM DISABLED AND RECEIVING SSI. IS THERE ANY REMEDY? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE COVER GASKET ON THE VEHICLE. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE DEFECT REPAIRED. HE ARRIVED AT THE DEALER, BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,000.