2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Complaints

2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GT 3.8 L V6 ENGINE: THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTION UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN TIME TO AVOID RUNNING OFF OF THE ROAD. ALSO, I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY THE VEHICLE TURNING BEHIND ME. I WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH THE TURN AT THE LOCATION OF THE FAILURE. IT WAS NECESSARY TO BACK UP INTO TRAFFIC IN ORDER TO ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL SO THAT I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF OF THE ROADWAY. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN TO THE LEFT (NO POWER ASSIST). THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ABLE TO TURN FREELY TO THE RIGHT (POWER ASSISTED). DUE TO THE IMMEDIATE NATURE OF THE FAILURE, THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT WHICH COULD CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OR INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION FOR THE VEHICLE. DURING HIS ANALYSIS, HE SPOKE TO A LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER. THEIR REPAIR SHOP REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF SIMILAR OCCURRENCES, BUT GENERAL MOTORS HAD NOT ISSUED ANY FORM OF SAFETY RECALL. DURING MY INITIAL ATTEMPT TO TROUBLESHOOT THE PROBLEM, I READ SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE. MOST REPORTED AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING, TYPICALLY IN ONE DIRECTION. THE TOTAL REPAIR FOR THIS ITEM WAS $521.00. THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS $300, LABOR WAS $200, AND INDIANA TAX (7%) WAS $21. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOU MAY OFFER IN RESOLVING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS HORN WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO DIAGNOSE THE STEERING COLUMN IN ORDER TO LOCATE THE FAILURE CODE. WITHOUT IT, THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE HORN WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 33,000. UPDATED 11/12/08. *LJ THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS MOST LIKELY A LOOSE OR DEFECTIVE CONNECTION INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN GOING TO THE BCM. UPDATED 11/14/08. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE HORN OCCASSIONALLY WORKED ONLY IF HE PUSHED THE PAD AT AN ANGLE. UPDATED 11/14/08. *JB

I HAVE A GENERAL MOTORS 2005 GRAND PRIX. IT HAS DEVELOPED A 'KNOCKING' SOUND WHEN DRIVING. THE SAME NOISE CORRESPONDS WITH BUMPS YOU CAN FEEL IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A GOODYEAR SERVICE CENTER. THEY PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT, REMOVED THE FRONT TIRES AND DID A COMPLETE EXAMINATION OF THE "FRONT END". THEY REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I CALLED PONTIAC'S CUSTOMER HOT-LINE OUT OF THE BACK OF THE OWNERS MANUAL. THEY WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THEY DID STATE THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR TO THE STEERING COLUMN. I ASKED FOR THAT INFORMATION IN WRITING. THE PHONE OPERATOR SAID HE WOULD NOT PROVIDE THAT TO ME. I ASKED FOR HIS SUPERVISOR. HE PROMPTLY HUNG UP ON ME. I CALLED BACK. I OPENED A NEW CASE #71-663-678745. THE OPERATOR INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO VERIFY THE INFORMATION VIA AN "AUTHORIZED DEALER". WE CONFERENCE CALLED WITH BOB BROWN CHEVY. THEY SAID THEY KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT WOULD CHARGE ME $89 TO DIAGNOSE IT...EVEN THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE GOODYEAR SERVICE CENTER - THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED..AND GM WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT. THEY DON'T WANT TO RECALL THE PRODUCT. BOB BROWN CHEVY GAVE AN 'OFF THE CUFF' ESTIMATE OF $300 TO REPLACE THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN EXTENSION. IF IT HAS A KNOCKING SOUND AND CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, I FEEL THAT THE CAR IS NOW UNSAFE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AND WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER GM CAR UNTIL I AM SATISFIED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WON'T BECOME UNATTACHED AND ALLOW THE CAR TO VEER TO THE SIDE AT WILL. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CARS ARE AFFECTED, OR IF ANY CRASHES HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO LOSS OF STEERING DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IN 30 YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN DOZENS OF CARS FROM ALL TYPES OF MANUFACTURERS - EITHER OWNED OR RENTED. *TR THE REPAIR INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF THE LOWER COLUMN EXTENSION ARM. UPDATED 11/07/08. *JB

ON 8/5/08 I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED AND I LOST CONTROL HITTING AN EMBANKMENT ON THE LEFT-THE CAR BECAME AIRBORNE CROSSED THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE. THE FRONT LEFT OF THE CAR WAS DESTROYED AND LEFT FRONT WHEEL SHEERED OFF. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

WIPER MOTOR, WHEN THE BLOWER IS ON HIGH AND THE WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED THE BLOWER STOPS FOR A MINUTE AND STARTS AGAIN, THIS OCCURRED FOR 6 MONTHS NOW THE WIPER MOTOR JUST STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. WAITING ON A PART FOR REPAIRS WHICH TELLS ME THIS IS HAPPENING A LOT. $250.00 FOR REPAIRS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHEN IT IS TURNED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN METAL WAS FAILING AND THE STEERING COLUMN ROD WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGED THE STEERING FAILURE WITH THE GMC PICK UP TRUCKS; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE FAILURE ALSO EXISTED IN THE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE EXCEEDS THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE PART FOR THE REPAIR COSTS $107. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 05/19/08. *LJ

TIE ROD FAILURE DRIVERS SIDE THEN LEAK IN TIE-ROD RACK AND PINION DRIVER'S SIDE AS A RESULT OF REPAIR. NOTIFIED DEALER WHILE UNDER WARRANTY THAT POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW AND THEY DID NOT ASSIST IN A CHECK. I HAD TO PAY AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRATION FOR REPAIR. FUEL TANK BAND LOOSE HAD TO BE RETIED. *TR

I ALMOST CRASHED MORE THAN ONCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES AT FULL THROTTLE ON IT'S OWN. PERSISTENT ISSUE. WHEN DRIVING ON THE EXPRESS WAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY ACCELERATES AT FULL THROTTLE, RPMS SHOOT TO THE RED LINE, AND AT TIMES THE CRUISE CANCELS THEN RESUMES (AT FULL THROTTLE) ON ITS OWN ERRATICALLY AND REPEATEDLY WITHIN A DURATION OF LESS THAN A COUPLE OF SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS AT 70 MPH AND ALL OTHER SPEEDS EVEN AT 25 MPH. ALMOST CRASHED SO MANY TIMES. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THE SPEEDOMETER REPORTS RANDOM VEHICLES SPEED. I HAVE SENT AN EMAIL TO GM THROUGH THEIR COMPLAINT SECTION AT PONTIAC.COM WITH NO FEEDBACK. DEALER DID A COURTESY DTC CHECK WITH NO LUCK. MY MANUFACTURER WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED, AND I'M NOT WILLING TO PAY THE DEALER TO FIX GM'S DESIGN PROBLEM AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION FAILURE SINCE JUNE OF 2007. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKS INTO GEAR AND SURGES UNEXPECTEDLY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

MY HORN HAS FAILED ON 5 OCCASSIONS. PONTIAC HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO FIX THIS INTERMISSION HORN FAILURE, BUT THE FIX DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WHERE OTHER MOTORISTS HAVE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO WARN THEM, AS THE HORN FAILED. I HOPE THIS ISSUE CAN BE CORRECTED PROPERLY BEFORE AND ACCIDENT OCCURS. ALSO, PONTIAC HAS A PROBLEM WITH A KNOWN DEFECT IN THEIR STEERING GEARS THAT THEY ONLY REPLACE WHEN IT FAILS AND ONLY COVER IF IT IS IN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY AN INTERNAL LEAKING OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID THAT IS NOT DETECTED BECAUSE THERE ARE NO EXTERNAL SIGNS OF THE LEAK. THIS TOO IS A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR