1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE RECALL REPAIR # 02V286000, FOR THE STEERING: RACK AND PINION, AT THE SERVICE DEALER. THE BEARING WAS REPLACED, BUT DUE TO AN UNAVAILABLE TOOL, THE RACK AND PINION WAS NOT REPLACED AS THE CONTACT HAD BEEN INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEALER. THE RACK AND PINION PROBLEM HAD BECOME A PROBLEM SINCE THE BEARING WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING ON MY GRAND PRIX. I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY RECALLS. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP IN MARCH 2006. I WAS TOLD THE RACK AND PINION WOULD NEED REPLACED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THERE WERE RECALLS ON THE GRAND PRIX. I CALLED PONTIAC AND TOLD THEM I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL BUT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND I HAD IT FIXED. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS JUST A COINCIDENCE. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED DURING THE TIME FRAME THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. THERE WERE MANY TIMES WHEN I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO TURN. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DUE TO THE LAST 8 CHARACTERS OF THE VIN, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 02V286000 REGARDING STEERING:RACK AND PINION. THE STEERING OPERATED NORMALLY WHEN TURNED TO THE LEFT, BUT THE POWER ASSIST FAILED FOR RIGHT TURNS. THE FAILURE WAS MORE PRONOUNCED AT 3 MPH, WHEN BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY OR PARKING SPACE, ALTHOUGH IT WAS A CONSTANT PROBLEM FOR ALL RIGHT TURNS. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.

1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX EXPERIENCING SAME CONSEQUENCES AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 02V286000 OR GM RECALL # 02049. LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN STEERING LEFT THAT IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, STATES VIN# DOES NOT SHOW RECALL. CALLED PONTIAC, THEY TOO STATE NO RECALL. PAGE 3 OF RECALL PARTS BULLETIN ON THIS WEBSITE PLAINLY LISTS 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX'S MANUFACTURED IN FAIRFAX BETWEEN THE FOLLOWING VIN BREAK POINTS VF200001-VF359118. THE LAST DIGITS IN OUR VIN# FALLS WITHIN THAT RANGE. VF305818 PLEASE HELP. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH AND LOWER, THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT. THERE WAS ALSO A POPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE TURNING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED REPLACING. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 02V286000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH WHEN TURNING LEFT THE VEHICLE VEERS TO THE RIGHT DUE TO THE LOWER PINION BEARINGS. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL #02V286000 CONCERNING THE STEERING RACK AND PINION HOWEVER THE RECALL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED HOWEVER NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION-THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. I BOUGHT MY 97 GRAND PRIX GTP IN MARCH 2003. THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING ISSUED SUPPOSEDLY WAS DONE PRIOR TO ME DRIVING IT OFF THE LOT. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2004 I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS TURNING LEFT. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM IN MARCH 2005. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE RECALL ISSUE HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1,000 TO GET IT FIXED. I ASKED THEM IF A FAILED PART COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO FULFILL THE RECALL EARLIER AND THE DEALER SAID IT DIDN'T MATTER. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY ONLY HAD TO FIX THE RECALL ONCE AND THAT IT HAD A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. MY HUSBAND CALLED GM AND THEY ALSO TOLD US THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE RECALL TO BE FIXED FOR THE SAME REASONS AS STATED BY THE DEALER. THIS IS A RECALL THAT NEEDS TO BE REINSTATED. MANY PEOPLE ARE ENCOUNTERING FAILURES AND ARE IN NEED OF PROPER CARE. I HAVE BEEN IN MANY NEAR-MISSES DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN LEFT. I HAVE AGGRAVATED A BACK AND NECK INJURY DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY IN TURNING LEFT. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PROPERLY PARK MY CAR DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN LEFT. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET MY CAR FIXED DUE TO THE EXTRAORDINARY COST. I AM UNABLE TO GET A NEW CAR AS IT IS NOT FINANCIAL FEASIBLE.*JB

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RACK AND PINION GEAR REPAIR. STEERING WOULD NOT TURN LEFT. *TS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE STEERING WAS WORSE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER HAD TO ORDER A NEW RACK AND PINION. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. HE MANAGED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, THEN BACK ON AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THEY FOUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATES VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE MARSHAL INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. IT STARTED IN THE DASHBOARD AND SPREAD TO THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR PROBLEMS REPORTED ON THE VEHICLE. NO ONE SUSTAINED ANY INJURY DUE TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TOLD THE CONTACT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT RESPOND SINCE THE FIRE WAS ON HER PROPERTY. THE VEHICLE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS.*AK