1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Complaints

UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, WOULD HAVE TO USE THE RELEASE UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO CAN NOT GET OUT OF PARK, NEED TO USE THE RELEASE TO GET INTO REV, OR DRIVE. BROUGHT IT TO MECHANICE, WAS TOLD NEED CYLINDER- $500.00 RO REPLACE.

IN REGARDS TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN #02V286000, GM RECALL #02049, FOR A DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION UNIT IN MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE RECALL REPAIR WORK WAS PERFORMED ON 03-06-03 AT COMMUNITY PONTIAC MOTORS OF IOWA CITY, IOWA (PHONE # 319-351-1424), AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR FROM COMMUNITY MOTORS, THE STEERING WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND WAS OFF CENTER. COMMUNITY MOTORS THEN PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT ON 03-24-03. THE STEERING WAS BETTER BUT STILL PULLED TO THE RIGHT SOME. ALSO, THE CAR WAS HARD TO STEER AT TIMES WHILE MAKING LEFT TURNS AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHILE BEFORE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED MY CAR'S STEERING WAS NORMAL. ON 11-13-03 COMMUNITY MOTORS DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION UNIT WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT USING AN AFTERMARKET NAPA BRAND RACK AND PINION AT MY EXPENSE OF $737. CURRENTLY THE CAR'S STEERING IS DETERMINED TO BE FAULTY AGAIN BY COMMUNITY MOTORS WITH THE REPLACEMENT RACK AND PINION THAT WAS INSTALLED AT THE DEALERSHIP LAST 11-13-03. I HAD CONTACTED GM AND THEY HAD STATED THEY WILL NOT COVER ANY REPAIR COST THAT I INCURRED ON MY CAR'S RACK AND PINION SO FAR AS THE INSTALLATION OF THE NAPA RACK AND PINION THAT WAS INSTALLED BY COMMUNITY MOTORS LAST 11-13-03. SO, FOR A REMEDY, I WOULD LIKE GM TO PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE GM REPLACEMENT RACK AND PINION USED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN CURRENTLY. REGARDS, JOE UNDERWOOD. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, LIFTED UP THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX ISSUE: THE KEY DOES DISENGANGE FROM STEERING COLUMN. DEALER QUOTES $550 FOR CYLINDER, BUT CLAIMS IT COULD BE SOMETHING ELSE. I REALIZE THAT STEERING FOR THIS VEHICLE IS ALREADY AN ISSUE.*AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE FLOOR MODEL CONSOLE INTO GEAR. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE RELEASE ON THE FLOOR CONSOLE TO DISENGAGE THE GEAR SHIFT. CONSUMER WILL MAKE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE.*AK

TRANSMISSION EXPLODED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND GM SAYS THEY CAN'T HELP ME. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES.*AK

WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE ON CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE CONSUMER. *AK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL SMOLDERING. *NM

POWER WINDOWS WERE REPLACED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THEY STILL FELL DOWN. THE REGULATORS WERE REPLACED. THEY FELL DOWN INSIDE THE DOOR. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.

WHILE DRIVING RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED. THIS FAILURE RESEMBLED THE ONE DESCRIBED IN POWER STEERING RECALL 02V286000O. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD STICK WHILE TURNING LEFT. *SC

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS FELL OFF, RESULTING IN BULB FAILURE. NO ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS, HEADLIGHT JUST FELL OFF, HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DID NOT NOTICE UNTIL I GOT HOME. *AK