1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Complaints

AT 54,000 MILES, THE STEERING RACK ON MY 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AS THE STEERING WHEEL REQUIRED HIGH FORCE TO MOVE TO THE LEFT. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE THAT CAME FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO GARAGE AND INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE DISCOVERED THE SWAY BAR BROKE. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE IN THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE SERVICE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE SWAY BAR BROKE BECAUSE IT WAS HOLLOW, THE PREVIOUS DESIGN ON EARLIER MODELS WAS SOLID. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE COST. *AK UPDATED 01/05/06. *JB

(1) POWER LOSS AND LOSS OF COOLANT (2) INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE, 3 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ONLY 67000 MILES. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST GARAGE FOR REPAIR. (3) REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD,THERMOSTAT, AND HOSES. FLUSH A FILL COOLING SYSTEM. CHANGED OIL AND FILTER. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING TO THE LEFT THE STEERING FELT LIKE IT STUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE DEFECT WAS RACK AND PINION STEERING. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. HE FOUND RECALL 02V2860000 CONCERNING RACK AND PINION STEERING ON THE 1998 GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. WHEN HE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT IT FELT AS IF THE STEERING WAS GOING TO LOCK. AT LOW SPEEDS IT TOOK A LOT OF EFFORT TO TURN THE WHEEL. WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT IT FELT AS IF IT WANTED TO PULL BACK VERY FAST TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER SAID THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SINCE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. ALSO, THE CONTACT TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY TOLD HIM THE SAME THING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WHEN HE BOUGHT THE CAR LAST MONTH.*AK

GRAND PRIX GTP 1999 HAS A RACK AND PINION PROBLEM THE STEERING WOULD ACT LIKE THERE WAS NO POWER TO IT WHEN TURNING LEFT- RIGHT TURN WORKED OK. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 1998 GRAND PRIX THAT DID THE EXACT SAME THING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR WOMEN DRIVERS ESPECIALLY. THEY WOULD NOT EXPECT TO SUDDENLY HAVE A PROBLEM MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. ONCE THIS HAPPENS IT STAYS THAT WAY TILL YOU REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION. *NM

DT: 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX THE INTAKE WAS DEFECTIVE AND LOCKED THE UP THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP, THEY HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS BUT NO RECALLS AS OF NOW. WHERE THE WATER COMES IN, THE PLASTIC HOUSING INTAKE IS CRACKING AND DETERIORATING AND WATER ENTERED THE CYLINDERS WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP. THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT TURN THE CRANK WITH A PIPE WRENCH. *JB

DT: THE CAR IS DYING WITHOUT WARNING. THERE ARE NO LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD THAT LIGHT UP WHEN THIS HAPPENS. AFTER THE VEHICLE DIES, THE BATTERY LIGHT IS COMING ON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 15 TIMES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AT THIS POINT. ALSO, TRIED A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP, AND THEY COULD FIND THE PROBLEM EITHER. THE CONSUMER SAYS HER CAR IS A DEATH TRAP, AND THIS IS HAPPENING ANYWHERE/ANYTIME. THIS PAST WEEKEND THE CAR DIED 4 TIMES ON THE FREEWAY. CONSUMER HAS TO WAIT 15-20 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL START BACK UP. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GM AND HAVE REGISTERED TWO COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR. SPEED IS NOT A FACTOR AND ALSO DIES WHILE IN PARK.*AK

FRONT DRIVER SIDE NOISE COMING FROM SUSPENSION. TOOK CAR TO MIDAS, PROBLEM FOUND LEFT FRONT SWAY BAR MOUNT HAD BROKEN AND WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE FRAME. REPLACED FRONT SWAY BAR, COST $400 PARTS AND LABOR.

DT: CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CAR WAS DESTROYED, THE WHOLE ENGINE DEPARTMENT WAS CONSUMED. FIRE DEPT CAME. GM SENT ENGINEER OUT TO INSPECT DAMAGE. CONTACTED GM, AND THEY DID NOT SHARE RESULTS OF THAT REPORT, STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG,-NO DEFECT FOUND. *AK