1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Complaints

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE LEFT HEADLIGHT LENS FELL OFF. *AK

MY 97 PONT GRAND PRIX WAS RECALLED IN JAN 2003 FOR THE RACK AND PINION STERRING,IT WAS REPAIRED . IN JULY I LOST CONTROLL OF THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE STEERRING ,NO INJURIES.I HAD TO GET IT FIX AT THE LOCAL GARAGE.WHEN I MADE THE COMPLAINT TO PONTIAC THEY TOLD ME SO SORRY BUT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR ANY REPAIRS ON THIER POOR FIX. *AK

ON APRIL 26, 2004 CONSUMER NOTICED THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS RUBBING DUE TO CRACKED RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS BLEW OFF. THIS RESULTED IN THE HEADLIGHT BULB BLOWING OUT WHEN THE RAIN CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE BULB. PASSENGER SIDE LENS FELL OFF THE DAY AFTER. THE LENS COULD NOT BE REPLACED WITHOUT REPLACING THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE LENS FELL OFF BECAUSE THE SEALANT AROUND THE LENS DRIED OUT. IT COST S87.00 TO REPLACE EACH HEADLIGHT LENS. *AK

RECALL NO.#02V286000, POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY: THE RECALL WAS DONE AND THE LOWER PINION BEARING WAS REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE AGAIN, MAKING IT HARD TO TURN CORNERS. TWO OTHER DEALERS HAVE CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE LOWER PINION BEARING WAS DEFECTIVE AND ANOTHER ONE WAS NEEDED. ALSO THE DEALERS WILL NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE.*MR

WHILE STARTING UP THE VEHICLE A LOUD BANG NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. CONSUMER LIFTED UP HOOD AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. CONSUMER DID NOT NOTIFY THE DEALER ABOUT THE FIRE. *AK

AFTER SIGNIFICANT HOURS OF READING AND TALKING WITH PEOPLE, I FOUND THAT MY PROBLEM AFFECTS THOUSANDS OF GM CUSTOMERS WITH SIMILAR ENGINES. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED (ON THE INTERENET) COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE WHICH CAUSES A SIZABLE LEAK OF COOLANT WHICH CAN UTIMATELY CAUSE CATOSTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AS WELL AS WATER PUMP FAILURE DUE TO LACK OF COOLANT LUBRICATION. ALTHOUGH NOT LISTED AS A SAFETY ISSUE, THE FAILURE OF AN ENGINE IN TRAFFIC COULD, AND MAYBE HAS, A DRIVER TO INADVERTENTLY HAVE AN ACCIDENT, EVEN FATAL ONE, DUE TO THE ENGINE FAILURE AND LACK OF STEERING W/O USE OF POWER STEERING PUMP. JUST ANOTHER AVENUE TO LOOK INTO WHEN GM SAYS THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. HOWEVER, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE APPEAR TO HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE AND HAVE SPENT LARGE AMOUNT OF MONIES REPAIRING AND LOTS OF FRUSTRATION ATTEMPTING TO GET GM TO RESOLVE THIS FLAW THAT HAS EXISTED, TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE, FOR MANY YEARS. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN GM'S ENGINEERING THAT GM SAYS "TOO BAD". IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THEM TO COURT, GM TENDS TO PONY AND PAY FOR REPAIRS.

CAR WILL STOP RUNNING UNEXPECTEDLY. IT OCCURS SOMETIMES WHILE TURNING BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT CAN BE AT ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE A LONG COMMUTE AND IT DIED 4 TIMES THIS MORNING ALONE. IT MAY NOT QUIT AGAIN FOR 3 OR 4 MONTHS. ALSO, THE ABS LIGHT AND CHECK TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT SOMETIMES COME ON WITH NO APPARENT REASON.*AK

WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY LOST POWER STEERING. *JB *LA

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKING, AND CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION. *AK