1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Complaints

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITIONER THE HEADLIGHTS AND OTHER LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE HAVE GONE OUT. NLM

SINCE ABOUT 90,000 MI. THE STEERING POWER ASSIST HAS BEEN ERRATIC. AT LOW SPEEDS, IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO POWER ASSIST. JUST RECENTLY, AT ABOUT 135,000, WHILE MAKING SLOW SPEED, RIGHT-HAND TURN, THE STEERING LOCKED ENTIRELY. AT 111,000 MILES, THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS FAILING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.

SRS AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH. DEALER DIAGNOSED (FOR $85) THAT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF $1100. CAR NEVER IN ACCIDENT. LIGHT JUST STAYED ON ONE MORNING ON START.**** DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER FROM ARTEMIS****760791. *AK *JB

SRS AIR BAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS NEEDS REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM. *SLC

STEERING BINDS WHEN TURNING LEFT, DEALER SAID POWER STEERING PUMP BAD, REPLACED PUMP PROBLEM CONTINUED. TOOK VEHICLE TO TWO OTHER REPAIR FACILITIES AND CAR WAS FOUND TO HAVE BAD STEERING RACK. PART NOT AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS. RESEARCHED ISSUE AND FOUND NHTSA INVESTIGATING 1997 MODEL FOR SAME ISSUE. SAME PART ON 1997 AND 1998 MODELS?*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. I MANAGED TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD TURNOVER, BUT THEN IMMEDIATELY LOSE ALL POWER. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILED FUEL PUMP RESISTOR, WHICH WAS CORRODED DUE TO ITS LOCATION AS DESIGNED (IN THE PASSENGER-SIDE WHEEL WELL). APPARENTLY, IN CANADA, OWNERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY GM AND OFFERED A FREE RETROFIT TO THE FIREWALL. I BELIEVE IT IS A REGIONAL RECALL. SHOULDN'T GM DO THE SAME IN THE STATES, I.E. AT LEAST STATES THAT EXHIBIT SIMILAR WEATHER PATTERNS? THE LOSS OF POWER AT HIGH SPEEDS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN. LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AVOID ACCIDENTS AT HIGHER SPEEDS.. *AK

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR IS THAT THE POWER WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE FAILED IN EACH OF THE FOUR WINDOWS AT LEAST ONCE AND IN TWO OF THE WINDOWS A MINIMUM OF TWO TIMES EACH. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE WINDOW FALLS INTO THE DOOR AND CANNOT BE EITHER RAISED OR LOWERED. IN EFFECT YOU WALK OUT TO YOUR CAR IN THE MORNING AND THE WINDOW IS DOWN. EACH OCCURRENCE COST $550 TO REPAIR. APPARENTLY, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER SERVICE WRITER THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON GRAND PRIXS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS BOTH A SAFETY ISSUE AND UNFAIR EXPENSE ISSUE. I'LL BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS THIS WITH ANYBODY FROM NHTSA AS I HAVE COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

DEALERSHIP/SERVICE DEPT HAVING PROBLEMS LOCATING THE CORRECT PART - CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE FOR OVER 2 WEEKS. NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER CAM HAD TO BE REPLACED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS BECAUSE WIPERS WOULD STOP OPERATING WHILE RUNNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE FALLING OFF WHILE DRIVING, AND CAUSING LOSS OF HEADLIGHT OPERATION. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK