1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Complaints

NHTSA#02-V-286-000 RACK AND PINION BEARING IN THE POWER AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WHERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURN AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK. CONSUMER STATED EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR FOR A FALLEN HEAD LIGHT LENS FOR THE LEFT SIDE TWICE. CONSUMER THEN REALIZED THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT LENS HAD FALLEN OFF ALSO. *JG *JB *NLM

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF. TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION FAILED. HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED & CORRECTED BEFORE RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE.

I AM DRIVING MY FATHER-IN-LAW'S GRAND PRIX (HE IS IN A NURSING HOME). THE POWER STEERING ON MY 97 GRAND PRIX GTP FAILED COMPLETELY. HAD THE CAR NOT BEEN ON A SIDE STREET (AS OPPOSED TO AN EXPRESSWAY), IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I'VE CONTACTED SEVERAL PONTIACE DEALERS AND GM/PONTIAC AND WAS TOLD THEY NO NOTHING OF A RECALL AND THAT I SHOULD PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THEY MIGHT REIMBURSE ME IF THEY FIND OUT ABOUT A RECALL AND IF IT MEETS THEIR SPECS. EVEN AFTER I GAVE THEM THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID THEY STILL SAID THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS. HOW COULD THEY NOT??? I HEARD ABOUT IT MONTHS AGO ON THE NEWS.

ENGINE HAS SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHILE ON A STRAIGHTAWAY OR TURNS. VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION AS ALL POWER ASSIST IS LOST. ENGINE WILL RESTART IMMEDIATELY BUT NEVER KNOW WHEN POWER LOSS WILL OCCUR. HAVE NOTICED MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEB SITE. TS

I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH ON CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V286000. I AM BEING TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. MY VIN IS [XXX]. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT THE CAMPAIGN DESCRIBES. IT IS OF MY OPINION THAT THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE HAS DEGRADED GREATLY DO TO THE FACT THAT I AM UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE ACCURATELY WHEN IN OPERATION. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU WOULD RESEARCH MY PROBLEM AND GIVE ANY ASSISTANCE POSSIBLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE VEHICLE HESITATE WHILE STARTING UP AND BACK FIRED. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING WATER IS LEAKING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT COMPARTMENT CAUSING THE FUSE TO BLOW OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

CONSUMER NOTICED AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER AND PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS I ATTEMPTED A LEFT HAND TURN. THE DEALER HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BUT AT A COST OF $1200 TO ME. THIS COST INCLUDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WATER PUMP AND 60,000 MILE INSPECTION. ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT INJURED OR CAUSED PROPERTY DAMAGE, THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. DT