1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Complaints

I HAD THE LEFT HEADLAMP COVER FALL OFF IN DECEMBER 2000, WHICH CAUSED THE HEADLIGHT TO BURN OUT. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT WARRENTY WOULD NOT COVER, SO I HAD TO PAY $110.00. IN JUNE, THE RIGHT COVER FELL OFF AND I REFUSED TO PAY. THE DEALER PAID FOR THE 2ND INCIDENT, SINCE I PAID FOR THE FIRST AND SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THEM TO EXAMINE THE RIGHT COVER. IN MAY, THE BOTTOM MOLDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE, FRONT AND BACK DOORS CAME LOOSE, WHICH WOULD NOT ALLOW THE BACK DOOR TO OPEN. THE "GRAND PRIX GT" LETTERING ON THE LEFT SIDE ALSO FELL OFF. AFTER COMPLAINNG TO THE DEALER, THEY FIXED THE GRAND PRIX LETTERING FOR FREE AND SPLIT THE COST OF THE DOOR MOLDING WITH ME. I FEEL THAT PONTIAC MUST BE USING A POOR ADHESIVE.*AK

GLUE THAT IS USED TO KEEP TAIL LIGHT COVER ON TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT SUFFICIENT, ALLOWING WATER AND MOISTURE TO GET INSIDE HOUSING UNIT, AND CAUSING HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS/ BLINKERS TO COMPLETELY MALFUNCTION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

HEADLIGHT COVERS HAVE FALLEN OFF VEHICLE TWICE, EXPOSING WIRES, AND RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. DEALER HAS REPLACED HEADLIGHT TWICE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

THERE WAS A NOISE IN RIGHT REAR OF VEHICLE. REAR TRAILING ARMS HIT ON BOTTOM OF VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WHICH WAS WORSE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER STATED WILL NOT FIX VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED AND BEEN IN DITCHES. BUT CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WITHIN 2 WEEKS, BOTH HEADLIGHT COVERS FELL OFF OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF HEADLAMP LIGHTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

PLASTIC SHIELD FOR LENS CAP IN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS UNGLUED ITSELF FROM BULB, CAUSING BULB TO BURN OUT. CONSUMER MUST PURCHASE A COMPLETE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY INSTEAD OFF REPLACING PLASTIC SHIELD. CONSUMER HAS ORIGINAL PART. *AK *JB

RE: HTTP://WWW.GRANDPRIX.NET/ -- THE HEADLAMP LENS COVER OF 1997 AND 1998 MODELS IS A HIGH-FAILURE ITEM. LOSS OF LENS IN WET WEATHER WILL CAUSE IMMEDIATE HEADLAMP FAILURE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THESE LENSES LEAK CHRONICALLY, RESULTING IN REFLECTOR CORROSION AND REDUCED ILLUMINATION.*AK

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN ANTIFREEZE ODOR DURING 2000. ON SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALER, NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE LAST TRIP TO THE DEALER, JUST BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, IS WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS DOCUMENTED (12/26/2000, 15,930 MILES) THE DEALER INDICATES NO LEAK FOUND. WE HAD THE CAR SERVICED AT A LOCAL NON-DEALER FACILITY, AND THEY INDICATED THAT THEY BELIEVED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS THE CAUSE OF THE MINOR LEAK AND ANTIFREEZE SMELL. THE DEALERSHIP NOW INDICATES THAT THE "EXPANSION PLUG" ON THE ENGINE IS FAULTY, AND REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS AS A WARRANTY ISSUE (THEY WILL PAY FOR PARTS BUT THE TOTAL LABOR BILL IS IN EXCESS OF $600, WITH PARTS UNLIKELY TO AMOUNT TO A FRACTION THE LABOR COSTS). THE PONTIAC CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT REFUSES TO INTERVENE. YOUR SITE INDICATES A SERVICE BULLETIN -- SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 010601007, BULLETIN SEQUENCE NUMBER: 191, DATE OF BULLETIN: 0102 , NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: SB619176 , SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON ENGINE COOLANT CONSUMPTION, OR AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK NEAR OR UNDER THE THROTTLE BODY AREA OFTHE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TT. CAN YOU INTERVENE AS THIS IS AN IDENTIFIED PRODUCT ISSUE?

BOTH HEADLAMP COVERS HAVE FALLEN OFF DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT GLUE WHICH PASTED THE COVERS TO VEHICLE WAS NOT EFFECTIVE WHEN CONDENSATION ENTERED HEADLIGHTS. *AK SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED PONTIAC WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *SLC

TIRES (2) FAILED SUDDENLY WITH BELT FAILURE, MUCH TIRE SHAKE, IN WELL MAINTAINED OEM TIRES ON CAR. INVESTIGATION SHOWS CATASTROPHIC BELT FAILURE, AND/OR BELT SHIFT. *AK (DOT NUMBER: M6X0BMWR TIRESIZE: P225 60R16)