1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Complaints

THE SPEED CONTROL DISCONNECTS WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE TURNED ON DURING RAINY CONDITIONS. THIS REPEATEDLY HAPPEND OVER A FOUR DAY PERIOD WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN THROUGH THE MIDWEST. THIS PROBLEM HAS NEVER OCCURRED WHEN THE WIPERS ARE USED TO SIMPLY CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD DURING DRY CONDITIONS. *AK

I WAS UPSET THE FIRST TIME THE RACK AND PIONON FAILED AND THE POOR ATTITUDE OF THE DEALERSHIP. FOR $1,200, THEY WOULD INSTALL A NEW RACK AND PINION. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR, BUT DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I HAD A NAPA REPAIR DEALERSHIP REBUILD THE ORIGINAL RACK AND PINION ATA COST OF $500. THEY REPLACED THE SEALS WITH STAINLESS STEAL. THIS REPAIR LASTED 120,000 AND IT FAILED AGAIN. AN AUTO ZONE REBUILT RACK AND PINION WAS INSTALLED THIS TIME. ALTHOUGH THE STAINLESS STEAL SEALS LASTED LONGER THAN THE FACTORY ORIGINAL SEALS, THEY WILL FAIL AGAIN. PONTIAC MUST HAVE KNOWN THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THIS RACK AND PINION AS IT WAS ONLY USED IN THE 97 MODEL. A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER WAS USED IN THE '98 AND NEWER MODELS. AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE, I WROTE TO PONTIAC BUT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INDICATION THAT THEY WOULD CHECK ANY FURTHER INTO RACK AND PINION FAILURES. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED.*AK

VEHICLE EXHIBITS INCREASING FREQUENCY OF HARD STEERING AND NOISE FROM RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT OF CAR. LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE SOURCE OF NOISE OR HARD STEERING PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION. A RUBBING SOUND IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THIS MAY BE THE ONSET OF ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF YOUR RACK AND PINION STEERING SAFETY ISSUE WITH 1997 GRAND PRIX.*AK

RAPID COOLANT LOSS RESULTED IN TRIP TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. DEALER SAID BOTH UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS ON MY 3.8L ENGINE WERE BAD. REPAIR ADVISOR SAID SO MUCH COOLANT WAS IN INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT I WAS LUCKY THE ENGINE DID NOT SEIZE UP. TOTAL COST FOR REPAIRS WERE $1,051. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 47,723 MILES. CALLED GM ASSISTANCE LINE. THEY SAID, SORRY, OUT OF WARRANTY. INTAKE GASKETS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE. THIS WILL BE A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN AN ENGINE OVERHEATS FROM NO COOLANT AND CATCHES ON FIRE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE REPLACEMENT GASKET IS THE SAME DEFECTIVE DESIGN AS THE ORIGINAL. GM SHOULD COME UP WITH A BETTER GASKET DESIGN AND NOTIFY OWNERS OF PROBLEM AND PROVIDE FREE REPLACEMENT UP TO 100,000 MILES LIKE FORD DID WITH THEIR DEFECTIVE 3.8L ENGINE HEAD GASKETS.

SRS LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A WIRE DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP.*JB

DUE TO MOISTURE THAT GETS TRAPPED IN HEADLAMPS, THIS CAUSES THE ADHESIVE TO TURN BRITTLE AND INTURN LENS CAN FALL OFF. NOW THE RIGHT HAND HEADLIGHT LENS IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF TOO. HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES DUE TO POOR ADHESIVE USED IN PRODUCING THE HEADLAMPS.*JB

RACK AND PINION LOCKED UP WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERESTION. HAD TO STOP CAR IN MIDDLE OF TURN DUE TO LOSS OF STEERING. BY TURNING ENGINE OFF, AND RESTARTING, I REGAINED STEERING AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE INTERESTION. CAUSE MUCH CONFUSION TO OTHER DRIVERS.*JB

THE FAN TO RADIATOR DOES NOT WORK AND IT MIGHT CAUSE A FIRE IF THE CAR GETS TO HOT. *AK