2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Complaints

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP. THE HEADLIGHTS "BOUNCE" AT NIGHT CREATING BAD GLARE AND REFLECTIONS FOR ONCOMING CARS. IT ALSO MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SEE THE ROAD AND SIGNS PROPERLY. *AK

WHEN BACKING AND TURNING LEFT FROM BEING PARKED ON LEVEL ASPHALT, THE STEERING WHEEL REPOSITIONED ITSELF ABOUT 20 DEGREES. *NM WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED THE ENGINE PULLED AND THE STEERING BECAME MOMENTARILY STIFF. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP COMP G FROM RYDELL AUTOMOTIVE (VAN NUYS, CA) ON OCTOBER 24, 2004. IN MAY 2004 THE POWER STEERING HOSE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FLUID LEAK. AUGUST 23, 2004 I HAD THE 30,000 MILE SERVICE PERFORMED (I HAVE A LONG COMMUTE), AND THAT INCLUDED A SERVICE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. AUGUST 31, 2004 WHILE MAKING A THREE POINT TURN IN A PARKING LOT, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND LOST THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. WHITE SMOKE POURED OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND FILLED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT (THE A/C WAS ON). I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE THE ENGINE ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY SEVERAL LARGE BOTTLES OF WATER AND THE ASSISTANCE OF A PASSERBY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE RYDELL DEALER IN SAN FERNANDO WHERE IT REMAINS UN-REPAIRED. THE GM FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SAID I SHOULD SUBMIT A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE, EVEN THOUGH I AM CLEARLY WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING WITH THE DEALERSHIP DIRECTLY AND I AM REQUESTING A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE SINCE I FEEL THE PROBLEM COULD RECUR. *AK

HEADLIGHTS BOUNCE. NHTSA COMPLAINT NUMBER: 10079160. CAR JUST PURCHASED ON 31-AUG-2004. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BEFORE I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. *AK

A CLUNKING NOISE RECENTLY APPEARED IN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. MAINLY NOTICED AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHEN TURNING SLIGHTLY (1/8TH STEERING WHEEL TURN) OR AT LOW SPEEDS AND TURNING SHARPLY. SOMETHING FEELS LOOSE IN THE STEERING SYSTEM.*AK

THE CAR ACCELERATES WITHOUT THE OPERATOR DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HERE WERE TWO NEAR MISS CRASHES WHEN THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN IN TOWN AND ACCELERATED BY ITSELF . ONE INCIDENT WAS WHEN MY PREGANANT WIFE NEARLY STRUCK A TRAIN. *AK THE ACTUAL DATE OF THE INCIDENT BELOW IS NOT CORRECT, I DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION WITH ME. I DO KNOW THAT THE FIRST TIME WAS IN JANUARY OF 2004.

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT. MOST PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY RELATED TO WIRING PROBLEMS AND ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE LATEST INCIDENCE I LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD NO STEERING OR BRAKES. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND THE SHOP HAD TO REPLACE THE IP CLUSTER AND THE BCM WHICH HAD BOTH COMPLETELY FAILED. THIS FAILURE CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS LEAVING THE ROAD AND EVENTUALLY BECOMING BURIED IN THE MEDIAN. IF THIS INCIDENCE HAD OCCURED AT ANY OTHER SECTION OF THIS MAIN THOROUGHFARE (I-40) ME AND MY 5 YR OLD COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY HURT OR KILLED.*AK

UPON COLD STARTUP VEHICLE WILL STALL, HESITATE OR SURGE UPON THE FIRST PRESS OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. COMPUTER HAS BEEN REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED ON PRIOR ATTEMPTS ALONG WITH NEW THROTTLE BODIES AND STALLING NO LONGER PRESENT, BUT HESITATION AND SURGING ARE STILL PRESENT. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP HAS STARTED ILLUMINATING. CODE IS P0452 FOR THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR. ACCORDING TO A GM ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE TO DEALERS ON 4/2/04, "DEALERS ARE ADVISED TO ORDER FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR P/N 16238399 INSTEAD OF P/N 09377680. FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR P/N 09377680 HAS PROVED TO BE UNRELIABLE AND IT IS LIKELY TO FAIL AGAIN SHORTLY AFTER INSTALLATION. PRODUCTION CHANGE TO USE P/N 16238399 IS SCHEDULED FOR MID-APRIL." DEALER WILL BE REPLACING SENSOR ON SUBSEQUENT VISIT. *JB

HEADLAMPS SHAKE BADLY EVEN ON A SMOOTH ROAD. THIS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT IS NOT ONLY ANNOYING AND DISTRACTING TO MYSELF AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, BUT IS ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN. DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT A FIX IS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER, AND RIGHT NOW IT IS AUGUST.

AFTER 10,000 MILES MY STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING INCREASINGLY BADLY. I ASSUMED IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH MY TIRES. WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY ROTORS. THEY TURNED THEM AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE FOR A WHILE BUT AFTER 20,000 MILES THE SHAKING STEERING RETURNED. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THEY TURNED THEM AGAIN. I REALLY THINK THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE ROTORS.