2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Complaints

STEERING BECAME LOOSE AND SLOPPY. KNUCKLING AND CLUNKING NOISES FROM STEERING WHEN WHEEL TURNED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. UPON TURNING LEFT, CAR WOULD DRAMATICALLY UNDERSTEER, THEN SUDDENLY OVERSTEER, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK . TAKEN TO CROWN PONTIAC IN ST. PETERSBURG, FL. THEY DIAGNOSED "LOOSE RACK AND PINION RETAINING BOLTS AND BUSHINGS". FIX: RE-TORQUED BOLTS. . CONDITION RECURRRED WITHIN 3 DAYS. . CALLED GM, WHO SENT REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. I ASKED THEM WHY BOLTS WOULD WORK LOOSE AFTER 10K MILES, AND WHY THEY DIDN'T REPLACE THE BOLTS, OR THEY MAY WORK LOOSE AGAIN. . THEY SAID "IT DEPENDS ON HOW THEY TORQUED THEM" . VEHICLE PRESENTLY IN SERVICE FOR STEERING CONTROL ISSUES FOR SECOND TIME. . THIS CONDITION IS UNSAFE. VEHICLE WILL NOT HOLD A STRAIGHT LINE DOWN THE ROAD, AND WHEN TURNING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT, THE VEHICLE WILL TAKE-OFF IN THAT DIRECTION AND IF NOT CORRECTED, WILL TURN IN A CIRCLE IF NOT CORRECTED BY HARD STEERING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

MY COMPLAINT IS NOT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT A CAR - IT IS MONR ABOUT THE COMPANY THAT RENTED ME THE CAR. MONDAY, AUG 2, I RENTED A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX FROM AVIS AT THE BALTIMORE WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL (BWI) AIRPORT. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON THE NORTHBOUND FAIRFAX COUNTY PARKWAY ON THE MORNING OF AUG 3 (NORMAL WEATHER CONDIDTIONS), I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES (SOMEWHAT HARD). THE WHEELS ON THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOCKED UP AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SPIN TOWARDS THE RIGHT. THE CAR DID A FULL 180 TURN THROUGH 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC LANDING ON THE SHOULDER, W FRACTION OF AN INCH AWAY FROM THE GUARDRAIL. *AK I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY. I DID NOT HIT ANOTHER CAR, OR GET HIT BY A CAR OR EVEN SMASH INTO THE GUARDRAIL. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE CAR AND I WAS NOT INJURED. WHEN I RETURNED THE CAR TO AVIS (BECAUSE I NO LONGER FELT SAFE DRIVING IT) THE EMPLYEE BEHIND THE COUNTER MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT A BRAKE RECALL AND WONDERED IF IT WAS THAT MAKE AND MODEL. I FOUND THE RECALL VIA YOUR WEBSITE THIS MORNING. APPARENTLY MY ACCIDENT IS THE EXACT CONSEQUENSE OF NOT GETTING THE RECALL FIXED. I'M APPALLED THAT AVIS RENTED ME A CAR THAT THEY KNEW HAD PROBLEMS AND WAS BEING RECALLED. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. I'M SURE THAT AVIS HAS HUNDREDS OF 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX'S IN THEIR FLEET, SO THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED IMMEDIATELY. I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHOSE ATTENTION I SHOULD BRING THIS TOO, BUT I CANNOT IMAGINE ANYONE ELSE ENCOUNTERING THIS INCIDENT AND BEING AS LUCKY AS I WAS TO WALK AWAY UNSCATHED. I'D GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE ME IN THIS MATTER.

I HAVE A GRAND PRIX GT1 AND HEADLIGHTS SHAKE FROM THE SLIGHTEST BUMPS. I HAVE CARS IN THE ONCOMING LANE FLASHING ME WITH THEIR HIGH BEAMS ALL THE TIME BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.*AK

MY CAR STALLED 5 DAYS AFTER I RECEIVED IT. IT WAS ABOUT 40 F OUTSIDE AND I REVERSED SLOWLY AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. IT SHUDDERED AND STALLED. THIS HAPPENED ONCE MORE THE NEXT DAY. ANY TIME THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 60 F THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE. I'VE TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THIS SAME ISSUE BUT THEY SEEM UNABLE TO FIX IT. I'VE HAD THE PCM RE-FLASHED, INJECTORS CLEANED, AND SPARK PLUGS REPLACED. I HAVE HAD CONTINUED SHUDDERING AT LOW TEMPERATURES BUT NO MORE STALLING SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENTS. THERE IS ALSO A JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING QUICKLY. WHEN PRESSING THE GAS THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN JUMPS INTO GEAR.*AK

THERE HAS NOT BEEN A FAILURE PER SE, BUT IT IS POOR ENGINEERING, I OWN A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX AND HAVE NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS SHAKE ON HITTING BUMPS, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IT IS DISTRACTING TO OTHER TRAFFIC. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING OFFERED FROM GM TO HELP THIS CONDITION.*AK

WE JUST PURCHASED 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GT 2 HAS A HORRIBLE SEMI-CIRCULAR MIRROR LIKE REFLECTION FROM EACH LOWER CORNER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL RIGHT INTO OUR EYES MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO HANDLE THE VEHICLE. IT OCCURS FROM 11AM TO 2 PM FROM THE OVERHEAD SUN. *JB

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD, SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM CENTER OF DASH, PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND TURNED OFF IGNITION, EXITED DRIVERS SIDE AND PROCEEDED TO PASSENGER FRONT TO INSPECT UNDER DASH, WHEN GOT TO PASSENGER SIDE (10 SECONDS FROM DRIVER SIDE) COULD SEE FIRE UNDER DASH AND PLASTIC DRIPPING FROM UNDER DASH, GOT AWAY FROM VEHICLE, AND WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES ENTIRE INTERIOR OF VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED BY FLAMES. I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH HEADLIGHTS ON/ NO FOG/S, AND ONLY HAD FAN BLOWING OUTSIDE AIR IN, NO OTHER ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES RUNNING, SUCH AS RADIO, INTERIOR LIGHTS). VEHICLE IS COMPLETE LOSS, AND FIREMAN SAYS THIS WAS WORST CAR FIRE HE HAD EVER SEEN FOR SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. SO FAR INSURANCE COMPANY IS INVESTIGATING, BUT INDICATIONS SHOW ELECTRICAL FIRE POSSIBLY FROM IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE IN DASH BY HEATER CONTROLS. NO INJURIES OCCURRED W/ VEHICLE FIRE, VERY HAPPY THAT SEAT BELT DID NOT FAIL/STICK. ONLY HAD VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS, BOUGHT NEW AT PONTIAC DEALER, 5600 MILES. VEHICLE WAS 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GT2 W/ OPTIONAL LEATHER SEATS. *AK

THE HEADLIGHTS "BOUNCE" ON OUR 2004 GRAND PRIX DUE TO INSECURE MOUNTING. THIS CAN BE SEEN AFTER DARK AND MUST BE VERY ANNOYING TO OTHER DRIVERS, SOME WHO RESPOND BY FLASHING THEIR BRIGHTS. THIS MAY BE A MORE PREVELENT IN THE GTP/COMP G MODEL WHICH HAS A STIFFER SPRING AND STRUT COMBINATION. AT THIS TIME, THERE IS NO REPAIR AVAILABLE.*AK

PURCHASE 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP ON OCTOBER 25, 2003 FROM FITZGERALD AUTO MALL, ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND. ODOMETER WAS AT 7342 MILES. PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING GARAGE. I HEAR A POP. A LOT OF SMOKE STARTS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I TURN OFF IGNITION. I UNLATCH THE FRONT HOOD BUT DON'T OPEN IT. LUCKILY I HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN REAR TRUNK. I SPRAY EXTINGUISHER UNDER FRONT HOOD AND PUT OUT FIRE. I DISCONNECTED BATTERY TO MAKE SURE FIRE DOESN'T RESTART. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER (FITZGERALD, ROCKVILLE MARYLAND) WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. SERVICE SAYS THAT IT WAS POWER STEERING HOSE AND THE STEERING FLUID CAUGHT FIRE. SERVICE SAYS THIS DAMAGE IS COVERED BY WARRANTY. SERVICE IS STILL WAITING FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS AS OF JULY 8, 2004. I MAY TRY TO GET A REFUND CONSIDERING THE FIRE, LACK OF TRUST IN THE STEERING, AND THE LONG PERIOD IT HAS TAKEN THE DEALER TO REPAIR IT.*AK

BOUNCING HEADLIGHTS. SLIGHT BUMPS OR UNEVENNESS OF ROAD SURFACE RESULT IN OBVIOUS HEADLIGHT FLUTTER; VISIBLE ON ROAD SIGNS, THE GLARE OFF THE CAR IN FRONT, REFLECTORS, ETC. CAUSES DISTRACTION TO DRIVER AND OTHER MOTOROSTS. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. PONTIAC SHOULD PROVIDE A SOLID FIX FREE OF CHARGE.*AK