1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Complaints

WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE STEERING RACK FAILED CAUSING MY CAR TO CRASH. GM UNWILLING TO DISCUSS ISSUE.*AK

ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, STEERING COLUMN LOCKS, BRAKES BARELY FUNCTIONED. ALTERNATOR REPLACED TWICE. DIAGNOSED WITH SAME PROBLEM. ONCE IN JULY 2001, AGAIN IN AUGUST 2001. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. DRIVES OK NOW, BUT WORRIED IT WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS. IN AND OUT OF SHOP 4 TIMES IN PAST YEAR FOR SAME PROBLEM. BACK IN SHOP TODAY FOR WHO KNOWS WHAT.

ENTIRE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM REPLACED AT MY COST OF $829.00 ON JANUARY 3, 2002. DEALER INDICATED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH PONTIACS AND GMC MODELS. I HAVE WRITTEN TO GMC CUSTOMER CARE CENTER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT RACK AND PINION GEAR ASSEMBLY AND HOSES FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK UP WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT

WHILE DRIVING, STEERING LOCKED UP AND WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN LEFT. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND REPLACED RACK AND PINION.*AK

POWER STEERING LOSS WHEN TURNING, STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT IS LOCKING CAUSING DRIVER TO OVERCOMPENSATE.*AK

WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS SUCH AS SMALL POTHOLES OR RAILROAD TRACKS, SOMETIMES THE ABS AND LOW TRACTION LIGHTS COME ON. USUALLY THEY GO OFF. SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. ONLY METHOD TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF ARE TO PULL OF THE ROAD OR HIGHWAY AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF. ADDITONALLY, SOMETIMES WHEN BRAKING OVER POTHOLES / RAILROAD TRACKS, THE ABS ENGAGE AND THE CLICKING STARTS. FORTUNATELY, DUE TO MY CAREFUL DRIVING, I GIVE MYSELF PLENTY OF ROOM AND DON'T NEED TO PRESS HARDER TO PREVENT A COLLISION. ALSO, SOMETIMES WITH THE LOW TRACTION LIGHT COMING ON, THE ENGINE / TRANSMISSION WILL REV UP AND ENGAGE THE OTHER FRONT TIRE, WHICH IS COMPLETELY USELESS WHEN CONDITIONS ARE DRY AND NORMAL.*AK

APPEARS TO BE SOME SORT OF TAPE ON DIVIDER FRAMES BETWEEN FRONT AND BACK WINDOWS IS SLOWLY PEELING OFF, EXPOSING BARE METAL THAT IS SLOWLY RUSTING. ALSO, TAPE IS DETERIOTATING ON SMALL WINDOW FRAME DIVIDER IN BACK SEAT, EXPOSING BARE METAL AS WELL. THESE ARE OUTSIDE THE CAR, THUS THEY ARE SLOWLY RUSTING.

WIRE CONTACTS ON BATTERY WERE BADLY CORRODED. AFTER A TEMPORARY SHAKING, CONTACT WAS RE-ESTABLISHED AND ELECTRICAL WAS WORKING. OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, UNTIL ORIGINAL BATTERY WAS REPLACED. CAR IS PARKED NEAR SALT WATER OCEAN ABOUT 10 TIMES PER YEAR FOR 12 HOURS OR MORE. ALSO, CAR OPERATED IN NORTHEAST WHERE HEAVY USE OF SALT IS USED DURING WINTER, THOUGH THIS CAR HAD ONLY GONE THROUGH TWO WINTERS. *AK

BELTS ON WATER PUMP BEGAN SQUEALING AROUND 40,000 MILES. AT 72,000 PUMP WAS LEAKING BADLY AND SEIZING. THE BELT WAS VERY LOUD. SERPENTINE BELT ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED.