1995 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Complaints

THE SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT FROM THE STOWED POSITION, OR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO RETRACT. THE DEALER SAID IT IS DEFECTIVE. IHAVE PURCHASED A NEW ONE, BUT HAVE NOT HAD THE DEALER INSTALL IT YET (JUST GOT IT). THE DEALER SAYS I AM FINANCIALLY RESPONSABLE. IS THE MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPLACEMENT? *AK

BOTH REAR SHOULDER BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT FROM RETRACTORS. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING CAN OR WILL BE DONE DUE TO VEHICLE OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING LIGHTS WILL JUST GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. IF TURNING LIGHTS ON BRIGHT THEY'LL STAY ON.*AK

WAS TRYING TO USE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WHEN IT BROKE. IT FAILED TO LOCK OR RELEASE. SOMETIMES WOULD RELEASE, BUT NOT RETRACT. SOMETIMES WOULD LATCH PLATE, CAN BE LOCKED IN BUCKLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT LOCKING MECHANISM BROKE DUE TO WEAR & TEAR. OWNER INFORMED MECHANIC THAT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IS BARELY USED TO HAVE WEAR & TEAR ON MECHANISM.*AK

THE DOOR LOCKS ARE ONLY SUPPOSED TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO DRIVE. HOWEVER, THEY LOCK AUTOMATICALLY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK. THUSLY, I END UP LOCKED OUT OF MY VEHICLE W/ KEYS AND EVERYTHING ELSE INSIDE. HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON SEVERAL OCCASION, THE BUTTONS ARE NOT IN THE RIGHT POSITION FOR ME TO "ACCIDENTALLY" HIT IT. HAS ALSO HAPPENED SEVERAL TIME TO A FRIEND WHO OWNS A PONTIAC GRAN AM 1991.

THE HAZARD/TURN SIGNAL WORKS INTERMINTENTLY. THIS ALSO AFFECTS THE RADIO CONTROLS ON THE STERING WHEEL. IF YOU PLAY WITH THE FLASHER BUTTON UNTIL THE FLASHER STARTS WORKING ( AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS WORKED AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF PUSHING THE BUTTON UP AND DOWN) THE OTHER CONTROLS START TO WORK AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN. YOU MAY USE THE TURN SIGNAL NOW AND A BLOCK DOWN THE ROAD THEY MAY NOT WORK OR IT MAY GO A MONTH OR SO AND WORK JUST FINE.

THE WASHER/WIPER SWITCH FAILED ON MY 95 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MOORE PONTIAC BUICK TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. MOORE PONTIAC BUICK SAID THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO REPAIR THE WASHER/WIPER BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL FOR IT. I SHOWED THEM THE REPORT FROM NHTSA WEBSITE AND THEY STILL REFUSED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, PONTIAC, WHO REPLIED THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR THE 95 MODELS. THE RECALL ONLY APPLIES TO THE 97-98 MODELS.

OIL LOSS NOT REMEDIED, REPEATED ATTEMPTS BY DEALER. AFTER 6 MONTHS OF ATTEMPTS TO RECTIFY PROBLEM A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON HOW TO REPAIR PROBLEM WAS FOUND BY DEALER. BULLETIN ISSUED IN 1997. WORK DONE BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES. NO SIGNS OF OIL LEAKAGE OR BURNING NOW OR PRIOR TO REPAIRS. LOSS HAS BEEN AS MUCH AS 4 QUARTS IN 3000 MILES

OIL LOSS UNCORRECTED BY DEALER AFTER 4 OR MORE ATTEMPTS. TECHNICAL BULLETIN FROM PONTIAC FINALLY FOUND BY DEALER AFTER 6 MONTHS OF OIL MONITORING ETC. REPLACED PCV, VALVE COVER ASSEMBLY AND HARNESS DUE TO SUPPOSED CLEAN BURNING OF OIL PER BULLETIN. PROBLEM STILL NOT CORRECTED.

ALTERNATOR FAILED AT 35000 MILES AND THE REPLACEMENT FAILED AT 78000 MILES. SECOND FAILURE IS AT OWNERS EXPENSE $404.00.FAILURE NOTED BY SLOWDOWN OF TURN SIGNAL BLINKING RATE. MEASURED VOLTAGE OUTPUT AND CONFIRMED FAILURE BEFORE TAKING TO DEALER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FAILURE RATE, EITHER BAD DESIGN OF COMPONENT OR BAD LOCATION (EXCESSIVE HEAT). *AK