Pontiac Grand AM Complaints (2003)

325 consumer complaints on file.

#10153928March 28, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PONTIAC GRAM AM 2003, NOW HAS 75,000 MILES. LOW COOLANT LIGHT TURNED ON. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD TO ADD MANUFACTURER BRAND COOLANT. A WEEK LATER LOW COOLANT CAME BACK ON AND ADDED MORE COOLANT. TOOK INTO SHOP FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE MANIFOLD AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. COST OF THE REPAIR $1,250.00. THEY TOLD ME THAT SEAL GASKET WAS WORN OUT AND CAUSED THE LEAK IN TO THE ENGINE AND IT HAPPENS WHEN CAR REACH A HIGHER MILEAGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED FROM THE YEAR 2000 MODELS. THIS SAME PROBLEM CAUSED MY OTHER CAR PONTIAC GRAND AM 2000 TO DIE OUT AT 80,000 MILES AND ONLY THAT TIME THE WARNING WAS ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I DON'T SEE THIS TYPE OF A PROBLEM WITH OTHER CAR MANUFACTURER EVEN IF THE CAR REACH MILEAGE 60,000 - 80,000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152889March 16, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE EXTERIOR PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL OPERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY OTHER DRIVERS OF THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE MALFUNCTION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143702November 26, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING, GM PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM FAILED RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO START THE VEHICLE. THIS RESULTED IN LONE FEMALE DRIVER TO BE STRANDED IN A HIGH CRIME AREA. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143564November 23, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED. THE INTERNAL MECHANISM POPPED OUT AND WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME DUE TO REPAIRS BEING TOO EXPENSIVE . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141721November 4, 2005
AIR BAGS
2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS IN HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE FRONT AND BOTH SIDES DAMAGE. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN THE CAR. I HAVE FOUND A COMPLAINT THAT WAS FILED ABOUT ANOTHER AIRBAG THAT DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM WONDERING HOW MANY MORE THERE ARE. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#10138639October 26, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: THE CALLER HAD TO HAVE THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED. THE CALLER SAID A BLINKING SOUND CAME FROM THE DASHBOARD BUT THE LIGHTS WERE NOT ON. DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH AT CALLER'S EXPENSE. THERE WAS A RECALL 03V3270000 ON OTHER YEARS BUT NOT ON THIS YEAR. MANUFACTURER SAID THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137485September 23, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
DT: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS FEBRUARY 2004, AND THE SECOND TIME IT WAS IN JULY 2004. THE MOST RECENT TIME IT STALLED WAS SEPTEMBER 19, 2005. THE FIRST TIME THEY THOUGHT THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE CLOGGED. THE SECOND IT WAS THAT COMPUTER NEEDED REPROGRAMMING. AND THE THIRD TIME THEY SAID THE FUEL PUMP/SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED EVEN AFTER THEY MADE THE ADJUSTMENTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136747September 16, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ON HOT DAYS AFTER MY VEHICLE SITS IN THE SUN, THE GAS PEDAL STICKS. ON ONE DAY MY CAR WAS IN PARK RUNNING AT 7000 RPM'S. I CALLED TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS THAT TOLD ME THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE AND MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THE THIRD DEALERSHIP FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGED I WAS NOT SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER STAYED LATE TO WAIT FOR ME (WITH A MECHANIC) TO LOOK AT MY CAR. ONCE THEY LOOKED AT MY CAR IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136040September 9, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM STALLS WHILE DRIVING HAS HAPPENED 10 TIMES IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS PONTIAC DEALER HAS LOOKED AT THE CAR TWICE FOR A TOTAL OF 5 DAYS AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WE WERE ALMOST REAR ENDED ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133666August 21, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
MY NAME IS [XXX], I HAVE A 2003 GRAND AM, I RECENTLY CAME BACK FROM A FUNERAL IN MISSISSIPPI GOING BACK TO ST. LOUIS MO, 3/4 OF THE WAY MY CAR STOPPED, AFTER 3 HOURS OF WAITING IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY FUEL PUMP HAD WENT OUT, HOW CAN A CAR 2 YEARS OLD HAVE A FUEL PUMP GO OUT, I ALSO HAVE FRIENDS THAT ALSO SAY THERE SECURITY SYSTEM IS CAUSING THERE FUEL PUMPS TO SHUT-DOWN, WHY DOES THESE THINGS HAPPEN TO A CAR THAT IS NO OLDER THAN TWO YEARS, PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND ADD TO YOUR RECALL LIST, I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED 113 MILES, AND PAID $560 TO HAVE FUEL PUMP REPLACED, I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS RIGHT, I FEEL THAT A CAR SHOULD LAST OVER 5 YEARS BEFORE IT BREAKS DOWN INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132027August 9, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM SECURITY SYSTEM HAS FAILED 3 TIMES NOW LEAVING ME STRANDED AND REQUIRING THE CAR TO BE TOWED TO A PONTIAC DEALERSHIP. THE SECURITY SYSTEM WHEN IT FAILS....SHUTS DOWN THE ENGINE. I'M LUCKY THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN HIT YET WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131691August 5, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER DIDN'T TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RUBBER BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WENT FROM 0-6 RPMS IN LESS THAN 3 SECONDS, IT WENT TO 60 MPH. CONSUMER HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND PUT IT INTO PARK. THE CONSUMER HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER ON 7-27-05, WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE VEHICLE. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY DID SAY THAT THE OIL FILTER WAS DIRTY AND THAT IT HAD TO BE CHANGED. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT IT WAS CHANGED AT THE END OF JUNE. THEY CHANGED THREE FILTERS AND THE PCV. THE CONSUMER PICKED THE VEHICLE UP ON 8-3-05. SHE ONLY DROVE IT HOME AND PARKED IT. SHE FELT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *AK A RECALL ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ISSUED BACK ON NOV. 2004. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT 32328 MILES AND IT WAS DETERMINE AT THAT TIME THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT APPLICABLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131520August 4, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THIS IS NOT A TRUE "FAILURE", PER SE, BUT A COMPLAINT ABOUT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT/FLAW/PRACTICE. I OWN A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT1, (PURCHASED 8/02) WHICH WAS RECENTLY SERVICED AT 40,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES, DURING 4/04, I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FOR EXCESSIVE WEAR AND SCORING. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT THE WEAR WAS DUE TO THE USE OF ROAD SALT THAT WINTER. THE FRONT ROTORS HADN'T BEEN TURNED, OR PREVIOUSLY SERVICED. AT THE RECENT 40,000 MILE CHECKUP, I WAS INFORMED THAT I WOULD AGAIN NEED TO REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS. AS WITH THE 20,000 MILE CHECKUP, THE ROTORS HAD NOT BEEN TURNED, OR OTHERWISE SERVICED, BUT WERE WORN TO THE POINT OF NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE LARGE MAJORITY (90+%) OF MY DRIVING IS HIGHWAY, WHICH "SHOULD" BE A BIT EASIER ON THE BRAKES THAN CITY, OR STOP-AND-GO DRIVING. AT EACH INSTANCE I INVOKED THE PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, WHO WERE ONLY MINIMALLY HELPFUL. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 20,000 OR SO MILES, AND IS NOT DOCUMENTED ANYWHERE IN PONTIAC LITERATURE, WOULD THIS NOT CONSTITUTE A DOCUMENTED PREMATURE FAILURE FOR A SAFETY SYSTEM ? I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER CONSUMERS, NOTING SIMILAR SYMPTOMS, SO I'M LESS INCLINED TO BELIEVE THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN ISOLATED EVENT. IN EACH INSTANCE, THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OF BRAKE WEAR (NO NOISES, PEDAL FADE, WEAR SENSOR SQUEAL, LOSS OF BRAKING POWER, ETC.) THERE ALSO HAS BEEN NO "INCIDENTS", OR ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130479July 28, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
BLOWER MOTOR DOES NOT WORK. FIRST LOW WENT, THEN #2 SPEED, THEN #3 SPEED, NOW ONLY #4 WORKING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130273July 27, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE TURN SIGNAL RELAY RANDOMLY STARTS CLICKING, WILL NOT STOP UNTILL CAR IS TURNED OFF. THE RELAY HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER ONCE AND IT WORKED FOR 2 DAYS, IF I PLAY WITH THE TURN SIGNAL STICK ON THE STEERING COLUMN I CAN GET IT TO STOP, BUT AS SOON AS I LET GO THE CLICKING BEGINS AGAIN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130007July 25, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
DT: THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AIM GT. WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. IT WAS LIKE THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK THE CONSUMER PUT IT IN PARK TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM GOING ANY FASTER. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN PARK. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON 3 SEPARATE OCASSIONS. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 40-60 MPH WHEN EACH EVENT OCCURRED. WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS THEY TOLD HER THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CODE. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL NUMBER NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NO. 04V528000; GM RECALL NO. 04092. WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER THEY TOLD HER THAT HER VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM COMPLAINT NUMBER 1-351-1304107. AS OF NOW THIS IS THE ONLY KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS AS OF YET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129228July 18, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
TURN SIGNAL SWITCH ACTIVATES ALL BY ITSELF, AT WILL, AT ANY TIME. SWITCH IS COMBO FOR HAZARD AND TURN SIGNAL. (SAME SWITCH). CIRCUIT OPENS AND CLOSES RANDOMLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128713July 14, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES, SERVICE BRAKES, STRUCTURE:BODY
I AM SEEKING ADVICE ABOUT A MATTER PERTAINING TO THE CAR I MOMENTARILY OWN. I BELIEVE THAT THE CAR SOLD TO ME HAS BEEN IN ACCIDENT AND REPAIRED. THE BRAKES FEEL AS IF THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE OUT AND HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING CORRECTLY FROM THE BEGINNING. AFTER INFORMING AND BRINGING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY FELT ALL THAT WAS NEEDED WAS FOR THEM TO BE LUBED. THEY SAY THE CAR IS FINE BUT I AM THE ONE DRIVING IT AND IT HAS NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY. I WENT TO A FEW DEALERSHIPS TO OBTAIN OTHER OPINIONS AND I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND FINALLY THEY REALIZED THE BRAKES WERE NOT IN GOOD SHAPE. PARTS WERE REPAIRED. FOR A FEW WEEKS THE CAR WAS RUNNING OK BUT THE BRAKES WERE STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I FELT A BUCKING EVERYTIME I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. THE NEXT TIME THE ROTORS WERE FIXED. I HAVE INVOICES TO BACK WHAT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN NOVEMBER 2003 AND IN THE BEGINNING OF 2004 THE PROBLEMS ALREADY STARTED AND HAVE NOT STOPPED SINCE. I DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL DECEMBER 2003, SINCE I WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY IN NOVEMBER. THE PAINT ON THE HOOD STARTED IN 2004 TO COME OFF. THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAINTED. THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS FOG UP, WATER CONDENSATION IS BUILDING UP. THE CAR IS RUNNING AS IF THE BOTTOM WILL FALL OFF. IT SOUNDS LIKE AN OLD CAR. EVERY TIME I SAY THAT THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY AND ASK THEM TO TEST DRIVE IT, THEY ONLY FIX WHAT I STATE WHAT I THINK IS WRONG. I ASK YOU TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND SEE IF YOU CAN HELP ME CLEAR UP THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANY MORE INFORMATION IS REQUIRED. I AM STATING THE VIN [XXX]. THANK YOU. [XXX]. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125704June 17, 2005
AIR BAGS
I DROVE FROM THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, HEADING TO RENO, NV TO VISIT FAMILY. I WAS DRIVING A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE1 3.4L. THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROAD WERE WET, AS IT WAS RAINING. THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT WAS 75MPH - I WAS TRAVELLING AT 68MPH. I WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT, IN FORT BRIDGER, WYOMING. A SEMI-TRUCK CUT IN FRONT OF ME, IN THE LEFT LANE, FROM THE RIGHT LANE - SPLASHING ALOT OF WATER OVER MY VEHICLE. I HYDROPLANED AND MY CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL TO THE RIGHT. I HIT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD GUARD RAIL WITH THE LEFT/FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AND THEN THE CAR SLID ACROSS THE ROAD RAMMING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD GUARD RAIL, DEAD CENTER IN THE REAR END. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT, BUT I WAS STILL SLAMMED AND JOLTED FORWARD AND SIDEWAYS. NEITHER OF MY DUAL FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE SPEED THAT WAS CALCULATED BY THE HIGHWAY PATROL AT THE TIME THAT I HIT THE GUARD RAIL WAS AT A MINIMUM OF 60-65MPH. THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED WITH EITHER IMPACT OF THE FRONT AND REAR, AT A MINIMUM SPEED OF 35MPH, AND THEY DID NOT. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE INCIDENT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10123980June 2, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
WIFE AND CHILD STRANDED BY MELTED PASSLOCK IGNITION SENSOR, PART NUMBER 12458191. NO PREVIOUS SYMPTOMS OF PROBLEM. FOUND ON VARIOUS WEB SITES OTHER PEOPLE HAD SAME, EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. CAR WAS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD WITH LESS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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