Pontiac Grand AM Complaints

5,577 consumer complaints on file.

#10146097December 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I PURCHASED A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM IN FEBRUARY 2003. SHORTLY AFTER THE 45K MILES I STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE DEX-COOL ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING AROUND THE INTAKE GASKET, HEAD GASKET WAS DAMAGED. ALSO, THERE WAS EXTENSIVE OIL USE, APPROXIMATELY A QUART EVERY 500 MILES OF DRIVING. DESPITE WHAT THIS MIGHT SOUND LIKE, THIS VEHICLE, WHILE IN MY POSSESSION HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. I HAVE HAD THE ABOVE PROBLEMS FIXED ON 11-20-05 AND AFTER THE MECHANIC WAS DONE I HAD PUT ANOTHER $1465.00 INTO A CAR THAT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. NOW, ONE MONTH AFTER GETTING MY CAR BACK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM EITHER. I HAVE HEARD FROM SEVERAL MECHANICS AND DEALERS THAT THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR DUE TO DEX-COOL ONLY SYSTEMS AND ALUMINUM ENGINES THAT ERODE HEAD- GASKETS PREMATURELY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145460December 16, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT AND THE FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DUE TO THE SUDDEN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS TO HER HANDS. BOTH SHE AND THE PASSENGER WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE INCURRED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10145263December 15, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
AFTER ABOUT 100,000 MILES, I WAS TOLD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON MY PONTIAC GM 1999 GRAND AM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (COOLANT WAS LEAKING AND AFTER INVESTIGATION I SAW THAT THE DEXCOOL COOLANT WAS TO BLAME FOR WEARING OF THIS INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET). OF COURSE, MY VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND GM WILL NOT COVER IT. IF I DIDN'T PAY (OR HAVE ) THE $1000 TO FIX THIS, I WAS PROBABLY GOING TO RUIN MY ENGINE. SO, I NEEDED TO SAVE UP, AND I AM AFRAID THAT WHEN I TAKE MY CAR IN TOMORROW FOR REPAIRS, THEY WILL TELL ME THE ENGINE WILL HAVE PROBLEMS. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUES WITH THE DELCO INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS WAS THE FIRST VEHICLE I PURCHASED AS NEW, AND EVEN THOUGH I WORK FOR THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY, THIS IS DETERRING ME FROM BUYING FROM GM AGAIN. I WOULD APPRECIATE THEM TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DEFECT THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145290December 15, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
I HAD TO HAVE THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ON MY 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM REPLACED AT A COST OF $323.00. THE SWITCH KEPT CLICKING, EVEN WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS WERE NOT IN USE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SWITCH WOULD ULTIMATELY FAIL, LEAVING ME WITH NO TURN SIGNAL OR HAZARD LIGHT FUNCTION. THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM ON BOTH THE 2000 AND 2001 GRAND AMS. OBVIOUSLY, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED IN THE 2002 MODEL, BUT SINCE THAT MODEL YEAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. DOES THIS SEEM RIGHT TO YOU?. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145166December 14, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DT:THE CONTACT STATED WHEN PLACING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SMOKE POURED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SMOKE QUICKLY ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. BOTH THE FIRE AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED TO THE SCENE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE DASHBOARD PANEL AREA AND STEERING COLUMN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED THIS MAY HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, BUT NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144824December 9, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW
DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, NO CODES HAVE BEEN DETECTED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE ABS LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER FOUND LACK OF VOLTS FOR EBCM, THE PROBLEM WAS TRACED TO A FAULTY RELAY. THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET HAD RUPTURED. THE HORN HAD STOPPED WORKING DUE TO A BLOWN FUSE. THE LEFT POWER WINDOW WAS SLOW TO ROLL UP. THE REAR DEFOGGER GRID SHORTED OUT. UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144474December 5, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON ROUGH ROADS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. ALSO, THE REAR SEAT BELT MATERIAL FELL APART. THIS WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, THEY OFFERED NO FREE REPAIR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144476December 5, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V327000 CONCERNING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD WARNING SWITCH. . THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK UPDATED 1/11/2006. THE TURN/HAZARD SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON 12/10/2005 WITH GM PART 10359039. THE OLD PART NUMBER WAS 22624799 0691 E. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144485December 5, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DT: THE CONTACT STATES INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR TWO YEARS. HE CAN JUMP START THE VEHICLE AND IT WILL START FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSE AND RELAY FOR THE FUEL PUMP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY STATE THE FUEL PUMP MAY NOT BE GETTING ENOUGH POWER. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER REPAIRS MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144193December 2, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY, STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM OVERHEATING. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT FOUR TIMES AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKETS WARPED. PAID FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND CALLED GENERAL MOTORS. MEDIATOR WAS OF VERY LITTLE HELP. TOOK IT BACK UNDER THE REPAIR WARRANTY, THEN THE RADIATOR BLEW BECAUSE THEY HAD REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP WITH A HIGHER PRESSURE RATING. WE TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR, HOSES, HEATER CORE AND NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS. IT CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. IN GENERAL WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $2500.00 AND STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, WE NOW HAVE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMING ON OCCASIONALLY AND I FOUND SOME ENGINE WIRES TWISTED UP OVER THE MANIFOLD. I HAVE SINCE MOVED THEM BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION AND HAD TO USE ELECTRICAL TAPE ON ANOTHER WIRE CONNECTION THAT THE LOCK (SNAP) WAS BROKE OFF. SINCE DOING THIS I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR OVERHEATING AS OFTEN. ADDITIONALLY SINCE REPAIRS WERE MADE, WE NOW HAVE HEAVY CONDENSATION ON THE INTERIOR WINDSHIELD, (WINDOW WIPERS ON THE INSIDE COULD BE A SOLUTION...) ALONG WITH PUDDLES OF WATER ON THE PASSENGER FLOOR AND IN THE TRUNK....GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THEY DID TO MY CAR AFTER I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS, EVERYTHING JUST SEEMED TO GET WORSE FROM THERE.. COINCIDENCE, I THINK NOT. THEY ARE NOW BANKRUPT SO THERE IS NO RECOURSE IN MY CASE OF RETRIEVING MONEY NEEDLESSLY SPENT ON REPAIRS THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED PROPERLY IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND WHILE I'M AT IT, I WONDER IF THEY EVER TOOK CAR OF THAT IGNITION RECALL? I AM STILL DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT IS BEHAVING BUT I HAVE BEEN HAVING TO HOLD THE IGNITION SWITCH TO GET THE CAR TO START WHICH I HADN'T HAD TO DO BEFORE... ARE THEY WAITING FOR MY CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE DUE TO THIS IGNITION PROBLEM? THE SMARTEST THING WOULD BE TO TAKE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE BUT NO ONE WANTS TO TOUCH THE CAR AFTER FINDING OUT IT WAS AT THE OTHER DEALERSHIP SO WHERE DO I GO NOW? AND A REPLY ON THAT SURE WOULD BE A BIG HELP! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144091November 30, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
THE IGNITION SYSTEM HAS A DEVICE CALLED PASSLOCK, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO DISABLE THE FUEL PUMP IN THE EVENT THAT SOMEONE IS TRYING TO STEAL YOUR CAR. HOWEVER, THE '02 GRAND AM IS NOT ALWAYS GIVEN ENCODED KEYS, BUT THE SYSTEM IS STILL ACTIVE. THE CAR CAN BE DISABLED FOR 10 MINUTES, AWAITING THE SYSTEM TO RESET ITSELF. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143858November 28, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
BACK UP LIGHTS STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS AGO, AND NOW FAIL TO COME ON AT ALL. THIS CONSTITUTES A HAZARD WHEN MOVING VEHICLE IN REVERSE FROM PARKING SPACES. IN THAT OTHER DRIVERS ARE NOT AWARE OF YOUR INTENTIONS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143692November 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1993 GRAND AM ENGINE HEAD CRACK..ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC HE'S SEEN MULTIPLE HEAD CRACKS ON QUAD 4 ENGINES. CAUSED ANTI-FREEZE FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND PUDDLE OF ANTI-FREEZE UNDER CAR. *NM
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
#10143682November 26, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, SUSPENSION:FRONT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WE PURCHASE A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE IN JULY OF 2005 FROM CHAMPION CHEVROLET IN BRIGHTON MICHIGAN, WE HAD IT IN TO DEALER WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF OWNING IT, WHICH THEY DIDN'T REPAIR THAT DAY BECAUSE WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE WOULD TAKE TO LONG SO IT WAS TAKEN IN THE FOLLOWING SAT. HAD THE ABS,TRAC CONTROL AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND THERE WAS A NOISE UNDER THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHICH WAS FIXED BUT CAME BACK A WEEK LATER THEY TOLD US THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS AS NONE OF OUR OTHER CARS MAKE THIS NOISE NOT EVEN OUR CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK. WE ALSO HAD IT BACK IN AGAIN FOR THE SENSORS FOR THE ABS, TRAC CONTROL AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT THAT KEEPS COMING ON. WE CONT'D TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND STILL DON'T HAVE IT FIXED. WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON I DON'T HAVE MY ABS BRAKES ANYMORE AND NO TRAC CONTROL. MY BLINKERS ALSO HAVE BEEN GIVING ME A PROBLEM AS SOMETIMES THEY WORK AND OTHER TIMES THEY DON'T. MOST OF THE TIME I CAN GET THEM TO WORK IF I PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON FOR A FEW MINS. BUT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO. I HAVE BEEN A GM PERSON ALL MY LIFE AS MY DAD HAS WORKED FOR GM FOR 35 SOMETHING YRS. BUT THEY NEED TO FIXS THESE PROBLEMS AS IT IS UNSAFE FOR ME, MY CHILDREN, MY HUSBAND OR WHOEVER ELSE MAYBE IN THE CAR AND THE OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD ESPECIALLY HERE IN MICHIGAN WITH SNOWY AND ICY ROADS. I ALSO HAVE READ SOME OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I WAS ALSO TOLD TODAY WHILE GETTING MY OIL CHANGE DONE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DEXCOOL IN THIS CAR TOO. I DID LOOK AROUND ON THE NET AND NOTICE THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM YET AS I ONLY HAVE 50,000 MILES ON MY CAR BUT SOME OF THE SIGNS THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT I HAVE NOTICE SO IT WILL GO INTO A DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND I WILL BE KEEPING MY INVOICES AS I HOPE GM DOES THE RIGHT THING AND TAKES CARE OF THIS PROBLEM TO. *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
#10143302November 21, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
DT: CONSUMERS DAUGHTER WENT TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE TURNED OVER BUT DID NOT START. THE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE THEFT SYSTEM WAS ON. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, PUT IT IN THE ON POSITION FOR TEN MINUTES, THEN SHUT IT OFF, THEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL THIS WAS WHAT IT RECOMMENDED TO DO IN ORDER TO BYPASS THE THEFT SYSTEM. THE DEALER HAS NOT CHECKED THIS VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 12/07/05. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143252November 19, 2005
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, EQUIPMENT
WINDOW REGULATORS, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER REGULATORS HAVE GONE BAD TWO TIMES. ONCE AT 40,000 AND AGAIN AT 80,000. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142953November 17, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V327000 CONCERNING HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS: SWITCH. THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142942November 16, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
I HAVE A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM - APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES - ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THERE BEGAN A LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD (IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TURN SIGNAL IS ON) - IT CLICKS CONSTANTLY, SOMETIMES REAL FAST AND OTHER TIMES, SLOWER. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS, BUT HAVE FOUND NO RECALLS YET. I RECENTLY HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND THE MANAGER TOLD ME HIS WIFE'S 2002 GRAND AM HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HE FOUND OUT THERE MAY BE A RECALL ISSUED. I WOULD LIKE TO WHEN THERE IS GOING TO BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE OR HOW I CAN GET THIS RESOLVED. IS THE DEALER RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SEEING THAT MY WARRANTY HAS NOW EXPIRED? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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