Pontiac GTO Complaints

615 consumer complaints on file.

#10116796April 12, 2005
TIRES, SUSPENSION:FRONT
HISTORY: THE 2004-2005 PONTIAC GTO IS AN IMPORTED VERSION OF THE AUSTRALIA HOLDEN MONARO. THE HOLDEN MANARO COMES FROM THE FACTORY WITH 235/45R17 TIRES, TIRES THAT ARE GENERALLY 235MM (9.25") WIDE. HOWEVER, WHEN PONTIAC SPECS THE GTO FOR THE US, THEY FINALLY DECIDED ON A 10MM WIDER TIRE, A 245/45R17 BF GOODRICH G-FORCE KDWS TIRE. NO CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE FOR US IMPORT THOUGH. CURRENT PROBLEM: THE LARGER TIRE CAUSES RUBBING ON THE FRONT STRUT, NAMELY AND MORE COMMONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT. THIS IS EVIDENCED BY A RUBBING MARK ON THE STRUT BODY AND MANY TIMES WEAR MARKS ON THE TIRES THEMSELVES. IN SOME CASES, FRONT SUSPENSION BINDING HAS OCCURRED. IN OTHER CASES, TIRE REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY. THIS IS DUE, IN FACT, TO THE INCREASE IN SIZE OF THE TIRE THAT PONTIAC HAS CHOSEN TO PUT ON THE IMPORTED VERSION. SEVERAL PONTIAC DEALERSHIPS ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND IT HAS BEEN SPECULATED THAT PONTIAC IS AWARE AS WELL. FUTURE PROBLEMS: TIRES ARE NOT ALL THE SAME SIZE. ONE 245/45R17 TIRE CAN BE SMALLER OR LARGER DEPENDING ON THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRE. THERE IS A STRONG POSIBILITY THAT WHEN A CONSUMER REPLACES HIS/HER WORN FACTORY TIRES WITH ANOTHER SET OF TIRES, OF THE SAME "SIZE", THAT THEY WOULD BE EVEN LARGER AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. IN LIGHT OF THE FORD-FIRESTONE TIRE PROBLEMS, I BELIEVE THIS IS A SITUATION THAT SHOULD BE RESEARCHED. PLEASE NOTE: DEALERSHIP LOT CARS WOULD MOST LIKELY NOT DEMONSTRATE THIS PROBLEM AS THEY WILL NOT HAVE BEEN DRIVEN ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE RUBBING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112537March 4, 2005
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I HAVE 6,000 MILES ON MY GTO. I CAN NOT ROTATIE MY TIRES BECAUSE THE INNER TIRE IN THE REAR OF MY CAR ARE BOLD. PONTIAC DEALER IS GIVING ME HARD TIME ABOUT THE REAR. MY TIRE ARE TOWED IN ON THE TOP SO I GOT UNEVEN WEAR THEY TOLD ME NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE REAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112233February 27, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAULTY. DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT FOR 10 SECONDS THEN SLOWLY WENT BACK DOWN TO NORMAL. ENGINE ISN'T OVERHEATING BECAUSE ALL FLUIDS HAVE BEEN CHECKED. BELIEVE PROBLEM TO BE ELECTRONIC RELATED. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. FIRST INCIDENT ENGINE WAS COLD AND CAR WAS STATIONARY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110720February 17, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
THE DESIGN OF THE ROOF PUTS IT INTO TOO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS HEADS. THE COVERING OF THIS AREA IS ALSO EXTREMELY HARD. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED BUMPS THAT CAUSE THE CAR TO ROCK SIDEWAYS, AND HAVE CONSEQUENTLY STRUCK MY HEAD ON THIS AREA OF THE ROOF THAT CONNECTS THE "A" AND "B" PILLARS. I'VE HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO REGAIN MY SENSES BEFORE CONTINUING ON. ALSO THIS ROOF AREA DESIGN PREVENTS THE USE OF THE SUN VISOR TO BLOCK BRIGHT SUNLIGHT FROM THE SIDE WINDOW. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ONES HEAD AND THE ROOF IS INSUFFICIENT TO PLACE THE VISOR BETWEEN ONES HEAD AND THE SIDE WINDOW. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT AND IT CANNOT BE FIXED. A SOFTER COVERING WOULD HAVE HELPED LESSEN THE BLOWS TO MY HEAD THAT I RECEIVE DAILY IN THIS AUTOMOBILE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10102775December 12, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A GM CERTIFIED SLIGHTLY USED (4,500 MILES )2004 PONTIAC GTO I WAS GIVEN A 110 POINT INSPECTION CHECK LIST THAT NOTED ITEMS THAT HAD PASSED INSPECTION AND OTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE CONDITION OF VEHICLE. AFTER LOOKING OVER THE LIST I NEGOTIATED A PRICE AND BOUGHT THE CAR. WITHIN 10 DAYS OF PURCHASE I FOUND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE HOOD HAD NOT BEEN FULLY PAINTED AND IN CERTAIN LIGHT YOU COULD SEE THE PRIMER GRAY. WHEN I NOTIFIED THE DEALER ANDERSON CHEV. LOS GATOS CA THEY SAID THIS WAS A WARRANTY ISSUE AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD INSPECTED AND PASSED THE HOOD. WHEN I TOOK IT TO A PONTIAC DEALER THE SERVICE MANAGER AND BODY SHOP MGR. INFORMED ME THAT THE ONLY THING THEY COULD DO WAS TO REPAINT THE HOOD. HOWEVER IT WAS ADVISED THAT IF THE HOOD WAS REPAINTED IT WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO CHIP AND FADE IN TIME DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE FACTORY PAINT JOB. I AM NOW STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE, LIVE WITH THE DEFECTIVE PAINT JOB OR HAVE IT REPAINTED AND WAIT FOR PAINT PROBLEMS TO HAPPEN. THIS IS NOT WHAT I BARGAINED FOR AND IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT I WANT TO LIVE WITH. A DEFECT THAT CANNOT BE FIXED CORRECTLY. THE DEALER,AND PONTIAC ARE TRYING TO HOLD ME TO THIS CAR. IS THERE ANY HELP FOR ME IN THIS CASE? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093855October 9, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
WHILE DRIVING MY NEW PONTIAC GTO THE BOLTS THAT HOLD DRIVERS SIDE HALF SHAFT IN FELL OUT CAUSING THE HALF SHAFT TO FALL OUT IF I WOULD OF BEEN GOING FASTER THEN 20 MPH IT COULD OF CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE AND OR INJURY. WHEN I SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND THAT'S WHEN IT FELL OUT. IT IS AT DEALER CURRENTLY WILL CALL TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. DO NOT KNOW WHY THEY WERE NOT TIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE AS I WAS ON WWW.LS1GTO.COM AND FOUND PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS I DO BELIEVE SIX OF THEM ALL HAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE INNER HALF SHAFT BOLTS FALL OUT! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088798August 30, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
DRIVING IN 2ND GEAR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION), 25MPH, I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND THE CAR NO LONGER ACCELERATED. GOT OUT AND FOUND 6 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE DRIVERS SIDE HALF SHAFT TO THE DIFFERENTIAL WERE LYING IN THE ROAD. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ULTIMATE PONTIAC,FREDERICKSBURG, VA. IT HAS BEEN THERE SINCE AUGUST 9TH WITH PARTS ON BACK ORDER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088783August 29, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT
IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE, HEARD GRINDING NOISE FROM RIGHT, FRONT TIRE WHEN TURNING AND BACKING UP. ALSO NOTICED THAT STEERING WHEEL WAS SLIGHTLY TURNED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. BEFORE 5000 MILES I NOTICED AN EVER INCREASING ROUGH RIDE AND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED BADLY WHILE DRIVING, ALSO NOTICED THAT THE INSIDE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE WORN COMPLETELY BALD. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE EVEN HAD THE CORDS HANGING OUT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER DISCOVERING THIS, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE CLOSEST PONTIAC DEALER. AFTER BEING HARASSED AND TURNED AWAY BY THE LOCAL DEALER, I WAS FORCED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE ORIGINAL SELLING DEALER OVER 2 HOURS AWAY. DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT WAS BENT, WHICH CAUSED THIS SEVERE ALIGNMENT ISSUE, WHICH MADE THE TIRES RUB WHILE TURNING, ALSO CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE TURNED WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AND ALSO WEARING OUT BOTH FRONT TIRES TO THE POINT THAT DRIVING ON THEM WAS VERY UNSAFE. DEALER REPLACED THE BENT STRUT, WHILE STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF A ROAD HAZARD THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS FAILURE AFTER DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO REPLACED THE FRONT TIRES. THEN THE GM (INDIANA ) REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO COVER THE COST UNDER WARRANTY STATING THAT I COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS FAILURE AFTER DELIVERY (EVEN AFTER DEALER STATED THAT THEIR WAS NO EVIDENCE OF CUSTOMER DAMAGE) ALSO STATED THAT STRUTS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE GM 3YR 36K MILE WARRANTY . THE DEALER FEELING BADLY, GAVE ME A SET OF TIRES OFF OF ANOTHER GTO THAT THEY PUT NEW TIRES AND RIMS ON. THIS GM "PRE DELIVERY" DEFECT WAS VERY COSTLY TO ME AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR A TIRE BLOW OUT DUE TO THIS GM ALIGNMENT ISSUE. PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE, AFTER WEEKS OF APPEALS, HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME. THIS IS TERRIBLE AND I ADVISE ANY GTO OWNER TO CHECK HIS OR HER FRONT TIRES AND ALIGNMENT FOR UNUSUAL WEAR BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088785August 29, 2004
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
WHILE WASHING MY NEW VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TIME, I DISCOVERED ON MY GTO THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE, REAR VIEW MIRROR IS SEVERELY SCRATCHED. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER AND DEALER SAID THAT THEY WOULD FIX WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED FOR A LEAKING HEAD, AND A BENT STRUT (BOTH GM WARRANTY ISSUES). DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO "BUFF'" THIS OUT WITH A PROCESS THEY HAD AND THAT IT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME AND PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED, IN FACT IT WAS WORSE. WORSE TO THE POINT THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THE MIRROR AT CERTAIN TIMES BECAUSE THE SUNLIGHT CAN "HIGH LIGHT" THE MANY SCRATCHES, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT AND DISTRACTING TO SEE OUT OF THE MIRROR. A BRAND NEW $30000 VEHICLE AND THEY CAN'T GET A $40 REAR VIEW MIRROR RIGHT EVEN AFTER A SECOND CHANCE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD GM NEEDS TO CERTIFY FIXED AND REPAIR SUSPECT AND DAMAGED VEHICLES. AFTER INFORMING PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE OF THIS ISSUE. THE HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE NO ACTION TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND HAVE CLOSED MY CASE AND SAID THAT THEIR IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GM WERE VERY HOSTILE AND UNCOOPERATIVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088786August 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE WASHING MY NEW VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TIME, I DISCOVERED ON MY GTO THAT THE RIGHT HEAD WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE ON THE LS-1 ENGINE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088787August 29, 2004
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION IS DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO REVERSE. DOUBLE CLUTCHING DOES NOT REMEDY AND YOU ALMOST HAVE TO FORCE THE GEAR SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT TAKES AN UNACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF FORCE (IN LBS OR NEWTONS) TO FORCE VEHICLE INTO GEAR. TRANSMISSION ALSO OCCASIONALLY "POPS" OUT OF GEAR. GEARS ALSO GRIND SOMETIMES WHEN CLUTCH IS FULLY ENGAGED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 7000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088748August 28, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
WHEN PROCEEDING NORMALLY FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING RIGHT AFTER SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER. FOUND THAT ALL 6 BOLTS AND 3 RETAINERS HOLDING THE DRIVER'S AXLE SHAFT TO THE DIFFERENTIAL HAD FALLEN OUT. NEXT DAY I FOUND ALL BOLTS AND RETAINERS WITHIN 50 FEET OF EACH OTHER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS SEVERELY HARASSED BY THE DEALER AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SELLING DEALERSHIP AND I WAS HARASSED THERE ALSO, BUT THEY FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY AS A "FAVOR". CORRECTED BY REPLACING THE INNER CV JOINT, OUTPUT HUB AND INSTALLING NEW BOLTS AND RETAINERS. SINCE MY MISHAP, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AT LEAST 3 OTHER CARS. BOTH DEALERSHIPS ARE INCOMPETENT AND DO NOT KNOW THE CAR, THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HORRIBLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081611August 20, 2004
STRUCTURE
THERE IS A SILVER TRIMMING IN THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD THAT EXTENDS TO THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD UNTIL IT TOUCHES THE BOTTOM OF FRONT WINDSHIELD. THIS CAUSES A REFLECTION ON HALF OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN IN THE DAY OR NIGHT. THIS REDUCES THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078360June 17, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
HAD CAR FOR 3 DAYS, STARTED MISSING AND STALLING. APPEARED TO GO AWAY. THEN WENT TO GAS STATION TO FILL UP AND I COULDN'T GET THE GAS TO GO IN THE TANK. HAD TO PUT A LITTLE AT A TIME. THE NEXT DAY IT WAS BACK TO STALLING AND MISSING. A NEW TURN WAS THE DIGITAL DISPLAY FOR THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE DIAL SPEEDOMETER DID NOT INDICATE THE SAME SPEED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE HAD IT EVER SINCE. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 2 WEEKS AND A WEEK OF IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER. A NEW GAS TANK WAS ORDERED, BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT OREDERED CORRECTLY SO I AM STILL WAITING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073298May 28, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
PUT KEY IN IGNITION, TURNED KEY TO START POSTITION, RADIO, EVERYTHING WAS RIGHT, THEN BELLS STARTED GOING OFF, AND ERROR SAID ABS FAULT, WENT TO START VEHICLE, AND ERROR SAID AIRBAG FAULT. CAR WOULDNT EVEN TURN OVER, JUST A CLICK. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS GETTING TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR, ANY GEAR, HAVE HAD IT POP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING, AND THERE IS ALSO A GRIND IN THE FRONT RIGHT WHEN I TURN. VERY UNSATISFIED. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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