Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH | ||||||||||||||||
| 02V070000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | from 06/01/1996 to 07/31/1997 | V (Vehicle) | 1589948 | 03/27/2002 | ODI | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 03/06/2002 | 03/25/2002 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | On certain passenger vehicles. if the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the start position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch. owner notification began march 27, 2002. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, buick at 1-800-521-7300, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236). | |||||||||||||||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | ||||||||||||||||
| 97V059000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | from 12/01/1996 to 01/30/1997 | V (Vehicle) | 3464 | 04/30/1997 | MFR | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 04/08/1997 | 04/25/1997 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | The protective cover for the underhood fuse center was omitted. without this cover, the positive terminal bolt on the fuse block is exposed and can contact the insulated negative battery cable. if the insulation on the negative cable becomes sufficiently worn, an electrical short circuit can occur between the positive terminal and negative cable resulting in extremely high current flow. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | This high current flow can cause arcing and result in an underhood fire. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will inspect these vehicles for the presence of the protective cover and, if necessary, install a protective cover to the underhood fuse center. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Owner notification:owner notification began during april 1997. note:owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1-800-521-7300, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393. | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||||
| 676528 | 12/01/1996 | 50565 | Intermittent diagnostic trouble code p0107 map sensor circuit low voltage (pcm flash calibration) *tw | 05/27/1997 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||||
| 98836416 | 06/01/1998 | 601912 | Conditions regarding weak or discharged battery, slow starting, gen or mil lamp on, various driveability symptoms. *yc | 08/28/1998 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||||
| 010849020 | 12/01/2001 | 631899 | Subject regarding revised ignition lock cylinder or ignition switch assembly replacement. *slc | 06/25/2002 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | |||||
| 638313 | 01/01/1997 | 51242 | Instrument panel cluster squeak or itch noise (reposition felt pads). *tw | 06/27/1997 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 05/23/2007 | 50 | 1 | |
| Cooling system is failing all the time on all pontiacs have the same problem intake manifold blow 5 times at 50.00 miles oil mixes with the coolant and all the smoke from that goes in the air it is a major problem and than the cars are junk so than everybody who buys pontiac they are buying a lemon cars even if it brand new from the shop. *tr | |||
| 04/18/2008 | 160000 | 1 | |
| I have had several problems with my 1997 grand am gt since purchasing it. i have replaced the ignition switch three times in one year, the service costs are $900.00 in total. i can't understand how the same thing keeps breaking every 3 months. my windows get stuck and don't want to roll up, it has power windows. i was rear ended in 2003, but other than that, no damage done to my car. what can i do? just keep replacing ignition switches every 3 months? i have gotten written up at work for my car not starting. i do not have triple a. *tr | |||
| 02/08/2008 | 128728 | 4 | 02/08/2008 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 pontiac grand am. while driving 30-35 mph, the vehicle shut off and on three different times. the windows would not roll up and down properly unless controlled by the driver's side control swtich. the fog lights do not work as well and the fuses are charred. the vehicle has not yet been taken to the dealer. the current and failure mileages were 128,728. | |||
| 09/25/2006 | 2000 | 1 | 10/01/1997 |
| Purchased car new at end of 97 model year. within first six months returned car six times due to defective sway bar bushings. problem has never been corrected. car clunks as it is either turned to the right or left or travels (slowly) over speed bumps. also have experienced paint peeling from outside mirrors, radio volume control problems, radio/clock display works only part of the time, right front passenger seat mounting broke and slid passenger into dashboard, 2 door sport coupe-both power windows motors have broken and been replaced. the driver's side window just broke for the second time in two years. passenger window has also started to act sluggish. discovered leaky intake manifold gasket. another expensive repair. rain leaks into car around window gaskets which also make a hissing sound at speeds over 45 mph. car has been driven with care for nine years(odometer=80,000 miles) and has had oil changes, tire rotations, etc. completed according to schedule. owner cannot afford additional costly repairs especially since it seems to be going downhill from here. disgusted with problems as well as with lack of service from several different pontiac dealers. owner cannot afford to buy a [decent] new car and will have to purchase something used. make no mistake- it won't be a gm product! *nm | |||
| 09/24/2005 | 4 | 05/27/2005 | |
| Sept. 2005 my 1997 pontiac grand am wouldn't start. the steering wheel was completely locked. couldn't get the key into the switch,tried to shake steering wheel and tried banging on the switch and tried forcing the key in, but nothing worked. had to take cover off under the steering wheel and push a bottom that i found and it unlocked, then it started. even the dash light stopped working. been driving with no dash light for a while. it started doing it again, but his time the button under the steering wheel wouldn't work. had to put a toggle switch in, to even start. i turned the key on pushed the toggle switch and it started. that lasted till 6-7-06. that day i turned on the switch and it sounded like the starter was hung. now my power windows wont work, the power door locks still work. found recall online, the code number is 02008b, it says the engine fails to start when the driver holds the key in the start position for a period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces heat to melt internal switch parts. towed car to pontiac dealer 6-22-06 thinking maybe the recall would fix my problem. i told him to do a diagnostic test on it and it came back the ignition lock cylinder is bad. then he told me the price and i said, i cant afford that. he said, that it had to be fixed before he could fix the recall. they wanted $222.86 for the part and $275.88 for labor, $7.27 for misc. $14.58 for taxes then he changed it $20.00 for misc. totaling to $533.32 to fix the cylinder. i told him i found recalls online and even copied them and brought it to him. but he said, that he's got to go by what he has on his recall from gm. i saying if its not on his recall then it should be. this should be a recall on the ignition lock cylinder. so i had it towed to another place that would put the ignition lock cylinder in for $239 including parts and labor. *nm | |||
| 07/02/2003 | 113000 | 1 | 12/30/2000 |
| When a turn was made, the steering wheel produced a loud rubbing noise. dealer notified. *ak there were high idle problems. the interior lights and the power locks were replaced. the check engine light had come on and the vehicle had started to run rough, the alternator light had come on and the alternator was replaced. the drivers side seat belt did not retract and was replaced, the lower front control arm was replaced, the blower motor was replaced, the compressor was replaced, when starting the engine cold, there was a knocking sound on the right side until the vehicle was warm ,then the noise would go away, surging would also occur and would worsen when the engine was warmed, the volume on the radio was erratic(had gone up when trying to turn down), the sensor throttle position shorted and was intermittent, the valve air control was replaced, and the fuel filter was replaced. *scc *jb | |||
| 3 | |||
| Consumer states that the recall item has been installed but still experiencing the same problem with key, the key continually stuck off and on as the vehicle shut down, recall campaign # 02v070000. also, the alternator went out twice while driving and once in the yard, the battery has been replaced twice. *yd | |||
| 06/01/1998 | 17 | ||
| Vehicle has been taken to dealer 17 times for electrical problems. horn would stop working, ets and engine lights came on. radio was very hot to touch. dealer has replaced radio 6 times, and motor of driver and front passenger power windows 6 times. consumer felt electrical system was defective.*ak | |||
| Electrical defect keeps shortening out alternator / power mirror motors and headlights. consumer has replaced 5 alternators within 5 years and 9 months. cause is unknown. *ak | |||
| 05/12/1998 | 5 | 04/12/1997 | |
| Defect within windshield wiper is causing the windshield wiper to act in an erratic manner, and at times becoming inoperative. dealer has replaced wiper switch and motor twice and computer chip within board, but defect is still occurring. this is an intermittent problem. *ak left rear window motor failed, 1150 miles later the window switch failed. radio and clock light fail, dealer checked wiring and fuses. left front shoulder belt/retractor belt button damaged, dealer replaced seatbelt. *slc | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||
| 08/15/2006 | 170498 | 6 | 05/26/1997 |
| Took vehicle to murphy motors, dealership here in my home town. took to them due to fact my heat gauge kept rising and i didn't want to run car hot ;went to find out what was wrong. technician stated that he put the car on the code machine and ran it. said code popped up transmission. i didn't take car in for transmission. they refused to fix overheat problem. said would have to pay $2,500.00 to replace transmission. picked up car took to clifford vine garage. he looked at car and immediately told me the radiator was pouring water out of it. he replaced radiator and cooling fan. he put car on code machine after repairing those two items and did not see a code for transmission. after that alternator went out, and two days later, my computer and fuel injectors went out. murphy motors ran car checking transmission no telling how long and probably ran without water since radiator was pouring it out. they didn't mention problem with radiator at all, just transmission codes. i feel they damaged car while running it in their shop looking for more money to get off me, like $2,500.00 for a transmission that has nothing wrong with it. this car was a lemon from the first day i got it. i've had coil housing replaced numerous times by murphy motors and by john hays pontiac-hope ar 71801 when i broke down. car has been towed in more times for coil housing. gm needs this car drove right up their backside for the problems it has caused and continues to cause me. i currently have a $750.00 outstanding shop bill to clifford vines garage in el dorado, ar 71730 for the last 3 times it was towed to his shop for the radiator, cooling fan, alternator, fuel injectors, and computer. i'll never buy another pontiac again, that's for sure. *nm | |||
| 08/27/2006 | 1 | ||
| Numerous complaints regarding a 1997 pontiac grand am for repairs/ replacements of parts. door windows do not function, motor has had to be replaced by former owner, we have repaired motors on door windows several times on our own, windows would not go up and down at all, cost to repair at mechanics was over 400 and was done by first owner at least once. car service engine light comes on, had to replace entire computer system and now same problem is happening again, car idles horribly, sounds like it will be blowing up, and check engine light comes on. prior to the replacement of the computer car frequently stalled out while driving in mid turn or while going forward, and car frequently was difficult to start, eventually needing to be towed to a repair facility who had to replace entire computer. car has wheel bearings that make a lot of noise, sounds like wheel is going to fall off. car has accelerated all on its own without the driver stepping on gas pedal or doing anything at all with accelerator, car randomly decides by itself to lunge forward and try to drive itself. this stopped briefly after the computer was replaced and is now happening again. *jb | |||
| 07/01/2001 | 74000 | 10 | 12/16/1999 |
| This is the worst car (lemon) i have ever had. i bought this car from a used car dealer ship called new car alternative in livonia mi. i am now on my third engine in the car. the first 2 failed due to the head gaskets blowing and anti-freeze was mixing with oil in the engine causing engine failure. all car window motors have be replaced 4 or 5 times each and still don't work. back two doors are broke one wont open the other wont close. the sunroof wont close the dealer told me 1500 to replace motor and put back on tracks. lol i have the brakes replaced 3 times in 5 years. i bought the car dec of 99 and have had all these problems since. i don't recommend anyone to buy a grand am or a car from this dealership they were no help at all. the first engine was covered by warranty second one was at my cost of 3500. then another 1500 for new radiator and heater core. then alternator needed to be replaced. after that i needed a new transmission hose. this is such bull crap. what a lemon! plus i was pulling out of a gas station one day and my air bag decided to come out on it own no accident occurred and hit me in the face resulting in injuries and i had to go to the hospital. *jb | |||
| 03/05/2004 | 39000 | 13 | 05/01/1997 |
| 97 grand am 4cyl pur new 5/97 series of problems.gt version but driven cautiously by 40 year olds.at 2 years and 39,000 miles water pump fails.is under car and is 600.00 dol to replace!nobody should buy the 4 cylinder when an item prone to failure like a water pump cant be accessed without removing the manifolds on the car.at 50,000 key comes out of ignition while car running.ignition switch fails,has to be re keyed and cost is 500.00 by local mechanic serv stat.at 55,000 miles at interlocks up,car stuck towed at this time a alternator check shows that is not charging.replace both cost 800.00 plus battery.dec 2000 front left tire on alum wheel is flat-take to sev stat,they refill drive car after x-mas it deflates causes car to spin hit light pole mostly on tire area at 40 mph ,no air bag deployment but a high snowbank decelerates car.alum wheel leak again?ever since w.pump replaced a tapping comes from cam area.at 75,000 miles auto dr lock in driv side fails and is replaced.cam noise cont. as serv. people say it is a lifter,finally in 2002 dec. car runs rough ,is put on comp. and found to have bad cam timing.chain is inspected as it is steel and for life of car.a tiny cheap bracket keeps the chain in place and it had cracked and slowly broken at 80,000 miles.engine got by with new chain and labor for 800.00 dol.85,000 new battery,95,000 new battery.108,000 4 speed autotrans starts slipping into neutral.car stops on highway wont move.hw patrol tows ,charged 129.00 to repair shop.say tranny is bad.and water pump is leaking again.bill would be thousands due to premature failure of these parts and car will be sold as parts car.too bad,looks good.-march 06,2004.*ak | |||
| 1 | 09/30/1997 | ||
| Electrical system shortened the alternator causing the low battery to illuminate, lights to become dim and vehicle to stall out. manufacturer notified. *tt | |||
| 08/15/1999 | 7 | ||
| Seven alternators have been replaced in vehicle within four years by a repair shop. dealer contacted.*ak *jb | |||
| Electrical defect keeps shortening out alternator / power mirror motors and headlights. consumer has replaced 5 alternators within 5 years and 9 months. cause is unknown. *ak | |||
| 06/15/2000 | 1 | 11/01/1998 | |
| Abs: steering groans after hard braking or tight high/low-speed turns/warning light comes on; alternator: not charging-replaced twice; thermostat replaced twice | |||
| 07/25/2000 | 1 | 07/01/1999 | |
| When the battery and alternature failed the car suddenly accellerated at full throttle, systems began to alarm one at a time first the abs then the ets, ect locking up the brakes kept the car from moving foward when the alternator failed the engin finaly stopped. it would appear that when the battery failed the alternator was unable to keep up with the load as the voltage dropped systems begain to become unreliable and either the computer or cruise control caused the throttle to accellerate. a voltage threshold lockout is needed so that when power falls below the level where a system can no longer operate safely the system shuts down.*ak | |||
| 04/01/2000 | 2 | 06/01/1999 | |
| Alternator gone after 2 months of ownership/intake/manifold as stated/power windows defective/air conditioner went out in the middle of the summer - have had numerous problems in only 1 year of ownership! | |||
| 03/15/1999 | 50 | 03/01/1999 | |
| Rear brakes bind during normal stop and go traffic. upon accelleration the rear of the vehicle squeals and 1 or 2 loud bangs are heard as the brakes release. dealer was unable to duplicate and unable to detect any brake problems. vehicles alternator failed without any teltale warning signs, stranding the consumer. 60 days later the battery dies. engine used to rev to about 1500 rpm while vehicle was stopped and in gear. replacement of 02 sensor cured problem. other minor problems include power door lock bumper failure (repaired) and poor design of the driver's sun visor. (it moves the rear-view mirror) when moving visor from windshield to side window. consumer has already replaced visor once due to cracks at mounting screws. *ak | |||
| 08/20/1999 | 1 | 02/01/1997 | |
| This is the letter i submitted to them: i'm writing you this letter to let you know how disatisfied i am with your product. i bought my 97 pontiac grand am new. i am a strong believer you get what you pay for. that is why i bought new versus a used vehicle. i believe that i should get more for my money than what i have got from your product. i'm very dissatisfied!!!! i am in the u.s.m.c. my family and i do alot of traveling to and from our home state. my wife was broke down on the highway with this vehicle. we as car owners have never broke down on the highway in my 18 years of being in the military. i am very picky about my vehicles and always have my car serviced as required. i never miss my oil changes. i am a middle class citizen just trying to make a living and make sure my family is safe on the roads. i have had no problems with the car dealership. i believe them to be the best in town. i believe i just picked the lemon on the lot. i have listed my expenses that i have paid out of my pocket and also what was covered under warranty. please fell free to give me a call if you have any questions. i feel that i should be reimburse for repairs and expenses. of $1257.65 *ak | |||
| 08/23/1999 | 4 | ||
| Started vehicle and backed out of driveway. while traveling approximately 500 feet, vehicle suddenly stalled. was able to get it started, and took it to the dealer. dealer indicated that alternator bearing was bad and replaced it. however, vehicle stalled again on 01-sep-99/11-oct-99 and 13-oct-99. *ak | |||
| 04/12/1997 | |||
| When driving at any speed and applying brakes there is a grinding and squeaking noise coming from the front driver's side wheel, and when coasting down a hill and applying brakes the grinding and squeaking noise is still also, air conditooning hose/ radiator hose ,and the alternator had be replaced. however., dealer can't determine the cause of problems. *ak | |||
| 08/22/1999 | 3 | 07/01/1998 | |
| Ac/delco battery and alternator failed. *yc | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer received recall 02v070000 for ignition switch. vehicle would not start one evening. consumer took car to dealer for recall remedy. dealer stated that ignition cylinder and battery needed to be replaced, and problem was not with ignition switch. consumer believesproblem was with switch, but dealer would not install relay to correct recall first. dealer was requesting payment for replacement of cylinder and battery.*ak | |||
| 07/18/2003 | 87000 | 1 | |
| While attempting to start the car a clicking sound occurred and the car would not start. the battery was replaced, and all was well for a week. then, the abs light came on while driving. also, all the warning lights came on, the gauges flashed back and forth ,and the car stopped. would not restart unless was set for several minutes. when it started the same incidents repeated. warning lights would often come on and off without there being anything wrong with the system that the lights were indicating. once the car was pulled to a stopping location it would not turn completely off , and the key would get stuck in the ignition. these problems persisted for 2 days until it completely stopped.*ak | |||
| 06/08/2001 | 3 | 11/21/1998 | |
| The consumer received a recall notice for ignition lock binding. several dealers were unable to correct the defective recall part. the consumer has spent over thousands of dollars to correct this problem. battery indicator lamp was flashing. *yh | |||
| 11/17/2000 | 2 | 07/01/1997 | |
| This problem was reported accurately by another person 0diid 726109/ we just purchased a battery to correct the problem, which it did for about 100 miles, then it was ditto, but would like an email as to what the person odiid 726109 found to be the problem. my husband is a master mechanic. *ak | |||
| 07/25/2000 | 1 | 07/01/1999 | |
| When the battery and alternature failed the car suddenly accellerated at full throttle, systems began to alarm one at a time first the abs then the ets, ect locking up the brakes kept the car from moving foward when the alternator failed the engin finaly stopped. it would appear that when the battery failed the alternator was unable to keep up with the load as the voltage dropped systems begain to become unreliable and either the computer or cruise control caused the throttle to accellerate. a voltage threshold lockout is needed so that when power falls below the level where a system can no longer operate safely the system shuts down.*ak | |||
| 03/15/1999 | 50 | 03/01/1999 | |
| Rear brakes bind during normal stop and go traffic. upon accelleration the rear of the vehicle squeals and 1 or 2 loud bangs are heard as the brakes release. dealer was unable to duplicate and unable to detect any brake problems. vehicles alternator failed without any teltale warning signs, stranding the consumer. 60 days later the battery dies. engine used to rev to about 1500 rpm while vehicle was stopped and in gear. replacement of 02 sensor cured problem. other minor problems include power door lock bumper failure (repaired) and poor design of the driver's sun visor. (it moves the rear-view mirror) when moving visor from windshield to side window. consumer has already replaced visor once due to cracks at mounting screws. *ak | |||
| 08/22/1999 | 3 | 07/01/1998 | |
| Ac/delco battery and alternator failed. *yc | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | |||
| 06/26/2001 | 25 | 10/01/2000 | |
| I have an electical problem in my car that no one seems to know what is if the fuse continues to blow constantly then they will be abble to trace the problem until then i have the birnden of worrying about my car catch on fire from this short.they told me to possibly try a headlight swich at an 85.00 price and labor on top of that on a maybe yes maybe no fix. at this point i just don't know what else to do. i'm hopeing that you night be able to help me cure this problem i've only had this vehicle since october of last year i hate to trade it in bscaus of this problem i dont have the funds avaible to me to purchase another vehicle for the taxes that i will have to pay out again for another vehicle. i just don't know what else to do at this point . i have blown apoxametly 25 -30 fuses since the accident . there is no certain time or ocurrence that this fuse blows . this vehicle has automatic headlights on it when it becomes dusk there is a sensor in the dash that tells the headlight switch to turn on the lights. i'm afaid that there will be a problem there which could cause this vehicle to have a fire in the interior of the vehicle. i have taken the vehicle at thr advise of the insurance company and it they told me to only way they can trace this is if the fuse in question keeps blowing one after another then they might find the problem. maybe you might be able to give mr the number of pontaic factory service reps for pontaic if possible to try and get this matter resolved. *ak | |||
| 06/01/1998 | 17 | ||
| Vehicle has been taken to dealer 17 times for electrical problems. horn would stop working, ets and engine lights came on. radio was very hot to touch. dealer has replaced radio 6 times, and motor of driver and front passenger power windows 6 times. consumer felt electrical system was defective.*ak | |||
| Electrical defect keeps shortening out alternator / power mirror motors and headlights. consumer has replaced 5 alternators within 5 years and 9 months. cause is unknown. *ak | |||
| 11/20/1998 | 4 | 05/01/1997 | |
| While under warranty swaybar bushings were replaced 4 times. the rear windshield leaked water into the trunk which caused moldy carpet that the dealership refused to replace even though the car was still under warranty. the plastic cover on the instrument panel rattles as well as the plastic cover where the radio and climate control knobs are located. dealer has said that there is nothing that can be done about this. the sidewalls on the two front tires were defective and had to be replaced. the left rear tire had a patch in it before i even received the car. the fuse for the lights on the instrument panel keeps blowing and when the dealership was questioned about this they said that it was nothing. it has now blown 15 times. the water pump shredded at 37,000 miles. the car accelerates on its own after being taken out of park and put in drive. the brakes pulse at 10 miles an hour. the radio controls work opposite of what they're supposed to (ie turn up and it does nothing, turn down and it gets louder). battery went dead at 40,000 miles. rearview mirror lever fell off inside door for no apparent reason. severe paint chipping on front of car. | |||
| 01/01/1997 | |||
| While driving vehicle stalled unexpectedly which could cause a crash. also, there was an electrical short in the headlight system. dealer replaced parts, but could not determine the problem. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 08/30/1997 | 1 | ||
| When driving the head lights and the day time running lights were inoperative, making it very difficult driving in those type of conditions. consumer has contacted the dealer, consumer has yet to have problem corrected. *ak consumer stated the lights have since been replaced at another dealer.*jb | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||
| 04/06/2006 | 127000 | 30 | 04/08/1999 |
| The key gets stuck in the ignition in the auxiliary position. the car has to be started and turned off many times until the key will finally move to the correct position to be removed from the ignition. *jb | |||
| 08/10/2004 | 1 | ||
| The consumer's vehicle experienced the same problem as mentioned in nhtsa recall 02v70000. if the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the star position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts. this vehicle was not included in the recall due to vin. *ak the ignition locked. *sc | |||
| 07/27/2004 | 121000 | 20 | 04/04/1998 |
| The key gets stuck in the ignition and auxillary lights remain on. the locksmith attempts to fix it and i have to keep having him come out; looks like a replacement core is needed, thee is not a cheap way outof this. the bake pads wear down very quickly. it seems that a bolt on the caliper is not even with the opposite bolt, it's very slight but it's the same on both calipers and seems to cause pads to wear unevenly and often. it is probably cheaper for gm to have cosumers replace pads and rotors often than to retool the machinery to fix all those bolts. *ak | |||
| 09/29/2003 | 1 | ||
| Nhtsa recall 02-v-070-000: on certain passenger vehicles if the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the start position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts. consumer has the same problem. *ak | |||
| 03/22/2003 | 25 | ||
| When shutting off the car, the key becomes stuck in the ignition. i have to restart the car several times and shift from drive to park to get it out. *jb | |||
| 11/29/2002 | 3 | 10/01/2096 | |
| The ignition switch was paid out of pocket expense being a recall even do i was never contact and this vehicle was purchsed brand new. i spend aprrox $300.00 between towing fees and mechanical repair. i need to get refunded this money. otherwise, i will contact the bbb and other departments. dt | |||
| 08/12/2002 | 4 | 08/01/2097 | |
| In august 2002, we received a recall notice from pontiac saying the ignition circuit thermal events on our pontiac was a problem which could cause spearks or a fire and we should take the vehicle to our local dealer. we took the vehicle to wyatt-johnson, our local dealer and they replaced the ignition switch assembly--or at least that is the part that they said were covered by the recall. just prior to taking the car into the shop for the recall notice repairs, my wife noticed that when she stopped at a local store, the ignition would not turn off and she saw sparks coming from the steering column. we hoped that the recall repairs would fix the problem since the mechanic at wyatt-johnson said it should. however, after the recall repairs were made, my wife again experienced problems with the ignition--it wouldn't stop running after stopping--and she couldn't seem to remove the key from the ignition. and, again she saw sparks from the ignition. my wife took the car to an independent automotive dealer--our local napa garage and they explained that the problem was in the ignition lock cylinder which needs to be replaced. the napa mechanic showed my wife a pontiac tenical bulletin which clearly states that the ignition switch assembly was included in the previous recall and according to the napa mechanic, the gmac dealer should have replaced the part. he said the recall notice number was 97038. we again contacted wyatt-johnson and they again said that they had made the recall repairs and there was nothing wrong with the car. they refused to exam the automobile again without charging for a diagnostic exam of the vehcile. the napa mechanic said it will cost about $400 to make the necessary repairs to the car. yesterday, i contacted a pontic representative at the toll free number (800) 762-2737 and they gave me a file number 1-38785208. the lady told me to take it back to the dealership for another diagnostic screening and if they find a problem. mr | |||
| 06/06/2002 | 1 | 04/01/2001 | |
| I had a total failure of the cluster that operates all the gauges. speedometer, fuel,rpm, ets and temperature. i had to have it replaced with a used cluster as i could not afford a new one. i just recently learned of a recall of the ignition relay and i wondered if this could be another defect worth checking into. i received no notification of the ignition recall, i just heard about it on the news. so i thought this could be a recall that i had not heard about.*ak | |||
| 08/29/2001 | 09/01/2097 | ||
| I mailed you a letter-no responce. rsvp!!!!no safety defect listed. *ak | |||
| 03/01/2002 | 09/01/2099 | ||
| It's recall problem ,i got arecall letter from general motors and i went to the dealer 3 times; the first one the service advisor said that they are all busy they can't do it ,the second time the same and he told me to come early so i went at 8 am today and they said you should leave for few days and next time should come early ,early than 8 am!!!!!!!!! come on , i can't leave my car for few days then i called the 1800 for pontiac but they could not , a fire can accur any time in the steering colum ,can you help?*ak | |||
| 06/08/2001 | 3 | 11/21/1998 | |
| The consumer received a recall notice for ignition lock binding. several dealers were unable to correct the defective recall part. the consumer has spent over thousands of dollars to correct this problem. battery indicator lamp was flashing. *yh | |||
| Nhtsa recall# 02v070000/ manufacturer# 02008. got recall notice, and had recall repairs done, but problem still exists.*ak | |||
| Nhtsa recall 02v070000/ manufacturer 02008. took vehicle to dealer and had recall repaired, but problem still exists.*ak | |||
| 06/08/2001 | 3 | 11/21/1998 | |
| The consumer received a recall notice for ignition lock binding. several dealers were unable to correct the defective recall part. the consumer has spent over thousands of dollars to correct this problem. battery indicator lamp was flashing. *yh | |||
| 10/03/2001 | 1 | 07/01/1997 | |
| Vehicle parked in garage attempted to start itself at 6:01am (mdt). key was not in ignition nor was iginition switch engaged. vehicle cranked for approx. 4 minutes while owner attempted to disconnect battery. following approx 4 minutes of engine cranking vehicle stopped on its own. owner then attempted to start vehicle to move out of garage in the event of another occurrence. vehicle electrical system was completely shutdown and vehicle would not start. owner also noticed strong electrical burning odor. vehicle would also not disengage from park due to total system failure. vehicle was towed to dealer. ignition switch identified as failure (part retained by vehicle owner). while vehicle is no longer within the warranty period, owner has serious concern regarding fire potential to vehicle and surrounding structures if failure had occurred at a time where vehicle had been unattended or unnoticed. | |||
| 08/15/2000 | 6 | 03/01/2000 | |
| I have had one problem after another with this vehical and there are others with the same style car that are having the exact same problems. this needs to be looked into seriously. it is becoming to costly. no safety defect mentioned. *ak | |||
| 08/16/2000 | 1 | 08/01/1999 | |
| Subject: recall # 00v287000 my car experienced the identical symptoms as those outlined in the recall of 1994 and 1995 pontiac grand am's. i contacted pontiac twice about this problem and was told that the recall only applied to 1994 and 1995 model years, and i could not be reimbursed for the cost of repairs to my car. pontiac set up file # 04017251 to show my contacts with them. i have also read letters in your database from other pontiac owners with the same problem of the starter motor failing to engage and the ignition switch begins to smoke.*ak | |||
| 11/17/2000 | 2 | 07/01/1997 | |
| This failure is particularly bad because both times the abs light came on about 10 miles before the occurrence (which in hindsight) i see was the only warning of danger and both times were pitch dark outside, first the car seemed to be in neutral in the drive position, in that the engine revved, but had little real power and while in anticipation (fear) that the car would lunge when the transmission finally took hold didn't come to fruition, what occurred could have been as bad. the dash light indicators started flashing but the main dash lights seen freguently (speedometer) disappeared and then i noticed that i was only being guided by street lamps (second occurence, i didn't even have that) and the car died at the same time, making me lose power steering and brakes and have to get this thing off the road. this car has never missed a beat before that, but when this happened the first time, a bunch of city workers out trying to fix a burst pipe in the street at 5:30 a.m. were watching this happen and came running over and said that the way this car failed should be reported because it could have been bad for any driver to lose car manueverability at the same time as exterior lights. the second time, when i saw the abs light come on, i was prepared. i called my hubby on the cell phone and he came and followed me from there and i had about 10 miles of drivetime before my car became possessed again. it is sitting by the road on an isolated section in indiana and i'm feeling pretty darn lucky.*ak | |||
| 08/20/1998 | 01/01/1997 | ||
| This 1997 grand am is nothing but trouble. i have had several failures and am not happy with this vehicle at all. please contact at the phone numbers at the beginning of this form ! no afety defect listed in the summary. *ak | |||
| 09/01/1996 | |||
| Pontiac grand am 1997, on 5/2/00 car would not start after being driven during the day, it turned over once, then nothing saw smoke trail coming from turn signal arm cut ignition switch off, got out of vechile, went into the house, about 3minutes heard the horn of the vehicle sounding, went outside to check , car was on fire at the drivers side, opened up drivers side door, flames were in the steering unit, and on the drivers seat , and steering wheel and top sun visor, ran and got a fire extinquisher, put out the fire, horn still going off, popped hood release and disconnected the hot cable from the battery. car is now at dealership pending investigation, concerned that this might have happened when driving the vechile, was just lucky it did not happen during use.*ak | |||
| 08/20/1999 | 1 | 02/01/1997 | |
| This is the letter i submitted to them: i'm writing you this letter to let you know how disatisfied i am with your product. i bought my 97 pontiac grand am new. i am a strong believer you get what you pay for. that is why i bought new versus a used vehicle. i believe that i should get more for my money than what i have got from your product. i'm very dissatisfied!!!! i am in the u.s.m.c. my family and i do alot of traveling to and from our home state. my wife was broke down on the highway with this vehicle. we as car owners have never broke down on the highway in my 18 years of being in the military. i am very picky about my vehicles and always have my car serviced as required. i never miss my oil changes. i am a middle class citizen just trying to make a living and make sure my family is safe on the roads. i have had no problems with the car dealership. i believe them to be the best in town. i believe i just picked the lemon on the lot. i have listed my expenses that i have paid out of my pocket and also what was covered under warranty. please fell free to give me a call if you have any questions. i feel that i should be reimburse for repairs and expenses. of $1257.65 *ak | |||
| 01/01/1997 | 3 | 09/01/1996 | |
| Ignition key will not turn due to lock up. | |||
| 03/29/1997 | 4 | ||
| While driving vehicle and for no apparent reason vehicle would stall; taken to dealer several times; attributes stalling to another problem, 2nd time to a different problem and third time replaced fuel pump injector, problem still exists. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER | |||
| 12/25/2007 | 132000 | 1 | |
| The passlock anti-theft system in my 1997 pontiac grand am gt is a failed piece of junk that never should have been put into any vehicle. gm should be responsible for correcting this situation as many, many individuals are spending too much money not having this situation fixed. most mechanics are at a loss. *tr | |||
| 03/12/2008 | 90000 | 50 | 02/01/2005 |
| The anti-theft devices are malfunctioning. they are often leaving codes and popping on my check engine light. *tr | |||
| 03/03/2007 | 8 | ||
| Passlock security system on 1997 pontiac grand am disables car's ability to start. i have had ignition switch fixed 2 times already- the last time being 2 years ago. and they want me to replace it again! *jb | |||
| 05/23/2006 | 88800 | 7 | 05/23/2006 |
| Passlock security system on 1997 pontiac grand am se will not allow me to start the car at all. *jb | |||
| Vehicle will not start two or three times a day. the engine will crank but the anit-theft indicator light will blink and the engine will shut down (it sound as if no fuel getting to engine.) | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||
| 04/10/2004 | 0 | ||
| Car is a 1997 grand am se with 2.4l engine an automatic trans with 90,000 miles. ignition key gets stuck in car and won't come out unless car is shifted from nuetral to park several times and key is cycled in ignition. battery's and alternators last only 1 year. water pump fails at 43,ooo miles entire electrical system is very sketchy and power door locks, windows and lights work sporadically ever since purchase at 31,000 miles. | |||
| Vehicle hesitates to start. dealership had to reprogam computer system.*ak | |||
| 03/01/2001 | 1 | 04/01/1999 | |
| #1 - computer module failed - all warning lights intermittently come on and go off (50,000 miles). #2 - ignition switch - pin comes loose and key will not work. have to replace & rekey. #3 - pcm/vcm replaced @ 58,000 miles. #4 - brake rotors have been turned twice, still pulsate. #5 - parking brake constantly needs adjusting. #6 - gm dealer overcharged on labor, 5.5 hours should have been 1 hour. gm not willing to help solve situation. | |||
| 01/20/2000 | 11/01/1997 | ||
| The wheel joint simply broke apart no prior warning. company did cover that. spark plug and wire were supposed to be good for 100,000 miles, but were no good after 47,000 miles, water pump went out at 49,000miles. i have never had so many problems on a vehicle with low mileage. i have had previous gm cars that have lasted over 100,000 miles with no problems. is this car known to have these kinds of problems? i have spent $700 in repairs because the way the car is put together it takes hours for the mechanic to fix anything. $483 for a water pump!! | |||
| 06/01/1998 | 5 | 11/01/1997 | |
| Card runs rough, stumbles and hesitates, engine check light on. dealer replaced catalitic converter, o2 censors, egr valve, spark plugs to no avail. please e-mail me if you are having the same problem at alien@castles.com. *ak | |||
| 01/01/1999 | 1 | 08/28/1997 | |
| Pcm failure stalled the vehicle on the road. yh | |||
| 11/27/1998 | 5 | 10/01/1997 | |
| Engine has a hesitation when coming to a stop or leaving a stop. oil pump has been replaced twice. ignition module has been replaced twice. dealer has not corrected the problem on 4 attempts in two weeks. | |||
| Engine idles at 3000 rpm for reasons unknown. also once brake is released vehicle will rapidly accelerate to 60 mph. dealers has replaced computer module which did not correct problem. vehicle also has brake problems. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH | |||
| 07/15/2007 | 150000 | 1 | 07/11/2007 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 pontiac grand am. the contact stated that the vehicle shut off at a stop without warning. the mechanic stated that the electrical system caused the failure. as of october 15, 2007, the dealer and manufacturer had not repaired the vehicle. the manufacturer stated that her vin was excluded from nhtsa campaign id number 02v070000 (electrical system: ignition: switch). the contact felt that her vehicle should be included as part of the recall. the current and failure mileages were 150,000. updated 01/11/08. *lj the dealer stated engine replaced in june. updated 12/12/07 *tr | |||
| 08/01/2007 | 2 | 05/06/2001 | |
| The ignition key continues to get lock or stuck in the ignition. this represents a secondary safety issue in that car has key in the ignition at all times. battery could drain leaving passengers and drivers stranded in unsafe or unable to react to unsafe situations (criminal pursuers, assailants, etc). because your car has been drain due to an ignition defect that locks your key in the ignition. *jb | |||
| 02/06/2003 | 60094 | 1 | |
| Recall 02v070000 concerning ignition switch. ignition switch wiring melted. dealership would not repair free of charge because the vin was not included.*ak | |||
| 08/06/2004 | 110000 | 1 | |
| The dashboard components remained illuminated even though the vehicle was turned off. the consumer attempted to turn the vehicle on and off but the dashboard lights stayed illuminated. within seconds of this, smoke started coming form the steering column. the vehicle was towed to dealership. the ignition switch failed and damaged the steering column and other components. there was a ignition switch recall 02v07000 but the consumer was never notified although the vehicle identification numbers was covered by the recall. *jb | |||
| 03/05/2004 | 39000 | 13 | 05/01/1997 |
| 97 grand am 4cyl pur new 5/97 series of problems.gt version but driven cautiously by 40 year olds.at 2 years and 39,000 miles water pump fails.is under car and is 600.00 dol to replace!nobody should buy the 4 cylinder when an item prone to failure like a water pump cant be accessed without removing the manifolds on the car.at 50,000 key comes out of ignition while car running.ignition switch fails,has to be re keyed and cost is 500.00 by local mechanic serv stat.at 55,000 miles at interlocks up,car stuck towed at this time a alternator check shows that is not charging.replace both cost 800.00 plus battery.dec 2000 front left tire on alum wheel is flat-take to sev stat,they refill drive car after x-mas it deflates causes car to spin hit light pole mostly on tire area at 40 mph ,no air bag deployment but a high snowbank decelerates car.alum wheel leak again?ever since w.pump replaced a tapping comes from cam area.at 75,000 miles auto dr lock in driv side fails and is replaced.cam noise cont. as serv. people say it is a lifter,finally in 2002 dec. car runs rough ,is put on comp. and found to have bad cam timing.chain is inspected as it is steel and for life of car.a tiny cheap bracket keeps the chain in place and it had cracked and slowly broken at 80,000 miles.engine got by with new chain and labor for 800.00 dol.85,000 new battery,95,000 new battery.108,000 4 speed autotrans starts slipping into neutral.car stops on highway wont move.hw patrol tows ,charged 129.00 to repair shop.say tranny is bad.and water pump is leaking again.bill would be thousands due to premature failure of these parts and car will be sold as parts car.too bad,looks good.-march 06,2004.*ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer called complaining about ignition switch problems. dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted at the time of this call. ignition swicth had been replaced once, but the vehicle was still having the same problem, vehicle will not start. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer received recall 02v070000 for ignition switch. vehicle would not start one evening. consumer took car to dealer for recall remedy. dealer stated that ignition cylinder and battery needed to be replaced, and problem was not with ignition switch. consumer believesproblem was with switch, but dealer would not install relay to correct recall first. dealer was requesting payment for replacement of cylinder and battery.*ak | |||
| 07/18/2003 | 87000 | 1 | |
| While attempting to start the car a clicking sound occurred and the car would not start. the battery was replaced, and all was well for a week. then, the abs light came on while driving. also, all the warning lights came on, the gauges flashed back and forth ,and the car stopped. would not restart unless was set for several minutes. when it started the same incidents repeated. warning lights would often come on and off without there being anything wrong with the system that the lights were indicating. once the car was pulled to a stopping location it would not turn completely off , and the key would get stuck in the ignition. these problems persisted for 2 days until it completely stopped.*ak | |||
| 08/29/2001 | 60746 | 3 | |
| Ignition fire--inserted key into ignition slot and there was a terrible smell of insulation & something like gunpowder--the car's electric system was affected---recently watched tv & heard that pontiac recalls grand am '97 because of problems w/ ignition switch and related fire. consumer had the vehicle repaired and because of the recall expects reimbursement in full. *jg | |||
| 11/25/2001 | 1 | ||
| While in motion, the vehicle experienced problems relating to the ignition switch. the dashboard lights began to illuminate and dim sporadically. consumer turned the engine off and then turned the ignition on. the vehicle stalled, presenting it inoperable at that time. the steering became stiff and consumer was unable to switch gears to neutral. smoke began to emit from the dashboard. the vehicle was towed to an independent facility and repaired because the gm facility was closed. the repair specialist informed consumer the problem traced back to the ignition switch, which required replacement of an alternator and a battery recharge. pontiac was contacted shortly (request c20753090) and informed consumer they were not aware of any problems or recall relating to the incident. in april 2002, gm sent consumer a recall letter (02v07) regarding faulty ignition switches. consumer was reimbursed for the ignition switch repair, but has not been reimbursed for repair caused by the faulty ignition switch. consumer expects gm to reimburse for the remainder of the cost. *jg | |||
| 1 | 09/30/1997 | ||
| Consumer states while having vehicle serviced was informed that the recall on the ignition switch was not done,but on gmc database states that it was done.when the dealer was called and informed of this the dealer replied that the consumer would be charged for recall repair. *ak *yh | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer states that while having vehicle service by another dealership was informed that recall for ignition switch was not done, but is stated as being done in gmc date system,by another dealership. when other dealership was contacted,their reply was for the consumer to pay to have recall done. | |||
| 04/22/2002 | |||
| Vehicle would stall out at multiple speed while driving. vehicle been to dealer on several occasions, and they were unable to duplicate the problem. feel free to provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 2 | |||
| Prior to recall 02v07000 notification vehicle experienced a shortage in the computer for the steering wheel on several occasions. consumer believes the shortage is a result of recall. *tt | |||
| 1 | 09/30/1997 | ||
| The original delco battery was burned when the vehicle ignition switch failed. *yh | |||
| 07/21/2002 | 1 | 07/01/2097 | |
| Tried to start car, dash board lights came on, car wouldn't start, key wouldn't come out, then tried to start car again and it started. the next day-went to run errands-stopped at store and key would not come out of the ignition, had to call tow truck, they had to disengage transmission to tow, garage mechanic hooked up to computer and found nothing wrong. the problem was the ignition switch failed, had to be rekeyed and battery replaced. we did have the manufacturers recall done on the ignition switch at dave cross motors, lee's summit mo 816-524-3636 on april 15,2002. wondering if two problems are linked?*ak | |||
| 07/09/2002 | |||
| When key is put in ignition it will not turn . has to jump start vehicle.contacted dealer.*ak | |||
| 05/30/2002 | 2 | ||
| After recall 02v070000 repairs were done at roger pontiac in chicago, phone 312/225-4300 ignition switch became hot, consumer was unable to get key out of ignition switch, and there was a clicking sound when starting vehicle. *ak | |||
| 07/07/2002 | 1 | 12/01/2001 | |
| There was a recall on the relay switch, and they say that i have to pay them (pontiac) to fix the problem.*ak | |||
| 03/01/2002 | |||
| After turning off engine key will not come out of ignition, consumer has to wiggle key to get it out.*ak | |||
| 06/16/2002 | 1 | 09/01/2000 | |
| While starting vehicle, would continue to restart by itself until consumer switched ignition switch to accessories. started to stop, but sparks and smoke were coming from the steering column, the back of consumers pants were on fire. dealer and manufacturer were notified.*ak. consumer stated the igniton was recalled, and consumer suffered 2nd degree burns.*jb | |||
| 04/22/2002 | |||
| Nhtsa ecall 02 v 070 000/manufacturer's recall 02008 concerning ignition switch. dealer: hubert motors, longmont co; phone# 303/776-2650 unable to honor recall because no parts were available. please fill free to provide any further infromation and please fill in the vehicle mileage.*ak | |||
| 05/31/2002 | |||
| Recall 02 v 070 000 elictrical system; ignition; switch. vehicle was taken in for recall to have a relay switch installed. after switch was instatlled, quarter of a mile down the road engine check light illuminated, indicating a burned smell. took back to dealer. please provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 04/01/2002 | |||
| Nhtsa recall 02 v 070 000/manufacturer's recall 02008 concerning ignition switch: dealer: sunrise pontiac, bartlett, tn ; phone# 901//333-8000, was not able to honor recall because no parts were available. feel free to provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 04/30/2002 | |||
| When consumer turns vehicle on there is short when she takes key out of the ignition vehicle is still running. dealership is aware of problem.*ak | |||
| 04/03/2002 | |||
| Nhtsa recall 02 v 070 000 manufacturer's recall 02008 concerning ignition switch: dealer: donny bohn gmc; harvey, la; phone# 504/347-4070 refused to honor recall until a diagnostic was performed at consumer's cost. feel free to provide any further information.*ak | |||
| Got recall 02v070000. took vehicle to dealer and had repairs done. currently, vehicle will start, and then shut off. will not stay cranked. dealer contacted. please add vin. *ak | |||
| 03/01/2001 | 1 | 04/01/1999 | |
| #1 - computer module failed - all warning lights intermittently come on and go off (50,000 miles). #2 - ignition switch - pin comes loose and key will not work. have to replace & rekey. #3 - pcm/vcm replaced @ 58,000 miles. #4 - brake rotors have been turned twice, still pulsate. #5 - parking brake constantly needs adjusting. #6 - gm dealer overcharged on labor, 5.5 hours should have been 1 hour. gm not willing to help solve situation. | |||
| After turning engine off ignition key will not release, cause unknown. please give any further details.*ak | |||
| 02/13/2001 | 0 | ||
| Consumer put key in ignition and turned it and steering column started smoking. towed to dealer, and they said it was ignition switch. *ak | |||
| 09/19/2000 | |||
| When putting key in the ignition switch there is no response, vehicle will not turn over. consumer went to the dealership, and mechanic replaced inner mechanism of vehicle. vehicle broke down again, vehicle is at the dealership.*ak | |||
| 04/12/2000 | 5 | 10/01/1998 | |
| Ignition locks up. has happend several times. locks up and the key cannot be turned even when the steering column is not locked up. last time it happend we had to put the car up on a jack to unlock the ignition? it cannot be fixed nowthough without spending alot of money. the car was taken in to the dealer when it was under warranty for the same problem and they said there was no problem and that they could not do anything for me. this is not normal and should not happen and because they refused to fix it properly the first timei am going to end up spending a great deal amount of money. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY | |||
| Consumer called complaining about having problems with the starter and has had the vehicle on the shop for a recall on the ignition switch. dealer was contacted and stated that the staterted has nothing to do with the ignition switch so there for there is nothing they can do. mr | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| 12/15/2006 | 102715 | 1 | 10/01/2006 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 pontiac grand am. the contact noticed smoke inside the vehicle and sparks underneath the hood while the vehicle was parked. the mechanic stated that the wire harness needed to be replaced, but did not make the repair. the manufacturer stated that the vehicle is excluded from recall # 97v059000 (electrical system:wiring:front underhood). the current and failure mileages were 102,715. | |||
| 01/20/2000 | 11/01/1997 | ||
| The wheel joint simply broke apart no prior warning. company did cover that. spark plug and wire were supposed to be good for 100,000 miles, but were no good after 47,000 miles, water pump went out at 49,000miles. i have never had so many problems on a vehicle with low mileage. i have had previous gm cars that have lasted over 100,000 miles with no problems. is this car known to have these kinds of problems? i have spent $700 in repairs because the way the car is put together it takes hours for the mechanic to fix anything. $483 for a water pump!! | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||
| 09/23/2003 | 0 | 07/15/1997 | |
| 1997 pontiac grand am - power windows - motors both left drivers side and right passenger side. windows will not go up or down. once the motors cool down the windows can only be raised .5 inch every 5 minutes. there is no sealant or gasket to prevent moisture to the motor which causes an electrical short to the motor. the pontiac grand am, oldsmobile achieva and buick skylark all have experienced this same design problem requiring millions of hours of service and labor and tons of scrap metal. this has been a design issue for at least 15 years. what a scam. who's in charge? | |||
| After parking vehicle noticed smoke and the flames coming from underhood. please provide further information.*ak | |||
| 6 | 10/01/1998 | ||
| The modules in question go out without warning. in fact the day we bought the car one of modules went out, and we were without a car for six weeks. the dealer said the module was on back order. and didn't even offer us a loaner. one time it went out on my wife in the morning in the driveway. onece when i went to pick up my daughther late at night at parks mall. another incident i arrived at work, but the car wouldn't restart a quiting time. mac churchill has been nice, but i want the car replaced. my wife is scared be cause she doesn't know if the car will start. thank you. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | |||
| 07/18/2003 | 1 | ||
| Air bag equipment inadvertently deployed.*mr while driving down the highway, both of passenger side air bags exploded with no apparent reason. as result the dash was completely torn apart, the plastic molding of the cd player had blown off, the driver side door appeared to be sprung, but there was no accident to have cause this explosion and damage. the dealership agreed to fix the air bags and sensors, but nothing more. the consumer is requesting that the vehicle be returned to him in the same state it was before the air bag explosion occured. please assist in resolving matters. *cb | |||
| 09/23/2003 | 0 | 07/15/1997 | |
| 1997 pontiac grand am - power windows - motors both left drivers side and right passenger side. windows will not go up or down. once the motors cool down the windows can only be raised .5 inch every 5 minutes. there is no sealant or gasket to prevent moisture to the motor which causes an electrical short to the motor. the pontiac grand am, oldsmobile achieva and buick skylark all have experienced this same design problem requiring millions of hours of service and labor and tons of scrap metal. this has been a design issue for at least 15 years. what a scam. who's in charge? | |||
| 06/06/2002 | 1 | 04/01/2001 | |
| I had a total failure of the cluster that operates all the gauges. speedometer, fuel,rpm, ets and temperature. i had to have it replaced with a used cluster as i could not afford a new one. i just recently learned of a recall of the ignition relay and i wondered if this could be another defect worth checking into. i received no notification of the ignition recall, i just heard about it on the news. so i thought this could be a recall that i had not heard about.*ak | |||
| 11/20/1998 | 4 | 05/01/1997 | |
| While under warranty swaybar bushings were replaced 4 times. the rear windshield leaked water into the trunk which caused moldy carpet that the dealership refused to replace even though the car was still under warranty. the plastic cover on the instrument panel rattles as well as the plastic cover where the radio and climate control knobs are located. dealer has said that there is nothing that can be done about this. the sidewalls on the two front tires were defective and had to be replaced. the left rear tire had a patch in it before i even received the car. the fuse for the lights on the instrument panel keeps blowing and when the dealership was questioned about this they said that it was nothing. it has now blown 15 times. the water pump shredded at 37,000 miles. the car accelerates on its own after being taken out of park and put in drive. the brakes pulse at 10 miles an hour. the radio controls work opposite of what they're supposed to (ie turn up and it does nothing, turn down and it gets louder). battery went dead at 40,000 miles. rearview mirror lever fell off inside door for no apparent reason. severe paint chipping on front of car. | |||
| 8 | 06/01/1999 | ||
| There are more problems then listed. every time i have spoken with the dealer it has been a waste of time. phone calls never returned. i get blown off by them. i was in royal oak,mi with my friends when the car froze in the middle of the road. every dash light was blinking, and we couldn't get the car out of drive to push it. once we finally got the car moved to a side street, my friends went to look for help, and i got jumped and mased while i stood by my car waiting for them to return. the drivers side key doesn't work, dealer says it's cause of keyless entry, air conditioner kills battery, cruse control kicks out, head lights always are on, and it's not the day time running lights. when stepping on the gas to pass someone, nothing happens, about 5 or more seconds later, it will kick in unexpectidly. this is the second car i have bought from this dealer, the first was a 91 pontiac sunbird, which turned out to be a 90 when i traided it in at another dealer. so i ended up paying way to much for the car, and lost on it when i traded it in. i live 1 hour and 45mins. away from the dealer now when i took it in for service i found out that they gave me only mechanical on the extended service contract, no electrical, so everything comes out of my pocket. then to find out i have to leave my car there for days up to weeks, with no loaner, and no way to get back home, and the service manager, and dealer both said nothing we can do for you.*ak | |||
| 07/10/1998 | 4 | 08/01/1996 | |
| I have taken my car into this dealer numerous times for the same problem with the check engine light, they still fail to fix the problem. | |||