Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM | |||||
| 631109 | 01/01/1997 | 51246 | Air coming from i/p vent while in heater modes or a delay occurs when changing to a new mode setting (diagnose/modify/replace). *tw | 06/27/1997 | |
| VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | |||||
| 631051 | 01/01/1997 | 51241 | Left rear door power window intermittently inoperative/completely inoperative (secure connector with tie strap). *tw | 06/27/1997 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY | |||
| 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 | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM | |||
| 1 | 11/22/1997 | ||
| Oil leak where the oil and coolant mixes together, coming through vents causing consumers to be ill. | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - BLOWER | |||
| 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 | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - HEATER CORE | |||
| 04/18/1998 | 1 | 03/31/1998 | |
| Heater core failed, causing anti-freeze odor when heater/air conditioner is on. | |||
| VISIBILITY - GLASS, SIDE/REAR | |||
| 06/01/2000 | 1 | ||
| Both front windows have fallen out of their original tracks and have to be realigned by hand whenever they are rolled down. nlm | |||
| 12/18/1996 | 1 | 09/01/1996 | |
| Window improperly sealed causing wind noise. | |||
| 2 | 07/31/1997 | ||
| Windshield and rear window glass distort vision. | |||
| VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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 | |||
| 03/10/2001 | 85000 | 7 | 07/15/1998 |
| In 2001, driver side window motor does not operate anymore. replaced it. ($150). in 2003, driver window motor and passenger and rear passenger motor dies once again. replaced all motors, now they are dead again. especially when my ac does not work either. in 2004, heater core and water pump broken. repaired. now i have a water leak in the driver's floor area which ruined my carpet and that has to be replaced! another $200. it seems it all evolves around electrical problems. *nm | |||
| 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 | |||
| 09/15/2003 | 95000 | ||
| Left side steering colum pin fell out steering wheel almost fell off dash | |||
| 07/15/2003 | 85000 | ||
| When you run the air, the car stalls and won't start anywhere from one hour to three or four possibly the next day. the horn works sometimes, the raidio works sometimes as does the dispay, the volume goes up and down. the fuel systems shuts down along with the car when the air is running. the power window quit working in april, i replaced the one of the passenger side only to have the one on the driver side to stop working. the brakes went out with no warning. anytime the car has any problems no lights come on to warn you it will just stop working. the shop that put the used engine in still can't tell me why it stared knocking. the ets system comes on and off all the time without pressing the button, i have had nothing but problems with the 1997 ponitac grand am gt. | |||
| 06/15/2003 | 97000 | ||
| The motors on the windows go out around 97k miles. my drivers window went out a month ago. my right, front window is about to go out, and my back right window went out today. obviously, there is a problem with faulty window motors with this model. the total cost out of my pocket for this incident is about $1000 included with a lot of frustration! | |||
| 02/03/2004 | 45000 | 1 | 11/04/1997 |
| It was hard for the consumer to roll up/down the front power windows. the dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak both front seat windows require 10-20 short moves in order to close after being opened. *sc | |||
| 31982 | 1 | 04/26/2001 | |
| Front passenger's and driver's side automatic windows opened and closed very slowly. the rear passenger and driver windows did not open at all because the motor failed. the consumer believes that the front windows are also experiencing motor failure. *ak *ph *nlm | |||
| 04/01/2002 | 108000 | 1 | 08/01/1998 |
| Sensor in transmission failed. driver's window had previously been replaced/electrical problem. now, having problems in the other windows/and the one replaced.**** dims 11 ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis****760764. *ak *jb | |||
| 01/15/2002 | 1 | ||
| The windows did not roll up or down. *jb | |||
| 08/15/2001 | |||
| Driver's and passenger's front windows will no longer operate. regulators need to be replaced.*ak | |||
| 1 | 03/01/1998 | ||
| I have had to replace the motors in the windows each twice and i am going on the third time for the driver front and rear. this will make 10 window motors. when i asked my dealership if there had been any kind of a recall the said no. also, my check engine light will not go off. are these things related to the wiring harness recall. *ak | |||
| 03/01/1998 | |||
| I have put ten new window motors in my car in the past four years. when i asked the dealership if there had been any recalls they laughed and said of course not. my check engine light is also always on for no reason. are these two problems related to the wiring harness recall. *ak | |||
| 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 | |||
| 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 | |||
| 06/01/1998 | |||
| Driver side power window goes up and down and gets stuck by it's self.*ak | |||
| 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 | |||
| 01/01/2000 | 3 | 08/01/1999 | |
| Power window motor was not operable. consumer would have to turn off the car and let it cooldown, and then they would pull the window on track manually, pushing the switch. 3 motors have failed and been replaced by dealer. *ak *ml | |||
| 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 | |||
| VISIBILITY - REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES | |||
| 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 | |||
| VISIBILITY - REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER | |||
| 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. | |||
| VISIBILITY - SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY | |||
| 06/15/1999 | 1 | 06/01/1997 | |
| Had the sunroof motor replaced 2 times, left front wheel noise, dealer said there is no problem always makes grinding noise left front after car sits all night , when you first put car in reverse the noise is noticeable, had too have left rear taillght replaced when new,car trunck gets dust into at right side of rear seat where it folds down , dealer says there is no proble, still not repaired ,car is now out of warranty.has coolant leak at the intake manifold ,has been leaking for aprox 15,000 miles again out of warranty this was my first new car i have ever bought and will never buy another general motors car again, and i work for generalmotors. i have had nothing but problems with this car. i had a salvage buick centry i sold too purchase this new one and it was a very nice car never had the problems with that car and it was wrecked. no more general motors for me . *ak | |||
| 1 | 05/01/1997 | ||
| This is the third time the power sunroof has failed, each time it fails in the exact same manner, the window is opened slightly to vent and then the unit fails, and it won't open or close. the second time, the car was in the shop for over a week, then i had to wait a month for a part to come in. in the meanwhile, i could not use the sunroof either. the headlights stay on most of the time when the car is on. the sensor seems to work intermittently. on bright, sunny days, the headlights come on. on cloudy, rainy days, when the lights should be on, they don't come on. the dealer couldn't find anything wrong with it. | |||
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD | |||
| While starting vehicle and without warning gearshift lever malfunctioned, causing vehicle to become inoperable. also, doors and windows locked.*ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| When applying brakes there would be a popping noise present, and brakes would lock up. this would cause the vehicle to drift to the right into another lane. also left rear and right front window was inopartive, also the transmission was slipping.*jb | |||
| 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. | |||
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER - MOTOR | |||
| 02/25/2000 | 3 | ||
| While driving driver could turn on the windshield wipers, but they won't work.driver must keep on trying until they will work. *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 | |||