Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||||
| 020310003 | 06/01/2002 | 634881 | Concerns with scraping/scrunching noise from front of vehicle during low speed turning and braking. *tt | 10/10/2002 | |
| 010308003A | 02/01/2002 | 010308003 | 629407 | Some customers may comment on a squawk noise from the front and/or rear suspension while driving. *tt | 04/02/2002 |
| 010308003 | 10/01/2001 | 627662 | Information regarding squawk noise from front and/or rear suspension. *yh | 02/13/2002 | |
| 050901 | 09/05/2001 | 626054 | Some customers may comment of a squawk noise from the front or rear suspension area. *slc | 12/12/2001 | |
| 290601 | 06/29/2001 | 623599 | Concerns with suspension noise.*jb | 10/29/2001 | |
| 200301 | 03/20/2001 | 619238 | Information for oldsmobile and pontiac dealers concerning repairs to suspension knuckles for noise, abnormal performance and / or strip caliper bracketing mounting bolts on certain 1999 through 2001 vehicles. *tt | 05/21/2001 | |
| 990308004 | 08/01/1999 | 607580 | Subject pertaining to front and / or rear stabilizer shaft squawk / squeak noise. *tt | 09/29/1999 | |
| 833008 | 10/01/1998 | 602984 | Some customers may comment on vibration in the steering wheel and/or the vehicle may exhibit a wheel and tire imbalance when operated at highway speeds. *yc | 01/25/1999 | |
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||||
| 010308002 | 08/01/2001 | 624058 | Information regarding front suspension clunk / rattle noise diagnosis. *tt | 11/01/2001 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | ||||||
| EA03021 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 11/04/2003 | 10/19/2004 | FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE | ||
| The failure rate of the subject vehicles is low relative to past odi investigations.the engineering analysis is therefore closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that no safety-related defect exists.the agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.please see the attached report for additional details. | ||||||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | ||||||
| PE03031 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 07/14/2003 | 11/04/2003 | FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE | ||
| The subject vehicles are equipped with a coil spring-over-strut front suspension with the spring itself resting in compression between two polymer isolators.pe03-031 was opened to investigate reports of fracture of this spring.the fractures occur in the first active coil above the lower isolator and apparently originate in corrosion pits found beneath regions of damaged epoxy coating.consumer complaints and warranty data show that the failures occur predominantly in the | ||||||
| EA03021 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 11/04/2003 | 10/19/2004 | FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE | ||
| The failure rate of the subject vehicles is low relative to past odi investigations.the engineering analysis is therefore closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that no safety-related defect exists.the agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.please see the attached report for additional details. | ||||||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - COIL SPRINGS | ||||||
| EA03021 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 11/04/2003 | 10/19/2004 | FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE | ||
| The failure rate of the subject vehicles is low relative to past odi investigations.the engineering analysis is therefore closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that no safety-related defect exists.the agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.please see the attached report for additional details. | ||||||
| PE03031 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 07/14/2003 | 11/04/2003 | FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE | ||
| The subject vehicles are equipped with a coil spring-over-strut front suspension with the spring itself resting in compression between two polymer isolators.pe03-031 was opened to investigate reports of fracture of this spring.the fractures occur in the first active coil above the lower isolator and apparently originate in corrosion pits found beneath regions of damaged epoxy coating.consumer complaints and warranty data show that the failures occur predominantly in the | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||
| 09/10/2004 | 49000 | 1 | |
| Car the worst. i've sunk more $ in2 it than she cost to buy. $15,000 at lst. head gasket x2. intake manifold x2 window parts x2 brakes, pads rotors engine replaced in 2009 by quack mechanic on advice from a friend car 3 mths on lift! cost $1000 a yr 2 pass nys inspection had catalytic converter & gaskets replaced after i begged do it! cat whole prob for 31/2 yrs. erg valve selonoid changed. coils springs, strut mount(sensatrac) strut was only after i had tires replaced for upteenth time realizing it was cutting into 1 tire driving out of the shop. antifreeze still oozes out regardless how many x's work done on cooling system. thermastat twice fuel injector oxygen sensor antifreeze reservoir, hoses muffler rearview mirror fell off twice timing belt. headlights several times rear lights. 2 or 3 batteries. this car should run like new- almost everything's been replaced nope! was towed twice last 2 weeks due to coolant loss overheating engine stopping. informed today after car again overheated & lost power it's probably intake manifold & head gasket, oil is dripping from sides of engine. computer amuck nowodometer flashes 1/2 numbers instead of true mileage. abs? light mechanic stated its a waste of your $ to repair.... three head gaskets? another intake manifold? hello! i've maintained this car it is a lemon a rotton lemon at that. gm knows these issues & does nothing. in michigan consumers won a class action lawsuit because of this. gm shoulda recalled this car period. i wasn't informed or savvy enough to know this cars issues upon purchase. what makes this worse, i now understand my rights were violated as a consumer for years! i'm poor & can't afford another car due to this car continued problems cost. i need a vehicle but am left with bus rides taking almost 3 hrs one way to work or a $35 cab fare one way. as of today my car is trash. *tr | |||
| 06/10/2008 | 93000 | 1 | |
| 1999 pontiac grand am coil springs break without warning or cause. i have 2 of these cars, and both have had front and read coil springs break without cause. i see there are several complaints filed with the nhtsa since this was investigated in 2004. i request a new investigation be conducted due to numerous new complaints, and the fact that most people will not take the time to report cases, and there are many of the vehicles on the road being driven with this danger existing. *tr | |||
| 01/28/2007 | 1 | ||
| Problems with the suspension with spring coils breaking .. notice of pulling went for alignment and found coil right rear broke and punctured tire , had replaced and new tire and alignment , then year later front right broke and pulling again had replace asap . *tr | |||
| 12/01/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving steering wheel and the front of the vehicle started shaking uncontrollably. consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. mechanic indicated that the problem could not be duplicated. *ak | |||
| 08/03/2004 | 97537 | 1 | |
| When making left hand turns consumer heard a knocking noise coming from underneath the vehicle. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak | |||
| 08/15/2003 | 40000 | ||
| It is now sept. 2003, the first coil spring broke at the top section ( one ring from top of coil) back in aug. 2003(driver side). now the second one has broken on the passenger side. from what information i can get from a friend at my local dealer, they have sold 48-50 of these springs between may and aug 2003. this is said to be a very unusual number of springs to be replaced for any car. if this is such a common problem, and all these springs seem to be breaking at the exact same spot, i think they should be on a recall list for a defective part. can someone look into this and let me know. thank you | |||
| 07/15/2003 | 0 | ||
| The heater control won't work at speed 1 and 2. the paint on the window frame is falling away. the rear struts failed. the transmission completely stopped working at all with no prior warning. the car doesn't heat up fully when it gets under 20 degress temperature. the rotors warp too quickly. | |||
| 04/19/2002 | 75000 | 02/01/2001 | |
| There is a foul smell coming from the ac vent almost like ammonia. my alternator was replaced at 37000 miles, after having it checked by the dealership for low voltage. car shakes at 55 mph on highway after rotation, alignment, and aftermarket wheels. scratches on passenger window from rolling it up and down. *nlm | |||
| 10/01/1999 | 5 | ||
| A squeaking noise when braking or accelerating. cause unknown. vehicle has been taken to dealer 5 times for this problem, only parts were replaced and problem reoccurred. please provide any further information.*ak | |||
| Upon putting the vehicle into reverse the driver states that she heard something make a very snap. the coil spring had completely broken. the front corner on the passenger side had dropped down. please provide any further information. | |||
| 9 | 05/22/1999 | ||
| Car drives horribly and is falling apart as if it was 15yrs old. ball bearings, tie rod, caliber(brakes) are all malfunctioning. | |||
| 02/06/2001 | 1 | ||
| Steering wheel made noise and driver's side airbag dropped out and fell in laps. vehicle pulled to light, and dashlight flashed on and off. also horn was inoperable. *ak consumer states there is a noise in brake pedal, also abs light illuminated. air conditioner and heater inoperable. due to squeaky steering, dealer replaced steering rack which was loose and set toe. radio inoperable. *slc | |||
| 05/22/2000 | 0 | ||
| Vehicle vibrates and shakes intermittently when consumer reachings speed limits above 50mph. dealership mechanic told her that she needed a new set of tires. *ak | |||
| 05/01/2000 | 1 | 06/12/1999 | |
| When making a right or left turn vehicle will make a noise and a real hard rubbing sound. steering wheel will jerk by itself. contact dealer, not able to help.*ak brake pads and rotors failed. *yh | |||
| 07/29/1999 | 0 | ||
| While starting up car in the morning or if at a light or stop sign steering vibrates. when driving at 30 mph, it starts vibrating and consumer can feel it in the steering and floorbaord. if staying at the same speed one can really feel th vibration, all the way up to 65mph. *ak | |||
| 06/11/1999 | |||
| Steering wheel column would shake when driving 60mph or higher. no problem when speeds are lower. have taken to dealer & was informed nothing wrong with steering column. *ak | |||
| 05/19/1999 | |||
| Was traveling 50mph when engine rpms went high (in red). vehicle was shaking. turned vehicle off. speedometer went passed 100mph when traveling 50mph only. vehicle failed to start right away after being turned off for awhile. *ak | |||
| 05/09/1999 | 05/01/1999 | ||
| Vibration/shimmy when driving 75+ miles per hour, visible shaking of steering wheel. *ak | |||
| 05/27/1999 | 03/01/1999 | ||
| Hub caps have been replaced because rattle was heard when hitting a bump. the rattle still exists and thought it could be the suspension? windshield wiper blades don't hit the windshield properly. most notable on the passenger side of the car. paint also seems to be chipping in the front of the car. *ak | |||
| 12/04/1998 | 1 | 06/01/1998 | |
| Shaking/vibration in the steering wheel at highway speeds and when braking. *ak | |||
| 04/09/1998 | 03/13/1998 | ||
| While traveling at a safe speed and under safe driving conditions the vehicle swerved to the left and then spun 180 degrees. | |||
| SUSPENSION - AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL (ASC) | |||
| 08/09/2007 | 100000 | 2 | 07/09/2007 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1999 pontiac grand am. while driving 35 mph, the vehicle completely shut off. the contact pulled over and the vehicle was able to immediately be restarted. the vehicle was taken to a dealer, but they could not correct the failure. the current mileage was approximately 110,000 and failure mileage was 100,000. updated 03-07-08 *bf the consumer stated various lights illuminate on the instrument panel such as: oil pressure light, air bag, engine light abs. the security passlock system was inoperative. the hazard and turn signal lights did not work properly. there was hesitation upon acceleration. the traction conrol was inoperative | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| 05/20/2010 | 110000 | ||
| Left front spring on 1999 pontiac grand am broke in grocery store parking lot causing left front tire to go flat. local mechanic says problem is widespread. have old parts | |||
| 04/29/2010 | 76000 | ||
| My daughters 99 grand am has had both front springs break approximitly one year apart. in both instances the car was traveling forward at less than 25 mph. the broken spring punctured the tire and the car had to be towed on both occasions. no accident or injury occured. new springs/struts were installed along with new tires. further inspection revealed that the right rear spring was cracked and was also replaced. no old parts are available. from the number of complaints i have read this appears to be a common defect on this vehicle. i'm very glad that my daughter was not driving at freeway speed when these springs broke. | |||
| 09/24/2003 | 1 | ||
| After performing a search of your defects database i wanted to report that the nhtsa action number pe03031 happened to me on both front springs and one rear spring. the failure occurred exactly in this manor described. i do not have the exact dates of the incidents but the failures happened at different times. based on parts bills i believe this occurred in 9/2003 and 9/2005 for the front springs and 8/2007 for the rear spring. i personally made the repairs and probably have the failed springs still (stored inside) since you can not just toss them in the garbage. fortunately the front spring failures occurred when the vehicle was parted overnight and discovered the next morning when leaving. the rear spring failed while the car was in motion but was drivable. if the front springs failed while the car was traveling this would have been a serious failure due to the car body and strut rubbing on the wheel rim and tire which would have caused an inability to steer the car. when i went to the dealer to buy the part they seemed to know exactly what screen to go to. i thought that was odd because usually they have to dig on the screens of their computer before they find the right screen it but in these situations they went right to it. which indicated to me that this is not the first, second, third or forth time this part was being looked for on this car. i should have reported this failure to the nhtsa but did not, felt it was bad luck but thinking back on it now and remembering how the dealer parts counter handled the part look up i probably should have. so this report is to correct my error. *tr | |||
| 06/11/2008 | 80000 | 1 | |
| 1999 pontiac grand am gt ,front coil spring .back out of drive way then started down road when all of a sudden right front spring let go with such a force that i thought rt at first some one shot at car or was in an accident. dealer fix with new spring and strut oem parts witch wear damage do to spring going. dealer keep parts said that this was not common. i have heard that this is a common problem with the grand ams. *tr | |||
| 03/01/2009 | 80000 | 1 | |
| 1) no warning of any kind! 2) front drivers suspension coil break/collapse, coil punctured tire causing tire blow out, car crashing down all instantaneous. no injury - i was pulling out of my garage. how often 1 time. 3) tow and then replace the tire, coil, strut, i also must replace the other front coil, strut as well, since there clearly is a defect - and i don't want to die! i will request to keep the parts. *tr | |||
| 06/17/2007 | 175000 | 1 | |
| Without warning or physical impact/impairment right front coil spring fractured with a loud bang, and the jagged end pierced my tire sidewall, destroying tire. this occurred at approx 25 mph, i was able to pull over without incident, had to be towed, new coil installed, new tire purchased, labor day plans ruined. several months later, car was parked for 12 hrs in 70 degree weather, another huge bang, drivers side front coil fractured, c-shaped piece under the vehicle, again, the vehicle was towed, coil replaced, missed a day of work as this happened in connecticut, and i work in massachusetts. *tr | |||
| 12/13/2008 | 94000 | 1 | |
| Fracture of front left and right coil springs. *tr | |||
| 06/06/2008 | 73500 | 1 | |
| Front coil spring snapped. no apparent prior problems, just a clean break. it happened at a slow rate of speed and did not cause tire damage. no known cause for the break, other than possible manufacture defect. both front coil springs were replaced at a cost of about $500. *tr | |||
| 05/25/2008 | 75000 | 1 | |
| The coil spring on the strut on the front of a 1999 pontiac grand am broke. this was replaced with a new spring on both sides of the car. in talking to many repair shops, this is a very common problem with this series of gm cars. this incident happened at low speed in town, but had it happened at highway speed the outcome could have been a bad wreck. the local service manager at the pontiac dealer stated this was fairly common, but they would only pay for repairs if the owner had an extended warranty. i have the old parts in my possession. this was a clean break, not something that was cracked for a period of time. *tr | |||
| 05/28/2008 | 95000 | 1 | |
| 1999 pontiac grand am -- the vehicle is equipped with a coil spring-over-strut front suspension with the spring itself resting in compression between two polymer isolators. this is regarding fracture of this spring. the fractures occur in the first active coil above the lower isolator. i had both coils fracture. first (passenger front at approximately 95,000 miles and the driver front happened at about 110,000 miles). there appears to be very little wear or pitting on these coils. coil coating is in tact and is in very good condition for the year and miles. the coils fracture in the same location. the fracture is very dangerous and can cause a puncture in the tires. i am referencing an existing complaint notice #pe03-031. investigate reports. *tr | |||
| 06/08/2004 | 47000 | 2 | 11/13/1998 |
| Both the left and right coil springs broke while driving , with the last blowing out the tire while my 16 year old daughter was driving. | |||
| 06/15/2004 | 1 | 07/01/2001 | |
| Dt: the contact owns a 1999 pontiac grand am. the front tire makes a popping sound when turning the wheel left or right. the car leaned on driver's side. one could tell this if just standing outside of the car and looking at it. the vehicle has been having this problem for about a year, but it gradually got worse.*ak | |||
| 06/24/2003 | 11000 | 11 | 04/30/2000 |
| 1999 pontiac grand am 2.4 l auto severe brake failure---replacement of pads 8 times, rotors 3 times and calipers 2 times in 80,000 miles. brakes occasionally lock up and make loud grinding and squealing noises steering shudders and vehicle pulls to left.. participating pontiac dealer failed to fix this problem since purchase at 11,000 miles. under warranty replacement it has had 6 door panels due to peeling leather on top of panel, 5 gear shifters due to dealers improper installation, 2 factory cd/radio failures, 1 rack and pinion unit, 2 front strut assemblies due to knocking noise from front of car (went bad after 10,000 miles use), problem with hesitation at idle-cold start(unsuccessfully diagnosed by dealer) carpet loose in trunk around latch assembly(too short for trunk and was hot glued to back wall of car by dealer instead of replacement). turn signals still occasionally fail to work(dealer said they worked just fine) battery connection in factory battery broke loose spilling corrosive battery acid all over around battery tray area. all four wheel covers have been replaced because of pie pan noise when you hit a bump (new ones did not fix problem). after warranty was up pontiac' care hotline or the dealer could care less that after dozens of trips for repairs the dealer still didn't fix the car while it was still under warranty. since then,besides the unrepaired items on my car, the alternator went bad at 60,000 miles ($120), glass in interior rear view mirror broke while adjusting, both outside rear view mirrors have broke off in two different automatic car washes (held into door by a stud mounted into 1/4 inch of plastic in the mirror). and the ignition switch failed at 75,000 miles($300). fog lights and backup lights have water condensation in them shorting out bulbs. surprisingly ,this car is babied ,but by in my description you sure couldn't tell it. *nlm | |||
| 04/30/2003 | 06/09/1998 | ||
| '99 gr am: grinding noise r front-dealer: drilled out restrictor in pwr steerng hose per bulletin 990232002. rubbing & squawk noise turning left-dealer: sway bar bushings replcd. passenger seat stuck-dealer: replaced seat track. center console door latch assmbly replaced per recall. radio lcd garbled & blacking out-dealer: replcd radio assembly. whining in pwr steering- dealer: p/s cooler line leaking, replcd & bled system. gas gauge back & forth from full to empty-dealer: tank sending unit shorted, replcd tank module assy. fluid/oil leak from intake gasket-dealer: replcd gaskets & replcd oil pump drive o-ring. passenger seat squeaks-dealer: seat tracks loose in floor pan hook attchmnt openings. crunch/squawk in front end on speed bumps-dealer: replcd r&r front struts, replcd upper mounts. brake pulsation-dealer: front rotors warped, both rotors were machined & pads replaced. oil/fluid leak rt trans. axle seal, steering rack center section- dealer: replcd seal & sleeve, replcd steering rack. shimmy & shake on hwy- dealer: couldn't duplicate problem, no repair. intermittently hesitates cold start & on excelleration-dealer: couldn't duplicate problem, no repair. driver's side window plastic regulator broke & window fell down-no longer on warrantee, consumer replcd @ approx $500.00 own expense. all occuring at under 40,000 miles. am afraid to take in for next scheduled service for fear of what will be found. | |||
| 02/27/2002 | 1 | 01/01/2099 | |
| Leaking power steering return hose, low oil levels between oil changes, unable to find problem first time, car to go back in shop 10-22-02, driver side power window inoperable and scratched since purchase, rewired remote starter, pulsating brakes, replaced pad, rotors, positive battery terminal broken, replaced battery,radio led inoperable, replaced radio assembly, wheel speed sensor r/f wheel incorrect signal, replaced r/f hub and bearing assembly, knocking and car shaking at stops and loss of power, lack of fuel cylinder #4, replaced injector, replaced machine cylinder head, replaced upper strut mounts, 6-10-02 inspect for oil loss down 2 1/2 quarts, nothing found. oil change completed at 34304 and at 37160 oil loss to 3 quarts, car to be brought back to dealer 10-22-02. air conditioner has pc leak in hose, hose needs to be replaced and freon added. dt | |||
| 02/03/2002 | |||
| Vehicle shakes when driving. also, when accelerating at low speeds traction light comes on, and when going over a bump there's a clunking noise. please provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 02/01/2002 | 1 | ||
| While driving, the front off vehicle shakes irratically, which makes vehicle feel unbalanced.*ak. consumer states when applying the brakes, the steering wheel shakes, consumer believes that the rotors may be warped.*slc | |||
| 04/01/2001 | 1 | 11/01/2000 | |
| Tire defect,glass scratched, car vibrting, air bags did not deploy. brakes grinding. | |||
| 09/15/2000 | |||
| Front suspension would make popping noises while driving and/or turning. dealer notified. feel free to provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 05/25/1999 | 05/01/1999 | ||
| The sound is a winding and grinding sound in the front end with or with out brakes on. the sound has gotten louder since they ( the dearlership) replaced the brakes and rotors and took the tires off the rims to clear coat the rims, which they said thier technicians said would do the job. well its worse now. they keep saying they can't hear anything, when i and my husband know this is not normal for any car. i feel i will never ever will own a pontiac of any kind because of this service and i will be tell all the military families in our area to do the same | |||
| 12/15/2000 | 2 | ||
| Excessive rubbing noise originating from left and right front wheels.*ak (tiresize: p225/50r16)( dot number: tire size: p225/50r16 ) | |||
| 10/17/2000 | 1 | 04/01/1998 | |
| On serveral occasions i am having major front end problems, from the intermediate shaft poping, to the whole front end poping, the dealer replaced the rack the cv boots 3 times, they kept busting, lower ball joints, a arms, this corrected the problem for a bit, then the cv boot fractured again they wouldnt replace, now the front in pops horriably when you make a turn to the right and add a little torque, took to dealer, no diagonsis, took to an independent agent, everything seems fine, only thing he can think of is a break in a spot weld on the front end, ie the tubing that supports the engine and front suspension, i have event contacted pontiac customer care center and they say the problem is no longer theres, i would be happy to let you test the car and hear the noise, and see if it wouldnt make you a tad bit uneasy about driving it | |||
| 03/26/2001 | |||
| Consumer purchased vehicle with 13 miles on it. vehicle has been in 4 times. brakes were replaced for knocking and grinding noise coming from front end. rotors have been replaced 3 times/ pads and struts were all changed to rectify problem. repairs held up a week and repeated. consumer purchased an extended warranty up to 75,000 because so many problem were happening to vehicle.*ak | |||
| 02/26/2001 | 3 | 10/10/2000 | |
| Horn was stuck, dealer replaced horn ring and multifunction switch. dealer replaced air bag, it was loose. steering rack squeaked, dealer replaced steering rack and set toe, consumer states steering rack has been replaced twice however noise is still there and there is a smell. abs light illuminated at all times. radio failed. vehicle pulls to the right. *slc | |||
| 06/01/2000 | |||
| Consumer heard a noise like medal to medal while putting on brakes. vehicle shook while driving which resulted in wear on tires/ brakes and rotors. dealer extended warranty for 2 years, and replaced pads and rotors. problem has not been resolved. please provide additional information. *ak | |||
| 09/15/1999 | |||
| Front end vibrates when going over speed bumps.gas pedal goes down to the floor for a while before gradually gaining any speed. dealer replaced computer & fuel pump to correct the problem, but nothing has help.*ak | |||
| 06/02/1998 | 3 | 03/01/1998 | |
| Front end of this car has been a problem since it was first purchased. the car pulls dramaticly to the lest when you try and pass another car. both manufactor and dealer says this is normal normal torque steer. this action causes the car to either into the far left shoulder of the road or alomost become uncontrolable if there is snow on the road. the brakes started shaking when the car was purchased, dealer replaced rotor assmb. and oiled calibers. brakes had to be replaced at owners expense. i have continued to try and have the front end fixed. dealer replaced tires (claims they were out of round), did not fix the problem, dealer replaced wheels (claims they were milled wrong) did not fix the probelm. manufacture states after call, that there was nothing more they can do. this car has been into the shop for these related repairs 13 times since the car was purchased. i feel that pontiac will not deal with this problem until there is a major law suit against them.*ak | |||
| 1 | 11/01/1999 | ||
| The vehicle pulled to the right when the rear lateral link bolt separated and went out of control hitting a culvert pipe and flipping over injuring the driver. yh | |||
| 12/20/1999 | 3 | 11/01/1998 | |
| Since this car was purchased new on november 1998 (1999 pontiac grand am) it has been in the repair shop for the following reasons: transmission was rebuilt, front end has been repaired 3 times, brakes repaired (warped rotors), air bag cover warped and was replaced, door paneling came off and was replaced with new paneling, glove box door was loose. | |||
| 07/01/1999 | |||
| The source of the problem is unidentified by the dealerships i've been to for service. the car will periodically violently pull to either side (has occured on both sides), thrved out of control, the brakes in general are poor and don't stop the car well; i have to downshift the automatic in order to stop at times, the locks quit working and needed reprogrammed three times, the car has lost power while driving and took a few minutes to restart. there are other problems with the car (such as rear windshield rattles, poor gas mileage 14 city, 19 highway, bad gas gauge) but they are not the major safety problems. i have almost been in several accident between the brakes and the 'violent pulling' but pontiac keeps telling me nothing is wrong with the car since they can not replicate the problem. the problem occurs intermitantly. i was told the car's lease would be repurchased, another time pontiac promised to replace the car if i took it in three more times, i have complied with their wishes, but they are now insisting that i start bringing the car back for service more. the car has been in 9 times, 7 for major safety problems. the state lemon laws says after 3 times i should have a refund or replaced vehicle, my choice, but pontiac, and the dealership either don't return my calls, or when pontiac does call they tell me to keep taking the car back for service. in the mean time the car is a serious risk to myself and other motorists or pedestrians being that i've lost control of the car more than 10 times in the past. i seriously hope that this issue doesn't keep getting bumped around. i'm going to send my info to the bbb, but that will take up to 40 days or more for a reply, in the mean time (i'm a medical student) i need to drive to fulfill my requirements to become a physician, and i'm placing myself and others at risk because pontiac will not abide the law. *ak | |||
| 07/15/1998 | 10 | 07/01/1998 | |
| Since new, car has been at dealer 7-times for vibration in front end, 5 times for excessive steering backlash, 3 times for steering wheel shimmy during braking, and 2 times for engine high temperature. (5 tires have been replaced. 4 rims have been replaced. 3 sets of brake rotors have been replaced. power steering pump replaced. power rack and pinion unit replaced. front end aligned. tires balanced 9 times.) vibration still exists at highway speeds with car pulling to the right. dealer wants to replace tires again along with one more rim. car engine temperature goes up to 230 degrees, dealer says it is normal. steering wheel still shimmies during braking and during highway speeds. front tires show cupping and premature wear patterns with only 4000 miles since being replaced. seems like dealer(s) do not want to solve problem. i would like a new car, but dealer does not want to give me one.( dot number: 91s s2 tire size: p225/50r16 ) | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT | |||
| 10/17/2000 | 2 | 08/01/1998 | |
| The dealer replace the front rack, the a arms lower ball joints and cv boots...did this 3 times...now it is doing it again...and they wont replace it | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - HUB | |||
| 12/06/2003 | 10 | 11/05/2000 | |
| Coolant system- intake manifolds. dealer advised the intake manifold is leaking. vehicle has 90k miles (highway). dealer advised the coolant will mix with the engine oil causing a catastrophic failure. see many other complaint regarding the same replacement on 3.4 liter engines. previously have replaced both r/l hub bearings, alternator, starter, drivebelt, power steering pump and return line, and radio.*ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - MACPHERSON STRUT | |||
| 12/12/2007 | 117800 | 1 | 01/09/2003 |
| Left front spring broke at first coil of spring. car was not moving at the time, but the spring contacted the tire. tire would have been destroyed if vehicle had been moving. replace entire strut assembly, still have the old parts. *tr | |||
| 03/26/2001 | |||
| Consumer purchased vehicle with 13 miles on it. vehicle has been in 4 times. brakes were replaced for knocking and grinding noise coming from front end. rotors have been replaced 3 times/ pads and struts were all changed to rectify problem. repairs held up a week and repeated. consumer purchased an extended warranty up to 75,000 because so many problem were happening to vehicle.*ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM | |||
| 05/14/2005 | 10800 | 1 | 09/01/2000 |
| On thursday may 12th i opened my car door and heard a load crack, after reviewing my car with several co-workers we found noting visible wrong. on saturday may 14th, i pulled into my driveway heard another load crack at that time the spring on the drivers side front broke into two pieces, 1 with a very sharp edge went directly into my tire. (ps same thing happened to my girlfiends 00 grand am less then 24 hours prior to mine breaking) | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - COIL SPRINGS | |||
| 12/12/2007 | 117800 | 1 | 01/09/2003 |
| Left front spring broke at first coil of spring. car was not moving at the time, but the spring contacted the tire. tire would have been destroyed if vehicle had been moving. replace entire strut assembly, still have the old parts. *tr | |||
| 09/01/2007 | 1 | ||
| I heard a strange noise in a 1999 pontiac grand am, while heading for home. the tire soon went flat, and upon inspection the cause was a broken coil spring in the right front. a spare was put on the vehicle, but due to the spring being broken, the right front of the car still dragged. this happened today, but plans are being made to repair the coil spring in the near future. *jb | |||
| 04/05/2007 | 110000 | 1 | 05/06/2002 |
| Tl the contact and family member owns a 1999 pontiac grand am. on the spouses vehicle both of the front coil springs broke and on the contact's vehicle the front and rear coil spring broke. the contact was able to be drive the vehicle; however, the spouses had to be towed. the failures occured while they were driving out of the driveway at 5mph. his wifes failure was in june 2006. | |||
| 05/20/2004 | 60000 | 1 | 05/15/2002 |
| I was turning from my driveway to an alley when i heard an unusual pop. i got out of the car and did a visual to see if i could notice anything out of the ordinary. at that time, it was about 5:00 am, i couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. i continued on my way to work and drove approximately 1/2 a mile when i noticed smoke billowing out from my hood. because it was dark out, i parked my car for the day and walked to work. after i left work, i had the car towed to my residence and i removed the front passenger wheel. when i looked behind the wheel i saw that my coil spring was in two pieces. i had also noticed that there was a gouge in my tire from where the coil spring had rubbed against it. *jb i had to have my car towed to the mechanic in order to have it fixed. he had to replace both front coil springs in order for the car to ride correctly. i also had to replace the front passenger tire because of the groove in it. in order to save money on labor, i also replaced the struts. | |||
| 09/25/2005 | 70000 | 1 | |
| I released the parking brake--and it released really hard. while driving, there was smoke. my coil spring (right, front) broke and punctured my tire. i had to get towed to a garage to replace both front coil springs. the old coil springs were discarded. *nm | |||
| 08/20/2006 | 115000 | 2 | 11/22/1998 |
| The passenger side front coil spring has broken on 2 separate occasions. the first time, in aug. 2003, i was making a right hand turn when there was a loud bang. i got out to investigate but could not see anything wrong. just to be on the safe side i drove it to a mechanic who upon investigation informed me that the coil spring on the passenger side had broken. it was replaced. then in aug. 2006, i was backing out of a garage when i heard the familiar bang but this time the front passenger side dropped so i was unable to drive the car. i had it towed to the mechanic who said the coil spring had broken. again it was replaced. what concerns me most about this is that since there are so many complaints about the same thing happening the manufacturer obviously knows there is a defect in the part yet not only do they refuse to issue a recall , they continue to sell defective replacement parts!!!!!!!! i am now afraid to drive my car as i know the part is defective and could break at any time. i have been fortunate to not have been driving at a high rate of speed the first 2 times but who knows about the next time. it's just a matter of time before it happens again!! i don't want me or someone i love to have to die or be seriously injured before something is done about this!!!!!!!!!!*jb | |||
| 07/27/2006 | 80000 | 1 | 08/01/1999 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the front passenger coil spring severely the tire without warning while driving 30 mph down a city street. the vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop who determined that both front coils springs needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted. updated 08/25/06. *jb | |||
| 06/26/2004 | 92000 | 1 | |
| Constant rattling led to discovery of damaged coil springs.......all 4 of them had to be replaced as every one was broken. *jb | |||
| 07/04/2006 | 80300 | 1 | 06/01/2002 |
| I was pulling my 1999 pontiac grand am out of my driveway when the car was making a strange scraping noise. i looked under the car and did not see anything touching the ground. i did not drive the car. my husband checked it out and pulled the car out of the driveway. the wheel popped as he was doing this. the car was in the middle of the street so he had to pull it forward. the tire was shredded. after jacking up the car, he saw that the spring was broken and was poking into the tire. lucky for us this happened at home. if this had happened on the highway i don't know if i would still be here. the car is currently at the garage. we have not heard back yet. we are a bit worried, my brother-in-law also has a 1999 pontiac grand am and all four of his spring assemblies broke when he hit a pot hole several weeks ago. *jb | |||
| 04/13/2006 | 87000 | 1 | 08/30/2002 |
| No warning or event leading up to failure. 1999 pontiac grand am gt with 87,000 miles. new tires in december of 2004. while backing out of driveway, received some resistance, thought my brakes were sticking. pushed on accelerator to back out of my driveway and heard a loud snap and ripping noise. after i heard the noise, i stopped the car and put the car back in drive to pull forward. before hitting the accelerator to pull forward i felt the front right of my car fall down and heard an air release noise. i exited my car and discovered i had a flat tire. my husband removed my tire that day and found the whole inside wall of my tire open. the spring coil on the front right hand sight was broken in two and a jagged edge was exposed. i had my car towed to a nearby shop. they have not given me an estimate yet but they suspect i need new spring coils and possibly a whole new suspension. pending on corrective action. i have contacted the manufacturer and they have advised that there are no recalls with this defect. this is a safety hazard. if i was driving at highway speeds and my tire blew, i could have killed myself. i have researched other websites such as mycarfacts.com and have found several complaints of this same thing happening to people with 1999 pontiac grand ams. i have also read the nhtsa has done an investigation (ea03021 and pe03031). i am writing to submit my complaint in hopes that some action will come out of this. it is very sad that a company would allow this to continue to happen, especially here in america. my sister is 8 months pregnant and drives a grand am also. i worry for her safety. is it going to take a death for this matter to be addressed? thanks for your time. *jb | |||
| 06/01/2005 | 1 | ||
| There were no events leading up to the failure. one day after work, i got into my car and as i backed out of the parking spot, the driver's side front coil spring broke. the broken coil spring then lodged itself in my front driver's side tire, completely destroying the tire and rendering the car undrivable. the tire and coil spring were replaced at my expense. the old coil spring is available. *nm | |||
| 02/22/2006 | 58000 | 1 | 10/01/1998 |
| Dt*: the contact stated a loud pop from the garage was heard while in the house. the vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop. the passenger side front coil spring had broken. the front coil spring and both front struts were replaced. also, the tires on the vehicle were replaced a year and a half ago. the air must be refilled in the tires every 4-6 weeks. the tire dealership stated in order to remedy the problem the entire wheel assembly would have to be replaced. updated 3/20/2006 - *nm | |||
| 07/13/2005 | 77448 | 1 | 10/25/1990 |
| Dt: the contact stated while having new tires put on vehicle at a nearby garage the front coil springs broke. the vehicle has not been to a repair shop or dealership. no repairs have been made at this time.*ak updated 12/07/05. *jb | |||
| 12/10/2004 | 71812 | 1 | 10/24/1998 |
| Spring failure passenger front. *nm | |||
| 09/04/2005 | 1 | 09/05/2001 | |
| I was backing up out of my driveway when i heard a loud bang my driver side front fell i took my car to the shop and they discovered my spring has broke in half and of course you can't just fix the one side because if they did the other side would break so it's going to cost $736.88 to fix the front spring and it's so very nice of pontiac to have those springs in stock i'm being sarcastic if they know that there is a problem with springs why would they not do a recall, but from what i can gather is they won't even look into unless there is a death that is very sad that it would take someone's life for them to investigate.*jb | |||
| 08/14/2005 | |||
| I was driving my 1999 grand am, and the coil spring snapped and fell which resulted in the tire going up into the wheel well and the spring punctured my tire! i was able to get it off the road. i had it towed home, i called around to all of the parts stores, only to find out that you can only get a coil spring from a gm dealer, so i went to the dealer and bought a coil spring, which they had in stock because they have been selling them quite a bit(it is a common problem around here). so now i have a ton of money wrapped up in this car because of the coil spring. if the other one breaks and i have to buy another new tire, i am going to be very mad. something needs to be done, this is obviously happening to alot of people, and i am lucky that i didn't wreck, someone is going to get hurt from these springs breaking while driving down the road. | |||
| 03/19/2002 | 34386 | 2 | 08/26/1998 |
| I have a 1999 grand am,purchased new. less than 35000 miles. in march as i was backing out of my drive the entire front right of my car literally fell with a deafening bang. upon service we found that the spring had broken and punctured my tire. it was embeded in the tire and was difficult to remove. if i had been driving my car down the road in traffic i probably would have been killed. the impact of just backing out of my drive was jolting and terrifying. then to make matters worse as i was making a left hand turn onto a subdivision street from a major road june 7, 2005, i heard and felt a loud bang once again. i immediatley stopped the car as people ran to see what happened and if i was ok. laying in the street was a piece of coil. this time it was the back right spring which broke. fortunately it did not pierce the tire and i was able to get the car off the road. at this time i refuse to drive this hazardous car. it is costing plenty to have the rest of the springs on the car replaced. this should never have happened especially with such low milage and routine maintainance. i do not feel that it takes a death to investigate this further. this is apparently a documentated long standing problem according to the records i have researched. i did make sure that the new springs purchased were a different batch and isn't it sad that dealers are stocking these springs because they were apparently fractured internally when installed when the car was built. | |||
| 03/06/2005 | 64000 | 1 | 05/01/2002 |
| While traveling at 50 mph on a 4 lane road there was a loud noise (bang) from the right front of the vehicle. suddenly the right front tire blew out, the front of the car drop and pulled severely to the right, causing the car to travel completely accross the right hand lane and into the shoulder of the road before being able to stop. after stopping it was found that the right front coil spring broke in half, ripping into the inner side wall of the front tire for approximately 12 and seizing the right front wheel from rotaing. replaced both front strut assemblies and the right front tire, which had less than 1,000 miles useage.*ak | |||
| 11/14/2004 | 80000 | 1 | 12/17/2002 |
| While driving 3 mph over a mud puddle the front air bag inadvertently deployed. vehicle was still drivable. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak the left front spring broke. *bf *nm | |||
| 12/29/2004 | 68700 | 1 | 07/09/1999 |
| 1999 pontiac grand am gt was backed out of garage and a light thumping was noticeable from the front of the car. vehicle backed out of driveway and proceeded down street - light thumping sound still noticeable. suddenly, front left end of car dropped - steering became difficult and burning rubber smell was noticed along with some smoke coming from under front left wheel well. car was turned around and returned home - 500 yds. car was towed to dealer. dealer diagonosed problem as broken spring - complete older break and new break identified in spring. collapsing of spring also damaged strut. spring, strut and mounting assemblies were replaced and covered under extended warranty of owner. owner inquired about recalls and requested dealer to also replace front right spring and strut assembly. dealer and gm representative refused to pay for front right replacement. owner paid out of pocked $500 to replace undamaged front right assembly for fear of sudden future failure. dealer would not allow owner to keep broken spring - indicated that it needed to be returned to the factory. owner obtained spring/strut of undamaged front right assembly.*ak | |||
| 01/02/2005 | 75000 | 1 | 11/25/2001 |
| Pulled vehicle out of the garage, heard a loud snap, and the right front of the car dropped. i pulled the car back into the garage, jacked it up and investigated it. i saw that the coil spring had snapped into 2 pieces, and pressed itself against the tire making it impossible to drive. i searched this and found over 20 incidents that were reported in the last year alone! *jb | |||
| 07/18/2004 | 32000 | 1 | |
| The consumer heard a loud noise. front spring broke. *bf while the consumer was backing out of a driveway one of the vehicle's front springs broke. the vehicle wa towed to a garage where they replace the spring and strut. *nm | |||
| 11/03/2004 | 1 | 04/16/1999 | |
| On november 3, 2004, upon leaving work, i noticed a noise coming from my left front end. i pulled over in the parking lot of my work place, but unable to identify the cause. i proceeded to the rinke pontiac dealership in warren, mi. the service technician performed a cursory check and determined that the strut (and possibly) the spring was broken. after verifying with him that it wouldn't be dangerous, i continued toward home. when i arrived at my turn-off, my front passenger tire blew out. i made it home and called aaa mich; the driver who came to change my tire informed me that the coil spring was broken. on november 4, 2004 , i took my car to noonan pontiac for repair. they replaced the left front coil spring, strut, mount, spring and seat which resulting in a total charge of $614.23 (minus discount). i retained the old part. i replaced the tire and alignment separately. *ak | |||
| 11/04/2004 | 32000 | 1 | 03/27/2003 |
| Reference to : nhtsa action number : pe03031.left front coil spring fractured at the top coil upon entering the driveway of my employer. low speed so there were no control issues. car was driven aprox. 5 miles at low-moderate speed with minor noises from suspension at railroad tracks, expansion joints, etc, without control issues. local dealership inspected the car and found broken spring. ar will be repaired at the dealership. replacing spring and isolators, with further inspection of chassis on removal of suspension assembly. amaged parts will be returned to me. *ak | |||
| 08/07/2004 | 67800 | 1 | 02/28/2001 |
| The coil spring on the left side broke while we were on vacation and left us stranded. luckily it did not cause an accident. pontiac refuses to take responsobility for this. i have been told by several mchanics that this is not common and should not have happened unless there was a defect.*ak | |||
| 07/19/2004 | 41000 | 1 | |
| Vehicle was parked in garage, coil spring on right front fractured, replaced both of the front springs,struts,top plates & dust boots. cost of repairs in excess of $500. fractured spring & non fractured spring are available. *jb | |||
| 05/27/2004 | 60461 | 2 | 06/03/2002 |
| Left front coil spring broken on 1999 pontiac grand am. *mr *sc *jb | |||
| 05/27/2004 | 69000 | 1 | 02/01/2002 |
| While pulling out of the garage the consumer heard a noise. the consumer thought it was a blown tire but when the consumer examined the tire and changed it, he discovered that the coil spring had broken. this breakage damaged the tire and the front right strut. the consumer called the manufacturer, but was told by the manufacturer that they would only provide 40% of the cost. the consumer felt that the manufacturer should pay all of the cost because this was a defect. *ak *sc *jb | |||
| 05/27/2004 | 69334 | 1 | 02/01/2000 |
| While pulling out of the driveway consumer heard the tire explode. consumer put the vehicle back in the driveway to repair the tire, and discovered that the right front spring broke in half. manufacturer was consulted about the problem and offered a forty percent discount. *ak the faulty coil spring also damaged the vehicle's strut when it broke. the consumer believes they should pay for all the repair cost. *nm | |||
| 05/13/2004 | 1 | ||
| While backing out of a parking space a loud snap occurred from the right passenger side. a coil spring snapped into two pieces and caused the car to immediately drop down on top of the right front tire. this led to puncturing of the tire. the car had to be towed to a garage and it is currently being serviced. after looking on this website i saw at least 15 cases like mine. this could've led to a serious injury if i were traveling at a higher speed. please look into this situation.*ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| While the vehicle was parked the driver noticed that the front driver side tired was deflated. the driver inspected the tire and noticed that coil spring was broken. please provide further details. *jb | |||
| 05/17/2004 | 87249 | 1 | 09/17/2001 |
| While driving on the interstate , the front right tire blow . which caused the front right spring to break off . luckly , the vehicle did not flip over on the interstate . had to get the car towed because the front of the vehicle was lying on the ground becaused of the spring braking off . had to replaced new , right spring , right strut and a new right tire for the vehivle . now have to replace left strut and spring due to car not level . 1999 grand am se. *ak | |||
| 05/10/2004 | 55298 | 1 | 05/21/1998 |
| 1. drove 1999 pontiac grand am with 55,000 miles about 600 miles at highway speeds over 3 days, then parked car overnight. 2. pulled out of driveway at slow speed next morning. rubbing noise and some resistance from right front (passenger) side wheel. stopped car after 50 feet. thought it was wet brakes. stopped car and started up again and same rubbing noise. backed car slowly back into driveway. shut off car. heard loud metal snap noise from right front (passenger) side wheel. car then dropped down with no space between top of tire and suspension. 3. called local garage and had car towed. replaced right front (passenger) wheel spring. checked, adjusted and did full alignment on car. would have replaced both springs but parts on national backorder. 4. tire puncture and major accident or death could have occurred if this had happened only a few hours earlier while driving at 65 mph! *la | |||
| 04/20/2004 | 89993 | 1 | 06/15/1998 |
| Fortunately, i was backing out of garage and turning steering wheel when the front left coil spring snapped and dug into the back of my front left tire. i only wonder what would have happened if the had been on the highway at a high rate of speed with surronding traffic. coil springs were replaced along with a new tire for wrecked one that only had 8000 miles on it. total cost $545.26.*ak | |||
| 04/05/2004 | 64000 | 1 | 01/01/1901 |
| While driving, the driver side front coil spring broke which caused a loud noise at 45-50 mph, driving. *jb the consumer heard rubbing noises after several turns. the consumer found a broken spring resting on the tire. *sc *jb | |||
| 1 | 07/12/1998 | ||
| Consumer was pulling out of a parking lot and heard a loud crack. vehicle was towed to mechanic. the mechanic determined that pr coil springs were defective. *ak | |||
| 03/24/2003 | 59000 | 1 | |
| The vehicle had a broken front coil spring that wrapped around the shock absorber. it broke in two and prevented the vehicle from moving. *ph after breaking, part of the spring came to rest on the top and inside of the tire. it wasn't punctured and there was no accident. triple aaa was called and they had the car towed to the nearest repair shop. the cost for repairs were $500.00. the consumer was brushed off by pontiac chevrolet. *cb *jb | |||
| 09/11/2003 | 52495 | 1 | 04/11/1998 |
| Reference nhtsa pe03031. while making a turn, heard noise and felt shake through vehicle. noticed lean towards left side. upon inspection, found left front coil spring broken. spring broken with a shearing/slashing break. clean gray metal. at bottom coil, approx 1 before it passes over starting point of the coil. no damage to tire. dealer replace both springs. manufacturer notified by dealer. parts will be saved if need for inspection. *ph | |||
| 07/10/2003 | 72339 | 1 | 07/24/1999 |
| While driving the front passenger side spring snapped at the bottom. the spring punctured the tire which caused the vehicle to swerve as the passenger side of the vehicle collapsed to the ground and skid approximately 15 feet to a stop. the tire dealer replaced both front springs, the tire and struts. *cb *scc *nlm | |||
| 05/27/2003 | 60000 | 1 | 05/15/1997 |
| Both front springs broke in my 1999 grand am for no apparent reason, resulting in the car needing towed. the car has been well cared for, has about 60,000 miles on it. i had a front strut problem a couple of years ago, and replaced one. this occurred and did not result in an accident (thankfully), but i realize the seriousness of the situation and thought it was worth of reporting, as it could have been very devastating. *nlm | |||
| 05/04/2003 | 52000 | 06/06/2002 | |
| Right front spring broke and severely damaged right front tire | |||
| 06/21/2002 | 42000 | 1 | 12/01/2099 |
| Right front coil spring snapped into 2 pieces while parked. spring jammed against tire.*ak | |||
| 05/22/2001 | 1 | 09/01/1998 | |
| Consumer heard a cruching noise coming from right front, spring punctured right front tire. *ak *slc | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING | |||
| 9 | 05/22/1999 | ||
| Car drives horribly and is falling apart as if it was 15yrs old. ball bearings, tie rod, caliber(brakes) are all malfunctioning. | |||
| 06/01/2001 | |||
| While vehicle is in operation it is making a 'screeching' noise. dealership has examined vehicle, and determined that front wheel bearings needed to be replaced. - however, repairs cannot be made due to parts needed being on backorder. please provide any additional information/attachments. *ak | |||
| 04/04/2001 | 1 | 09/01/2000 | |
| My wheel bearing broke at a low mileage and was told that the tie rod on the right was about to break also. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - MULTIPLE AXLE | |||
| 02/07/2005 | 01/01/2000 | ||
| About march 1, 2005, steering mechanism would vibrate and lose control. front brakes would pull the car to the right. a subsequent motor vehicle accident occurred on february 7, 2005, on i80, 7pm, going southbound. luckily no one was injured in either car ... my car was hydroplaning due to inclement weather conditions. | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||
| 09/24/2003 | 1 | ||
| After performing a search of your defects database i wanted to report that the nhtsa action number pe03031 happened to me on both front springs and one rear spring. the failure occurred exactly in this manor described. i do not have the exact dates of the incidents but the failures happened at different times. based on parts bills i believe this occurred in 9/2003 and 9/2005 for the front springs and 8/2007 for the rear spring. i personally made the repairs and probably have the failed springs still (stored inside) since you can not just toss them in the garbage. fortunately the front spring failures occurred when the vehicle was parted overnight and discovered the next morning when leaving. the rear spring failed while the car was in motion but was drivable. if the front springs failed while the car was traveling this would have been a serious failure due to the car body and strut rubbing on the wheel rim and tire which would have caused an inability to steer the car. when i went to the dealer to buy the part they seemed to know exactly what screen to go to. i thought that was odd because usually they have to dig on the screens of their computer before they find the right screen it but in these situations they went right to it. which indicated to me that this is not the first, second, third or forth time this part was being looked for on this car. i should have reported this failure to the nhtsa but did not, felt it was bad luck but thinking back on it now and remembering how the dealer parts counter handled the part look up i probably should have. so this report is to correct my error. *tr | |||
| 06/17/2007 | 175000 | 1 | |
| Without warning or physical impact/impairment right front coil spring fractured with a loud bang, and the jagged end pierced my tire sidewall, destroying tire. this occurred at approx 25 mph, i was able to pull over without incident, had to be towed, new coil installed, new tire purchased, labor day plans ruined. several months later, car was parked for 12 hrs in 70 degree weather, another huge bang, drivers side front coil fractured, c-shaped piece under the vehicle, again, the vehicle was towed, coil replaced, missed a day of work as this happened in connecticut, and i work in massachusetts. *tr | |||
| 02/12/2008 | 1 | 03/01/2003 | |
| Rear stabilizer bar broke causing the vehicle to spin, cross 4 traffic lanes, and collide into an 8-12 curb resulting in a shattered wind deflecter and 8-10 crack in bumper stabilizer bar was replaced along with the required nut and bolt and a 4 wheel alignment which is necessary when the stabilizer bar is replaced. *tr | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - AXLE - SPINDLE | |||
| 01/19/2008 | 1 | 10/19/2007 | |
| Left rear axel spindle broke while going around a sharp curve changing highways.causing the car to slide out of control landing in a ravine. very lucky to even be alive. *tr | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - COIL SPRINGS | |||
| 09/17/2005 | 79000 | 0 | 10/24/1999 |
| Broken coil spring failure - rear of vehicle - found during yearly vehicle safety inspection. *nm | |||
| 03/19/2002 | 34386 | 2 | 08/26/1998 |
| I have a 1999 grand am,purchased new. less than 35000 miles. in march as i was backing out of my drive the entire front right of my car literally fell with a deafening bang. upon service we found that the spring had broken and punctured my tire. it was embeded in the tire and was difficult to remove. if i had been driving my car down the road in traffic i probably would have been killed. the impact of just backing out of my drive was jolting and terrifying. then to make matters worse as i was making a left hand turn onto a subdivision street from a major road june 7, 2005, i heard and felt a loud bang once again. i immediatley stopped the car as people ran to see what happened and if i was ok. laying in the street was a piece of coil. this time it was the back right spring which broke. fortunately it did not pierce the tire and i was able to get the car off the road. at this time i refuse to drive this hazardous car. it is costing plenty to have the rest of the springs on the car replaced. this should never have happened especially with such low milage and routine maintainance. i do not feel that it takes a death to investigate this further. this is apparently a documentated long standing problem according to the records i have researched. i did make sure that the new springs purchased were a different batch and isn't it sad that dealers are stocking these springs because they were apparently fractured internally when installed when the car was built. | |||
| 04/23/2005 | 88485 | 0 | 08/18/2000 |
| 1999 pontiac grand am brakes creek all the time had fixed three times, just lost the spring in left rear tire , could have resulted in a accident. | |||