Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM | |||||
| 98831115 | 10/01/1998 | 602754 | Concerns regarding the passenger front floor carpet being wet or water leaking from the bottom of the instrument panel and/ or hvac module. *yc | 01/11/1999 | |
| VISIBILITY - GLASS, SIDE/REAR | |||||
| 11082002 | 11/08/2002 | 10008618 | The door window glass will not roll up or it is out of the channel. *tt | 08/10/2004 | |
| 010864018D | 10/01/2003 | 010864018C | 10004753 | Front door window glass won't roll up or out of channel. *tt | 01/06/2004 |
| 010864012D | 03/01/2005 | 010864012E | 10004355 | Door glass sash out of run channel. *tt update. *tt | 12/04/2003 |
| 010864012C | 02/01/2003 | 010864012B | 10001131 | Door glass sash out of run channel. *tt | 04/15/2003 |
| 010864018B | 02/01/2003 | 010864018A | 10001133 | Front door window glass won't roll up or out of channel. *tt | 04/15/2003 |
| 050602 | 06/05/2002 | 637197 | Customers may comment that one or more door glasses are scratched. *tt | 11/21/2002 | |
| 98831520 | 10/01/1998 | 602752 | Complaints of one or more door glass scratches. *yc | 01/11/1999 | |
| VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | |||||
| 040864020 | 10/01/2004 | 10012744 | Front door power window inoperative. *tt | 03/14/2005 | |
| 020864023A | 08/01/2003 | 020864023 | 10004359 | Power window inoperative. *tt | 12/04/2003 |
| 030803 | 03/08/2003 | 10001887 | Unnecessary replacement of door window regulators. *tt *jb | 07/24/2003 | |
| 020864023 | 12/01/2002 | 10000756 | Power window inoperative. *tt | 03/28/2003 | |
| 110701 | 07/11/2001 | 623776 | This message concerns a broken window regulator clip. *tt | 10/30/2001 | |
| 990849008 | 07/01/1999 | 838320 | 606552 | Customer may complain that the chime sounds when key is removed from ignition, intermittent operation of power door locks, keyless entry, steering column lock or memory seats. *tt | 08/27/1999 |
| VISIBILITY - REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES - EXTERIOR | |||||
| 000851001 | 09/01/2000 | 6092333 | Some customers may comment that the black plastic housing around the outside rear view mirror turns chalky or is dull in color. *tt | 12/05/2000 | |
| VISIBILITY - SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 01598 | 01/01/2004 | 10007178 | Sunroof supplemental information to 03-08-67-009.*mr | 06/03/2004 | |
| 02042 | 01/01/2004 | 10006913 | Sunroof not operating properly. *mr | 05/19/2004 | |
| 030867009 | 03/01/2004 | 030867009A | 10005595 | Sunroof will not open or close completely due to the sunroof motor. *tt | 03/04/2004 |
| 100903 | 10/09/2003 | 10004987 | Jammed sunroof that will not open or close completely revisited. gm voicemail log. *tt | 01/22/2004 | |
| 030867004 | 06/01/2003 | 10002878 | Parts availability for sunroof repairs. *tt | 09/30/2003 | |
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD | |||||
| 010864012B | 04/01/2002 | 010864012A | 634827 | Some customers may comment that the door glass is out of channel. *tt | 10/09/2002 |
| 020864014 | 05/01/2002 | 634559 | Some customers may comment that the outer surface glass on one or more of the vehicle's door is scratched. *tt | 10/03/2002 | |
| 010864018A | 01/01/2002 | 010864018 | 628824 | Some customers may comment that the front door window glass won't roll up or is out of the channel. *tt | 03/21/2002 |
| 010864018 | 11/01/2001 | 627482 | Information regarding front door window glass won't roll up or out of channel. *yh | 02/08/2002 | |
| 280901 | 10/28/2001 | 626557 | Subject regarding water leaking into the passenger side foot well area forom the hvac intake. *jg | 12/17/2001 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY | |||
| 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 | |||
| 09/10/2005 | 85000 | 2 | 09/20/1999 |
| Grand am 1999, my passenger side mirror fell off after touching it, found that all the plastic screw holders were broken, we disconnected the mirror and called for pricing, very expensive to get that plastic support piece. my drivers side mirror was hanging by the cables one morning went i went out to go to work. i had used plastic type string to tie it on, then tried duck tape both to no avail. my neighbor tired screws but they have come out, will try longer ones today. why does gm use such cheap plastic to hold a mirror that is subject to pressure from normal driving on highways. my other big issue is my back passenger window, i came out from work and found it completely open, it will not go up with the motorized switch and will fall down when it feels like it, it is difficult driving on highway, have tried wedging it, will have to go duck tape i guess that after reading reports on my car stats it is very expensive to replace. it is a shame that the car falls apart before it is paid for. *jb | |||
| 11/14/2002 | 22681 | 6 | 11/23/1999 |
| I began noticing a grinding sound when passenger side window was rolled up and down. glass became increasingly scratched. dealership repaired at no charge as vehicle was still under warranty and there was a service bulletin on this problem. however, problem persisted to the point of window regulator breaking off and glass sliding down inside the door. had to be taken back to the dealer five times in one year. (dealer did not want to pay at last visit due to the warranty expiring. had to really hold their feet to the fire for them to fix it.) now the problem is that both rear window regulators have broken! glass has slid down inside the doors and will not stay up (i have packaging tape holding up one window). pontiac customer service has offered me a free oil change and/or small reimbursement for my inconvenience. however, each regulator alone (no labor) will cost around $300. that is $600 in parts alone. i simply cannot afford this, and find it ridiculous that 3 of the 4 windows are exhibiting this problem. the car has low mileage and is very well-maintained. i believe gm has a serious defect with the window regulators in their grand ams and should take responsibility for this problem. *nm | |||
| 11/15/2003 | 35000 | ||
| Driver side window broke two years ago while the car was no longer under warrenty. i paid for the motor and window - a little over $600. it broke again in the fall of 2002. this was still under warranty and i was not charged. it broke a 3rd time last month and the warranty for the one that was replaced had expired by one week to ten days. i was charged the $410. after complaining, i was given a reduction of 15%. i paid this amount as this is my daughter's only transporation and she needed it to attend class and to work. in voicing my displeasure to service manager/staff at sawyers pontiac in lansing mi (where the car was purchased used but still under warranty), i was informed that this problem was common to the 1999 grand am and was a result of a change in materials used in the window assembly. they advised me that it was they who authorized the 15% credit to me and that pontiac motors would do nothing more. in talking to staff at pontiac motors, i was offered a additonal free oil and lube service for one year. i own 3 gm vehicles, this is 1st pontiac. this re-occurring roblem is known to service mechanics but pontiac is unwilling to take responsibilty for it. there is no doubt i will be back for repairs in another year unless i can get rid of it. but i will not be back to buy another pontiac and probably not any other gm car. | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM | |||
| 08/15/2002 | 37000 | 2 | 06/01/2000 |
| The fan (air) in my car stopped operating on lower settings and only works on the highest setting. a while ago it started making some noise, just like when there's a piece of plastic stock in the fan. i tried turning the fan off and back on, but every time, the fan was operating slower and slower until it stopped. the only way it would work was on the 2 high settings. a while ago setting #4 did the same thing and now setting #5 is the only one that still works. it must be pretty comon because my 2 sisters from michigan have the same problem with their cars (oldsmobile alero, and chevy malibu) and my husband's car (pontiac grand am) only operates on the highest settings. if the fan stops working all together we wold be in trouble when the windshield (windows) needs to be defrosted.*ak | |||
| 07/18/2001 | 1 | ||
| Two lines on rear defogger broke apart. | |||
| 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 | |||
| 12/15/2000 | 1 | ||
| Air conditioner does not work when on cold, the heater and air conditioner do not work when turned on max, only warm air comes out of the heater, the rear defrost does not always work. *slc | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - REAR WINDOW | |||
| 10/05/2004 | 1 | ||
| The consumer stated that vehicle was parked and she went out at about 6:30 am to warm the vehicle. she warmed it up for about 15 minutes, then got into the vehicle, she pushed the button to the rear defroster, and immediately the back window shattered. the consumer called the insurance company and had the rear window replaced. she had to pay for the window. the consumer was afraid to transport her children in the rear seats for fear that this may happen again. *ak *sc | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - BLOWER | |||
| 04/01/2001 | 1 | 07/01/2099 | |
| Cigarette lighter does not work, hazard lights and blinkers work intermittently, gas cap is broken, windshield has 3 chips, radio volume knob works intermittently, steering has jerked when rounding corners, heater fan speeds 1 and 2 do not work at all, cruise doesn't work intermittently, rubber molding on door coming off, dealer says need all new brake pads and front rotors | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - HEATER CORE | |||
| 04/28/1999 | 4 | 02/01/1999 | |
| While driving noticed white smoke coming from rear of vehicle. coolant light on panel started flashing.heater hose had separated & leaked coolant on to the exhaust manifold. this has happened 3 times. dealer replaced heater core 4times, and put new hose clamps on. *ak | |||
| VISIBILITY - GLASS, SIDE/REAR | |||
| 03/26/2008 | 110000 | 1 | |
| Windows on both driver side and passenger side fall in door. *tr | |||
| 06/08/2008 | 109356 | 1 | |
| A month after i bought the car the driver side window just fell into the door without warning.2 weeks after that my passenger side fell into the door. *tr | |||
| 11/01/2004 | 15 | 10/12/2004 | |
| I own a 1999 grand am se. ever since i bought the car in oct '04 i have been having nothing but problems with it. this past june i had to replace the engine. leading up to that the car would die at least once a week. i would bring it to the dealer (more like tow it) and i would always be told nothing is wrong. then yet again it would die. after that the stalling began. i would be driving and the car would shut off. it would usually take up to 10 minutes to turn back on. once the dealer went well maybe its your lights, you leave them on. my response was how do i leave on automatic lights? i have had to replace my alternator 3 times and have had to replace my battery twice. it got to the point that once i shut off my car the only way to start it was by taking out the mail relay chip for 2 minutes than replacing it. than the car would start up. finally i was on the high way and out of no where you head a loud pop. there went the header, pistons, oil gasket. the engine blew. however it was never a effect of the oil. i was always checking it and getting it changed once ever other month (i commuted a lot). so i got a rebuilt engine put in and the problems went away... or so i thought. last night i was driving and all of a sudden my car started shaking. it went from a little to a great amount. the muffler is making an odd puff puff noise and the exhaust smells like windshield washer fluid (only was to describe it). i pulled it into my driveway and on went the trac off light and the service engine soon lights. thank you. also prior to the new engine my cds would no longer play. i would get the e20 error and the cds would spit out. another problem is my rear passenger windows have scratches up the middle of them. i can not figure out where the marks are coming from. *jb | |||
| 10/05/2004 | 1 | ||
| The consumer stated that vehicle was parked and she went out at about 6:30 am to warm the vehicle. she warmed it up for about 15 minutes, then got into the vehicle, she pushed the button to the rear defroster, and immediately the back window shattered. the consumer called the insurance company and had the rear window replaced. she had to pay for the window. the consumer was afraid to transport her children in the rear seats for fear that this may happen again. *ak *sc | |||
| 04/05/2004 | 40600 | 2 | |
| Coolant leak when parked on hill, window fell down and broke. severe wind noise at speed with passnger window up. *jb | |||
| 05/07/2004 | 1 | 05/07/2004 | |
| When rolling down the two back windows it leaves a scratch down the windows. both windows have the exact same scratch in the exact same spot and its about a inch wide. my mothers grand am though not a 1999 did the same exact thing. for the other complaint : the lining that covers the doors on every door, right by the windows is separating. it should be tucked under into the seam but they are all separating. *la | |||
| 07/08/2000 | 1 | ||
| Driver's & passenger's windows on the doors fell down without warning. glass was shattered. taken to dealership for replacement. mechanic indicated problem was that window went off track & that plastic support in windows had broken.*ak | |||
| VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | |||
| 06/07/2008 | 110000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 1999 pontiac grand am. the contact stated that the window regulators continue to fail. he heard a grinding noise moments before the regulators snapped. the dealer was notified and referred him to the manufacturer. the manufacturer could not assist because there was no warranty or recall available. through online research, the contact found many consumers that were experiencing this same failure. within one year, five regulators have failed. within the last 30 days, three regulators have snapped. two out of the five regulators were repaired at the contact's expense. the failure mileage was 110,000 and current mileage was 120,000. | |||
| 11/03/2008 | 76000 | 1 | |
| Had all window mechanisms replaced after enduring a wonderful garbage bag cover treatment for window beauty enhancement last winter 2007-08. found my ignition refuses to start w/ 1 key. i started noticing the smell of antifreeze. took to my mechanic of 22 years. thought it was a crack in the actual container which houses antifreeze. this was replaced. nope. still leaking. car never indicated on panel that it was above temp & overheated, stayed within the normal range. the car never once overheated. mechanic couldn't find the problem. said it was a faulty computer... indicates, tires need checking, flashing lights, abs off/on...which by the way was causing me to not have my car pass inspection to add insult to injury!! found i was all of a sudden replacing antifreeze by the gallons. was still paying off mechanic from previous issues. don't ask, while trying to figure out the antifreeze problem! brought car in to have radiator checked by friends mechanic, fluid was literally pouring out of bottom of car. $1600. later!! head gasket set,waterpump,serpentine belt, radiator hoses, thermostat & gaskets, crossoverpipes, airfilter...now? 1 1/2 months later? well hey.guess what? riding merrily to work last sat. car stalled all the way...& yipee another visit, another mere 900. bag of shells consisting of crank shaft, bearings. can you believe it? i don't have it!!.....i thought this guy was putting me on...i've lost work since i'm 45 min. away. i've spoken to pontiac several times. they want nothing to do with this. act dumb- the american way...weird, i've read more complaints about this issue, i'm surprised you guys don't demand some resolution for consumers. what gives? it's so incredibly obvious this is a real solid complaint about engine defect with all the evidence to back it up!! i think it was minnisota or missouri that consumers actually won a class action suit against pontiac for these specific complaints. namely head gasket, engine related issues.. *tr | |||
| 02/06/2008 | 107000 | 1 | |
| I bought a 1999 grand am gt n january 2008 from feyer ford in williamston north carolina. within the first month the rotors and brakes went out followed by the ignition switch followed by the passenger window regulator going out. then about a week later the driver side window regulator went out. i want to know if there is a recall on the window regulators for my vehicle if no then one should be my stepsons girlfriends window regulator went out on her pontiac grand am also. *tr | |||
| 02/02/2007 | 91900 | 4 | 06/01/2000 |
| The window regulator fails every 18 months or so. i've replaced the driver's side three times, and the passenger side once. it's about $300 each time, with labor. this same complaint is ubiquitous on every website that lists customer complaints. pontiac should have done a recall on this problem long ago, and should still do it now. below, i'm listing only the most recent date. *nm | |||
| 05/16/2006 | 4 | ||
| Power window regulator fails causing window to fall into door. *jb | |||
| 01/09/2006 | 59009 | 1 | 07/01/2002 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while driving at various speeds the engine overheated. the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop for inspection. the mechanic determined the engine's high performance additive caused corrosion to the aluminum cylinder head. the cylinder head was replaced which corrected the problem. updated 3/28/2006 - the water pump failed. the battery and brakes failed. the coolant light illuminated. the dealer determined that the antifreeze had congealed and needed to be flushed and replaced. the driver side headlight went out. the driver side window regulator broke. *nm | |||
| 08/31/2002 | 5 | ||
| Where to start, .bought 1999 grand am gt in august of 2002 and ithas been downhill ever since. replaced the alternator twice, have experienced the same intake manifold gasket problem, which was replaced, but still led to the demise of my engine, causing camshaft to snap in half. thought the trouble was over with the rebuilt engine that was put in, but that was not the case. the window regulator broke in the middle of a snowstorm ,causing me to drive with no driverside window. with the new regulator i assumed that the window would stop squeaking, which did not. i assumed the scratches on windows were just from me-sand or some other abrasive material in the window tracks--after reviewing other complaints i discovered i was not the only one with this problem. have experienced various issues with the no trac/abs lights, replaced the waterpump, done brakes 4 times in 4 years, front headlights are milky and make it hard to see at night. have replaced the starter 4 times in just the past 2 years. needless to say after reading all complaints i feel much better knowing that it is not just me, or my car, but all pontiacs. bought the car for $10000, have put over $5000 worth of work into it. will never buy another pontiac. *ak | |||
| 10/21/2005 | 89990 | 3 | 02/01/2000 |
| Power window motor and components exploding while vehicle is moving. *jb | |||
| 09/12/2004 | 2 | 09/12/2004 | |
| Both driver side and passenger side power windows have failed. the cables and pulleys used to move the window up and down got tangled which caused the cable to become entangled in the motor and eventually broke the window clips, causing the window to drop unexpectedly. the driver's side was the first to go. it took many weeks to find an affordable replacement (parts ranged from $100 to $350). three days after repair was made, the passenger window too did the same thing. now i have only one window that works until again i can find another affordable part to fix the inconvenience. *nm | |||
| 11/15/2002 | 30000 | 3 | 09/02/2002 |
| Dt: 1999 pontiac grand am. the consumer stated the window track has broke. this has been fixed twice, and still did not work properly. the vehicle shook when the brakes were applied. the brake pads have been replaced four times. the rotors have been turned twice and replaced once. the manufacturer was not aware of the problems. *ak | |||
| 06/14/2005 | 5 | 11/02/1999 | |
| Dt: the problem began on 6/14/05 when all lights came on and all guages went to zero, the power door locks and windows failed as well. the vehicle had no brakes, it coasted to a stop, and shut down, owner was locked in vehicle. the alternator and belt were replaced, owner got in back seat because air bag light came on. tow truck driver tried to restart the vehicle but it had a completely dead battery. owner was able to get out finally when they were trying to restart the battery. she grabbed the handle and was able to get out. vehicle was towed to an impound lot, and the alternator was changed at tow place by a mechanic. it was 90 + degrees outside and no fresh air was coming in the vehicle. *ak | |||
| 12/25/2004 | 93769 | 2 | 06/28/2004 |
| Power windows on both doors - internal parts failed causing windows to drop inside door and not be rolled back up.*ak | |||
| 07/23/2004 | 48362 | 1 | 09/18/1999 |
| Left window regulator needed replacing because my window fell in the door and i was unable to use my window. i know of 2 other people that this has happened to. it cost me $260.68 for the part, and $14 for a switch. gm knows of this problem but has not done a recall. this is quite common in grand am and grand prix. i would like to know of any reimbursement program for the cost of the part?*ak | |||
| 10/31/2002 | 4 | 08/12/2002 | |
| Had car 2 yrs. only,the driver side window broke twice,got it repair from dealer. this past month the passenger window broke{did not get it fix yet}when you try to put the window down it sounds like it is cracking then the window turns side ways and that was how the driver side window was. my left hand turn signal when you turn it on to turn, it keeps blinking really-really fast,not like a normal turn signal light. all of this happen october 2002-to this date. did not get the turn signal fixed yet. *jb | |||
| 03/23/2004 | 72535 | 3 | 03/18/1999 |
| The window regulators have had to be replaced in the driver's door and both back doors. each of the windows failed to close after they were opened. the first one to go out was the driver's window and the back two windows were working occasionally at that time. the mechanic told me that they would probably need to be replaced soon, but if they stop working, i could just knock on the outside of the door or slam the door shut and they would work for a short time again. this got me through for about another month. all broke within the past year and each one has had to be replaced. the total cost to fix all three window regulators was $1188.17. i called gm to file a complaint with them and to find out why there hasn't been a recall on the regulators, (as well as the seat belts, the side view mirrors, the brakes and to find out why i also have scratches on my windows). i told them about the mycarstats.com website and explained that all of my complaints are common. i finally received a call back about a week later and was told that i would not be reimbursed for any of my repair costs which came to $2,974.58!! this total includes: brakes, calipers and rotors replaced twice for $834.08; side view mirror replaced after falling off while going through a carwash $167.86; seat belts replaced for driver and both back passengers because the plastic clips broke for no apparent reason $784.47 and of course the window regulators $1,188.17. instead, gm was offering me $1,000.00 towards the purchase of another gm vehicle!!! i asked why i would want to purchase another vehicle that they don't stand behind!?!? i told them to keep the $1,000 and expressed that i would never buy another gm product again, since these are safety features that should have been recalled years ago!! this past week, i have also noticed that the molding around the window shield is coming loose on the passenger side, so i used silicone caulking to hold it in place. | |||
| 06/06/2004 | 35000 | 4 | 03/21/2003 |
| All four power windows stopped working. sent in to dealership for repair. motors were tapped and three of them started working again, however dealership suggested to replace three of the four motors.*ak windows haven't worked since 03/21/03, sent in for repair 06/09/04. | |||
| 01/19/2001 | 83000 | 7 | 06/14/2000 |
| Bought a 1999 grandam have all these problems as of 2001.power seat wont work at all,found water in tail light assembly replaced various bulbs,and sealed unit,hazard flashing warning light switch works sometimes,power window on driver side didnt work ,then suddenly it started working and left rear won't work now,also abs and trac lights stay on .sometimes abs kicks in when i come to a stop.this car has been a lemon since i bought it.can't get these problems fixed out of warrenty.and do not have monet to fix.shouldn't have to if the car was design right.*ak | |||
| 05/07/2003 | 112000 | 1 | 11/20/2003 |
| Power window regulator broke. had problems before. getting repaired. no after market part available. gm part and installation $327.00. *ak | |||
| 09/15/2003 | 42200 | ||
| My complaint and i know nw i am not the only one with a newer grand-am and the window mechanism break inside the door causing the window to drop totally inside. i had a front driver window go few weeks ago and this week out of the blue, the same side rear door did the same thing! does this suddenly happen to grand-am's when they hit 42,000 or what? imagine my disbelief when two windows break at the same time for no reason. what broke inside is a white plastic wheel, however you have to buy the system inside the door for about $280 from the dealer. for now the windows stay down and i am searching wrecked junk yards! i sure hope they recall this crap. | |||
| 06/15/2003 | 81000 | ||
| In august of 2001 when i purchased this car i felt a rattle on my brakes which is still there. my power windows are scratched from rolling up and down. paint around the spoiler and bumper and on the roof is chiped off. i had to replace the generator in 2002. i had to have the intake manifold seals replaced in 2002. (3.4l v6) i had to have the waterpump replaced in spring of 2003. now the head gaskets are broken the intake manifold seals again are broken. my transmission is no longer working. in other words i can not drive my car anymore; it is sitting my garage. the cost amounts to more than the car is worth in dollars and i still owe $9.500 on this car. | |||
| 08/15/2003 | 77000 | ||
| I bought the car, used, in feb. 2002. since that time the clearcoat has began chipping off, leaving the paint exposed to the elements, specifically around the doors. in july the driver's side window regulator broke. on sept. 5th the passenger side window regulator broke. in august the driver's side mirror was caught against my plastic mailbox and snapped in half. i am aware that i am responsible for that mirror, however i tell you this because i feel the mirror should have withstood the plastic mailbox door, which is still intact. along with that, the passenger side mirrot broke off simply by being brushed as my husband walked by the car. all of these issues seem to be a concern to many grand am owners. i have researched and found many other similar complaints. pontiac refuses to cover any of the costs because i bought the car used, have not taken it to a gm dealer for service (with the exception of oil change it has not needed service), because i did not buy an extended warranty package, and because the mileage is more than they feel responsible for. the car is barely 5 years old. these things should not be falling apart this soon in a car's life, regardless of first or second ownership. | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 2 | ||
| When the buttons are pushed to lower the windows a clicking sound is heard. the switch would then cease to operate the windows. upon taking the vehicle to the dealership consumer was informed that the regulator needed replacement. the regulator had been replaced several times. *ak *nm | |||
| 02/07/2004 | 12/08/2001 | ||
| Front driver's side window regulator needs replacement along with a new window. same thing happened to the front passenger side window in june 2003. according to my mechanic of 24 years this is a common problem he has encountered with this car. | |||
| 06/08/2002 | |||
| Power windows on the driver side and passenger side broke. | |||
| 01/07/2004 | 1 | 08/06/2002 | |
| Both driver and passenger windows have fallen into the door. i have seen so many people have had the same problem... does the manufacturer not see this a on going problem and fix it right or recall it so us owners of the cars can be proud owners and not ripped off. it ridiculiously expensive and crazy , you buy a car and pay good money in turn the manufaturer should fix this problem . *ak | |||
| 10/15/2003 | 1 | 09/17/2002 | |
| Passenger side window clip broke,caused rattling had repaired for $120.00 then oct. 2003 my driver side window fell into the door.after another $45.00 i found out that yet another clip had broke,and now the cable was broke too.total repair would now be $290.00 please recall this--i believe my passenger side window is about to go, i am afraid to use my windows.*ak | |||
| 09/20/2003 | 08/10/2002 | ||
| Electric window motor failure. driver side front window and passenger rear window. both window's motor units discontinued to function properly at approximately the same time causing the belt drive to snap allowing both windows to drop out of the upright position. the cost to repair motor unit is 480.00 per window. that is a cost of $960.00. a total for 2 windows that are up 85% of the time not being used. windows will not stay in the upright position when the damage occurs and will only stay up with duct tape. in this heat the duct tape fails to hold the window on its proper position. *la | |||
| 03/15/2003 | 1 | 12/12/2002 | |
| Passenger side window fell into the door, dealer said the clips broke and i must purchase a new regulator, instead of the one inch plastic clips, the whole mechanism must be replaced at a cost of $488.00. personally, i know of three other people with a grand am that this exact same situation has occurred and after a simple search on the internet it seems we are not the only poor saps!!! *jb | |||
| 09/05/2003 | 4 | 02/04/2002 | |
| I called pontiac to try to get some help regarding the fact that my car is only 5 years old and within the last 2 months both side mirrors have fallen off (one simply by being brushed against), my rearview mirror came off, both side window regulators have broken, and the clear coat is chipping and leaving my paint exposed to the elements. pontiac pretty much told me sorry, not our problem because i bought the car used (i am the second owner), because i did not buy the extended warranty, and because it has over 70,000 miles. i have done my research and found that these are all common problems with this make and model. i would be happy to forward you my research. regardless of what number owner i am or how many miles are on the vehicle, i feel that if pontiac cannot make a vehicle that can last 5 years without falling apart, then the general public should not be throwing away our hard earned money on a bad product. pontiac should really be taking responsibility for making a less-than-desirable product. *ph | |||
| 08/03/2003 | 40000 | 2 | 10/30/2002 |
| While driving i tried to open my driver (power) window a little and it went crashing down. all clips were worn out, two of them are only sold with the track. *ak | |||
| 05/12/2003 | 1 | ||
| The motor cable failed, which caused the driver's window not to work. *jb | |||
| 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. | |||
| 04/04/2003 | 60000 | 1 | 12/10/2002 |
| I had to spend $278.00 for a window regulator for the drivers door when a 25 cent plastic piece of it broke. i have never been ripped off that bad!!! *jb | |||
| 03/07/2003 | 88000 | 08/23/2000 | |
| Have had passenger window break 3 times now and pontiac will do nothing about it. the driver side has broken once so far. the brakes have been replaced twice and they need to be done again. the car shakes while braking. *nlm | |||
| 06/14/2002 | 1 | 05/01/2098 | |
| Brake rotors have warped and been replaced 3 times. once at 20977, at 29687 and then at 44726. brake pedal makes a creaking sound when pushing down on pedal. mechanic told me had never heard such a sound and could not fix it. also advised me to get rid of car as soon as possible as it drives as it has more miles on it then it actually has.still making sound and worried that they are going to completely break. power steering and altenator went at 44726 miles and had to pay for those along with the last rotor replacement as car is no longer under warranty. wheels also make rubbing sound when turning either way. called gm when first started and was told they were aware of the problem and nothing has ever been done. mechanics also can not do anything about that problem. i fear for my life in this car. *ak | |||
| 06/25/2002 | 1 | 07/04/2000 | |
| Driver window fell down into door while driving, motor had to be replaced.*ak. consumer stated the entire window assembly had to be replaced, because the motor itself could not be purchased separately.*jb | |||
| 06/01/2002 | 2 | 11/30/1998 | |
| Front passenger window fell down onto door while driving, one week later, drivers window fell down. dealer has not been contacted.*ak dealer notified. *tt | |||
| 3 | 07/01/1999 | ||
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 01/01/2002 | 3 | ||
| Consumer states driver side window regulator keeps breaking and the window will fall at anytime. contacted glass shop and they replaced the part but the problem still accurs. nlm *yd | |||
| 11/01/2001 | |||
| Driver side and passenger side windows fell off the track . glue came loose. *ak | |||
| 02/22/2002 | 1 | 06/01/1999 | |
| Window was rolled down and wouldn't come back up was told at the dealership that the regulator blew up and in order to fix it one of two things could be done...pay $486.00 and they would attempt to repair the window and frame and install a new regulator with no warrenty..was told could last a day or a year..or could pay $1050.00 and they could install an intire new window and regulator was not told what type warrenty came with that...i could not see putting $486 into something they could not guarntee and could not afford $1100 for a new window.. i searched and have located a replace door and am having it gutted and the window replaced with the guts of new door....saved myself quite a bit of money.. i feel however that this should have been covered, and have been told that there have been at least 4 other people right here in this town that have had the same problem..i was given your web sight by my insurance agent.*ak | |||
| 09/15/2000 | |||
| Driver's and passenger side windows keep falling off the tracks. windows broke inside door. dealer notified. feel free to provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 02/04/1999 | 1 | 06/01/1998 | |
| Passenger seat slides after clicks in place, both driver and passenger side window regulators failed and left scratches on glass, radio lcd goes wacko car recently would not start (still at dealership), recall on console, both passenger side floor and cd (if in cd player) get wet with use of air conditioner, seat latches on backs of both seats are extremely difficult to lift, clip for moon roof switch broken, gas gauge sometimes moves up or down slightly in short period of time, front clip of car shattered in cold weather after going through unplowed street at 20 mph, rear reverse light broken after ice clung to cable (which is not properly tied back), excessive wind noise on highway, steering wheel shakes when on highway (55-65 mph), lots of problems with this car.( dot number: tire size: p255/50r16 ) | |||
| 02/04/1999 | 1 | 06/01/1998 | |
| Passenger seat slides after clicks in place, both driver and passenger side window regulators failed and left scratches on glass, radio lcd goes wacko car recently would not start (still at dealership), recall on console, both passenger side floor and cd (if in cd player) get wet with use of air conditioner, seat latches on backs of both seats are extremely difficult to lift, clip for moon roof switch broken, gas gauge sometimes moves up or down slightly in short period of time, front clip of car shattered in cold weather after going through unplowed street at 20 mph, rear reverse light broken after ice clung to cable (which is not properly tied back), excessive wind noise on highway, steering wheel shakes when on highway (55-65 mph), lots of problems with this car. (tiresize: p255/50r16)( dot number: tire size: p255/50r16 ) | |||
| 06/22/2000 | 3 | 08/01/1999 | |
| I have had this car for a year now and it has been in the shop 10 -12 times for various things 3paint jobs 2 trunk leaks radio power window door molding and 3 brake jobs air cond. and my brakes still make a noise but the dealership says it is normal for these type of brakes to do this can you help me the dealership want work on my car no more but i am taking it to another dealer monday | |||
| 10/15/1999 | 06/01/1999 | ||
| I bought the grand am used which had 280 miles on it. ever since the date of purchase, i have had nothing but continuous problems. the major problem is the braking system. my car has had approximiatly 8 sets of rotors and 4 sets of brake pads. i have owned the vehicle for 1 year and has only 27900 miles on it. the new design rotors and pads were supposed to correct the brake pulsation, but they have not. i have had about 3 sets of the new design components. both rear windows have been replaced due to misplaced parts in the window components. i have also had 2 oil leaks on the vehicle, one on the rear seal, the other inside the engine, which required replacing different gaskets under the intake system. the radio was replaced because the play button for the tapes did not work. i have also had molding on the doors of the vehicle replaced due to paint chipping off and warped parts. i am soon going to be getting the 2 front grills replaced due to crome chipping off of them. i would not recommend anyone to purchase a grand am. my vehicle is in the repair shop at leat once a month. the reparis are completed at another pontiac dealer other than where i purchased the car because of their horrible service. i now get serviced at sapaugh gm in herculaneum, mo, who has been wonderful as far as customer service. i owned a ford product before the purchase of my gm product--i don't know if i'll ever purchase another gm product. mine has been nothing but headaches. *ak | |||
| 10/01/1999 | 4 | ||
| Consumer has had the steering pump replaced 4 times. rack was leaking, and another leak was found. dealer said nothing was wrong with vehicle. vehicle was being repaired under warranty. also, transmission was slipping, and there was a transmission leak about 4 months ago. dealer was suppose to have repaired the problems, but the problems keep reoccurring. *ak the horn malfunctions after being repaired twice. the fog lights are holding moisture. speaker on passenger side failed. radio sisplay is scrambled due to internal short. right rear power window was inoperative due to switch failure. trunk release inoperative due to chaffed wire. transmission oil was leaking due to axle seal failure. *yh | |||
| 04/20/2000 | 1 | 07/01/1999 | |
| Air conditioner willnot blow any air on level 1 , 2 or 3, necessary in florida, car pulsates when brakes applied, has dealer look at it and replaced brakes, pads and rotors, have had power windows replaced twice due to scratches inside and out, vendor will not tint windows until problem is resolved, glove box opens even when locked, have had console secure clip replaced due to recent recall. | |||
| 4 | 04/01/1999 | ||
| Driver's side window broken on several occasions causing it to go off track, four repairs to fix properly. mjs | |||
| 08/24/1999 | 2 | 04/19/1999 | |
| Power window motors failed (attorney for consumer). yh | |||
| 06/12/1999 | 2 | 06/01/1999 | |
| Scratches on both front windows. *ak | |||
| VISIBILITY - REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES | |||
| 11/15/1999 | 1500 | ||
| My major complaint is the black glossy paint that is peeling from the side door/rear quarter window pilars. the dealer said that this is not covered under warranty, and i have had several quotes to have it fixed which are in the range of $250 to $500. the side mirror fell off in a car wash two months after the purchase of this vehicle, however the dealer did fix it once at no charge. the radio display does not work right away, and usually has to warm up before i am able to read the digital display. i have also had problems with a sensor, which caused the vehicle not start, and the dealer paid for that service as well. the check engine light has been on almost since the first day i purchased this vehicle, and i have had several diagnostic tests completed at my costs, however the light will go off for a while, and then come back on. | |||
| 03/28/2004 | 07/20/2001 | ||
| My passenger side mirror cracked off in the car wash. dealers and car wash employees stated that this is a common occurance with this vehicle. i am wondering why there is no recall on this. outside mirrors are a safety feature. | |||
| 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 | |||
| 06/01/2000 | |||
| Both sideview mirrors have broken off. *ak | |||
| VISIBILITY - REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES - EXTERIOR | |||
| 03/14/2005 | 97000 | 1 | |
| Right passenger mirror failed catastrophically while being washed in an automatic car wash. mirror was completely torn from its mounts and left hanging by the wiring.*ak | |||
| 03/23/2004 | 72535 | 3 | 03/18/1999 |
| The window regulators have had to be replaced in the driver's door and both back doors. each of the windows failed to close after they were opened. the first one to go out was the driver's window and the back two windows were working occasionally at that time. the mechanic told me that they would probably need to be replaced soon, but if they stop working, i could just knock on the outside of the door or slam the door shut and they would work for a short time again. this got me through for about another month. all broke within the past year and each one has had to be replaced. the total cost to fix all three window regulators was $1188.17. i called gm to file a complaint with them and to find out why there hasn't been a recall on the regulators, (as well as the seat belts, the side view mirrors, the brakes and to find out why i also have scratches on my windows). i told them about the mycarstats.com website and explained that all of my complaints are common. i finally received a call back about a week later and was told that i would not be reimbursed for any of my repair costs which came to $2,974.58!! this total includes: brakes, calipers and rotors replaced twice for $834.08; side view mirror replaced after falling off while going through a carwash $167.86; seat belts replaced for driver and both back passengers because the plastic clips broke for no apparent reason $784.47 and of course the window regulators $1,188.17. instead, gm was offering me $1,000.00 towards the purchase of another gm vehicle!!! i asked why i would want to purchase another vehicle that they don't stand behind!?!? i told them to keep the $1,000 and expressed that i would never buy another gm product again, since these are safety features that should have been recalled years ago!! this past week, i have also noticed that the molding around the window shield is coming loose on the passenger side, so i used silicone caulking to hold it in place. | |||
| 1 | |||
| Passanger side mirror broke and was replaced.yd | |||
| 02/07/2002 | 1 | 02/01/2002 | |
| The outside rear view mirrors are very easily damaged (ie. as reported by numerous car washes through out the country - www.carwash.com; just search for pontiac mirrors). the problem is widely known, even by gm, but they refuse to formally acknowledge it because they probably do not want the expense of a recall or tsb to fix the problem. it is due to a faulty design of the mirror base - it is made of cheap plastic and is damaged very easily, rendering the mirror a safety concern. the mirror is the rigid kind (does not fold in, as some do) but again instead of having a solid base support structure (ie. made of metal) it is made of plastic. the mirror once damaged becomes loose and vibrates while driving resulting in the mirror shaking and not being able to present a clear view. in addition to the problem with my car, i know 2 other people who have experienced the same problem, only to be told by gm that it is not covered under the warranty and had to pay for it to be fixed out of their pocket. i can supply additional documentation / information if required.*ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Passanger side mirror broke and was replaced.yd | |||
| 1 | |||
| While driving through the car wash, the passenger side mirror tore off. *slc | |||
| 10/27/1998 | 1 | 10/01/1998 | |
| The passenger side mirror is broken. *slc | |||
| VISIBILITY - SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY | |||
| 07/16/2003 | 1 | ||
| While driving 60 mph driver heard a loud noise inside the vehicle. sun roof glass shattered, and a small piece of glass was missing. consumer stated that nothing hit the glass, and the sun roof was open about a half inch. *ak | |||
| 10/24/2000 | |||
| While traveling at highway speed of 65 mph, driver commenced to roll down side window when suddenly sun roof exploded, reason unknown. notified dealer and manufacturer, and no one wanted to help in this matter. please feel free to provide any further details. *ak | |||
| 02/04/1999 | 1 | 06/01/1998 | |
| Passenger seat slides after clicks in place, both driver and passenger side window regulators failed and left scratches on glass, radio lcd goes wacko car recently would not start (still at dealership), recall on console, both passenger side floor and cd (if in cd player) get wet with use of air conditioner, seat latches on backs of both seats are extremely difficult to lift, clip for moon roof switch broken, gas gauge sometimes moves up or down slightly in short period of time, front clip of car shattered in cold weather after going through unplowed street at 20 mph, rear reverse light broken after ice clung to cable (which is not properly tied back), excessive wind noise on highway, steering wheel shakes when on highway (55-65 mph), lots of problems with this car.( dot number: tire size: p255/50r16 ) | |||
| 02/04/1999 | 1 | 06/01/1998 | |
| Passenger seat slides after clicks in place, both driver and passenger side window regulators failed and left scratches on glass, radio lcd goes wacko car recently would not start (still at dealership), recall on console, both passenger side floor and cd (if in cd player) get wet with use of air conditioner, seat latches on backs of both seats are extremely difficult to lift, clip for moon roof switch broken, gas gauge sometimes moves up or down slightly in short period of time, front clip of car shattered in cold weather after going through unplowed street at 20 mph, rear reverse light broken after ice clung to cable (which is not properly tied back), excessive wind noise on highway, steering wheel shakes when on highway (55-65 mph), lots of problems with this car. (tiresize: p255/50r16)( dot number: tire size: p255/50r16 ) | |||
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD | |||
| 03/01/2005 | 1 | 06/29/1998 | |
| The front windshield of the consumer's 1999 pontiac grand am was not sealed properly (pinch well was not primed). *nm the windshield started to become loose which allowed air into the passenger compartment. *nm | |||
| 10/25/2004 | 19815 | 1 | 06/01/1998 |
| Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection due to a chattering noise that occurred when the weather was cold. the technician determined that the windshield needed to be replaced. *ak *nm | |||
| 04/01/2001 | 1 | 07/01/2099 | |
| Cigarette lighter does not work, hazard lights and blinkers work intermittently, gas cap is broken, windshield has 3 chips, radio volume knob works intermittently, steering has jerked when rounding corners, heater fan speeds 1 and 2 do not work at all, cruise doesn't work intermittently, rubber molding on door coming off, dealer says need all new brake pads and front rotors | |||
| 04/15/2002 | |||
| Passenger front side window will not go up or down. consumer feels the switch is defective. dealer has been contacted. please provide any further information. *ak | |||
| While traveling on a dirt road and when rolling window up or down window glass on all four doors become scratched. dealer has been notified. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 05/01/2001 | 1 | 04/01/1998 | |
| Passenger's side window will not go up all the way. when traveling on highway windows rattle like molding is comming apart. dealership fixed driver's side window.*ak consumer states window unglued and making a loud noise like someone has broken the glass, then it falls and unable to roll back up has happened to both sides.*jb | |||
| 04/25/2001 | 2 | ||
| While vehicle was parked passenger's side window fell down, consumer took vehicle to dealer, and had it replaced. about 2 months later while consumer was driving at 65mph, driver's side window fell off, almost causing loss of vehicle control. cause is unknown.*ak | |||
| 06/01/2000 | |||
| Consumer heard a popping noise while driving vehicle, consumer pulled over and noticed molding was coming of off the windshield, consumer feels windshield may fall out.*ak | |||
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | |||
| 12/31/2001 | 1 | ||
| While driving in the rain, could start windshield wipers, but they will quit after a few minutes of operation. dealer could not correct the problem. *ak *tt | |||
| 02/04/2000 | 08/01/1999 | ||
| Washer fluid freezes in winter due to the poor design of of fluid tubing to the wipers. no heat from the engine ever gets near the tubing. this makes it dangerous when driving in bad weather conditions and the windshield starts to get dirt buildup. very scary. *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 | |||