Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||||
| 709 | 09/01/2005 | 10018126 | Oil life system reset procedures - cars. gm tech link. *tt | 12/15/2005 | |
| 040604024 | 04/01/2004 | 10012634 | Powertrain control module will not properly communicate on board diagnostic freeze frame information to nontech2 service or test equipment. *eh | 03/09/2005 | |
| 3114 | 01/01/2004 | 10009973 | B1327 diagnostic missing. *sc | 11/02/2004 | |
| 030601010 | 03/01/2003 | 10001282 | Engine oil or coolant leak. *tt | 04/25/2003 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM | |||||
| 071003 | 07/10/2003 | 10003815 | This vme message is a water pump replacement due to a known cam driveline. some customers may question about whine noise coming from the front engine area. *tt | 11/03/2003 | |
| 071503 | 07/15/2003 | 10003789 | Coolant lose, evidence fluid on the garage floor, etc., or coolant warning light coming on. *tt | 10/31/2003 | |
| 010802 | 08/01/2002 | 637353 | Some vehicles may exhibit a strong sulfur odor or a very offensive type odor coming from the cooling system. *tt | 11/22/2002 | |
| 010602012 | 12/01/2001 | 628890 | Some owners may comment on leakage of a few drops of coolant after parking their vehicle. *tt | 03/21/2002 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||||
| PIC-5405 | 12/01/2010 | 10037814 | Gm: the engine will not start. the engine cranks and sounds like it's going to start but then stops cranking. *rm | 06/06/2011 | |
| PIC-5405 | 12/01/2010 | 10037814 | Ready | 06/06/2011 | |
| 0804 | 08/01/2004 | 10014346 | Oil life system reset procedures - cars. *nm | 04/29/2005 | |
| 01353 | 01/01/2004 | 01353A | 10007937 | Engine misfire due to injector fretting corrosion. *tt | 07/16/2004 |
| 01527 | 01/01/2004 | 10005464 | A whistle type noise coming from the engine. sit bulletin 1406534. *tt | 02/27/2004 | |
| 01556 | 01/01/2004 | 01556A | 10005396 | Engine cranks but does not run. *tt | 02/24/2004 |
| 03-06-01-010 | 04/01/2008 | 030601010C | 10004768 | Engine oil or coolant leak. *tt gm reminder. *tt install new lower intake manifold gasket. updated 7/18/08 *pe | 01/06/2004 |
| 071103 | 07/11/2003 | 10003816 | This vme message concerns a cylinder boreliner tool now available for the l61 2.2 liter engine. the tool is referenced in service bulletin 030601018. the purpose of the tool is to extend the total service life of the block. *tt | 11/03/2003 | |
| 052203 | 05/22/2003 | 10003658 | Complaints of intermittent vehicle shutting off while driving with no multiple codes set. the vehicle would immediately restart. the actual cause of this condition was that over bumps the mass and weight of the customer's key ring forces | 10/27/2003 | |
| 030604030 | 03/01/2007 | 030604030C | 10002166 | Multiple driveability symptoms of long or hard starts, chuggle, rough idle and light or intermittent misfire due to clogged fuel injectors. *tt | 08/14/2003 |
| 010604018A | 09/01/2002 | 010604018 | 10000056 | Intermittent malfunction indicator lamp (mil) and power train control module (pcm) diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p1404. *tt | 02/10/2003 |
| 01130 | 08/31/2001 | 625447 | Subject regarding customer satisfaction campaign bulletin #01060 - valve springs replacement. *tt | 11/28/2001 | |
| 01060 | 01/01/2001 | 625021 | Subject regarding replacement valve springs. *jg | 11/16/2001 | |
| 01060A | 08/28/2001 | 625101 | Subject regarding customer satisfaction campaign valve spring replacement. *jg | 11/16/2001 | |
| 01060 | 08/22/2001 | 625083 | Subject regarding customer satisfaction campaign valve spring replacement. *jg | 11/16/2001 | |
| 201200 | 12/20/2000 | 618145 | Information concerning vehicles that have a input speed sensor code p0716, p0717 condition. *tt | 04/05/2001 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||||
| 020601014 | 04/01/2002 | 634708 | Subject regarding revised lower intake manifold installation. *tt | 10/07/2002 | |
| 160102 | 01/16/2002 | 629703 | Customers may comment that the engine lags power, stalls, won't start or is hard to start. *tt | 04/05/2002 | |
| 020604009 | 03/01/2002 | 629502 | Subject regarding hesitation or stumble on throttle application after cold start (reprogram pcm). *jg | 04/02/2002 | |
| 260601 | 06/26/2001 | 623545 | Vehicles may experience hesitation or stumble after cold starts.*jb | 10/29/2001 | |
| 010601010A | 06/01/2001 | 0106010101 | 620810 | Subject regarding polymer service pistons. *tt | 08/30/2001 |
| 130301 | 03/13/2001 | 619231 | Experiencing a no crank no start, crank no start, no start or a start doesn't run that may be accompanied by a theft system light and / or a service engine soon light. *tt | 05/19/2001 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||
| 08/12/2009 | 65000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2001 pontiac grand am. the contact stated that after refueling, the security system warning indicator illuminated and the engine failed to start. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. the technician informed the contact that the malfunction was contributed to a defect within the engine. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure recurred six months later. the manufacturer was not notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 65,000. kmj | |||
| 08/12/2009 | 65000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2001 pontiac grand am. the contact stated after refueling, the security system warning indicator illuminated on the instrument and the engine failed to start. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. the technician informed the malfunction was contributed to a defect within the engine. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure recurred six months later. the manufacturer was not notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 65,000. js | |||
| 01/01/2011 | 100000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2001 pontiac grand am. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, he noticed that the vehicle was running low on coolant. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the head gasket was leaking. the vehicle was repaired. the contact also stated that the turn signals only illuminated intermittently. the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 100,000. | |||
| 01/01/2011 | 100000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2001 pontiac grand am. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, he noticed that the vehicle was running low on coolant. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the head gasket was leaking. the vehicle was repaired. the contact also stated that the turn signals only illuminated intermittently. the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 100,000. kmj | |||
| 01/01/2011 | 100000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2001 pontiac grand am. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, he noticed that the vehicle was running low on coolant. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that the head gasket was leaking. the vehicle was repaired. the contact also stated that the turn signals only illuminated intermittently. the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 100,000. sm. | |||
| 10/13/2011 | |||
| When i try to use my signals it wont work, they wont come on, it also lile to have caused an accident, when i crank the car up ot makes a loud noise for about five minutes, or sometimes it wont start, i have to wait thirty minutes, before it could crank on numerous occasions, it has done that, i also have to keep replacing brakes for this car, my coolant jug i have replaced that many of times and its still has a leak in it i have to put coolant in there four times a week, and also if im making a left my steering wheel it gets stuck sometimes. | |||
| 05/26/2011 | 100000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2001 pontiac grand am. while driving approximately 45 mph, the engine stalled with the illumination of the abs warning indicator. the vehicle restarted after waiting a period of five hours. also, there was a small amount of coolant and water leakage on the ground. the engine would overheat sporadically. the vehicle was diagnosed by two different independent mechanics who informed the head gasket, intake gasket and thermostat would need to be replaced. the failures continued to occur. the vehicle had not been repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 100,000. js | |||
| 01/15/2009 | 90000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2001 pontiac grand am. while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle would not start. the vehicle was towed to a local mechanic. the local mechanic replaced the ignition switch. she stated the failure happen 5 months later. the vehicle was taken to another local mechanic and the vehicle started on its on after being towed. the local mechanic could not duplicated the failure. the contact stated the failure happen intermittently. the stated the vehicle has failed again and it was at a local mechanic shop. the contact was unable to provide a vin. the failure mileage was 90,000 and the current mileage was 175,000. vwb | |||
| 12/27/2009 | 2 | ||
| I have replaced the radiator twice, the water pump twice (going on number 3 tomorrow) and also get to do an intake manifold gasket. i own a 2001 pontiac grand am. the cause has since been discovered as the dex-cool coolant that gm manufactures which eats anything it comes in contact with. recall needs issued, and repair work paid for. *tr | |||
| 06/02/2009 | 123000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2001 pontiac grand am. while driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the engine was able to be restarted. there were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. the failure occurred on four more occasions. recently, the engine failed to restart. the vehicle is currently inoperable and has not been repaired. in addition, the pass lock system was previously replaced. the contact is in the process of taking the vehicle to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing. the failure and current mileages were 123,000. | |||
| 12/17/2008 | 80300 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2001 pontiac grand am. during routine maintenance a technician stated that under pressure of the intake manifold was inoperable and needed to be replaced. the contact was responsible for the repair cost which exceeded $700.00. the failure and current mileages were 80,300. updated 03/18/09. *lj the intake manifold gasket was leaking and needed to be replaced. updated 03/20/09. *jb | |||
| 08/12/2007 | 89000 | 1 | |
| 3 window regulator are broken on driver side, and passenger. the rear window defroster only defrost half the window, interior lights do not go off when the switch is on auto, engine overheats, turn signals do not work, the engine is hard to start . i have not fixed the windows but i been to the dealership for the overheating and i was told there was no problems. i had to replace the fuel pump because the car would not start. these issues began over a year ago. *tr | |||
| 04/28/2008 | 77058 | 1 | |
| Change oil light will come on early, about after 1,000 miles - before the typical 3,000 miles oil should be changed (i change my oil every 3,000 miles). *tr | |||
| 06/25/2007 | 98000 | 1 | 01/09/2007 |
| My 2001 grand am se hit around 98,000 kms and has been revving at 2,500 to 3,000 rpms while idling and while driving over revs and you need two feet on the brake. have replaced intake manifold, one sensor, one valve, and $1,000 later my car still does the same. this is not safe while transporting children and with winter coming it should make for a scary ride. *tr | |||
| 05/25/2007 | 51000 | 1 | 04/01/2002 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2001 pontiac grand am. the contact stated that coolant and antifreeze are leaking from the lower intake gasket. the failure was noticed while driving 40 mph. the vin and engine size were unknown. the current and failure mileages were 51,000. updated 08/23/07 *tr | |||
| 04/01/2007 | 149500 | 6 | 03/15/2006 |
| I own a 2001 grand am se 2.4l. i've had nothing but troubles with this car since i bought it. here's the list of some of the things i've had to replace on the car: alternator, starter, ignition module, coils and housing unit, and now the passlock system is junk!! this car has several times put me in danger because of it stalling just after stopping or just after going after a start. which means i'm in the middle of an intersection when it stalls. i'm taking it to the dealer friday to get the passlock system fixed because my security light is on. i want this car to be recalled or to get reimbursed for the cost and time i've had to put into this car which is a lot$$$*jb | |||
| 12/10/2001 | 30000 | 8 | 12/01/2001 |
| Where to start...i have a 2001 pontiac grand am. within 2 months of buying it, my fuel pump & computer went out at the same time. next was my water pump & timing chain. then was the security system, then the turn signals, then the windows wouldn't roll down. and now my brakes are having to be replaced on a consistent basis. the only thing covered by gm was the turn signal switch. all other replacements were at my expense. after researching on this site, i see numerous complaints of the same kind. i notified gm and they refused to help at all. i explained that since there are multiple complaints for the same things, it has to be a manufacturing defect. they shrugged that off. they finally sent me a letter stating that they would no longer entertain any of my comments or complaints. do not buy a pontiac!!! junk city!!! *nm | |||
| 06/30/2006 | 50000 | 1 | 07/07/2003 |
| I just recently replaced the coolant intake in my 2001 pontiac grand am se 6 cylinder. the mechanic told me that he has seen this many times before and that it is a costly manufacturing error. i also have to replace my multi-function switch when the turn signal recall came out. i have done a little research on the coolant intake problem and as i have stated i have found that as well as my gm dealer have all noted that there is a design flaw with the gasket in it's relation to the dex-cool coolant (the coolant is acidic and eats away at the gasket which leads to coolant getting into engine or oil getting into coolant). i would like to looked at further. *jb | |||
| 06/19/2006 | 169000 | 2 | 05/18/2000 |
| For the second time i am replacing the intake manifold gasket in my 2001 pontiac grand am gt. my mechanic, also the place that changes my oil, as well as my gm dealer have all noted that there is a design flaw with the gasket in it's relation to the dex-cool coolant (the coolant is acidic and eats away at the gasket which leads to coolant getting into engine or oil getting into coolant). mechanic says he sees at least one of these a week (very small town, low population, high incidence -- is related to the engine that gm used for that year and model (and others as well).. mine happens to be the 3.4 litre. *jb | |||
| 01/02/2006 | 55000 | 4 | 03/01/2002 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle stalled intermittently for about seven months. there were no warning indicators before the vehicle stalled. additionally, when the vehicle stalled it will not restart without the computer being reprogrammed. every time the vehicle was towed to the dealer. the only thing the dealer did was reset the computer. after the vehicle was in the dealership 5 times for this problem the contact began resetting the computer. the dealer's service manager showed the contact how to reprogram the computer by turning the ignition on, allowing the security light to flash ten minutes, turn the ignition off, and restart the vehicle. the dealer identified the problem as a short in the ignition switch. the vehicle is currently at the dealer awaiting repair of the ignition. the dealer offered two options for repair, to replace the entire ignition system or jump the security system. if the security system was by passed it will no longer activate. there are two technical service bulletins (tsbs) concerning the ignition, tsbs 010849020 and 020604011. *ak updated 02/27/06. *jb | |||
| 11/20/2005 | 1 | 02/05/2004 | |
| I purchased a 2001 pontiac grand am in february 2003. shortly after the 45k miles i started to have problems with the dex-cool anti-freeze leaking around the intake gasket, head gasket was damaged. also, there was extensive oil use, approximately a quart every 500 miles of driving. despite what this might sound like, this vehicle, while in my possession has been well maintained. i have had the above problems fixed on 11-20-05 and after the mechanic was done i had put another $1465.00 into a car that has been nothing but problems. now, one month after getting my car back the check engine light is on, and this is not the first time i have had to fix this problem either. i have heard from several mechanics and dealers that this is common problem with this car due to dex-cool only systems and aluminum engines that erode head- gaskets prematurely. *jb | |||
| 10/31/2005 | 77800 | 1 | 09/01/2001 |
| Faulty intake gasket to engine from coolant. after less than 80,000 miles the intake gasket is leaking in the 2001 pontiac grand am. my understanding is that this problem is not restricted to an occasional vehicle and it presents an issue of losing fluid. not only is this a safety hazard for vehicle owners, it is an environmental hazard as well. *jb | |||
| 03/01/2004 | 60000 | 7 | 03/01/2004 |
| Three big issues with this car: 1) the worst-i've had problems with the security system shorting three times. each time, the car turns over but will not start. the security light flashed twice, but did not come on the third time. the first time the dealer adjusted the system (whatever that means) which was covered under warranty. the second time (two months later), my car would not start at 2am outside of a bar, so i had to have it towed. this time the whole system was replaced under my warranty. the third time (four months later) my car would not start and had to be towed. the system was again replaced, this time it was covered under a parts& labor warranty so at least i didn't have to pay anything. 2) the brakes. i had the rotors replaced because of extreme vibrating when breaking, as well as a loud squealing noise that would start after the breaks heated up. the squealing noise did not go away so i had the breaks' hardware replaced. that worked for a while. six months later, the vibrating has come back and there is a loud grinding noise when the breaks get wet (i.e. rain). 3) coolant light comes on frequently. first, i simply replaced the coolant much more often than should be necessary. finally, i let my dealer convince me to pay the $700 to have it fixed (i'm not sure what the problem was) a year ago. the coolant light is now coming on again, so i'm just refilling it frequently. i've only had this car 18 months. i'm in love with the look and the pickup, but it is completely unreliable. when can i get it declared a lemon? at least i still have 10k miles left on the extended warranty i purchased with it. if i can't extended it again, i will sell this unreliable car. *nm | |||
| 06/13/2005 | 30750 | 1 | 07/12/2001 |
| 2001 pontiac grand am 6 cylinder with 31,000 miles. engine coolant light came on. added coolant, but light comes on 2 weeks later. find a small leak on right side of engine at the intake manifold gasget where coolant is seeping out of the engine. pontiac wants $800 to fix problem, pontiac mechanic tells me this is very common for this type engine. search around area and find someone to do it for $500. during repair i find out that coolant was leaking inside and outside the engine. coolant was in the oil. total repair bill is $550. this problem should have been dealt with by gm or pontiac. a recall should be initiated on this vehicle or compensation should be made to those who were stuck with a costly repair bill on a poorly designed and defective engine. | |||
| 12/31/2004 | 1 | 05/26/2001 | |
| The lower intake manifold gasket of the consumer's 2001 pontiac grand am failed. *nm the gaskets were replaced along with the egr, coolant bypass, occ/oxygen catalyst converter and the pcm/power control module p drive seal. the consumer requested information about any accidents and or deaths associated with this failure. *sc *jb | |||
| 11/07/2004 | 59992 | 1 | 07/01/2002 |
| Started seeing coolant leaking from under hood. went to daler and they pressure tested and found nothing. a day later started leaking even more. dealer then said head gasket faulty and he also said he has seen several times before at about the 60k mile mark. they replaced the gasket at a cost of over $800.00. every shop i contacted said they know of the problem. shouldn't this be replaced at pontiac's expense. *ak | |||
| 08/30/2004 | 3 | ||
| When consumer turned on the air conditioner vehicle stalled while driving at any speed. vehicle was towed to dealership three times, but dealer could not reproduce or correct the problem. *ak | |||
| 06/22/2004 | 51000 | 2 | 01/03/2001 |
| On my 2001 grand am gt1 i have replaced the intake gasket twice now. the 1st time it was in the shop for fuel gauge misreading. i never even got the low coolant light. that was at 51,000 miles around april 2002. the 2nd time was on 6-22-04; on 6-21-04 low coolant light came on. added about 1 qt mixture of dex-cool and water. light did not come back on, but when i got to work on 6-22-04 i got out of car and noticed a line of orange fluid coming from car. i took it to the garage and 844.00 dollars later it was fixed again. i work 50 miles from my home and have to go through a bad neighborhood to get to work. i had to find a ride home, but was not able to find a ride to work the next day so i missed work. gm is a big company that no longer cares about their customer. they need to step up and accept liability for their error. there is a service bulletin but that does not cover the cost because it is less likely an accident will happen so the chances of them being suied is low. | |||
| 02/24/2004 | 44500 | 1 | 12/28/2000 |
| 2001 pontiac grand am gt, 44500 miles, 38 months old. vehicle has slowly used radiator fluid for over a year, however passed all pressure tests at dealer. engine began to make loud noises when started but quickly disappears as engine warms. engine noise became very loud within a few days and dealer states the intake manifold gasket has a leak which has also cuased damage to values and lifters. repair cost at $1,600.00 plus an additional $300.00 to flush engine and radiator. systemn flush required since radiator fluid may have entered engine. only engine problem prior to engine noise was the occassional loss of anti-freeze which did not lead dealer to problem. engine oil is always clean with no signs of external contaminants. dealer has stated that a lot of intake manifold gaskets are being replaced. *ak | |||
| 01/23/2004 | 23051 | 1 | 12/27/2000 |
| My car is a 2001 pontiac grand am. it had 23,051 miles on it when the problem was fixed. the problem was the low coolent light went on so the intake gaskets and nec parts needed replacing. a 3 year old car with 23,000 miles needed $900 worth of repairs with no accidents on it's record. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM | |||
| 01/22/2011 | 130000 | ||
| Coolant level was going down on car and light was coming on, took car for checkup and intake gasket cracked and coolant mixed with oil, had gasket repaired , but while driving gasket blew again and powersteering functions of car did not work and coolant leaked all over ground , hard to control car and since in traffic almost was in accident < pontiac knows about issues with pontiac garnd am se 2001 and also with signal turn problem since signals stop working,now car needs new motor since gasket replaced about 3 times and each time it blew after taking out of repair shop and while driving.when someone is hurt is that what they are waiting for so that thes cars will be recalled? | |||
| 04/17/2009 | 150000 | 1 | |
| Recall number: 03v327000 dates manufactured: mar 2000 to may 2001 number of vehicles affected: 670740 date owners notified on: feb 2004 certain passenger vehicles have hazard warning switches that may experience solder joint cracking caused by rapid temperature transitions and the soldering process. if solder joint cracking occurs and results in an open circuit, the turn signals/hazard lamps become intermittent or inoperative. i tried calling pontiac today and they refused to inspect my car free of charge. the also tell me that this is not a valid recall number. i have seval issues with my car. i have paid several thousands of dollars on this car. *tr | |||
| 08/27/2008 | 17373 | 1 | |
| Problem: intake manifold gasket failure and passlock system malfunction descr: purchased car in 1/01, documented leak of coolant in nov. '01. nothing could be found. in 2003, after i told them where the leak was coming from, they found the problem and replaced the gasket. this is a safety issue for me because i was a divorced mother with a small child who drives almost 300 miles each week to work and back. after some arguing the dealer covered the cost, except for a 200 deductible. in january 2007, the same thing happened again - this time costing me $900.00. the next safety issue is the passlock system on the car. the latest stranding occurred on wednesday, august 27, 2008. i have been stranded three or four times because the car would crank but would not turn over. two or three times, the car has had to be towed to the dealership. i bought this car, my first new car, because i needed something reliable. everytime the car has broken down, i have missed time from work, have had to pay several times to have the car towed (thankfully insurance has covered some of that) and had to pay for repairs. *tr | |||
| 05/08/2006 | 77612 | 1 | 10/08/2004 |
| We had an intake manifold leak on our 2001 grand am. the car had less tan 75,000 miles on it. when we got it back it had a cracked intake manifold and coolant in the oil. since that time it has been in another dealers shop and not fixed. *tr | |||
| 02/16/2007 | 32000 | 1 | 09/28/2001 |
| During a routine oil change, it was found that coolent was leaking into the oil. the cause was found to be a cracked lower intake manifold gasket. as a result, i am forced to pay $800.00 to have the gasket replaced. my car only has 32,000 miles on it. there are so many people out there with the same problem. gm needs to be forced to correct an error that they are obviously aware of but refuse to correct. there are too many reports of this happening on gm vehicles for it to be a coincidence. *nm | |||
| 06/06/2006 | 54848 | 07/10/2001 | |
| Service engine soon light and coolant light came on at the same time, eventually causing the head gaskets to blow. besides having to replace the gaskets, the oxygen sensor had to be replaced as well. also, while the car was still under warranty, at 32,567 miles, the dealer found a coolant leak at the upper intake gaskets and lower intake gaskets, and replaced both gaskets, as well as the oil pump drive seal and related parts. | |||
| 04/24/2006 | 50000 | 1 | 09/21/2004 |
| I purchased my 2001 grand am gt second hand in september 04. the 1 previous owner was my mechanic's brother in-law and has been well maintained when he owned it as well as since i have owned it. my problems started as soon as i left the lot. within a month the car had been back into the dealership to have break pads replaced and rotors re-surfaced. my breaks have made a constant rubbing/grinding noise and no amount of work has solved the problem. i also have this intake manifold gasket issue. in december of 05 the low coolant light began coming on as well as the service engine soon light. i attempted to add coolant but the cap to the coolant tank was badly broken and required the replacement of the entire tank - since the cap would not come off even with a mechanics help. this solved the problem for a couple of months - but in february 06 the coolant alarm started again - i added more coolant and continued to drive it for another month. when the coolant alarm sounded again in march i took it to my mechanic who found the coolant leak from the intake manifold. $800-$900 to fix the problem. this was the second intake manifold he found on a gm car the same day and he told me there is a service bulletin on this. why is gm not being forced to re-call this? come on - i have been researching for 1 day and found hundreds of examples of this problem. i am a single mother on a very tight budget - owe more on this piece of $)%& than it is worth as it is! my car has been parked for a month and i am bumming rides while i make monthly payments on a pretty car - nice to look at sitting in my driveway ! *nm | |||
| 01/01/2001 | 1000 | ||
| The coolant system has a continual leak. it needs to be replaced at least every month. faulty ignition switch makes all interior lights and gauges go on and off and sometimes not come back on for days (happens everytime the car is started up). makes speed limits impossible to tell, etc. *nm | |||
| 04/01/2005 | 7000 | 1 | 11/15/2000 |
| Low coolant light came on after turning vehicle on in morning, checked coolant level it was low, added coolant, light came back on 2 weeks later, added more coolant. changed oil found white crud in oil, called dealership (village pontiac gmc) and service said it was manifold gasket and it is very common on this type of vehicle. made appointment to have this fixed, quoted at $800.00 to repair. if this is so common and a service center knows what the problem is without seeing vehicle, shouldn't this be a recall? | |||
| 01/14/2005 | 1 | ||
| 09/01/04 - low coolant warning light following cold engine starts. no visible coolant leaks, added 16 oz. coolant to fix problem. 11/01/04 - same problem, added 16 oz. coolant to fix problem. 12/23/04 - low coolant light always on while driving. 01/14/05 - intake gasket was found to be leaking coolant externally and internally. potential for damage to engine. potential for engine to overheat, which is dangerous to passengers in sub-zero temperatures during winter months. intake gasket was replaced at costly $650 repair bill. *jb | |||
| 08/01/2003 | 5 | 11/03/2000 | |
| I have a pontiac grand am gt 2001 v6 and it has 3 major problems. the car has 52,000 miles and i have had to replace the rotors/breaks twice already. whenever the front brakes are applied they pulsate and drag the car to a stop. best of all its starting to shudder again when i use the breaks. so, soon to be 3 times in about 3 years. second, the speakers have blown 2 times. i dont understand why gm would put speakers in the car that cannot handle the power from the factory reciever. finally, the engine cooling problem. the low coolant light would turn on when i started the car, then turn off after 10-30 seconds. this went on for a week or two and i brought it in to get checked out. they told me the dex cool coolant ate through the gaskets, which caused the loss of coolant. its $800 to get it fixed. please do something, this car's design is flawed.*ak | |||
| 12/06/2003 | 34000 | 1 | 09/17/2001 |
| Water leaked into floorboard from air-conditioner. grinding noise coming from the front and back wheels. trim came loose from back bumper. rearview mirror fell off. had numerous times where the car would crank but not start (dealership could not duplicate problem) front driver window would not come down on occasion. car caught fire under the dashboard while parked in our garage. the fire did extensive damage to the interior of the car. the inspector sent out to look at the car (by gm) said the fire was electrical and not caused by anything we did to the car. the car was repurchased by gm on january 7, 2004 after basically calling them on a daily basis to get something done about it. *la | |||
| 04/30/2003 | 45500 | 3 | 12/12/2001 |
| Leaking steering rack, leaking water pump & broken blower motor. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN | |||
| 01/01/2006 | 70000 | 15 | 11/17/2001 |
| I purchased my 2001 grand am gt in 2002. so far since i've owned the car, i seem to replace the breaks every 10,000 miles or every year, i have had the rotors replaced twice within the last 5 years, replaced the alternator and fuel pump. now, my abs lights continue to go on and most recently, my car will not start it seem every two weeks (i hope i am not away from home when this happens) - the security light has been coming on and have to keep the key in the on position for 10 minutes and then try to start the car - my garage told me it was a security code problem that only the dealer can fix. i have only 90,000 miles on the car and now, i need a rack and pinion which will cost me another $900.00 (i spent approx $500 dollars on the car in the last 6 months). my break pad wear out at least yearly (i am retired and don't even drive the car long distance). now my abs lights are constantly coming on, even though the garage said he found nothing wrong and i need to take it to the dealer. the car is pretty - but will never buy another pontiac again - i can't afford to keep it in the garage every three months (so it seems) and need a reliable car - not one that doesn't start once every two weeks because now my security systems is messed up. also, have had problems with 1 and 2 on the ac settings (wouldn't work at all) - and of course, paid to have that fixed. please help me. | |||
| 01/01/2005 | 30000 | 1 | 10/09/2001 |
| Position 1 and 2 do not work on the fan. *ak | |||
| 11/09/2006 | 300 | 6 | 04/09/2001 |
| Grinding sound in front brakes. dealer replaced rotors at my expense. still making grinding noice. breaks seem to have been a problem since i bought the car new in 2001. recall of blinker switch. blinking (inside above radio) noise came back after 1 year. dealer says that recall was for the hazard lights not the turn signals? car won't start and security light on. have to wait 10 minutes with car in (on) position and then car will start..this information is located in the owners manual (are they expecting this problem?) dealer said at first that my key was worn out that's why it's not reading it correctly and then later stated that the sensor was bad in the ignition switch. had to replace ignition sensor switch at my expense. rear floor board behind drivers side gets wet. no known cause. recently the service vehicle soon lite came on. dealer repaired at my expense. dealer said that the headlights were out and a part was cracked. heater/ac buttons 1 and 2 do not work. recently noticed that when i drive i hear grinding sounds seems to be coming from the body of the car, like it's coming unscrewed. just took my car in for repairs of ignition switch, 4 new tires, a back seat seatbelt replacement and my drivers side automate seat adjuster was working the morning i took it in. when i picked up my car it was making a grinding sound and the seat cushion was torn. service manager says they will replace the seat cushion but they don't think they broke the seat adjuster and the service manager says that maybe the seat adjuster just decided to go on that particular day. i'm now fighting to have them repair what they broke. i will never go to nucar pontiac in delaware for repairs again. this is the worst car i've ever owned. i think most of these problems should be recalls since many people have them. i will never buy a gm car again. please someone help to make the car makers responsible for their poor workmanship. *nm | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||
| 08/18/2008 | 54000 | 1 | |
| While driving car, the engine just stops/stalls. it has only happened so far when slowing to stop. i am able to immediately restart it after shifting to park or neutral. *tr | |||
| 01/11/2008 | 77000 | 2 | 10/01/2002 |
| A few years back, i had a problem in which my rpms would rise insanely when i was stopped at a light, and even when i put my car in park. it was as if i was flooring it. i took it to the dealer. they said it was a head gasket problem. luckily, it was still under warranty, as i only had about 45,000 miles on it. i took it home after it was fixed, and it continued to do the same thing. i took it back to the dealer, and they said that they fixed the problem and that it will be ok. i took it back home and it has pretty much never stopped. it tends to do it more in the summer as opposed to the winter. recently, the car was leaking coolant. i took it back to the dealer. i was once again told that it was the head gasket. my car is no longer under warranty, so i had to pay $1600 to get it fixed. 2 head gasket problems within a matter of 2 years? that seems like something that should never happen. after getting that fixed, i take it home. it runs fine for about 2 days, and then starts pulling some crazy stuff. the service engine soon light came on, although there weren't any noticeable issues. the light went off 2 days later. after that, i started experiencing other problems. my car has a serious lack of power when going up a hill. if i step on the gas a little more, the service engine soon light will flash. it doesn't stay on, it just flashes for about a minute. whenever i come to a stop, my car tends to violently shake. i'm afraid to take it back to the dealer to see what's wrong, because i'm afraid i'll have to pay even more money for something that wasn't wrong prior to taking it the 1st time. *tr | |||
| 06/06/2007 | 73000 | 1 | 06/28/2001 |
| The intake manifold gasket started leaking coolant & oil. said this is a common gm problem since they switched to plastic. at the same time there was one other 99 grand am having the same thing fixed. *tr | |||
| 12/01/2004 | 50000 | 12 | 09/01/2002 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2001 pontiac grand am. the vehicle failed to start intermittently and was towed to a mechanic. the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. the contact stated that the vehicle would start after not being driven for a couple of days. the current mileage is 68,000 and failure mileage was 50,000. | |||
| 03/03/2007 | 78505 | 1 | 11/29/2000 |
| I have a 2001 pontiac grand am gt with the 3.4 v6 engine. the intake manifold gasket started leaking coolant into the cylinders. according to my mechanic, this was a common problem for this engine and that gm knew about this problem but refuses to pay for the cost of repairs. *tr | |||
| 02/12/2007 | 44000 | 1 | 06/01/2001 |
| While driving a 2001 pontiac grand am the abs, track off and service engine soon lights came on at the same time. *nm | |||
| 12/23/2006 | 64000 | 3 | 05/02/2005 |
| I own a 2001 pontaic grand am that i bought in april 05 having bought it used i had it about 20 days when my service engine soon light came on took it to the dealer that i bought if from he sent it to his mechanics and the replaced the coil pack because it was reading a misfire on cylinder 4. didn't have problem for about 8 month so i thought. on dec.20,2006 started running real bad had coil pack changed, boots, housing, and spark plugs at the nice price of $200.00. in 1 day to find out stll not working right mechanic said problem is internal and the only way to fix this is replace motor which for a used one only $3300.00 unless i would like a new one for $6000.00. i feel that they have lost there minds expecting people to pay that kind of money for another junky motor when the one i have now only has 77000 miles on it it should be like the energizer bunny still going i have taken excellent care of my car i did talk to pontaic complaint line to have smoke blown up my you know what they dont care about there customers i owe to much to trade it in and can't afford to fix it so now i have a car payment and can't even drive it pontaic need to fix there junk they have on the road before somebody gets hurt or killed driving this stuff i know i will never own another if i can get rid of this. *nm | |||
| 02/05/2004 | 3 | 06/17/2002 | |
| Turn signal failure (recall by manufacture corrected that problem). however, dealer would not fix the continuos problem with the on-going ticking sound of the turn signal even when signal is not in use. that would cost $273 to fix, dealer said. grinding sound in tires (dealer gave documentation to support the fact that the 2001 pontiac grand am's were manufactured with a faulty tires and rim package. suggested new rims or different than manufacture choice tires. the most significant problem is with the engine. randomly upon ignition and sometimes after sitting idle, the engine will rev high (at times upto 3rpms). sounds like the engine is going to explode! went to 2 pontiac dealers various times (at least 6) and neither can fix the problem. each time i was charged with assessment fees. i'm done with pontiac vehicles!*ak | |||
| 04/14/2004 | 66000 | 1 | 08/09/2003 |
| Our 2001 pontiac grand am gt1 has coolant leaks. 3/15/04 we called pontiac to request assistance. they opened a file & said they'd investigate to determine if the problems were a manufacturer defect & if so provide repair assistance, to take it to a dealership for evaluation & call back with diagnosis, which we did 3/19/04 (cost $47). the dealership said the intake manifold gasket needed replacing [see gm service bulletin #03-06-01-010] & would cost $700+. after approx a month of waiting, on 4/14/04 pontiac denied our request stating we were past warranty & there was no recall. (we knew that & so did they from the start! otherwise, we would have just had it fixed!) no one read the service bulletin & pontiac refuses to admit liability for a faulty intake manifold gasket, despite the service bulletin which reads: correction: install a new design intake manifold gasket. the material used in the gasket has been changed in order to improve the sealing qualities of the gasket. when replacing the gasket, the intake manifold bolts must also be cleaned, coated with threadlocker and torqued to a revised specification. not a manufacturer's defect? in denying our request pontiac is hiding behind the fact that they have unethically not issued a recall on their admitted defect. they have identified a design defect but disguised it in a service bulletin, then used the words new design, changed in order to improve and revised specification, which admits faulty equipment & procedures & should warrant a recall or at least assistance to the customer!! please look into this matter on our behalf. we appreciate any assistance you can offer us.*ak | |||
| 04/07/2004 | 43000 | 1 | |
| Engine coolant leak at intake manfold, relating to tsb 03-06-01-010a apr 03. isue appears to be common among this make and model of car. car is a 2001 pontiac grand am with 45k miles. this type of leak is not typical for a car of this age and usage. local and dealer mechninics indicate that this is a common problem that could be easily solved with proper installation of the gasket. *ak | |||
| 07/16/2003 | 1 | 05/08/2003 | |
| Car has a very slow and hard start most of the time, and cranking noise when trying to start. it has been in the shop multiple times since it has been bought and nobody can seem to figure the problem out.*ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Dash lights came on and off intermittently. also, while braking there was a loud grinding noise. abs warning light and engine check light kept illuminating. *ak | |||
| 03/15/2003 | 6668 | 1 | 03/14/2001 |
| Fuel pump does not work. dealer notified. *ak the fuel gauge , fuel injectors, fan, lights, door locks, computer chip, oil leak, brakes, blinkers had to be replaced. gmac had been notified on several occasions and had refused to cooperative in fixing the defects. these were known defects. gmac refused to fix under warranty and refused under the lemon law. *scc *jb | |||
| 04/25/2003 | 01/30/2001 | ||
| I have a 2001 pontiac grand am. i purchased my vehicle in december of 2000 or january of 2001. nevertheless, i have 26k miles on my car and i have brought it in twice for major engine repair. the first time i brought it in was approximately 8-9 months ago when my engine was knocking loudly and grinding during acceleration. in addition it would not accelerate or kick into overdrive it just grinded. i brought my car into gay pontiac in dickinson tx where it was purchased. they were not authorized by gmc to replace my engine but to replace certain portions of my engine i.e. rods and main bearing. last friday on april 25th my engine began to do the exact same thing as i was driving home. i began to accelerate and the car started grinding every time the rpm meter reached 2200 rpm. i tend to accelerate fast when i drive however i do not consider this grounds for the damage that appears to be happening to my vehicle. i have not added any components to my vehicle since purchasing it. i took my vehicle back to the same dealership, and this time they called out a gmc rep who suggested again that only certain parts of my engine are replaced. i am in the process of trying to get this changed. i believe at this point parts that were not originally repaired or replaced have since sustained additional damage and i believe that there is a problem outside of my engine that is calling for the engine to sustain this damage. i am very concerned that my vehicle is a lemon and the failure of gmc to investigate and repair my vehicle will eventually cause me additional harm. i would hate to be in rush hour traffic and have an engine failure or be unable to accelerate to the flow of traffic. | |||
| 04/09/2003 | 4 | 09/21/2001 | |
| 2001 pontiac grand am has problems cranking. ignition turns over but engine will not crank until 3-4 tries. does not do it on a consistent basis and dealership has not been able to duplicate problem. it has been in 4 times for this problem and 4 times because the back doors will not open some times without bumping the doors with your hip. dealership was not able to duplicate problem. also, rearview mirror fell off, side mirrors had to be replaced because clear coat was left off, door reflector fell off, weather strip on window fell off, blinkers stopped working. despite the fact that this car is well taken care of, it is coming apart at the seams. pontiac rep has been contacted answer is the same, we have to duplicate problem. it has now began stalling out after you get it cranked. i am now contacting gm/bbb as a last resort. please help me if you can. *jb | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||
| 04/21/2006 | 61000 | 1 | 04/01/2006 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle intermittently stalled, without warning, while driving 70-75mph. the vehicle restarted after waiting about five minutes. also, the fuel gauge showed an inaccurate reading and no more than seven dollars of gasoline can be pumped into the tank before the pump shuts off. the vehicle was seen by the service dealer who was unable to duplicate or diagnose the problem. | |||
| 08/20/2001 | 3 | ||
| Vehicle has stalled numerous times at any speed. dealer has replaced ignition switch three times, but has not remedied the problem.*ak | |||
| 03/01/2002 | |||
| Ongoing problem with engine stalling/cutting off at multiple speed while driving. vehicle been to the dealer on four occasions, and they were unable to duplicate the problem. feel free to provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 08/15/2001 | 0 | ||
| When consumer is driving vehicle shuts down without warning. dealership is aware of problem. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL | |||
| 12/31/2004 | 1 | 05/26/2001 | |
| The lower intake manifold gasket of the consumer's 2001 pontiac grand am failed. *nm the gaskets were replaced along with the egr, coolant bypass, occ/oxygen catalyst converter and the pcm/power control module p drive seal. the consumer requested information about any accidents and or deaths associated with this failure. *sc *jb | |||
| 05/02/2003 | 6 | 05/19/2001 | |
| I have had many problems with my 2001 grand am. like others many turn signals failed, i have had water leaks, the dome light fell out of its casing and was dangling by its wires. in may of 2003 the computer and its wiring were replaced (at only 31000) after an incident of very ruff shifting. a separate consistant problem that remains unsolved is the car's occasional episodes of not wanting to start. during these episodes it sounds as if the starter will crack, but it just will not start. the only way to get it started at these times is to tap the gas pedal! it has been taken to two dealerships for this problem. they have replaced a fuel intake valve and put new programming in the computer. nothing they ever do solves this problem and usually they tell me that they can not recreate the problem and therefore can not fix it. even after having a new computer the problem still occurs.*ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | |||
| 03/19/2005 | 1 | 07/07/2003 | |
| I have a 2001 grand am, which i do love. i have found out that a lot of people that have the same car, has the same problem that i have. the intake manifold gasket must be repaired, which cost 1000 to fix. i really think there needs to be a recall on the car.*ak | |||
| 10/10/2004 | 4 | ||
| Defective intake gasket. see complain #'s 79007,10086421,10065717. low coolant light started coming on every week and a half or so, starting back in october of last year (2004). it came on every couple weeks so i just kept filling it with coolant and had my thermostat replaced. problem still kept happening. finally my car overheated on the way home from work on the interstate so i had to pull over. i put it in the shop on 3/7/05 and was just told that i needed my intake gasket replaced costing me $800.00. mechanic says this is ia common problem due to defective equipment. did some research and due to the number of complaints regarding this same problem, ponitac needs to be held responsible for this. *ak | |||
| 02/23/2005 | 50000 | 03/15/2003 | |
| I have noticed a grinding sound coming from my brakes. i took the car to the shop and was told that i needed pads and rotors, i replaced pads and rotors and the abs, trac off, and the service vehicle soon light started coming on. took the car to the dealer for further analysis and they told me i needed a speed sensor because it was malfunctioning and because it is inside the wheel hub i also had to replace these things also. $700.00 later the lights were still coming on and the brakes was still making this strange noise. i returned the car and after inspection was told that the abs wires were busted and needed to be replaced, $200.00 later the car is still making these noises and the lights are still coming on. no one seems to know what the problem is. i am taking the car back again for further analysis. i have also had a problem with the manifold replaced it at $700.00, the ignition fortunately for me it was covered under the extended warranty i purchased with the car. i also have a problem with the turn signals malfunctioning. *nm | |||
| 01/02/2005 | 53000 | 1 | 12/17/2002 |
| I am one of many people with this same problem. i own a 2001 pontiac grand am. at about 53,000 miles i noticed a coolant leak on my garage floor. upon further inspection i noticed that it was coming from the exhaust manifold gasket. i promptly called up my local dealer, jack walker pontiac in dayton, ohio. i made an appointment for january 4, 2005 to have my vehicle inspected for further diagnosis. when the phone call came in from the dealer with the estimation of $765, i was stunned, but knew it was a major issue that had to be attended to. so i ok'd the procedure. on friday, january 7, 2005 my car was finally ready for pickup. i went to pick it up, paid the $780 and got in the car. after i turned it on, it flashed low coolant. i proceeded to walk back into the repair center, and told them what was going on. the man there talked to the mechanic, who said that it was just air in the coolant line; it could be cleared in about 10-20 minutes. one hour later they finally released the car to me. i think it is ridiculous that gm is not forced to recall this manifold head gasket since it is such a prominent issue in most gm v6-style engines. thank you for your time.*ak | |||
| 11/07/2004 | 4 | 06/09/2001 | |
| Intake manifold gasket failure/signal failure/ window regualtor failure/rotors. *ak | |||
| 08/02/2004 | 68500 | 1 | |
| This is a submission to note yet another general motors v6 issue with failing intake manifold gaskets. my particular gasket has a leak that is getting progressively worse, requiring me to fill coolant. at this time, the leak is external only and has not leaked into the engine compartments containing oil. my car is a 2001 grand am gt. my wifes car (2000 alero with the v6 also) had this same problem and pushed us to get rid of it. i only posted this after knowing of all the other people out there that have had this expensive problem. i only wish that everyone could submit the issue on here, allowing the nhtsa to have a better idea as to the scope of this poorly designed (and later fixed) engine gasket.*ak | |||
| 08/20/2003 | 1 | ||
| I have a friend that has a 2001 or 2002 pontiac grand am gt. 2 weeks ago, the catalytic converter burned up. the dealer is telling him that the part needs to be order in from the manufacturer and in turn they need to actually build him a new one. i am searching for a recall on this because i have another friend who has a 2002 chevrolet s10 who had the same exact problem. both cars have less that 100 thousand miles on them and i would like to see if gm should be covering the cost of this repair as it seems to be a manufacturing defect. *ak | |||