Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
461510023171Abs pump running when not needed. *nj10/31/2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - CALIPER
010523006A06/01/2001010523006623403This bulletin is being issued to revise the fastener requirements for the front and rear brake caliper bracket replacement procedures in the disc-brake sub-section of brakes in the appropriate service manual. *tt10/29/2001
01052300604/01/2001619792Subject regarding revised fastener requirements for front and rear brake caliper bracket. *tt06/29/2001

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - CONTROLS
907/02/1998
 A check for transmission fluid leak, bolts loose on pan tighten and top off, pan and/or gasket transaxle oil replaced. popping noice when braking now crunching noise. brake pedal bushing noisey, blower motor noisey. r&r or replace pedal and/or bushing, brake, motor and/or fan. vehicle will not start and battery is leaking, due to cracking, replace. pass headlamp fills with water, improperly sealed.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
05/15/20030
 Back in may of 2003 i noticed water in the passenger side of car in the well. i thought it was a leak in the winshield because i had another car that had a leak and it was the winshield. the autoglass dealer told me it was the vent system and not the winshield. since then, the air conditioning has just stopped working. i am about to take the car to the dealer but i don't know if it is worth the cost of fixing, do you have any advice?
07/01/2003692443002/01/2001
 When shutting the car off the key gets stuck in the ignition. when i put the car in park if i don't hear a click, i know the key is going to be stuck in the ignition. i have to back up and down the driveway and pop the steering wheel up and down several times and then the key will come out. and if it chooses to not come out no matter what i do it locks the whole car up and the remote keyless entry will not work and it drains the battery. also the driver side window switch has shorted out causing a slight shock. i have had to replace the alternator, and have had problems with the traction control light coming on for no reason. passenger side headlight lens popped out and made the bulb burst. very costly to have replaced. i have called 2 pontiac dealers about the ignition and all the tell me is that it's going to run me around $800.00 to have a new ignition installed. and another $600.00 to have the wiring repaired or replaced for the window switch. the alternator was $500.00. head lamp was $75.00. and i have had to have 3 complete brake jobs done on the car in 2 years. *ak
03/14/1998
 When brakes are wet there is little or no braking power for several seconds.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK
11/15/20041
 Consumer was traveling 65 mph applied the brakes and the pedal went to the floor. then, vehicle suddenly accelerated uncontrollably. vehicle continued to speed. consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle by pulling the emergency brake in order to stop. took vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the problem could not be duplicated. *ak
02/26/2001104/30/1998
 Consumer accelerated to pass a car and throttle stuck open, consumer was unable to get it to release, the brakes were burned while attempting to stop vehicle, pontiac would not fix vehicle until a satisfactory reason for the throttle sticking was found. *slc
08/13/2000103/01/1998
 Pulling out of dry concrete driveway at approximately 8-10 mph ,applied brakes to make a stop at a merging highway, and vehicle made grinding noise and did not stop. *ak
1005/01/1999
 Brakes fail to work effectively in rainy weather. you have to stand on the brakes to get the vehicle to stop. you have to anticipate your stop so you can begin braking very early. can cause a problem at intersections.*ak
06/01/199805/01/1998
 Transmission and braking problems could cause accident & should be recalled. *ak
 In wet conditions vehicle is hard to stop. brakes feel okay, and show no sign of a problem when applying them. consumer will be taking vehicleto the dealer to have it looked at. *ak
202/01/1998
 Pushing on brakes as hard as i could slowed the car very little during rain, until i got down to a low rate of speed, then they suddenly grabbed hard. paint has come off or the top coat spidered in 4 locations, dealer says it is enviromental. i know somone with the same car and color in my area with no problems. i think i have a car with defective paint. (dark green)
 When applying the brakes the vehicle makes a loud grinding/howling noise. dealer says it's a problem with the brake pads. problem still exists. *ak
 Under wet conditions when the brake pedal was applied the pedal felt normal, but the brakes did not react. vehicle just kept rolling through an intersection. to stop the vehicle had to be slowed down by letting the vehicle cruise. this condition is present only in wet rainy conditions. dealer had been contacted. *ak
03/17/1998310/01/1997
 Anti-lock brake system failed on three occasions, on one incident vehicle experienced brake failure which caused a collision damaging the rear bumper, resulting in injury. *yc
05/20/1999103/01/1998
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
09/01/199804/01/1998
 Brake fail at any speed while driving in rainy conditions. pedal is very hard. vehicle slows very slowly. have entered several intersections, and have not been able to sto, due to brake problems. *ak
09/01/1998
 Brakes do not operate properly when it rains. extended stopping distance occurs at any speed. dealer not aware of problem. problem still exists. provide further information. *ak
05/01/1998
 Brakes do not work on wet roads or while it is raining.
01/29/1999106/01/1998
 At approx. 9200 miles a sudden increase in the braking distance and the pedal effort required to stp. when taking the vehicle in for scheduled maintenance at 9510 miles a noise in the front end was noticed that increased when turning. the noise was traced to the left front hub which was replaced. the brakes were said to be in specification although no quantifiable measurements were taken. the issue remains unresolved. *ak
11/26/1997111/24/1997
 Driving at approximately 35 mph, went to slow down. applied brakes, felt vehicle caught. brakes were inoperative. went through intersection. standing on brake heard grinding noise, no brake reaction. dealer replaced brake master cylinder. this defect can result in an accident. *ak
10/12/1997
 After prolonged exposure to wet conditions brakes fade. when attempting to stop, it seems that in first initial seconds brakes are only half engaging and then become fully engaged.
102/14/1998
 Abs brakes fail during rainy conditions.
04/12/1998
 Abs brake performance greatly reduced in rain.
11/20/1997
 Abs brakes fail while traveling on wet surfaces.
111/13/1997
 Abs brakes fail on wet surfaces.
11/05/1997
 When at highway speeds in the rain the brakes do not engage for several seconds after applying pedal.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
09/10/20041
 While driving consumer heard a loud clanking noise. brakes dropped an inch. the shaft that went from the pedal to the booster broke in half. the steel sleeve that encased the booster was shattered. *ak
103/07/1998
 The brakes are emmitting a squeaking noise. *jg
3
 Brakes noisy when stopping. *yc
05/01/1998
 Under wet conditions, brakes fail to respond for several seconds.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC
110/01/2001
 While driving vehicle at any speed applied brakes and without warning vehicle would vibrate violently.*ak the front brakes failed causing the steering wheel to shudder. the front pads were warped and were gripping unevenly, also the right and left rotors had metal flake. *yh
12/15/20000
 While driving on interstate at 70mph steering wheel started shaking from side to side, then it would stop. took to mechanic, and they had to replace braking system. *ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - PADS
 When applying the brakes the vehicle makes a loud grinding/howling noise. dealer says it's a problem with the brake pads. problem still exists. *ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - MASTER CYLINDER
11/26/1997111/24/1997
 Driving at approximately 35 mph, went to slow down. applied brakes, felt vehicle caught. brakes were inoperative. went through intersection. standing on brake heard grinding noise, no brake reaction. dealer replaced brake master cylinder. this defect can result in an accident. *ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - PEDALS AND LINKAGES
11/01/2003207/07/2001
 Ignition key occasionally (sometimes for few minutes,sometimes for days) gets stuck in the ignition lock in a slightly turned position. i've had this problem since 2002. one repair shop suggested that there may be a problem with shifter - brake pedal - ignition lock, but decided not to touch it. *la
09/27/1999107/02/1998
 The brake pedal bushing made a popping noise upon brake application. nlm
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - POWER ASSIST - HYDRAULIC - HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
08/07/2007777341
 Steel brake line corrosion resulted in rotted through steel brake line and loss of fluid resulting in lost of brake function. the ultimate safety in stopping a vehicle depends on hydraulic brake lines that will last. *tr