Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | ||||||||||||||||
| 09E012000 | SABERSPORT | E (Equipment) | 16270 | 05/11/2009 | OVSC | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 04/07/2009 | 04/07/2009 | 571 | 108 | ||||||
| Defect Summary | Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. these headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. the safety recall began on may 11, 2009. owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | This recall only pertains to aftermarket replacement equipment and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles produced by the vehicle manufacturer.in order to determine if your aftermarket lamp assembly is affected by this noncompliance, please review the list of model numbers provided to us by sabersport.the list can be found under document search located at the bottom of your screen.owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov . | |||||||||||||||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS | ||||||||||||||||
| 09E025000 | DOPE, INC. | E (Equipment) | 42540 | 07/28/2009 | OVSC | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 05/11/2009 | 05/11/2009 | 571 | 108 | ||||||
| Defect Summary | Dope, inc. is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. these headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dope, inc. will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. the safety recall began on july 28, 2009. owners may contact dope, inc. at 1-626-272-1798. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | This recall only pertains to aftermarket replacement equipment and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles produced by the vehicle manufacturer.in order to determine if your aftermarket lamp assembly is affected by this noncompliance, please review the list of model numbers provided to us by dope, inc.the list can be found under document search located at the bottom of your screen. owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov . | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS | |||||
| 010842004 | 09/01/2001 | 831526 | 623963 | Information stating that the headlamp capsule can now be purchased separately from the parking lamp and frame assembly. *tt | 10/31/2001 |
| 738201 | 03/01/1997 | 52582 | Headlamp illumination performance (replace bulb). *tw | 08/21/1997 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | |||
| 04/14/2005 | 95000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 pontiac grand prix. while driving various speeds, the headlights would sporadically fail. the contact's visibility was greatly reduced due to the failure. the dealer replaced the wiring harness. four years later, the failure recurred. he took the vehicle back to the dealer and they replaced the wiring harness and other associated parts at the cost of $852.12. the failure mileage was 95,000 and current mileage was 156,000. | |||
| 10/03/2008 | 134000 | 1 | |
| My vehicle began to experience electrical outages a month ago which included the headlights, blower motor, and gas sensor. my headlights would shutoff by themselves as would my blower motor, periodically. i noticed that it corresponded to what level my blower was put on. level 5 would keep the system on but levels 1-4 would promote the outages. i have had the blower motor and blower switch repaired on my car not more than a year ago but yet i am experiencing this problem. i have read many other blogs where people have posted problems with their pontiac which are identical to mine. i should note that this problem has gotten progressively worse over the past month. *tr | |||
| 11/28/1998 | |||
| The consumer has been experiencing problems with lighting systems. interior and exterior lights work intermittently. the manufacturer has been contacted. *ak | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BACK UP LIGHTS | |||
| 10/17/2001 | 4 | 09/01/1997 | |
| Covers were replaced by manufacturer at 40,000 miles cover fell off again at 85,000 miles, both covers were replaced at 40,000, and both covers will need to be replaced again. they are held on with glue and it keeps failing. my concern is that this could puncture a tire if it falls off on a major road and cause an accident. | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - FOG LIGHTS | |||
| 04/01/2002 | 1 | 03/23/2002 | |
| 1) i have had a problem with my headlights (plastic part that covers the white light) and bulb have completely fallen off. my vehicle has not been hit or vandalized. they have just fallen off. i have co-workers who also own the same vehicle, same year though some are newer models that have had the same problem. i also see many vehicles on the road with no covers or burned out bulbs. 2) also my fog lights have been replaced twice this year they both have burned out on two occasions. 3) i also never received any recall letters about my vehicle there are two recalls as of today. i only heard of these recalls through co-workers. 4) when i start my vehicle it will automatically lock. it would normally unlock when you start it and then lock when you switch gears to reverse or drive. some days it will work properly and others it will not. 5) my light for my seat belt flickers on and off. i always where my seat belt. i assume that the light would go off when i buckle my belt, but it doesn't.*jb | |||
| 03/05/2001 | |||
| Driver's side headlamp shield fell off without warning. also passenger's side fog light fell apart that disconnected wiring and bulb from vehicle. dealer advised consumer that this was a common defect.'*ak | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS | |||
| 05/18/2002 | 80000 | 1 | |
| First of all i love my grand prix. i have had both both head light lens fall off within a month of one another. you cant purchease the lens you need to buy the whole unit form pontiac. replaced my self each unit was about $100. gear shift locked up in garage was about $350 plus a tow. electrical issues with blower motor works on 5 only. lights will only work when blower motor is off or on 5. replaced blower resistor and did not help. 2 electrcal widow problems. alterantor problem approx $350 normal with gm. all issues under 80,000 miles. it appears most people have had the same issues. very disapointed gm does not make it right with loyal gm owners. the fire issue is very concerning i will be taking my gt to dealer soon. *tr | |||
| 05/21/2005 | 7350 | 2 | 06/13/1997 |
| While driving down the road at night, the headlamps seem to shake. upon further inspection, it was discovered that the right headlamp lens was loose and the left headlamp lens was loose as well. the reason the shake was noticeable is because both lenses are marred by sun damage and probably age. i was able to glue the lens back in place, but that is just a temporary repair. | |||
| 11/07/2004 | 37398 | 3 | 08/01/1997 |
| Contact states: has a 1997 grand prix, the headlights would flash on/off intermittently; the blower fans would almost always go off, and had no heat or defroster. had electrical problem fixed. stated that it turned out it was the ignition switch. *ak | |||
| 03/02/2005 | 68000 | 1 | 05/15/2004 |
| I have a 1997 pontaic grand prix. the headlight lens (glass) comes off while traveling down the road. this creates an unsafe condition being that there is a projectile that could hit another vehicle or a pedestrian and cause serious injury. in calling around to find a replacement lens, i found that this happens a lot and the salavage yards sell them as fast as they get them in. that is a lot of lens covers flying around on the highways. it is even taking a dealership a while to order one, since they also can not keep them in stock. i have no way of knowing it mine hit another vehicle, as it was there when i left and gone when i got to my destination. i heard a noise like a stone or something hitting the car, but was not aware of what it really was. if pontaic knows there is a problem they should be recalled and they should fix the problem.*ak | |||
| 10/03/2004 | 109000 | 1 | 09/19/2004 |
| The passenger headlight lens fell off during normal driving, i pulled up to a stop sign and stopped right then the headlight lens fell off. the part was replaced at my expense.*ak | |||
| 06/06/2004 | 75000 | 1 | |
| Passenger side headlight lens fell off, resulting in bulb failure. no accident or anything to cause this, headlight just fell off, happened while driving did not notice until i got home. *ak | |||
| 06/16/2003 | 100000 | 2 | |
| While driving in a rainstorm on the interstate at 70 mph driver side headlight lens blew off. this resulted in the headlight bulb blowing out when the rain came in contact with the bulb. passenger side lens fell off the day after. the lens could not be replaced without replacing the entire headlight assembly. the lens fell off because the sealant around the lens dried out. it cost s87.00 to replace each headlight lens. *ak | |||
| 02/06/2004 | 130470 | 2 | 02/26/2002 |
| About 5 months ago on my 1997 pontiac grand prix the passenger side headlight lens cover just fell off of my car. just the lens cover, that piece of plastic that is directly over the headlight. where did it fall off? i have know idea. at first i thought somone stole it. when i went to the junk yard to buy just the headlight cover. it cost me $132. i had to buy new because the guy said there are no used covers because the always fall off. now just yesturday the headlight cover fell off of my drivers side while i was driving of the highway. of course i ran it over and then it hit the car behind me. this is going to cost me another hundred dollars. if the wiper blades can be recalled i think the headlights should be too.*ak | |||
| 01/05/2004 | 1 | 07/10/1997 | |
| Most recent complaint is, heated driver seat gets too hot and makes it hard to stay seated. heater blower quit working. have had to replace the alternator every 3rd year (3 times). have had oil pan gasket and valve cover leakage. power steering failed to make left hand turns. headlights continue to have poor range and visibility even with bulb replacement. car lurches forward when starting up engine. outside temperature display keeps wrong temperature. a.m. radio would not work. water pump had to be replaced. abs light stayed on. air bag light came on when going over bumps in road. *la | |||
| 06/08/2001 | 2 | ||
| The headlight 'glass' assembly glue fails and the glass falls off. this has occurred twice on my vehicle with a cost of $182.00 each occurrence. the dealer told me to inquire on this as they have been having trouble with this part failing. i would like to get reimbursed, if possible. *la | |||
| 01/01/2003 | 72000 | 4 | 12/31/2002 |
| #1) shift lock affected; march 2003: at first it occurred only on occasion, but as of now i have not been able to pull the shifter out of park in months without using the shift lock release. daily i must stick a key into the release in order to remove my car from park into reverse, neutral, drive, etc.. the indication light for park and neutral no longer comes on. #2)ignition switch affected; march 2003: the key will not release from the ignition switch. which i believe has something to do with the shifter not coming out of park. i have not removed my key since the end of march. ivy been told several solutions none of witch has worked. i've spent $100+ replacing parts that have not resolved anything.*ak #3) headlight covers affected; january 2003: not even two days after i bought this car the left headlight cover fell off. of course it was raining the headlight instantly busted. the dealers solution was to glue it back on. to ensure that the other one doesn't fall off they glued it . from the headlight cover falling off and bulb busting i have black specks in the silver/ crome inner lining of the headlight. it makes the car look bad!! moisture now builds in my headlights. there are 124 complaints on this website alone when will something be done!!!!! #4) rearview mirror affected; september 2003: my mirror is now full of blure. the mirror first started oozing water bubbles floating to the top eventually creating a huge bubble. now just a completely fogged mirror. is a mirror usefull when you cant see an image through it???? no! i have a cousin who has faced problems 1,2,and 3 all with in the last year or two also. why make a car and have the buyer hate it? i would not recommend the grand prix or even pontiac to anyone! my suggestions to buyers has been anything and everything but these cars!*ak | |||
| 09/01/2003 | 95000 | 2 | 01/22/1997 |
| The headlights of 1997 pontiac grand prix has collected moisture with in the unit, reducing the visibility of the driver. *la | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 23000 | 14 | |
| Problems with power steering pump, alternator, rack and pinion, power windows, and head gaskets. *mr the power steering pump had suddenly gone out in traffic, the vehicle stopped abruptly in the middle of traffic(the alternator was replaced), the consumer discovered that the windshield wipers were inoperative upon start due to the failure of the wiper linkage under the cowl, the steering skipped as the consumer made right hand turns(the rack and pinion was replaced along with the power steering pump), the headlight lens had fallen off, the ceramic headgasket had to be replaced, the was a hesitation and alternator had to be replaced for a second time, the air bag warning light had come on due to a short in the wiring harness, the transmission grabbed along with hesitation(a tune up was performed and work was done to the transmission), the vehicle couldn't be taken out of the park position(the shifter was replaced), the power window(s) failed, the tire pressure light had illuminated, and the windshield wiper pump leaked and would not hold fluid. *scc *cb | |||
| 07/11/2003 | 1 | ||
| Consumer states that while driving and with no warning headlight lens will fall off, causing a distracting to consumer's view. dealer notified. *ak | |||
| 07/13/2003 | 105000 | 2 | |
| Intermittently, since 2000, automobile headlights and blower have shut of for a period of 5-10 seconds. this summer, when conditions are extremely hot, the headlight function, and the ac will not work unless i set the fan speed to 5, and the a/c selector to maximum when temperatures cool, functions return to normal.*ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Front head light lenses have come off twice. the first time vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the headlight assembly. the second time consumer found a lens and replaced it himself. *ak | |||
| 05/27/2003 | 72000 | 2 | 06/01/2002 |
| Both headlamp lens have popped off. one 08/02 (rh) and the second 05/03 (lh). as a result of the lens loss, the halogen bulbs are exposed to water and explode. further, the lens is not available as a replacement part. the replacement assemblies cost $190.00 each. *nlm | |||
| 05/29/2003 | 1 | 04/19/2002 | |
| Headlight lens keeps falling off! and you can't buy just the lens - you have to purchase the whole assembly. why? when it's a know fact that there is a problem - is this just a money maker scam for pontiac dealers? i've already replace it 2 times on my 1997 pontiac grand prix that i haven't even had for a year. why isn't something done about this as i'm not the only one that this is happening to. *nlm | |||
| 1 | |||
| Headlight came off and light bulb exploded while driving. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Headlight cover came off and light bulb exploded while driving. *ak | |||
| 03/21/2003 | 08/01/2001 | ||
| I have very recently had to purchase two very expensive headlight capsules as the plastic cover of the headlight fell off the vehicle without any outside force being applied. both headlight covers fell off the car within weeks of each other. i believe the part - and more specifically the glue holding the cover on - is defective. i would llike my $226.09 reimbursed for the parts and labor required to fix the car. i could understand if one cover fell off, i might then be able to attribute this to a defect (1 in 10,000 or 1 in 100,000), but for both to fall off in a matter of weeks - that is unacceptable. again, the car was not in an accident, no force was applied to the headlights - the covers simply popped off the car. | |||
| 02/17/2003 | 11/30/1996 | ||
| The headlamp covers popped off. | |||
| 02/14/2003 | 51391 | 2 | 04/21/1997 |
| The headlight separated from the base on 2 occasions.*jb *ts | |||
| 01/01/2000 | 3 | 01/18/1998 | |
| (1) headlight lens falls off exposing bulb. (2) headlight allows water inside, resulting in fogging and limited lighting. the lens on my car have both fogged up and fallen off. the light assembles have both been replaced. one is now fogging up again. | |||
| 01/20/2003 | 0 | 12/23/2002 | |
| The lens on the headlights falling off. | |||
| 09/08/2002 | 05/15/2000 | ||
| Headlight lenses fell out, while driving, due to moisture inside which got in due to poor glue. glovebox leaks water when it rains or snows. windshield wipers stopped working while driving in rain. this car is a money pit. | |||
| 08/06/1998 | 3 | 10/01/1996 | |
| Consumer has taken vehicle in for repair for a fallen head light lens for the left side twice. consumer then realized the right headlight lens had fallen off also. *jg *jb *nlm | |||
| 1 | 08/28/2002 | ||
| Consumer states the vehicle's front head light lenses dropped and the dealer replaced both lamp assemblies. *yh | |||
| 08/01/2002 | 3 | 03/01/2098 | |
| Front lens covering falls off and headlight burns out. three failures to date. two dealers said that it was a design fault. mr | |||
| 07/30/2002 | 1 | ||
| Consumer states while driving the head light cover fell off, which result in the bulb blowing, from the exposure.dealer contacted. nlm | |||
| 09/02/2002 | |||
| While driving and applying brakes, and when the vehicle hit a bump in road right headlight module fell out, causing damage to vehicle. dealer notified.*ak | |||
| 06/15/2002 | 1 | 07/01/2097 | |
| Drivers side headlamp cover fell off and within 2 months the passenger side headlamp cover fell off. i did not witness either actually take place. upon taking the vehicle to a repair facility i was informed that this model year of vehicle had a problem with the sealant used and that it was not an uncommon problem. however, no recall was done for the defective components which caused me to have no lights for driving at night. i was out of pocket $275 to replace the two capsules as they are called.*ak | |||
| 10/15/2000 | |||
| Headlight covers keep falling off. right one fell off once, then left headlight cover has fallen off 3 times.*ak | |||
| 05/20/2002 | 2 | 05/01/2000 | |
| The first headlight cover fell off at 42000 miles during a rainstorm which blew out the light. this was under warranty and was replaced. however recently the other side headlight cover fell off while driving at night and blew the light out. it is a safety concern if both lights were to go out simultaneously. this is an obvious defect in the glue.*ak | |||
| 06/15/2002 | 2 | 06/01/2097 | |
| The lens on the headlight assembly fell off. in turn, the bulb failed/broke as it was directly exposed. for approximately two years preceeding this failure, both headlight assemblies showed condensation on the inside of the lens. upon contacting the dealer, both the parts and service departments indicated that the glue that holds the headlight lens to the assembly has been failing. they indicated that they are aware of this situation but that gm is not covering the replacement of this known failure.*ak | |||
| 06/15/2002 | 2 | 06/01/2097 | |
| The lens on the headlight assembly fell off. in turn, the bulb failed/broke as it was directly exposed. for approximately two years preceeding this failure, both headlight assemblies showed condensation on the inside of the lens. upon contacting the dealer, both the parts and service departments indicated that the glue that holds the headlight lens to the assembly has been failing. they indicated that they are aware of this situation but that gm is not covering the replacement of this known failure. | |||
| 05/17/2002 | 1 | 04/01/2097 | |
| Due to moisture that gets trapped in headlamps, this causes the adhesive to turn brittle and inturn lens can fall off. now the right hand headlight lens is about to fall off too. have to replace both headlight assemblies due to poor adhesive used in producing the headlamps.*jb | |||
| 05/17/2002 | 04/01/2097 | ||
| Driver's side headlight lens fell off..passenger side lens is about to fall off. all due to moisture that gets trapped in headlamp. very poor adhesive used on lens.*ak | |||
| 11/01/2001 | 2 | ||
| Consumer states that the headlights are incased in a no vented system. system builds up pressure. while driving, he heard a bang and saw the headlight cover fly off of vehicle about 15 feet. took to dealer and they are aware of this problem. nlm second incident happened on the drivers side. *jg | |||
| Hile driving and without warning headlight lamp came off, causing glass to brake and shatter on highway.*ak | |||
| The head light covers have popped off twice resulting in the bulbs burning out quickly. the vehicle has taken to the dealer. nlm | |||
| 03/01/2002 | |||
| Lense fell off headlight. this caused bulp to blowout. took vehicle to dealer and they wanted to replaced whole headlight assembly. consumer just wants only the bulb. please provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 02/15/2002 | 06/01/1997 | ||
| The lens on the headlight assembly fell off. in turn, the bulb failed/broke as it was directly exposed. for approximately two years preceeding this failure, both headlight assemblies showed condensation on the inside of the lens. upon contacting the dealer, both the parts and service departments indicated that the glue that holds the headlight lens to the assembly has been failing. *ak | |||
| While driving headlight covers fell off front end of vehicle. this was a reoccurring problem, causing traffic violations and safety hazards. *ak | |||
| 10/01/2001 | 1 | 11/01/1997 | |
| Headlights constantly have condensation in them. one day while doing a quick stop from 30 miles an hour, the left front lens fell off and front wheel drove over it, smashing it to pieces. the lens itself could not be replaced, the complete assembly including turn signal indicator had to be purchased at $100.*ak | |||
| 04/05/2001 | 1 | 01/01/1997 | |
| Steering - rack & pinion failed while making a left turn - it was very hard to turn the wheel so that we could clear the intersection. it was also difficult to park the vehicle. steering to the right was normal. replaced rack & pinion $780.54. headlights: moisture buildup in front headlamps. dealer replaced seals 1/98 under warranty. another moisture problem developed 3/99 -dealer replace both headlamps. air conditioner: system failed on7/01 - unable to adjust air flow and air could barely be felt coming from the vents. dealer found that vac line was split at pump - $42.23 to repair. air system failed again 6/99 - loose vacuum hose repaired $21.59. air bag indicator comes on and goes off at random. dealer ran a diagnostic and found an error code, which they cleared, but no problem - issue unresolved. rear power windows failed - dealer replace regulator on both rear windows - covered under warranty. alternator failed 10/01 - replaced $314.54 | |||
| 08/01/2001 | 1 | 10/01/2000 | |
| Cover for left and right headlights fell off with out knowledge of a problems. both within 2 months apart. had to buy whole headlight assembly at 72.00 dollars each. rack and pinion went out of steering box and was unable to find the right part. had to substitute for a stand box. heard there was a report of this problem before in the usa today. | |||
| 06/15/2001 | |||
| After replacing both head light lenses six month ag right side was missing. dealer notified. feel free to provide any further information concerning this matter.*ak | |||
| 12/12/2001 | 2 | 04/01/1998 | |
| In october of this year i was at a mcdonalds drive through, and driver's side lens cover fell off headlight assembly. i picked it up, and when i got home i used epoxy cement to put it back on the headlight. two nights ago while my wife was driving home from work in the rain the right cover came off and the lamp blew out at sixty five miles per hour. if both covers had came off at the same time she would have been left with only fog lights. when i contacted the company, they said well if the glue got moisture on it it could fail, and i replied that we didn't drive the car in a garage, and it was raining that night. thank you robert stearsman. *ak | |||
| 11/23/2001 | 2 | 04/01/2001 | |
| Other complaints listed on internet at similer mileage. *ak | |||
| 11/01/2001 | 3 | 03/01/1997 | |
| Both left and right headlight assemblies have fallen off three times. glueing them back on only fixes the problem temporarily. eventually moisture gets inside and the light will fail or the reflective surface will tarnish and will restrict visibillity at night. | |||
| 07/01/2000 | 3 | ||
| Cover for head light assembly has fallen off three times. front-right cover had fallen off two times, and front-left cover had fallen off once. dealership examined vehicle and made repairs. please provide any additional information / attachments.*ak | |||
| 08/15/2001 | 1 | 02/01/2000 | |
| The driver side headlight lens/cover fell off in august, leaving halogen light unit exposed which led to premature failure of bulb. condensation inside that headlight was observed for several months prior to the failure. i didn't think anything of it because there was often condensation in the lenses of my 1987 olds cutlass wagon from 1990-2000 (when i owned the car) but nothing ever happened to the headlight lenses or the bulbs. i asked the dealer about replacing the lens as defective three times. the dealer told me that the lens was not available as a separate part and offered to sell me a new headlight bucket (lens and holder assembly) for $70. service counter man didn't even have to look up the price as he had just sold one the previous day. i told both the service manager and parts manager that i thought this should be covered under warranty. don't get me wrong - i have had no problems with this dealer - they seem to be good people, but i've been in manufacturing most of my career and this is the old pretend we don't have a problem and it will eventually go away dance. research among other grand prix owners, area service men (off the record, of course) and http://www.grandprix.net/problems indicates this is a very widespread problem that pontiac refuses to acknowledge as a defect. what happens is the glue that holds the lens to the headlight bucket dries, allowing more moisture to enter, which further deteriorates the glue and causes the lens to fall off. without the lens, the $20 headlight bulb will burn out within 1-2 weeks from weather exposure. i had planned to complain to pontiac, but research into others with this problem indicates that pontiac does not seem willing to admit this is a manufacturing defect. i have owned cars for almost 30 years. headlight pieces aren't supposed to just fall off - are they? is this the correct forum in which to make this complaint or should i be contacting some other agency? please let me know. thanks for your time. | |||
| 09/08/2001 | 1 | 04/01/1999 | |
| Non-operational headlights due to lens coming off headlights. dealer was notified, and informed of no manufacturer's recall on that parts.*akboth front head light lens coners feell off, they fell at separate times and the bulb immediately failed as well leaving limited to no visibility for night driving. nlm | |||
| 02/01/2000 | |||
| Headlights fog up which causes difficult visibilty. dealer advised consumer that defect was due to water build up, and was a manufacturer's defect. also , driver's side headlight was begining to fall off.*ak | |||
| 08/03/2001 | 2 | 05/01/1997 | |
| This is the 3rd time i have had to replace the headlight assembly what is wrong????*ak | |||
| 2 | 05/01/1999 | ||
| On separate occasions, the headlight lens has came off of headlight assembly of both headlights. falls off unexpectedly and is run over, damaged, or lost. i believe this is probably a result of the headlight assembly not being watertight, as there is always condensed moisture inside the headlight unit. one of my complaints, aside from the fact that the lens cover comes off, is that you cannot just go to a dealer and buy a new lens cover. you have to buy the entire headlight assembly (or at least that is what i was told at long pontiac in chattanooa, tn), which is costly at around $65 a piece plus the additional labor cost of removing damaged unit and replacing with new unit. i believe this is a defect because both headlights had this problem, on separate occasions. *ak | |||
| 07/20/2001 | 2 | 04/01/1997 | |
| Headlight cover fell (flew) off as i was driving. my headlight cover previously fell off, last year, and we glued on again. obviously this did not resolve the problem. *ak | |||
| 07/08/2001 | 2 | 02/04/1997 | |
| Headlight lenses will fall off without any notice. consumer contacted dealer who found both headlight covers were gone. *slc | |||
| 03/22/2001 | 2 | 05/01/2000 | |
| Both headlight assemblies fell apart, one while driving in a rain storm, and one the next day upon inspection at the dealership.*ak | |||
| 05/18/2001 | 1 | ||
| The headlamp lense falling off not only happened on our car, but it also happened to my cousins car of the same year. since this incident, i've noticed 3-4 other grand prixs just in our are that are also missing the lense on their headlamps. *ak | |||
| 05/15/2001 | 2 | 03/01/1997 | |
| Headlamp lenses fall off, halogen lamp then burns out. *ak | |||
| 03/01/2000 | |||
| Right headlamp cover has disconnected from vehicle three times in past year. mechanic stated that this continues to occur because cover is being glued back on. please provide any additional information/attachments. *ak | |||
| 05/13/2001 | 1 | 04/01/1997 | |
| Glass cover for pass. side headlight fell off. was told by the service manager that this has happened to several other pontiacs in my area.i only live in a small community of about 5,000 people so i can just imagine how often this has happened around the whole united states.if nothing else, maybe this would fall under some type of lemon law for faulty parts. *ak | |||
| 04/14/2001 | 05/01/1997 | ||
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 09/01/1998 | 3 | 12/18/1996 | |
| Moisture becomes trapped in both headlights, causing the plastic lens cover to fall off at 15000 miles. during first week of april 2001, moisture became trapped in driver's side headlamp assembly, which caused plastic cover to fall off again. consumer filed a complaint with pontiac directly, and they gave him file number c03790349. *ak *slc | |||
| 03/20/2001 | 1 | 09/01/1996 | |
| Dealer claimed moisture/condensation in lens was 'normal' and to be expected | |||
| 09/30/2000 | 2 | 06/01/1997 | |
| Right & left lens covers fell off for no apparent reason. dealer indicated that it was because of mileage..this is in fact a design flaw. *ak | |||
| 3 | 05/01/2000 | ||
| Headlight lens cover keeps coming off. had to replace entire headlight system twice. also, received citation due to a lack of lens cover over lights. manufacturer knew of problem, but could not resolve situation. also, told not enough complaints were received to do a recall.*ak | |||
| 03/15/2001 | 0 | ||
| Glue seal around headlights separated causing cover to fall off.*ak | |||
| 02/01/2001 | |||
| Cover on left headlight fell off and had to be replaced. on march 13, 2001, cover for right headlight fell off. condensation in headlights could possibly affect sealer used to hold cover to vehicle. please provide any additional information/attachments.*ak | |||
| 03/05/2001 | |||
| Driver's side headlamp shield fell off without warning. also passenger's side fog light fell apart that disconnected wiring and bulb from vehicle. dealer advised consumer that this was a common defect.'*ak | |||
| 02/27/2001 | 0 | ||
| Headlight cover on passenger's side fell off due to humidity/fogg and low quality glue that held cover on headlight. consumer has to buy entire headlight system. &ak | |||
| 01/01/1999 | 2 | 04/01/1997 | |
| Pontiac grand prix's and buick regals have a problem with the headlamp capsules falling apart and moisture getting inside and condensing on the inside of the front cover. i know of several owners affected, in fact at the time of this submission the list was up to 55 people long from just the club grand prix message board. since this list has continued to grow since i asked for those with this problem, you can check out an updated list at: http://newforum.clubgp.com/ubb/clubgp/forum1/html/010969.html. gm/pontiac has known about this problem and have even changed the design/sealant on the new headlight to prevent this from occurring. yet, they refuse to issue a recall and fix the potential problem on the majority of the cars out there. my main concern is that i do not want to have to worry about the front part of my headlamp falling off and the bulb getting shattered by debris and rocks on the roads or highways. i would like to think that you would consider this a safety hazard, especially since gm has added daytime running lights on almost, if not all, of their new vehicles. if those running lights are so much of a safety feature then do not you think that headlights at night would be an even better, more important safety feature?!. with the moisture in the headlights, the light is not projected as far, thus cutting down on the visibility at night. i find this dangerous and think that something should be done about this. *ak | |||
| 12/24/1998 | 2 | 12/01/1996 | |
| Passenger side head lamp lense came off while driving. i've noted that several other grand prix owners have complained of this defect. the driver's side head lamp cover is also defective but has remained in place. it appears that a poor seal/glue is responsible for this failure. the produce was $210.00 to replace with owner providing labor. pontiac denies knowledge of failures or defects. *ak | |||
| Headlight lens easily comes unglued and falls off of headlight assembly. please give any further details. *ak | |||
| 2 | |||
| Headlights fogging up all the time. reduced lighting at night. had left light replaced 2 years ago and now right side doing the same. *ak | |||
| 09/16/2000 | 1 | 09/01/2000 | |
| Pontiac grand prix's and buick regals have a problem with the headlamp capsules falling apart and moisture getting inside and condensing on the inside of the front cover. i know of several owners affected, in fact at the time of this submission the list was up to 45 people long from just the club grand prix message board. since this list has continued to grow since i asked for those with this problem, you can check out an updated list at: http://newforum.clubgp.com/ubb/clubgp/forum1/html/010969.html. gm/pontiac has known about this problem and have even changed the design/sealant on the new headlight to prevent this from occurring. yet, they refuse to issue a recall and fix the potential problem on the majority of the cars out there. my main concern is that i do not want to have to worry about the front part of my headlamp falling off and the bulb getting shattered by debris and rocks on the roads or highways. i would like to think that you would consider this a safety hazard, especially since gm has added daytime running lights on almost, if not all, of their new vehicles. if those running lights are so much of a safety feature than do not you think that headlights at night would be an even better, more important safety feature. with the moisture in the headlights, the light is not projected as far, thus cutting down on the visibility at night. i find this dangerous and think that something should be done about this.*ak | |||
| 02/09/2001 | 1 | 07/01/1997 | |
| Right headlight lens fell off; only way to replace is to buy entire headlight assembly for $229.17 from dealer; appears to be a manufacturing defect. *ak | |||
| 02/12/2001 | |||
| Problem with headlight lens falling off. dealer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was out of its warranty. feel free to provide any further details on this matter. *ak | |||
| 12/26/2000 | 2 | 07/01/1998 | |
| Both headlight lenses cover came off within month apart. dealer notified, and informed consumer that part was not recalled, and out of its warranty. *ak the dealer can not keep head lights in stock due to many failures that occur. the consumer cites a website where numerous incidents of head light failure were reported. *yh | |||
| 01/29/2001 | 2 | 01/01/2000 | |
| 3 pontiac dealers in area each state that no parts are availabile, back ordered. safety issue in driving at night which i need to do for my job. noted that this issue has been reported numerous times in this database. action ?no safety defect listed in summary. *ak | |||
| 03/03/1998 | 3 | 08/01/1996 | |
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 12/11/2000 | 1 | 05/01/1997 | |
| Front headlight lens cover fall off, exposing halogen lamps to elements and failure. *ak | |||
| 09/01/2000 | 2 | 06/01/1997 | |
| Please be advised that the headlight assembly has been replaced two times. according to the mechanic, this was due to a manufacturing flaw. | |||
| 2 | 04/01/1999 | ||
| During spring of 2000, driving on residential road when lens to passengers side headlight fell off. 1/12/01 driving on residential road when drivers side headlight lens fell off. *ak | |||
| 05/06/2000 | 2 | 08/01/1997 | |
| These headlights have been replaced twice by the pontiac dealer because they fell off of the car while being driven. i was lucky the lights didn't fall off at night otherwise an accident with fatalities would have happened. *ak | |||
| 11/15/2000 | 06/01/1997 | ||
| Lens cover, was indicated not to be covered by the warranty when it was an obvious design defect, in that the glue chosen to attach the lens cover was not able to handle the heat of the halogen light bulb and/or solar heat combined; the glue became brittle and cracked. both facia on the front door panels have come loose on the end. when the door is opened this facia bends the quarter panel it hits and affects the ability of the car door to be opened. i have had this problem on both front doors and newer models have been altered to allow for a clearance between these parts that is not on the 1997 grand prix. | |||
| 50 | 10/01/1996 | ||
| This car has a significant # of safety problems that the dealer/manufacturer have refused to address w/out significant cost to consumer. until i sustain a significant injury &/or injure someone due to these product defects, i can not afford a legal challenge to have gm address problems, nor can i bear cost. my car is available as a sample of their junk! (signed;claims adjuster). no safety defect listed in summary. *ak | |||
| 08/20/2000 | 2 | ||
| Lens on headlights would randomly fall off. prior to this happening, lens would fog up. adhesive seems to be coming off lens cover. within a week headlight lens cover fell off. took vehicle to dealer & mechanic indicated entire head lamp would be replaced due to headlights were a sealed unit.*ak first the right lens, then the left lens of the head light fell off due to broken adhesive. *yh | |||
| 2 | |||
| Head lamp covers had fallen out, causing headlights to blowout. dealer has been notified. *ak both left and right head lamp covers fell off, one after the other. *yh | |||
| 09/30/2000 | 3 | ||
| Rt lens literally fell off this spring..filed ins claim...replaced it..the 2nd one fell off..found it and super glued it..this sept. the left one fell off..don't want to file for more ins claims...the lens got run over and you have to purchase a whole assembly to do it. my sister has a 98..same everything and one of hers fell off too. *ak | |||
| 06/01/2000 | 2 | 01/01/2000 | |
| Moisture has developed behind right and left sides headlight assembly, cause unknown. *ak | |||
| 08/01/2000 | 2 | 09/01/1996 | |
| The front headlamp lenses fell off of each of the two front headlamps. both of these occurred within a 3 week timeframe. after some brief research, i have found that this is quite a frequent problem. reference www.grandprix.net/problems. this results in moisture getting to the bulbs, the bulbs eventually blowing, hence no headlights. *ak | |||
| 09/13/2000 | 05/01/1997 | ||
| Headlight lens on both sides came off within 1 week of each other. one would be unfortunate. two is an inherent defect. the power windows on both sides have had multiple components changed under warranty and another repair was corrected just after the warranty expired. again both windows have problems that were supposed to be corrected but the problem returned. two windows, same problem, inherent defect!! | |||
| 1 | |||
| The plastic lens on the right front headlight fell off, deteriorated. *et | |||
| 08/17/2000 | 2 | 10/01/1997 | |
| The passenger side headlight cover came off and the and the head light quit working, the entire head light assembly must be replaced. the drivers side head light cover is loose and appears as though it will come off soon. the adhesive used to bond the cover is cracked and loose and there is moisture in the head light assembly. | |||
| Right side entire head light lens popped out of the housing while driving down the road without warning. to replace the lens, consumer had to buy the complete set, with lens and bulb. this was stated by the dealer .*ak | |||
| 07/19/2000 | |||
| Headlamp cover flew off while driving which may have caused a crash on the passenger's side. please provide further information.*ak | |||
| 2 | |||
| The plastic lens on the right front headlight fell off due to deterioration of the seal between the lens and the body of the headlight, other headlight is showing signs of deterioration, poor choice of material for the design. *mjs | |||
| 05/01/2000 | 1 | 03/05/1997 | |
| Seal around the headlights separated, causing the headlight to fall out. dealer and manufacturer have been notified.*ak | |||
| 05/01/2000 | 2 | ||
| Headlight lenses were falling apart due to lack of adhesive which was causing water to get into the headlights and resulting in a short. dealer/manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was not covered under manufacturer's recall due to vin. *ak *ml | |||
| 06/07/2000 | 1 | 06/01/1997 | |
| Condensation noted in headlight lens; lens became loose and fell out. *ak | |||
| 06/06/2000 | 0 | ||
| While driving at any speed driver's headlight fell off, and had been replaced. currently, passenger's side headlight has the same problem. *ak | |||
| Headlight covers fell off, causing headlights to be inoperable, and resulting in poor visibility. manufacturer has been notified. *ak | |||
| 09/10/1997 | 1 | 05/01/1997 | |
| Both headlights accumulate condensation, greatly reducing visibility. dealer fixed left side (185.00, under warranty), right side remains defective. *ak | |||
| Design of the headlight unit allowed moisture to get trapped behind the piece of plastic which covered the headlights, causing the lens to fall off. vehicle was taken to the dealership. owner had the problem corrected at his expense. a used replacement unit was ordered from a garage. please provide any further information. *ak | |||
| 04/27/2000 | |||
| Headlight lens cover comes off, causing headlights to become inoperable. vehicle has been repaired. *ak | |||
| 03/25/2000 | 2 | 11/01/1997 | |
| Both headlight lenses fell off while driving, lenses not retrieved. dealer parts price $214 each. lens adhesive was dry and brittle. *ak | |||
| 11/01/1999 | |||
| Consumer noticed water condensation buildup on the inside of the headlights. there were no visible cracks. it really affected the performance of the headlights when driving at night. contacted the dealer. dealer said that was normal, and couldn't do anything about it. condensation is not going away, only getting worse. *ak *ml | |||
| 04/15/1999 | 18 | 02/01/1999 | |
| Specifically asked dealer if car had been wrecked and was told no (with witness) - my concerns are that car may have been damaged beyond acceptable safety limits or repairs were not done properly, as well as misrepresentation at time of sale (car was presented and priced as non-wrecked) and non-concern when i showed them the damage signs within a month after the sale - i would like to check previous titles for salvage claims....headlight assembly popped off without warning....abs system starts cycling during non-panic braking making it hard to stop, almost causing rear-end accidents on several occasions....rotors became dangerously warped, i replaced them with new pads (all four) and rotors are now warped again. *ak | |||
| 09/15/1997 | 2 | 10/01/1996 | |
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 08/28/1999 | 1 | 04/01/1997 | |
| Vehicle windshield wiper arm (drivers) creaking noise (i believe a recall is underway). loose trim throughout. rearview mirror replaced, battery died (car was towed), power window failed (dealer replaced), headlights admit moisture, ashtray opens by itself, seat squeaks, dash rattles, rattle also comes from rear of car, vehicle vibration at highway speeds, seatbelts do not retract, leather on seats is cracking, key knob has too short a range, stiching is coming off the leather wrapped steering wheel, also the club lock burns inprints into wheel if left on in the summer sun, headlights turn on in the middle of the day, brakes stop working in heavy rain or when coming out of the car wash, the power door lock swithch on the passengers door fell into the door, various retaining clips have broken off trim, etc. | |||
| Headlight lens keeps falling off while driving vehicle on highway when it was raining. headlights went out due to a lack of lens cover. took vehicle to dealership & consumer was informed it was a problem, but nothing could be done for repairs to correct it. the lens cover is plastic & comes in one whole piece. *ak | |||
| 02/09/2000 | 2 | 07/30/1996 | |
| While stopping at stop sign driver's side headlight fell off without a warning. a year ago, the same thing had happened on the passenger's side. *ak *ml | |||
| 12/10/1999 | 4 | 11/01/1998 | |
| Something needs to be done about the headlights. they are a serious problem. *ak | |||
| 10/14/1999 | |||
| Headlight lens fell off while driving. if raining it would burn the bulb out, and the headlights would be inoperative which may result in visual difficulty and a crash. dealer replaces the lens twice, but problem is reoccurring. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 07/09/1999 | 3 | 10/01/1996 | |
| Problem 1. head lamp moisture inside lens assembly. dealer said problem within allowable limits. problem 2. left headlamp cover fell off while driving. out of town at time. purchased new headlamp assembly upon return at cost of $76.25. right headlamp assembly still collects excessive moisture. problem 3. reported some type of oil/power steering leak. fluid drips on garage floor. dealer replaced oil pan and gasket on 07/09/1999. leak continued. dealer replaced power steering shaft seal on 10/27/1999. leak still continues to happen. power steering pump looks bad. | |||
| 5 | 11/01/1996 | ||
| Head lamp seal failed on five occasions. mjs | |||
| 09/28/1999 | |||
| Headlight plastic lens had fallen off both lights, whenever the bugs hit either light. this causes them to blow out. have been to dealer & was informed to contact manufacturer. need headlight replacement. *ak | |||
| 09/25/1999 | 1 | 06/01/1997 | |
| Headlamps accumulate condensation. left headlamp cover recently fell off, exposing bulb. had to obtain entire headlamp assembly through dealer parts dept.--part and labor approx $130. air bag warning light came on around jul 1999, and has remained on. have not had checked yet. | |||
| 06/01/1999 | 2 | 11/01/1998 | |
| Headlight covers fall off when driving and headlights go out. dangerous for night driving. i've spoke with many other owners and look up information on the internet. this is a common problem with the glue they used to seal the headlights. the replacement headlight covers have a different sealant that fixes the problem. both headlight covers fell off on different dates. | |||
| 03/13/1999 | 12/31/1996 | ||
| Vehicle parked. noticed headlight cover was loose & wobbly. touched cover & it fell off in consumers hand. will be taking vehicle to dealer to check & replace cover. *ak *yc | |||
| 04/01/1999 | 01/01/1997 | ||
| Headlight lenses keep falling off, causing the bulb to explode. moisture gets inside the lens. manufacturer had them replaced the first time 11/98. currently, manufacturer will not repair them due to expired warranty. this causes a distortion of the head lights when they are in use. the moisture is not drying out. *ak *ml | |||
| 03/10/1998 | 2 | ||
| Headlight lens pops out of the assembly due to moisture that has developed inside the bulb housing, headlights go out when lens pops off. entire headlight unit must be replaced. *ak.et. | |||
| 09/30/1996 | 3 | 09/01/1996 | |
| Headlights constantly fog over on the inside and visibility is dramatically reduced. dealer refuses to fix the headlights. they all do that is their quote. please help, i can't see at night! | |||
| 07/03/1998 | 2 | 03/01/1998 | |
| The headlight assembly collects condensation and eventually falls off. this has happened twice, once on each side | |||
| 03/15/1999 | 2 | 06/01/1997 | |
| Headlamp covers fell off on both sides and replacement part did same. | |||
| 02/19/1999 | 1 | 11/01/1996 | |
| Sealed headlamp module fell apart while driving. | |||
| 07/04/1998 | 2 | ||
| Was driving approximately 40mph, when the headlights had exploded. had no warning. had the first one done at approximately 33,000 miles while under warranty. the 2nd time headlights blew a out at approximately 50,000 on jauary 9, 1999. *ak | |||
| 01/10/1999 | 2 | 12/01/1996 | |
| Headlamp covers fall off due to improper sealant applied between cover and lamp assembly, exposing lamp assembly and bulb to weather conditions, resulting in explosive failure of halogen bulb. similar incident occured on same vehicle with right front headlamp 6 mos. previous. assembly replaced at no charge by dealer. remaining sealant in headlamp assembly is completely dried and brittle to the point where it crumbles to dust when handled. this adhesive couldn't hold a stamp on an envelope!!! | |||
| 1 | 12/01/1996 | ||
| Electrical short in the headlamps caused failure. | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS - CONCEALMENT DEVICES | |||
| 05/17/2004 | 2 | ||
| When driving at night consumer noticed that the left headlight lens fell off. *ak | |||
| 09/01/2003 | 1 | ||
| Front headlight cover keeps falling off. there have been multiple complaints for this very same issue, yet nothing has been done to fix it. this causes lights to burn out and safety and visibility issues as well as the possibility of getting pulled over for having no headlight since it keeps burning out! *jb | |||
| 08/18/2003 | 50431 | 1 | |
| Egr valve made of cheap plastic. headlight lens falling off car. faulty hydraulic modulator and exhaust system. *ph | |||
| 05/07/2003 | 93550 | 1 | 05/01/2003 |
| While driving down the road in the rain my driver's side headlight cover flew off and the bulb exploded. i have noticed moisture in the other headlight and can assume it will do the samething.*ak | |||
| 06/09/1998 | 6500 | 1 | 08/14/1997 |
| I don't know if anyone else has had this problem or not. i can't believe it is a one time thing. the headlights on my 1997 pontiac grand prix have moisture that forms on the inside of the headlight making the entire inside of the headlight turn black. makes it very hard to see at night! the only solution i see is an expensive replacement of the entire headlight assembly with no guarantee that it will not do it again. this is a low mile car (less than 30,000 miles) and spends nights inside the garage! this started when the car was probably only a year & a half old on the one lens but now both are that way. *jb | |||
| 04/28/2003 | 32000 | 1 | |
| The driver side head light lens fell off which caused the bulb to blow out. *nlm ph *jb | |||
| 06/15/2002 | 73000 | 2 | 12/15/1996 |
| Clear plastic portion of head lamp assembly fell off after condensation caused glue to fail. this happened once with each head lamp. *jb | |||
| 04/01/2002 | 1 | 03/23/2002 | |
| 1) i have had a problem with my headlights (plastic part that covers the white light) and bulb have completely fallen off. my vehicle has not been hit or vandalized. they have just fallen off. i have co-workers who also own the same vehicle, same year though some are newer models that have had the same problem. i also see many vehicles on the road with no covers or burned out bulbs. 2) also my fog lights have been replaced twice this year they both have burned out on two occasions. 3) i also never received any recall letters about my vehicle there are two recalls as of today. i only heard of these recalls through co-workers. 4) when i start my vehicle it will automatically lock. it would normally unlock when you start it and then lock when you switch gears to reverse or drive. some days it will work properly and others it will not. 5) my light for my seat belt flickers on and off. i always where my seat belt. i assume that the light would go off when i buckle my belt, but it doesn't.*jb | |||
| 11/24/2002 | |||
| Consumer states that while driving and without warning water is leaking inside the headlight compartment causing the fuse to blow out. dealer notified. mr | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS - HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH | |||
| 01/22/1997 | 4 | 08/27/1996 | |
| While driving the windshield wipers just stopped. dealer contacted and repaired the wiper crank in the motor. incident occurred again on 12-24-97. repairwork done. also, headlights go out while driving. dealer contacted and stated headlight switch overheated and headlamp switch was replaced. et. | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS - SWITCH | |||
| 06/24/1998 | 2 | 05/16/1997 | |
| Headlight dimmer switch assembly has failed while driving, causing poor visibility. also in 6-24-98 , #6 fuel injector had to be replaced at only 15118 miles. *ak | |||