Ignition would not turn over so driver popped hood and removed the keys, driver was walking to the front of the car with keys in hand and car started by itself. Driver jumped back in and turned key forward and back to get car to shut off and noticed smoke coming from the steering column. Within minutes, the steering column was flaming. Extensive damage. Melted steering wheel, steering column, front of driver's seat, headliner, dash, control panel and visors. All done!!! Checked recalls: ignition switch (recall # 02v070000)
1996 Pontiac Grand Am electrical complaints
Page 2 of 5: complaints 11 to 40 of 122, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 pontiac grand am. The vehicle failed to start when the key was turned in the ignition. The dealer replaced the ignition lock cylinder, which has been replaced three times within three years. The current mileage is 180,000 and the failure mileage was unknown.
Dt:the contact stated when placing the key in the ignition smoke poured from the steering column. The smoke quickly erupted into flames. Both the fire and the police departments responded to the scene. The fire was extinguished. There was extensive damage to the dashboard panel area and steering column. The fire department suggested this may have been an electrical system wiring fire. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop, but no repairs have been made.
Ignition switch wore out at only 148,000 miles. Car can not be started.
On october 18, 2005 while driving at 30 MPH in fair weather, the driver's side airbag unexpectedly deployed, though no contact was made with any other vehicle or stationary object. The airbag deployment caused extreme irritation via friction burn to right forearm of driver, temporary hearing distress to driver and passenger and near loss of control of vehicle due to shock of this deployment. Investigation of similar incidents shows that likely cause is short in airbag control module under passenger seat due to presence of water on the floor of the vehicle. Water on floor has been a perennial problem in my vehicle and many attempts to ascertain the cause (attribute to leaky molding, poor fitting window trim, etc.), were unsuccessful. Perusal of similar complaints on this website show a clear pattern of similar events attributable to a manufacturer's defect (per tech issue memo issued by gm in 1998) related to inferior adhesive used during assembly of top vent grille. Excessive rain typically results in water on floor of passenger compartment and has caused this same unexpected deployment of both driver and passenger side airbags in several complaints. Likelihood of gm accepting responsibility for this defect and repairing the problem is apparently slim (per other complainants reports) due to age of vehicle and the fact that it has taken years to present itself, meaning no recall was issued by pontiac. I would recommend all owners of this vehicle who experience this water problem report it their gm dealership prior to experiencing the airbag deployment, as it could have had much more serious consequences if traveling at higher speeds in less than ideal conditions!!!
I am currently financing a car from RPM wholesale in flint, I got this car march 29, 2005. I have had the car fixed more than 6 times. The car has not been working for 2 weeks. The car was over heating, and then it would not start up. I took it back to RPM and they said they fixed it. Again this week I took it back, and they are saying its a electrical nightmare, and make an appointment to bring it back, but I can drive it until then.
A tech issue memo issued from pontiac/gm dated april, 1998 stated that owners may claim water leaking into the front passenger compartment of the car due to an inferior adhesive used during the manufacturing process on the top vent grille... Was given to me by my mechanic, after I disvoered water leakage on my passenger area floor for 2 years (which I attributed to my negligence only) until this water leakage finally caused a short in my air bag module (located under the front passenger seat) which caused all of the other car electrical systems to short out. Seal to the top vent grille was replaced, short repaired, airbag module was disconnected and the battery was replaced. The airbag module will be replaced at a later date when I can afford it. This totals $956.99 (including ny sales tax) which I requested pontiac reimburse me for. They steadfastedly refuse to reimburse me due to basically 4 things: (1) the warranty time expired on the car, (2) the age of the car, (3) the fact that I didn't bring it directly to pontiac to fix it (4) the fact that it wasn't a recall... My arguement is: (1) the warranty expiring shouldn't absolve gm/pontiac of responsibility of the defect, (2) the normal wear and tear on this car (in spite of it's age) wouldn't have produced this water damage if the top vent grille was properly sealed in the manufacturing process by pontiac in the first place (3) I didn't know that pontiac caused this problem until after the damage was done and my mechanic told me about the tech issue memo (I have a copy) and (4) why wasn't this a recall? I sent a letter to pontiac's customer assistance center in detroit, mi on or about june 27, 2005 with all relevant documentation backing up my claim (yours for the asking), who called me back today, refusing to reimburse me on this claim. I know that negligence by pontiac caused some major damage to my car of which I believe I should be reimbursed for.
The federal safety agency recall 02-v-070-000: on certain passenger vehicles. If the engine failed to start and the driver held the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flew through the ignition switch, and sometimes produced enough heat to melt internal switch parts. This recall failed and the vehicle caught on fire.*ak consumer had backed up approx. Five feet in an parking lot when the engine died and smoke emitted from the steering column. At first the consumer couldn't get the keys out and the vehicle was in "park". After while the consumer was able to remove the keys the smoke stopped. When the tow truck driver arrived, he couldn't get the vehicle out of the "park" position. The tow truck driver had to disconnect the linkages. *ph
Consumer called complaining about a recall performed on ignition wiring harness. Stated that after the recall was done the battery drained into the vehicle because of recall repairs done. Dealer was contacted, and stated that the only thing that was wrong was that the battery drained, and there was nothing they could do.
The federal safety agency recall 02v070000, ignition switch. The vehicle ran hot and shut down in the middle of the road. The owner did receive notification of the recall. Pontiac customer relations declined any service to assist the consumer, including towing and recall part expenses. The key had became stuck in the ignition prior to receiving the recall notice. *ak *cb
Periodically the key gets stuck in the "on" position. This has caused damage to the sending unit to the crankcase.
Car electrical system shut down while driving, daylights, all dash gauges etc. This is an intermittent trouble. My trouble appears mainly when headlights are on with the heater blowing on defogger. It comes and goes every so often especially while driving at 5:00 a.m. When its cold and headlights are on and defogger is needed. Alternator was recently replaced but the car is still experiencing a christine haunted car syndrome with the electrical and its getting dangerous. This has been going on since I have owned the car, and since it is intermittent, when it happens the car's trouble cant be located.
The ignition would not turn over, the interior and exterior lighting levels fluctuated, the dashboard light flickered on/off, and the battery died on several occasions. The consumer requested reimbursement for the parts that have been replaced for a problem that hasn't been fixed. Scc
The engine stalled twice in driving. Alternator has been replaced twice in the last year. Windows get stuck in the middle and don't go up and down. Ts
The vehicle has experienced multiple electrical system failures, the battery failed and was replaced twice, the dash lights flicker, the interior and exterior light fluctuate, the ignition clicks and the vehicle cannot be started. Nlm
No summary. Dt
Coolant leaking into crankcase, engine needs replaced. Also I have replaced 3 alternators since I owned this vehicle. The first one at 40000 miles. This car by my book is crap. Dt
The wiring must be shot because any thing that is electric is always going out. Dt
The federal safety agency recall 02v070000 ignition switch; martin cadillac company, inc., los angeles, ca; vehicle has had recall performed twice with the problem of the ignition switch failing, reoccuring. The owner is taking the vehicle back in for a third time to get ignition switch repaired, for a third time. The dealership is reluctant of repairing recall item a third time, which is frustrating the consumer. Please describe details
Key will not come out of ignition after putting into park. Sticks at various times and for various lengths of time. The lights stay on which has drained the battery twice. Have had three different local dealers check. They did things like grease it, make new keys and scratch their head. None of these have solved my problem. I purchased the car as a "program car" with 14967 miles on it. The problem started shortly after purchase in 1996. After 5 years of thinking I was alone with this annoying problem, I recently found six local owners with the same problem and now I see about ten other complaints on this web site. I did have the most recent recall done but the dealer said it did not have anything to do with this problem but didn't have any answers on how to fix it. I have sent e-mails to pontiac with no reply. I realize this may not fall into safety issues but it is a wide problem that needs looked into. With the ignition left in the on position, it may be a fire hazzard, not to mention hard on batteries. I am tot he point of seeking legal assistance to get this problem solved. This is the largest, most annoying problem I have had, other than this, I have liked the car. Please, please help me fix this!
Consumer states vehicle caught on fire seconds after being parked. Vehicle was to be towed, however, dealership refused to accept the vehicle. Consumer received recall notification relating to ignition switch 02v07 to correct potental fire. As a result, consumer has filed complaint with attorney generals office.
Light that reflexes the failure of alternator will not come on until all 3 diod has failed. This causes engine to quit when two of the 3 diods hav failed.dealer contacted.
Car has had major problems since purchase dealer is no longer willing to fix. No safety defect listed.
Relay kit was installed under recall 02v070000 concerning ignition switch on 6-5-2002. Currently, vehicle will not start, it just clicks when consumer tries to start it.
While attempting to start vehicle noticed some smoke coming from steering column. Ignition locked up. Please provide any further information.
Dome light intermittently flashes on or stays on for a long time. Lights cause a distraction at night with driving. Vehicle was serviced for control display recall 96-v-257-000, but problem still exists. Dealer was notified. *ak consumers vehicle was checked and the technician found a lot of splices in the ignition.
Interior lights come on intermittently while driving, there are recalls 88v927000 and 96v257000; but this vehicle is not affected due to VIN. *ak the invoice states that they checked the recall/campaign-they had to install engine wiring harness, replace the ignition switch and the steering column tilt lever.
With no prior warning my '96 pontiac grand am suddenly 'shivered' or 'sneezed' while driving at a steady speed of approximately 55 - 60 MPH. All the dashboard lights came on and were blinking. The vehicle lost acceleration as well although I was able to continue traveling as a result of the original speed. I was unable to pull over since I was in rush hour traffic on a major us highway with no shoulder of the road. I quickly turned on my warning flashers, grabbed the steering wheel tightly with both hands and tried to alert other drivers that I was in distress. My car was towed to the closest independent shop, who, after 4 attempts at repairs, were unable to fix the problem. I eventually took the vehicle to a pontiac dealer who replaced the 'ignition coil'. I believe this incident is a safety defect and would like to report it as such.
In this vehicle, by 80,000 miles, all 4 power window motors had sequentially overheated and failed with ordinary use. They have all had to undergo replacement. In addition, the alternator has twice become clogged with debris (leaves, etc). Through ordinary use, overheated and failed. Both the original alternator and a manufacturer-branded replacement have failed in this fashion, and have required replacement.
The federal safety agency# 02 v 07 000/ignition : while vehicle was parked, horn started going off, and then noticed vehicle on fire under the hood. Dealer and manufacturer were notified. *ak an investigator determined the cause of fire was arson.
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