I own a 1996 pontiac grand am, I noticed sb #020601014 regarding the manifold intake gasket - I had to replace two on my grand am. I was told it is typical every 50,000 miles, yet I previously owned a grand am and know plenty of people who do and have not experienced this problem. What makes matters worse is that it is a $900.00 job, and I had to do it twice! I am listing the most recent date - the second occurrence.
1996 Pontiac Grand Am engine complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 75, newest first, as owners wrote them.
In the past 4 months, I have replaced my heater core, because it is plastic, and then the radiator, now the head gasket. Problems of this nature first surfaced with heater core failure, which is made of plastic and then proceeds through the cooling to system, to my current problem, head gasket replacement. The water pump and transmission have both been replaced, while under the new car warranty. I took my car to hardin pontiac in anaheim, ca at 3 pm on march 4th. They have now had my car 2 days and they want to charge me another $80 to further diagnose my coolant leak. I have opened a file w/pontiac, ref # 1-78-69-0865. Pontiac determined that, as I am the second owner, the age of the car (1996) and number of miles (82,622) they have no responsibility. I explained to her, that while I am the 2nd owner, I purchased the car while it was still under their 3 year/36,000 mile warranty. And while under warranty, my transmission & water pump had been replaced. The cooling system problems began while under the new car warranty. Also gm's n' car series has numerous problems with their cooling systems, I am being penalized, primarily, because I am the second owner, rather than the original owner. My car has been maintained and serviced as specified in their owner??s manual. While speaking w/pontiac, I was told there is an open recall on the ignition system, apparently it is know to overheat and melt, rendering the car undrivable. It appears gm's overheating issues are not limited to their cooling system and cheap plastic parts. I requested that the service rep, mr. Romero, explain why he felt they needed to further diagnose my coolant leak, is the head gasket leaking, or not? Mr. Romero, did indeed diagnose what he termed an "external coolant leak' in other words a leak at the head gasket. At this point, I have instructed ernie to handle the recall problem with the ignition only. Pontiac has minimized the problem and conveyed that it does not warrant immediate attention.
Engine failure --piston or rod and only 30k miles on used engine
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
Driving along and engine quits, car stalls, and won't restart for 15 to 30 minutes. No certain speed, happened at 55mph as well as 15mph. No warning, just quits. Had checked out numerous times, can not find anything wrong. Anti theft light is usually on at this time. Help, costing lots of money and not being fixed. See lots of other complaints the same as mine. Someone must know something.
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.
Without warning vehicle will stall out and die. The dealer has been notified. Please provide additional information.
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.
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.
The federal safety agency recall 02 v 070 000/manufacturer's recall 02008 concerning ignition switch: after recall repairs were done, the vehicle stalled on three separate occasions and would not restart. The engine check light, oil light, battery light and ABS light would come on intermittently while driving. Dealer notified. *ak consumer states that before the recall kit was installed the car hasn't been running properly. One incident the consumer was driving on the highway and the vehicle stalled and a semi-truck was following. The consumer was told that it was a bad sensor which still didn't solve the problem. Then on another occasion was told that it wasn't the sensor but a bad fuel pump. The lights are still on 75 percent of the time.
There is a leak on the top of the engine. Also, through air vents a burning gas smell is coming inside of vehicle. Please add more information.
While driving vehicle stalls intermittenly without warning and looses all steering function, about 20 minutes later the vehicle can be restarted, the dealer has been contacted. Nlm
We have had coolant loss three times with no visible leakage. We were informed that the car was "sucking the coolant in" rather than leaking out. We have had to have the intake manifold gasket replaced 3 times. The 1st time, the dealer replaced intake manifold gasket & oil pump drive ring and valve cover gasket leaking. The 2nd time, the dealer simple resealed the intake gasket but did not replace. The 3rd time, the dealer replaced the upper and lower intake gaskets and rechecked for leaks. All of these repairs were covered under either the original warranty or the extended warranty (good thru 72,000 mi). We now have almost 70,000 mi on this car and the engine is shot! The main throttle bearing gaulded and the extended warranty company is denying our claim (even though we have 2,000 mi left on extended warranty) because they say the oil is "contaminated". I have maintained regular oil changes and am due for an oil change in approx 200 mi. The dealership did not inform me that I should have had the oil changed after any of the coolant leak repairs. Also, we had to have the alternator replaced when then car was just 2 yrs old. Plus we had to have the r&r shaft seal & bearing kit replaced 3 times due to squeaking noise coming from steering column. Also had to have shifter assemply replaced because the key was sticking in the ignition.
Vehicle lost power then engine quit. Dealer mechanic indicated intake manifold gasket failure to let cooling fluid into crankcase oil. Gasket replaced, engine flushed 5 times ($480) suggested engine overhaul. Two weeks, engine failed with knock due to previous problem. Received letter from dealership warning of possible intake gasket failure resulting in engine replacement. No satisfaction from gm, found 5 identical complaints on the federal safety agency web site, attorney contacted, we will both investigate. My situation is, "no car, still paying payment." observation: gross diregard for obvious engineering flaw, smaks of firestone without the deaths.
I have ran across a few peopl that have had their water pumps fail on their cars like mine has. Is this a common problem and is it a recallable issue right now.
Consumer states he experienced head gasket failure and the radiator fluid mixed with the engine oil which also caused the engine to be ruined, consumer was advised by two independent mechanics that the engine needs to be replaced, consumer was also advised by both mechanics that this is most likely a manufacturer defect.
Please let me know if I am able to get pontiac to pay for this repair. I have had countless things happen to this car. During and now right out of warranty at 62000 miles. They are wanting to charge me 850.00 to replace the intake manafold gadgets. This is an emmission problem and I feel as if I purchased a lemon because of all the problems I have had on this car. Please help me.
Vehicle stalls without warning regardless of weather conditions. All gauges read normally vehicle runs fine then dies. This is a very serious problem in which death could easily result. Has happened on rural roads as well as busy roads and expressways.
The car has been given a lot of electrical problems and now one of the pulleys that holds the engine's belt broke, also my horn does not work properly.
While driving at any speed, the engine will stall without a prior warning. Dealer could not duplicate the problem.*ak
Driving and engine quits, no warning lights, just stops, shuts down. Sometimes it restarts right off, other times it takes up to 30 minutes. Have had it in for service many times and plugged into diagnostics. Shows no problems or error codes. Don't know what to do next. Need help.
Vehicle kept stalling out intermittently, causing loss of power . About 15 minutes later, vehicle would restart. Eventually, vehicle stalled out for dealer , which was then hooked up to a tackometer 2 machine, and codes indicted defect was due to ignition module sensor and crankshaft sensor.
While driving coolant signal came on. Then, took vehicle to a service shop and they said that water pump was not working and was replaced.
Vehicle hesitates while driving and sometimes jerks badly, the dealer has been unable to correct the problem. Nlm
I believe this car to be a lemon, most of the complaints described by other owners this year model exist with this vehicle. How can I get help, now something is smoking under the hood, I believe it to be electrical but I don't have the cash to take to a mechanic. Help. No safety defect.
Coolant detected in oil, svc advisor said that 3 vehicles w/same engine have same problem--blown head gasket.-caught before total engine failure.
Due to shell reaction converter, transmission malfunctioned, which may cause a crash. There is a new design for this part. Please provide further information.
A rod failed in the engine causing damage to crankshaft. General motors acknowledges the fact that the 2.4 liter engine has experienced many failures. But, general motors advised that the failures have taken place on the upper portion of the engine. General motors refuses to assist me with repairing the engine. The estimated cost of repairing the engine is $3,600.00. I want general motors to repair the engine because the company acknowledges the fact that the engine has a record for failures. I requested to have a general motors area mangager to call me two weeks ago. I was told by a customer service representative that my request would be forwarded on, but the representative went on to say that I should not expect the manager to call me.
Car runs hot. When starting up windows would fog, could smell antifreeze. Took vehicle to dealer, and they replaced heater core, they said it had a pin hole in it. Consumer said car wasstill running hot, consumer could hear a flapping noise, like a helicopter under the hood.*ak the poping front right suspension was due to sway bar link failure which made stablizer bar loose. Horn malfunctions due to dirty contacts. Window does not go up or down properly due to window motor failure. The noise in engine area when cold was due to alternator failure. Water pump was leaking. Temperature guage was inaccurate. The noise from front and rear brakes was caused by worn brake pads. Driver side mirror control fell into the door panel.
Under warranty, reported the trunk and rear spoiler for water leakage. Every time dealer answer, resealed trunk. At 5th attempt to repair leak owner requested spoiler to be replaced dealer refused to replace, owner frustrated. 2. Engine consumes 1 quart of oil every 1500-3000 miles dealer responds with no problems. 2nd attempt dealer performed oil consumption test results: no problem, owner reports still consumes oil at same rate. 3. Clutch: owner reported that it was difficult to shift out of 1st and 3rd gear dealer responded no problem drivetrain. All reported during warranty period. Owner continues to drive vehicle although problem still continues. Dealer serviced vehicle overfilled all fluids owner did not discover problem until after 500 miles of driving owner informed dealer that they would be responsible for damages to vehicle at a later date due to pre mature wear. Current: 30000 later engine continues to consume oil at higher rate app. 1000 miles 1 qt of oil , clutch burned out at 62000 miles currently in shop and gmac will not repair in lue of proir service history.
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