1996 Pontiac Grand Am: jerking or lurching

Filed Jun 11, 2003 · Engine · 100,050 miles · WI

I have a 1996 pontiac grand am with a quad 4 engine in it. The engine has 100,050 miles on it, I took very good care of it, oil changes on time did all of the maintenance on it required in the book, etc, etc. I started the car the other day and the whole thing jerked forward, made a loud bang then would not do any thing but turn over really fast. I had it towed in to my mechanic and found out that my engine needs to be replaced because the exhaust valves smashed into the pistons and did a lot of damage. From what I was told by three different mechanics is that the quad 4 engine made by gm is the worst engine ever designed and should not have been put out on the market. I was also told that on this type of car over 100,000 miles was lucky and that kind of miles on this engine is considered high mileage. I was told one of two things could have caused this and that both problems are common in this car. The first cause could have been the hydraulic fluid that causes the manifold gasket to open when the car is shut off sludged up and this caused the timing to mis align at start up and caused the valves and pistons to smash together. The second common cause for this in this type of engine is the pin in the cam shaft snapped off at start up and caused the timing to jump and crash the pistons and valves together. Both problems are known by gm, yet the consumer is not alerted so they can go in and get the cam pin checked or have the fluid checked for sludging.

Filed Jul 25, 2001 · Suspension · OH

Control arms bushing wears out, unable to replace the bushing without replacing the whole control arm. Causes tire to move, alignment to be throwed off, and severe jerking when applying brakes. Have noticed that the new control arms have been modified so rubber bushing cannot come out, unlike the one that was originaly on the car, request reimbursement for control arms which are $160 a piece.

Filed Jan 25, 2001 · Engine · OH

Vehicle hesitates while driving and sometimes jerks badly, the dealer has been unable to correct the problem. Nlm

Filed Sep 22, 2000 · Brakes · KY

A few days after buying 96 grand am. I noticed the brakes didnt work effectively. When coming to a stop the car would jerk several times and continue to jump forward. This has happened more times than I care to count. Each time a near collision. I dont drive at all when it rains it wont stop at all. I've had breaks checked at least three times at different locations. No one can find a problem.

Filed Oct 13, 1999 · Steering · TN

While traveling and making a turn sterring whieel locked up, causing consumer to jerk the sterring wheel . Please provide further inforjmaton. Drl has been contacted.

Filed Jul 8, 1999 · Brakes, Steering · IL

When driving at any speed, transmission went out, causing vehicle to stall/jerk.upon applying the brakes, they went to the floorboard, resulting in extended stopping distance. Also, steering is turning on its own, and dealer can't determine the problem.

Filed May 24, 1999 · Brakes · CA

When applying ABS brakes, vehicle felt like it was pulsating & surging. Would jerk at slow speeds. Vibrates very rough. Took to dealer & had rotors turned under warranty. The problem has since returned. Happened also in march 1999.

Filed Sep 16, 1996 · Brakes, Suspension · IL

When driving at any speed vehicle will wander and pull to the right and when braking vehicle will lurch foward.