After parking vehicle noticed smoke and the flames coming from underhood. Please provide further information.
1997 Pontiac Grand Am electrical complaints
Page 4 of 5: complaints 71 to 100 of 105, newest first, as owners wrote them.
After turning engine off ignition key will not release, cause unknown. Please give any further details.
Electrical defect keeps shortening out alternator / power mirror motors and headlights. Consumer has replaced 5 alternators within 5 years and 9 months. Cause is unknown.
Consumer put key in ignition and turned it and steering column started smoking. Towed to dealer, and they said it was ignition switch.
While under warranty swaybar bushings were replaced 4 times. The rear windshield leaked water into the trunk which caused moldy carpet that the dealership refused to replace even though the car was still under warranty. The plastic cover on the instrument panel rattles as well as the plastic cover where the radio and climate control knobs are located. Dealer has said that there is nothing that can be done about this. The sidewalls on the two front tires were defective and had to be replaced. The left rear tire had a patch in it before I even received the car. The fuse for the lights on the instrument panel keeps blowing and when the dealership was questioned about this they said that it was nothing. It has now blown 15 times. The water pump "shredded" at 37,000 miles. The car accelerates on its own after being taken out of park and put in drive. The brakes "pulse" at 10 miles an hour. The radio controls work opposite of what they're supposed to (ie turn up and it does nothing, turn down and it gets louder). Battery went dead at 40,000 miles. Rearview mirror lever "fell off" inside door for no apparent reason. Severe paint chipping on front of car.
This failure is particularly bad because both times the ABS light came on about 10 miles before the occurrence (which in hindsight) I see was the only warning of danger and both times were pitch dark outside, first the car seemed to be in neutral in the drive position, in that the engine revved, but had little real power and while in anticipation (fear) that the car would lunge when the transmission finally took hold didn't come to fruition, what occurred could have been as bad. The dash light indicators started flashing but the main dash lights seen freguently (speedometer) disappeared and then I noticed that I was only being guided by street lamps (second occurence, I didn't even have that) and the car died at the same time, making me lose power steering and brakes and have to get this thing off the road. This car has never missed a beat before that, but when this happened the first time, a bunch of city workers out trying to fix a burst pipe in the street at 5:30 a.m. Were watching this happen and came running over and said that the way this car failed should be reported because it could have been bad for any driver to lose car manueverability at the same time as exterior lights. The second time, when I saw the ABS light come on, I was prepared. I called my hubby on the cell phone and he came and followed me from there and I had about 10 miles of drivetime before my car became possessed again. It is sitting by the road on an isolated section in indiana and I'm feeling pretty darn lucky.
This problem was reported accurately by another person 0diid 726109/ we just purchased a battery to correct the problem, which it did for about 100 miles, then it was ditto, but would like an email as to what the person odiid 726109 found to be the problem. My husband is a master mechanic.
Abs: steering groans after hard braking or tight high/low-speed turns/warning light comes on; alternator: not charging-replaced twice; thermostat replaced twice
When putting key in the ignition switch there is no response, vehicle will not turn over. Consumer went to the dealership, and mechanic replaced inner mechanism of vehicle. Vehicle broke down again, vehicle is at the dealership.
When the battery and alternature failed the car suddenly accellerated at full throttle, systems began to alarm one at a time first the ABS then the ets, ect locking up the brakes kept the car from moving foward when the alternator failed the engin finaly stopped. It would appear that when the battery failed the alternator was unable to keep up with the load as the voltage dropped systems begain to become unreliable and either the computer or cruise control caused the throttle to accellerate. A voltage threshold lockout is needed so that when power falls below the level where a system can no longer operate safely the system shuts down.
There are more problems then listed. Every time I have spoken with the dealer it has been a waste of time. Phone calls never returned. I get blown off by them. I was in royal oak,mi with my friends when the car froze in the middle of the road. Every dash light was blinking, and we couldn't get the car out of drive to push it. Once we finally got the car moved to a side street, my friends went to look for help, and I got jumped and mased while I stood by my car waiting for them to return. The drivers side key doesn't work, dealer says it's cause of keyless entry, air conditioner kills battery, cruse control kicks out, head lights always are on, and it's not the day time running lights. When stepping on the gas to pass someone, nothing happens, about 5 or more seconds later, it will kick in unexpectidly. This is the second car I have bought from this dealer, the first was a 91 pontiac sunbird, which turned out to be a 90 when I traided it in at another dealer. So I ended up paying way to much for the car, and lost on it when I traded it in. I live 1 hour and 45mins. Away from the dealer now when I took it in for service I found out that they gave me only mechanical on the extended service contract, no electrical, so everything comes out of my pocket. Then to find out I have to leave my car there for days up to weeks, with no loaner, and no way to get back home, and the service manager, and dealer both said "nothing we can do for you."
Alternator gone after 2 months of ownership/intake/manifold as stated/power windows defective/air conditioner went out in the middle of the summer - have had numerous problems in only 1 year of ownership!
This 1997 grand am is nothing but trouble. I have had several failures and am not happy with this vehicle at all. Please contact at the phone numbers at the beginning of this form ! No afety defect listed in the summary.
Consumer states that the recall item has been installed but still experiencing the same problem with key, the key continually stuck off and on as the vehicle shut down, recall campaign # 02v070000. Also, the alternator went out twice while driving and once in the yard, the battery has been replaced twice.
The modules in question go out without warning. In fact the day we bought the car one of modules went out, and we were without a car for six weeks. The dealer said the module was on back order. And didn't even offer us a loaner. One time it went out on my wife in the morning in the driveway. Onece when I went to pick up my daughther late at night at parks mall. Another incident I arrived at work, but the car wouldn't restart a quiting time. Mac churchill has been nice, but I want the car replaced. My wife is scared be cause she doesn't know if the car will start. Thank you.
Pontiac grand am 1997, on 5/2/00 car would not start after being driven during the day, it turned over once, then nothing saw smoke trail coming from turn signal arm cut ignition switch off, got out of vechile, went into the house, about 3minutes heard the horn of the vehicle sounding, went outside to check , car was on fire at the drivers side, opened up drivers side door, flames were in the steering unit, and on the drivers seat , and steering wheel and top sun visor, ran and got a fire extinquisher, put out the fire, horn still going off, popped hood release and disconnected the hot cable from the battery. Car is now at dealership pending investigation, concerned that this might have happened when driving the vechile, was just lucky it did not happen during use.
Ignition locks up. Has happend several times. Locks up and the key cannot be turned even when the steering column is not locked up. Last time it happend we had to put the car up on a jack to unlock the ignition? It cannot be fixed nowthough without spending alot of money. The car was taken in to the dealer when it was under warranty for the same problem and they said there was no problem and that they could not do anything for me. This is not normal and should not happen and because they refused to fix it properly the first timei am going to end up spending a great deal amount of money.
I have had multiple problems from this car and, gm does not want to help. I was sent out of the dealer ship with no horn for three days. Dealers are now smart enough to work around the lemon law in wording repair orders. I think with all the motor problems and, safety issues maybe an investigation should be done before a car stalls and someone gets killed.
The wheel joint simply broke apart no prior warning. Company did cover that. Spark plug and wire were supposed to be good for 100,000 miles, but were no good after 47,000 miles, water pump went out at 49,000miles. I have never had so many problems on a vehicle with low mileage. I have had previous gm cars that have lasted over 100,000 miles with no problems. Is this car known to have these kinds of problems? I have spent $700 in repairs because the way the car is put together it takes hours for the mechanic to fix anything. $483 for a water pump!!
Card runs rough, stumbles and hesitates, engine check light on. Dealer replaced catalitic converter, o2 censors, egr valve, spark plugs to no avail. Please e-mail me if you are having the same problem at [email protected].
Rear brakes bind during normal stop and go traffic. Upon accelleration the rear of the vehicle squeals and 1 or 2 loud bangs are heard as the brakes release. Dealer was unable to duplicate and unable to detect any brake problems. Vehicles alternator failed without any teltale warning signs, stranding the consumer. 60 days later the battery dies. Engine used to rev to about 1500 RPM while vehicle was stopped and in gear. Replacement of 02 sensor cured problem. Other minor problems include power door lock bumper failure (repaired) and poor design of the driver's sun visor. (it moves the rear-view mirror) when moving visor from windshield to side window. Consumer has already replaced visor once due to cracks at mounting screws.
This is the letter I submitted to them: I'm writing you this letter to let you know how disatisfied I am with your product. I bought my 97 pontiac grand am new. I am a strong believer you get what you pay for. That is why I bought new versus a used vehicle. I believe that I should get more for my money than what I have got from your product. I'm very dissatisfied!!!! I am in the u.s.m.c. My family and I do alot of traveling to and from our home state. My wife was broke down on the highway with this vehicle. We as car owners have never broke down on the highway in my 18 years of being in the military. I am very picky about my vehicles and always have my car serviced as required. I never miss my oil changes. I am a middle class citizen just trying to make a living and make sure my family is safe on the roads. I have had no problems with the car dealership. I believe them to be the best in town. I believe I just picked the lemon on the lot. I have listed my expenses that I have paid out of my pocket and also what was covered under warranty. Please fell free to give me a call if you have any questions. I feel that I should be reimburse for repairs and expenses. Of $1257.65
Fuel filter and fuel sensor failed. Yh
Started vehicle and backed out of driveway. While traveling approximately 500 feet, vehicle suddenly stalled. Was able to get it started, and took it to the dealer. Dealer indicated that alternator bearing was bad and replaced it. However, vehicle stalled again on 01-sep-99/11-oct-99 and 13-oct-99.
When driving at any speed and applying brakes there is a grinding and squeaking noise coming from the front driver's side wheel, and when coasting down a hill and applying brakes the grinding and squeaking noise is still also, air conditooning hose/ radiator hose ,and the alternator had be replaced. However., dealer can't determine the cause of problems.
Ac/delco battery and alternator failed.
While driving vehicle stalled unexpectedly which could cause a crash. Also, there was an electrical short in the headlight system. Dealer replaced parts, but could not determine the problem. Please provide further information.
I have taken my car into this dealer numerous times for the same problem with the check engine light, they still fail to fix the problem.
Engine has a hesitation when coming to a stop or leaving a stop. Oil pump has been replaced twice. Ignition module has been replaced twice. Dealer has not corrected the problem on 4 attempts in two weeks.
Engine idles at 3000 RPM for reasons unknown. Also once brake is released vehicle will rapidly accelerate to 60 MPH. Dealers has replaced computer module which did not correct problem. Vehicle also has brake problems.
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