1999 Pontiac Grand Am: engine stalls while driving

Filed May 12, 2016 · Airbags, Steering · 149,000 miles · CO

Ignition frozen, unable to move vehicle without tow. No shift realease, and unsafe in the event of engine stall on open roadways. Vehicle is dead once you shift into park to restart.

Filed Apr 13, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 111,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 pontiac grand am. While driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled without warning. The failure recurred twice. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,000. Updated 6/30/15*cn updated 07/02/15

Filed Nov 6, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · OK

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 pontiac grand am. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled numerous times and the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The contact had the vehicle towed more than three times due to the vehicle stalling and the key failing to turn over into the on position. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was not able to replicate or diagnose the failure. The contact was later notified of the federal safety agency campaign number: 00v140000 (structure) and stated that the part was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

Filed Apr 23, 2014 · Brakes, Engine · NJ

In approximately 2000 to 2002, our 1999 pontiac grand am stalled with engine shutdown, loss of braking power, and loss of steering on the nj garden state parkway at high speed, when my knee hit a few keys and my key ring along with the pontiac key in the ignition, I.e. Shutting off the car. This was a very dangerous situation. Fortunately, with almost no steering, braking, or engine power, I was able to steer the vehicle into the break down lane and stop the car. I am reporting this now because it never dawned on me then that it could be a car defect, and I am concerned that others might be injured or killed by these older gm vehicles if faulty ignition switch is an issue for them, given that gm is recalling millions of vehicles for faulty ignition switches. I believe the federal safety agency should investigate other models and ages of gm vehicles, including 1999 and later year pontiac grand ams, as the danger we experienced from that vehicle seems like it might be the same as what is now being reported. We no longer own the pontiac. You can see this incident made a big impact on me, because I remember it 12+ years later.

Filed Mar 20, 2014 · Electrical · 120,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 pontiac grand am. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure recurred fifty times over a one year period. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who replaced the ignition module. There was a recall under the federal safety agency campaign id number 14v047000 (air bags, electrical system) but the contact's VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Jul 23, 2013 · Fuel system · 149,000 miles · MN

I was at a stop light and I hit the gas, the car stalled right in the middle of the intersection. I got it started then it stalled the second I stepped on the gas. It started again and I pulled around the corner. Left me stranded with a huge towing bill! Very pissed off. I could have gotten killed if someone didn't pay attention and hit me while I was in the intersection! It ran great then all the sudden it was like someone sucked the life out of my car!

Filed Mar 14, 2013 · Engine, Lights · 180,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 pontiac grand am. The contact stated that the turn signal switch failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic, who diagnosed that the hazard switch and the turn signal switch needed to be replaced. On another occasion, the contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated as the vehicle overheated and stalled. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the intake manifold gasket needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000 and the current mileage 205,000.

Filed Feb 14, 2011 · Engine · 100,000 miles · KY

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 pontiac grand am. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35-45 MPH, the vehicle would suddenly stall. After the failure, he noticed that the ABS light illuminated on the instrumental panel. The vehicle was able to restart after the contact waited a while. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Jan 28, 2009 · Body, Electrical · 76,000 miles · NY

Had all window mechanisms replaced after enduring a wonderful garbage bag cover treatment for window beauty enhancement last winter 2007-08. Found my ignition refuses to start w/ 1 key. I started noticing the smell of antifreeze. Took to my mechanic of 22 years. Thought it was a crack in the actual container which houses antifreeze. This was replaced. Nope. Still leaking. Car never indicated on panel that it was above temp & overheated, stayed within the normal range. The car never once overheated. Mechanic couldn't find the problem. Said it was a faulty computer... Indicates, tires need checking, flashing lights, ABS off/on...which by the way was causing me to not have my car pass inspection to add insult to injury!! Found I was all of a sudden replacing antifreeze by the gallons. Was still paying off mechanic from previous issues. Don't ask, while trying to figure out the antifreeze problem! Brought car in to have radiator checked by friends mechanic, fluid was literally pouring out of bottom of car. $1600. Later!! Head gasket set,waterpump,serpentine belt, radiator hoses, thermostat & gaskets, crossoverpipes, airfilter...now? 1 1/2 months later? Well hey.guess what? Riding merrily to work last sat. Car stalled all the way...& yipee another visit, another mere 900. Bag of shells consisting of crank shaft, bearings. Can you believe it? I don't have it!!.....I thought this guy was putting me on...I've lost work since I'm 45 min. Away. I've spoken to pontiac several times. They want nothing to do with this. Act dumb- the american way...weird, I've read more complaints about this issue, I'm surprised you guys don't demand some resolution for consumers. What gives? It's so incredibly obvious this is a real solid complaint about engine defect with all the evidence to back it up!! I think it was minnisota or missouri that consumers actually won a class action suit against pontiac for these specific complaints. Namely head gasket, engine related issues..

Filed Mar 17, 2006 · Electrical, Engine · 61,000 miles · NY

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 60 MPH all the lights on the dash failed and the engine stalled. The vehicle was pushed to the side of the road. After the vehicle was restarted, it was taken to the dealership for inspection. They replaced the ignition switch and cylinder, which remedied the problem.

Filed Nov 1, 2005 · Electrical, Engine · NY

I own a 1999 grand am se. Ever since I bought the car in oct '04 I have been having nothing but problems with it. This past june I had to replace the engine. Leading up to that the car would die at least once a week. I would bring it to the dealer (more like tow it) and I would always be told nothing is wrong. Then yet again it would die. After that the stalling began. I would be driving and the car would shut off. It would usually take up to 10 minutes to turn back on. Once the dealer went "well maybe its your lights, you leave them on." my response was how do I leave on automatic lights? I have had to replace my alternator 3 times and have had to replace my battery twice. It got to the point that once I shut off my car the only way to start it was by taking out the mail relay chip for 2 minutes than replacing it. Than the car would start up. Finally I was on the high way and out of no where you head a loud pop. There went the header, pistons, oil gasket. The engine blew. However it was never a effect of the oil. I was always checking it and getting it changed once ever other month (I commuted a lot). So I got a rebuilt engine put in and the problems went away... Or so I thought. Last night I was driving and all of a sudden my car started shaking. It went from a little to a great amount. The muffler is making an odd puff puff noise and the exhaust smells like windshield washer fluid (only was to describe it). I pulled it into my driveway and on went the trac off light and the service engine soon lights. Thank you. Also prior to the new engine my cds would no longer play. I would get the e20 error and the cds would spit out. Another problem is my rear passenger windows have scratches up the middle of them. I can not figure out where the marks are coming from.

Filed May 14, 2005 · CA

My car will stall when driving down road then when I put the break on and stop to start it again it will rev up it will go 40miles an hour I have never let it go faster I break some times shut it off. This has been going on sence new in 1999 I have taken it in and they can't find what is wrong .then some thing new started and the lights will go out as I am driving just for 2-3 seconds ans the lights in side will also go out .my radio light to see time just stays out now since that happened.this just happend about a month ago with for the last time where it surged then reved up and the lights thing. And also the light covers are really bad like foggy not bright anymore.