1999 Pontiac Grand Am suspension problems

Filed Nov 4, 2013 · Body, Suspension · 125,000 miles · MA

I was backing up slowly out of a parking spot. As I turned me wheel to the right, I heard a very loud noise. It sounded like a pop or a crack. It was midnight so I couldn't see anything wrong when I inspected my vehicle. As I was driving home I heard a loud scraping sound. As I would break it got louder and louder. It was scraping and tearing. I got home and still couldn't see anything. I checked the next day and I noticed that the front drivers side coil was completely cracked. Because of this cracked coil, the protruding piece of metal from the coil was jammed and resting on the tire wall. Because of having to drive the vehicle home, the coil has torn and ripped up my tire wall and I am afraid to drive it. This has happened to me before with a cracked coil on the opposite side of my vehicle on the passenger side. This is craziness and completely unsafe! I fear for my life driving this vehicle as it clearly has a manufacturing defect. I am baffled as to why there is no posted recall for this hazardous product. Pontiac should be ashamed for letting this go and not admitting their failure as a car manufacturer.

Filed Sep 4, 2012 · Brakes, Engine · 49,000 miles · NY

Car the worst. I've sunk more $ in2 it than she cost to buy. $15,000 at lst. Head gasket x2. Intake manifold x2 window parts x2 brakes, pads rotors engine replaced in 2009 by quack mechanic on advice from a friend car 3 mths on lift! Cost $1000 a yr 2 pass nys inspection had catalytic converter & gaskets replaced after I begged do it! Cat whole prob for 31/2 yrs. Erg valve selonoid changed. Coils springs, strut mount(sensatrac) strut was only after I had tires replaced for upteenth time realizing it was cutting into 1 tire driving out of the shop. Antifreeze still oozes out regardless how many x's work done on cooling system. Thermastat twice fuel injector oxygen sensor antifreeze reservoir, hoses muffler rearview mirror fell off twice timing belt. Headlights several times rear lights. 2 or 3 batteries. This car should run like new- almost everything's been replaced nope! Was towed twice last 2 weeks due to coolant loss overheating engine stopping. Informed today after car again overheated & lost power it's probably intake manifold & head gasket, oil is dripping from sides of engine. Computer amuck nowodometer flashes 1/2 numbers instead of true mileage. Abs? Light mechanic stated its a waste of your $ to repair.... Three head gaskets? Another intake manifold? Hello! I've maintained this car it is a lemon a rotton lemon at that. Gm knows these issues & does nothing. In michigan consumers won a class action lawsuit because of this. Gm shoulda recalled this car period. I wasn't informed or savvy enough to know this cars issues upon purchase. What makes this worse, I now understand my rights were violated as a consumer for years! I'm poor & can't afford another car due to this car continued problems cost. I need a vehicle but am left with bus rides taking almost 3 hrs one way to work or a $35 cab fare one way. As of today my car is trash.

Filed Aug 28, 2010 · Suspension · 110,000 miles · PA

Left front spring on 1999 pontiac grand am broke in grocery store parking lot causing left front tire to go flat. Local mechanic says problem is widespread. Have old parts.

Filed Jul 14, 2010 · Suspension · 44,000 miles · OH

Right front spring and strut assembly broke. Car only has 44k miles on it.

Filed Apr 30, 2010 · Suspension · 76,000 miles · MI

My daughters 99 grand am has had both front springs break approximately one year apart. In both instances the car was traveling forward at less than 25 MPH. The broken spring punctured the tire and the car had to be towed on both occasions. No accident or injury occurred. New springs/struts were installed along with new tires. Further inspection revealed that the right rear spring was cracked and was also replaced. No old parts are available. From the number of complaints I have read this appears to be a common defect on this vehicle. I'm very glad that my daughter was not driving at freeway speed when these springs broke.

Filed Mar 7, 2010 · Suspension · OH

After performing a search of your defects database I wanted to report that the federal safety agency action number pe03031 happened to me on both front springs and one rear spring. The failure occurred exactly in this manor described. I do not have the exact dates of the incidents but the failures happened at different times. Based on parts bills I believe this occurred in 9/2003 and 9/2005 for the front springs and 8/2007 for the rear spring. I personally made the repairs and probably have the failed springs still (stored inside) since you can not just toss them in the garbage. Fortunately the front spring failures occurred when the vehicle was parted overnight and discovered the next morning when leaving. The rear spring failed while the car was in motion but was drivable. If the front springs failed while the car was traveling this would have been a serious failure due to the car body and strut rubbing on the wheel rim and tire which would have caused an inability to steer the car. When I went to the dealer to buy the part they seemed to know exactly what screen to go to. I thought that was odd because usually they have to dig on the screens of their computer before they find the right screen it but in these situations they went right to it. Which indicated to me that this is not the first, second, third or forth time this part was being looked for on this car. I should have reported this failure to the federal safety agency but did not, felt it was bad luck but thinking back on it now and remembering how the dealer parts counter handled the part look up I probably should have. So this report is to correct my error.

Filed Aug 17, 2009 · Suspension · 80,000 miles · MA

1999 pontiac grand am gt ,front coil spring .back out of drive way then started down road when all of a sudden right front spring let go with such a force that I thought rt at first some one shot at car or was in an accident. Dealer fix with new spring and strut oem parts witch wear damage do to spring going. Dealer keep parts said that this was not common. I have heard that this is a common problem with the grand ams.

Filed Mar 2, 2009 · Suspension · 80,000 miles · IL

1) no warning of any kind! 2) front drivers suspension coil break/collapse, coil punctured tire causing tire blow out, car crashing down all instantaneous. No injury - I was pulling out of my garage. How often 1 time. 3) tow and then replace the tire, coil, strut, I also must replace the other front coil, strut as well, since there clearly is a defect - and I don't want to die! I will request to keep the parts.

Filed Jan 13, 2009 · Body, Suspension · 175,000 miles · MA

Without warning or physical impact/impairment right front coil spring fractured with a loud bang, and the jagged end pierced my tire sidewall, destroying tire. This occurred at approx 25 MPH, I was able to pull over without incident, had to be towed, new coil installed, new tire purchased, labor day plans ruined. Several months later, car was parked for 12 hrs in 70 degree weather, another huge bang, drivers side front coil fractured, c-shaped piece under the vehicle, again, the vehicle was towed, coil replaced, missed a day of work as this happened in connecticut, and I work in massachusetts.

Filed Dec 14, 2008 · Suspension · 94,000 miles · MI

Fracture of front left and right coil springs.