2000 Pontiac Grand Am: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Jun 22, 2014 · Engine, Steering · 95,500 miles · PA

Last month my car started revving up randomly while in park. Once I put the car in drive it would pull forward on it's own speeding up to 40 MPH in the worst case. It ran so rough pulling and stopping the only thing I could do was put it in park until the rpms came back down to a normal rate. From that point on, every time I started the car when it wasn't warmed up this would happen. It used to only take about a minute for the rpms to settle and the car to run fine. Now it takes about 5 minutes of warming up, settling and then drives very poorly in first and second gear. One month later the car hesitates when given gas, begins to "rumble" slowing down, and feels like it will stall out as the cars rpms approach 0. I took the car to a mechanic and they found no problem. They said the rpms were lower than normal on idle. I read online that there could be a vacuum hose leak causing air to be forced into the engine causing the issue but that doesn't make sense. Today while turning in an intersection my steering wheel locked, pressing on the gas no longer moved the car but my radio, air conditioning and engine... Was still running. Luckily I didn't hit anyone (or was hit by anyone). After restarting the car I regained control over the steering and gas. Driving home after that the car wouldn't accelerate properly and hesitated constantly. It was as though I was driving a manual transmission car and shifting gears poorly...

Filed Jun 13, 2011 · Electrical, Engine · NJ

This car had this problem when I bought it but I had no other choice, I had to buy something. Besides, they told me that they "thought" that they may have fixed it....wrong! When they had the problem with the car, apparently everything was checked & replaced but with no luck. The 02 sensor was replaced a couple times, tune ups, fuel filters, etc....they even hooked it up to a diagnostic machine and it didn't detect a thing. I am no expert but............1st of all; the car only stalls when I take my foot off the pedal. I could be doing 65 down the highway, but as soon as I take my foot off the gas....dead! The car totally cuts off. No funny sounds, hesitation, smells, etc. It just dies. When I 1st start the car (the initial start up), I make it about a couple blocks before I have to drive "two footed" so the car wont stall. There were a few more problems with the car when I first bought it that have since stopped or just got worse. All electrical issues. For example: the car has day time running lights. At times I would have to actually turn the lights to the "off" position b/c the high beams would start going nuts and flash like a police car. But that has stopped, so idk wth that was. My blinkers stop working whenever they feel like it, and then will work again just like that. I have a "service engine soon" light and a "check engine" light; both light up on occasion. So does my traction control, etc...... But nothing is wrong?!?!?! I beg to differ. However...........if there is already a really screwed up electrical problem, would the diagnostic machine actually be able to find a problem?? This car is a death trap.

Filed Dec 15, 2006 · Engine · 43,000 miles · LA

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 40 MPH on city streets, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. It was maneuvered off the road and restarted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who could not duplicate the problem.

Filed Dec 20, 2003 · Engine · 65,000 miles · MA

I own a 2000 pontiac grand am which was purchased at northshore pontiac buick gmc in malden, massachusetts. I have had this car towed a total of 3 times to date since the problem began approximately 2 months ago. The vehicle will stall while driving. I or my mother will drive the car and will be accelerating to approximately 30-40 MPH and out of nowhere, it stalls. On 2 occasions, I and my mother were almost fatally injured as oncoming traffic from behind narrowly missed rearending us. I have noticed other similar complaints on the federal safety agency website and urge you please to investigate and recall these vehicles as they are bound to kill someone. I work at a local t.v. Media outlet and have spoken with our consumer editor which is going to be looking into the matter and going public if the problem persists. In bringing this car to the dealer, northshore pontiac buick gmc, where we have been dealing with [xxx] (service dept. Manager), he has admitted there is an "intermittent problem" unknown to them. They have replaced numerous items with the hope that the problem is solved, however it continues. The vehicle is currently in their possession where as they will be replacing the catalytic converter for the second time. After picking up the vehicle on 12/16/03 from the dealer's service department again, which replaced the ignition coil, believing that would be the vehicle's stalling solution, the vehicle repeated its defect 2 days later. This is an extremely dangerous situation where someone will get hurt, perhaps fatally, if this issue is not rectified in all 2000 pontiac grand am vehicles. If you would like to contact me for further investigation or should you require more information, please don't hesitate to contact me at [xxx]. I greatly appreciate your help in advance. *la information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Aug 28, 2002 · Electrical · NH

While driving vehicle locks up and stalls out. Unable to start it back up, and hesitates to catch. It feels like it was about to start, but it doesn't. Next day vehicle will not start, doing the same thing.contacted dealer several times, they could not find cause. Gmc employee sad this was a common problem involving ignition switch.