Pontiac Grand Am hesitation problems

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 Mar 26, 2014 · Electrical, Fuel system · 99,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 pontiac grand am. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, there was a sudden hesitation as the engine stalled with the illumination of the trac warning indicator. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the ignition lock cylinder, fuel pump and battery would need to be replaced. The vehicle was currently being repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 99,000.

Filed Aug 31, 2012 · Electrical · 100,000 miles · TN

Car will not start at times....it hesitates to start. Alot of gm vehicles have this same problem. Gm needs to fix this problem with a recall.

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 Apr 3, 2009 · Body, Visibility · 101,100 miles · NJ

Bought 2003 pontiac grand am gt new in march 2003. Moonroof and driver window leaked water frequently, while power windows "clunked" when going down. Took to dealer 3 times for these problems in 2005-2006 while covered under warranty; only moonroof was repaired, dealer claimed nothing was wrong with windows. Windows continued to roll down slowly, making loud noises when going down, and hesitating when going up. In january 2009, driver side window stopped working entirely; in february 2009, passenger side window also stopped working. Contacted dealer, explained situation, and expressed frustration over not being able to get these problems addressed while car was under warranty. Dealer not willing to admit to failure to address issues with windows, and will only perform window repair at full price. Repair estimated at $1030.

Filed Feb 20, 2008 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 100,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 pontiac grand am. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle completely shut off. The contact pulled over and the vehicle was able to immediately be restarted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but they could not correct the failure. The current mileage was approximately 110,000 and failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 03-07-08 *bf the consumer stated various lights illuminate on the instrument panel such as: oil pressure light, air bag, engine light ABS. The security passlock system was inoperative. The hazard and turn signal lights did not work properly. There was hesitation upon acceleration. The traction conrol was inoperative

Filed Dec 20, 2007 · Electrical · TN · fire

I bought my 2002 grandam when it was a year old with 22,000 miles on it, I'm the second owner. I had problems within a few months. Smoke came from the steering column and there was a clicking noise in the dash. Then the blinkers didn't work right...would only work randomly...took it to the place where I bought it and they replaced the turn signal arm...still having trouble to this day with the blinkers. A few months ago the car wouldn't start...it was turning over but it wouldn't actually start. Repair shop replaced fuel pump, didn't solve the problem but the car ran for a few weeks and then it wouldn't start again. Repair shop said the passcode security/ignition sensor had to be replaced. They did it, and it worked for about 3 months and the other day the car wouldn't start, same thing as the first time. I called the local pontiac dealership and all I said when the mechanic answered was "I have a 2002 grandam and it won't start" without hesitation or any other information he asked me "was the security light on?" I said "yes! How did you know that?" he said it's a very common problem w/ these cars and the only thing to do is have the passcode sensor replaced but there's no guarantee that it won't happen again because they have no way of bypassing the security/passcode system. Well, I told him I already did that a few months ago, so he said a temporary fix for right now is to put the key in the ignition and turn it to acc, wait 10-15 minutes and it should start, but this is temporary. Well, it did work and has for the last few days but I know it will happen again and I'm worried that I'll get stranded or left helpless someday. It's ridiculous to have to deal with this problem and keep putting money into a problem that there's no solution to. I loved this car when I first got it and now I hate it and will never buy another pontiac again. I'm so disappointed.

Filed Nov 7, 2007 · Transmission · 42,011 miles · MO

On tuesday november 6th 2007 at approximately 6:11pm I was traveling south on talyor ave. In kirkwood, mo when I went to apply the clutch there was a stiffness and it did not want to depress at first, but then depressed. A short time later I had turned onto south kirkwood rd and at approximately 6:16pm I was approaching the intersection of south kirkwood rd and big bend blvd. There was a red light at the intersection so I applied my brakes and tried to apply the clutch and again it seemed to hesitate and not want to depress and then it went straight to the floor but did not actually engage. To prevent collision with another the vehicle in front of me and I could not get the vehicle out of gear so I had to turn the vehicle off. With the vehicle off I was able to get the vehicle out of gear and coasted backwards into a parking lot. After inspection by myself and a gm dealer it has been discovered that the control rod linkage that goes from the clutch to the clutch pedal is connected to the clutch pedal by a small thin piece of plastic. This plastic component failed preventing the operation of the clutch.

Filed Oct 26, 2007 · Electrical, Lights · 78,000 miles · IL

There is a problem with the vehicle not starting all the time. No warning to the problem and it seems that there is no pattern. Also have a turn signal issue, the sound goes on continuously. After some online research I have found the problems to be common. The starting issue has something to do with the security system which I have heard referred to as passlock. Have contacted gm on many levels, in person and over the phone, with no solution that suits me. Charged me $40, to tell me the turn signal would be $300 to fix, or so they say. Have not had an estimate on the ignition problem but have seen what other people have paid and could be between $400 and $1000. To have the part replaced with the same junk from gm. Will never buy another gm vehicle again. It is a shame that our american cars pale in comparison to their foreign counterparts. I hope that this information is useful and that this problem can be resolved, with gm recalling all of the problem vehicles and standing behind their terrible product. If I can be of any further assistance do not hesitate to contact me.

Filed Sep 6, 2007 · Electrical · 43,000 miles · TX

I just read the very first complaint on my car while ago..... Every single thing thats happened to her, has happened to me. I've always been told to never buy a grandam....but I couldnt really afford anything else. I needed something reliable. To make a long story short, I bought my car in september of last year. I have had little small problems, but nothing big til about 5 months after I purchased it. I kept hearing grinding noises coming from my front anxels....no one can seem to figure out that problem, so its still occuring. My drivers side window sticks and goes up and down when it wants to.... The lock pad on my drivers side, fell out and even with it, screwed down to the door panel, still wont work right. The car rides really really rough. Had everything from suspension to axles checked out, nothing seems to be wrong....but I know theres something messed up badly .... Somewhere. My ignition is my biggest problem tho. I noticed it at about 44 thousand miles.... Sometimes when I went to crank it..... It would hesitate badly and sometimes not start at all. It has gotten alot worse now..... Now all it does is click like its a battery problem.... It will click sometimes, then on the second try, it will crank with hesitation... Other times, there is no sign of a problem. My back window leaks air constantly and leaks when it rains.... The trunk leaks when it rains.... What else?? How bout everything!!!! My car sucks!!!!