While driving the consumer noticed that the steering wheel would not turn. When the vehicle was serviced the technician noticed that the rack and pinion need to be replaced. *nlm *jg
1997 Pontiac Grand Prix steering complaints
Page 5 of 8: complaints 101 to 130 of 216, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Steering rack has yet to actually go out. While driving I have been noticing very slight lockups while turning left.
I was going to volleyball, doing 70mph when the steering locked up. Luck me I was close to the tee intersection of hwy e and I was able to slow down and turn to the right and stop on the shoulder. I got out and looked around, but nothing when I started it again no problem all weekend. But it happened again sunday night and ever since. Almost impossiable to steer the wheel left but no problem steering right. My shop guy said it was the rack, he said he's seen about 5 of these in the past 2 years.
While driving at 40mph on a flat surface and witn no warning, the consumer temporarily lost steering control, which could have caused an accident. Dealer notified. *ak
Steering went out as wife was leaving drive--would turn to right with little effort but not to the left--problem was rack & pinion---fuel relay went bad had to replace at 48600 miles
Steering wheel will lock up, binding as if system is stuck intermittently. Owner acknowledges that all the fluid is full. Please describe details.
While making a left turn steering wheel lock up on highway. Dealership is aware of problem.
For several months felt the steering of vehicle getting very stiff. Had it checked out several times and nothing wrong. Made a sharp turn on 8/7/02 into working parking lot and had almost no power steering. Vehicle was having problems the rest of the day and time until I got it into a automotive shop to find out what was wrong.
When exiting driveway, steering wheel locked up, preventing owner from maneuvering vehicle. Owner towed vehicle to covington tire and service. They found that due to rear bearings being chewed up and destroyed, steering was incapacitated. *ak consumer took vehicle to the dealer for repairs to the pump/hose seal. Returned the next week because the problem with the steering was still present. The vehicle was test driven and consumer was told the vehicle could never lose steering. On the date indicated, the vehicle was not functioning. The vehicle was towed to an independent garage and the rack and pinion replaced. Upon calling gm, consumer was told nothing could be done since the repairs weren't done by pontiac.
Vehicles steering locks while driving.
Rack and pinion steering failed almost causing a crash. It seems that a piece of the steering rack is missing.
When making left turns steering would momentaryily stick. Dealer contacted. Feel free to provide any further information.
Recall 99v348000 repairs on windshield wipers were done in july of 2000, vehicle has been taken back to dealer numerous times. Windshield wipers stopped working intermittently.*ak map lamp assembly, door lights, rear door lens, gasket lamp and headlamp assembly were all replaced, ABS light illuminated, dealer adjusted brake light switch. Both outer tie rods were replaced. Windshield cowl panel leaked and was replaced. Steering column was replaced. Serpentine belt has been replaced 3 times, valve cover gasket has been replaced 2 times, vehicle has experienced 3 oil leaks, oil pan and water pump were replaced, a belt snapped and has not yet been repaired. Alternator has been replaced 3 times. The supercharger gasket was replaced. The automatic shift mechanism was replaced. The radio skips and the radio module to the steering column broke. 2 front wheel speed sensor jumper wiring was replaced.
Pe 01 038/steering rack and pinion: rack and pinion failed for second time within 80,000 miles of wear. Dealer contacted. Feel free to provide any further inormation.
Consumer stated that the vehicle experienced a complete failure of the steering system.
I was upset the first time the rack and pionon failed and the poor attitude of the dealership. For $1,200, they would install a new rack and pinion. I was unable to steer the car, but did not have an accident. I had a napa repair dealership rebuild the original rack and pinion ata cost of $500. They replaced the seals with stainless steal. This repair lasted 120,000 and it failed again. An auto zone rebuilt rack and pinion was installed this time. Although the stainless steal seals lasted longer than the factory original seals, they will fail again. Pontiac must have known that something was wrong with this rack and pinion as it was only used in the 97 model. A different part number was used in the '98 and newer models. After the first failure, I wrote to pontiac but did not receive any indication that they would check any further into rack and pinion failures. This vehicle should have been recalled.
Vehicle exhibits increasing frequency of hard steering and noise from right and left front of car. Local pontiac dealer cannot determine source of noise or hard steering problem. Problem has existed prior to warranty expiration. A rubbing sound is getting progressively worse. This may be the onset of another example of your rack and pinion steering safety issue with 1997 grand prix.
When making a left turn the steering wheel becomes difficult to turn. The vehicle has not been taken to a dealership.
Rack and pinion locked up while making a left turn at an interestion. Had to stop car in middle of turn due to loss of steering. By turning engine off, and restarting, I regained steering again and was able to continue through the interestion. Cause much confusion to other drivers.
While parking vehicle and turning to the right, steering felt tight as if the power steering had failed, however when turning to left steering felt normal. Dealer determined the rack and pinion had broken.*jb
I see that your dept has investigated ps problems on my vehicles brothers and cousins, my local dealer says tough ****, if gm has a problem why do you not make the fix it and reburse previous expenditures? I am just lucky my wife was not killed, the steering locked without warning. She was able to run it off the road saftly. If this is not something that needs rectifying I do not know what is. [email protected] gm can forget me ever buying another vehicle, its jap or korean for me and anyone that I can convince!
The rack and pinion gears are wearing badly. I took the car to pines pontiac and the service manager stated the rack and pinion is starting to wear. I thought the power steering unit was bad because it is hard to turn the wheel when turning to the left.
Power steering pump went out and had it repaired. Power steering pump has gone out again. Took vehicle to dealer and, dealer replaced pump valves/hoses, and seals. Power steering pump wa sfailing continously. Please add VIN.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Steering seized up momentarily and lasted a few seconds. Now the steering feels a little sloppy, and I hear a pop noise when I turn left or right at slow speeds (15 MPH). Nlm
As with many other 1997 pontiac grand pirx's, the power steering rack has failed. Luckily, I noticed mine while changing tires, and not while driving down the road, possibly causing an accident, and injuring people.
Was driving 40-45 MPH when the steering wheel locked up. Driver lost control of vehicle. Then, vehicle flipped over. Driver and front passenger suffered injuries. Had emergency room treatment.*ak
Steering wheel locked up & the car went out of control, it rolled over. The car is severely damaged and the two people inside were injured.
The power steering ahs leaked for over a yr. I've tried to keep it full, but sometimes when my wife drives it, it gets low and is very hard to steer.
Steering rack and pinion binding up, turning out of parking lot, afterwards, vehicle would steer fine to the right, but would not turn to left with ease, I had to double grip the steering wheel to turn the car left, I had to use 3 times the force to steer left than usual. Took vehicle to shop, replaced rack and pinion.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history