1999 Pontiac Grand Prix: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Jan 11, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · MO · fire

The cars headlights will randomly shut off or only high beams will work, the 3800 motor has many issues with parts malfunctioning over and over no matter what manufacturer that's used to supply the parts oem or aftermarket, I've replaced many maf, tps, iac, cps sensors over the brief amount of time owning pretty much any vehicle equipped with the 3800 series ii v6, gauge clusters randomly stop working but that a known gm issue for multiple vehicles for several years, coolant corossian and internal rust from dex cool coolant

Filed Jan 2, 2013 · Engine · 185,000 miles · IA · fire

After owning this vehicle for a very short time, it had some minor body work done and completely repainted. I had new headlights and taillights installed due to the poor condition of the existing lights. The second day I drove the car to work, I returned home, parked it in the attached garage and went inside. In less than 5 minutes, there was a loud "pop", and upon investigation the car was found to be smoking from under the hood. We tried using a fire extinguisher, but the engine was flaming by then, so it was useless. Luckily, a passerby stopped and was able to pull the burning car from the garage, but not before there was some substantial damage to the interior. The entire front end of the vehicle is completely burned and melted. It is a complete loss which is unfortunate since I only carried liability insurance on it until it was completely finished in the body shop. Since this fire, I have been checking on recalls concerning any related problems with this model. I have found several that are similar to this situation. I personally know of three other fire related incidences of 1999 pontiacs.

Filed Aug 4, 2011 · Engine · 160,000 miles · TN · fire

On sunday morning july 3, 2011 I drove my wife's 1999 pontiac grand prix 13.57 mile from my home to get some lab work done. Afterwards I dove 12.77 mile to the gas station and filled the car up with gas $49.50 to be exact, then drove home 1.80 miles total trip 28.14 miles. I parked the car in front of my home as I always do next to my 1993 cadillac seville. I went into the house to change for church and approximately 10 minutes later my son call out to me saying dad the car is smoking!! I went to the door and I saw the car was smoking and then fire shot out from under the front of the car and engulfed the engine. My wife called 911 and told them that the car was on fire and it has a full tank of gas (my neighbor also called 911). My wife then said to move away from the windows and door just in case the car blows. While moving back we saw the blaze from the grand prix spread over to the seville catching the right side tire on fire. By this time the fire and police were on the site. The grand prix burned from the front hood to the back seats before being contained, and the front windshield was cracked and front right quarter panel on the 1993 seville was burnt badly including the right tire, the turn signal lights and head lights. I'm simply out raged that my insurer will not cover my seville for the damages done by no fault of mine. Something needs to be done. I had two perfectly running vehicles until sunday morning and now I'm down two. My insurance company has indicated that they will pay for the grand prix but pull out a clause in my policy saying that damage to property while it is owned by you is not covered!, but if someone else's vehicle would have been damaged, then it would have been covered. This is no fault of mine and I've always pay my insurance on time and I'm robbed in the end... Where is the justice?!?!? I have always owned gm and I'm now rethinking that!

Filed May 5, 2010 · Electrical · 173,000 miles · MN

1999 pontiac grand prix gt. Turn on blower motor to positions 1-4 and headlights go out and blower motor does not run. Turn to position 5 and blower motor runs and lights come on. I have replaced the blower motor resistor and the results have not changed. There are a number of discussion groups and threads on the internet indicating this is a well known problem with pontiacs and the ignition switch.

Filed Jul 22, 2009 · Lights · 100,000 miles · IL

Plastic lenses that protect the head light bulbs have become less translucent with age. This reduces the amount of light transmission making it more difficult to read road signs which is a distraction to 'safe driving'. I have an older chrysler and it does not have this problem. A maximum opacity level for head light bulb 'protective covers' should be mandated.

Filed Nov 7, 2006 · Electrical · 65,000 miles · VA · fire

The event leading up the failure was I drove it. There is something wrong here. When 25+ cars burn down for no reason. What does it take for pontiac / gm / government agencies to acknowledge a problem and reimburse people for their loss? Death? There have been too many pontiac - grand prix -gm 3800 series engine fires. All I did was park my car after driving and within 5 minutes of parking my car in feb of 2003 it burned to the ground. There were no malfunction indications, not over heated and ignited while I walked away. Fire marshal and independent investigator said the fire originated in the engine compartment, near the drivers head lamp area. It had a bumper to bumper gm policy in effect as well as full insurance. Pontiac laughed when I called. The gm insurance underwriter called me an idiot and hung-up. Then my insurance company tried to have me accused of arson. Even though their investigator could not find anything....why? Take the publics money and at the first sign of trouble hide billion dollar companies behind politicians and the laws and agencies designed to protect us?

Filed Sep 29, 2004 · Lights · 73,800 miles · NC

The front headlight lens, after 5 years, has become extremely cloudy and lets less than 50% light thru it, causing the road to barely be lit up at night. I have talked to a pontiac dealer and a car repair company and both say that this is now common since changing from glass to plastic. This is a major safety hazard and no one seems to be acknowledging the problem with a recall. What could be more important than all older vehicles suffering over 50% loss of headlight light?

Filed Feb 17, 2004 · Lights · 55,000 miles · MA

I have a very hard time seeing at night due to the condensation build up inside both of my headlights. When asking the dealer to have them replaced, I was informed that this would not be covered under my warranty and that it would cost nearly $300 dollars per light. They also said that replacing them would most likely result in the condensation occurring again, because it is a known problem with these head lights.

Filed Jun 16, 2001 · Lights · MA

I am a technician at a pontiac dealer in the boston mass. Area. Over the past few years I have personally replaced the righthand headlamp assembly on multiple 1997-2000 model year pontiac grand prixs. In all instances the clear lens has separated from the headlamp body resulting in a lamp failure. Also, I can imagine the safety threat this poses if it should occure at highway speeds, as several vehicle owners have stated that this is indeed the case. I have replaced several left hand headlamp assemblies for the same condition but most instances have been the right hand lamp.

Filed Aug 29, 2000 · Lights · NY

Both front headlights have become scratched/cloudy. Light output is reduced. I believe that these headlight lenses are easilt scratched when cleaning debris and dirt. This has not happened on cars that I have owned that were equipped with glass headlight lenses. In addition, I believe that light output on low-beam is insufficient even when the vehicle was new.other grand prixs I have checked have the same problem with their headlights. Thirdly, the headlight assemblies are loosly fitted to the vehicle, causing the headlight pattern to shimmer when drivwen over rough roads.

Filed Jun 9, 2000 · Lights · KS

Headlights display "MPH" readout tumbles down then recovers (scrambles) with very light road vibration. 4 attempts to repair and not fixed.

Filed Aug 26, 1999 · Lights · MD

On july 30, 1999, I experienced total failure of headlights (high and low beam as well as "driving lights" mode). Car was taken to galaxay dealership the same day. Service determined the problem was failure of the "light module". A component was taken off of another new vehicle on the lot and placed on my vehicle. All seemed to work well until wednesday, august 25, 1999. I went to leave work for the day and upon staring the car, was aware that there were no dash dash lights or headlights (driving lights) again. Had to drive about 30 miles in heavy rain to get the car to the dealership again, where it currently is. Fortunately, it was not yet dark, however, visibility was very poor. What is going to happen (besides the obvious) when driving at 65 miles per hour, 11:00 at night on an interstate highway, and all lights decide to go out. Besides the inconvenience, this has the potential of being a deadly safety/equipment defect that need immediate attention. The dealership service manager advised that the same thing has happened to4 other 1999 pontiac grand prixs through the deaership this past month.