2000 Pontiac Grand Prix: brake failure

Filed Aug 10, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 126,818 miles · IL

I was driving along,and suddenly without warning,the engine died...naturally the power steering and power brakes didn't work, but I managed to get the car over to the curb. I tried to start it and it started just fine, so I took it home, I was nervous after that driving it ! Because after that it continued to stall several more times when I was driving it, I never knew when it would happen. So I couldn't go out of town in it that's for sure ! I spent quite a bit of money for mechanics to work on it, but since it didn't show a code of any kind, no one could fix it for me. I loved the car, but I traded it off because no body could fix it. I just can't believe that it was not included in that recall for the ignition switch. Just thought I would let you know about this...thanks

Filed Jun 8, 2012 · Brakes · 149,772 miles · IN

I was traveling to work at around 5:30am and started to pass a semi truck when the semi signaled to come over too the passing lane as well to pass a slower moving truck in front of him. I let off the gas pedal and signal for the truck to maneuver into the passing lane. I pressed on the brake pedal and the pedal went to the floor and had no stopping power. Then the brake warning light came on, so I turned on my hazard lights to move to the shoulder of the road. I got out and checked the fluid level in the master cylinder to find that there was none visible. I call my brother to come and tow me and the car home, which was about 6 miles from the house. After I lifted the car and put brake fluid in the master cylinder, I found that the brake line had ruptured where the fuel line and the brake fluid line come together in the rear of the car. I have had to pay for the repairs to the brake line system of $255 of my own monies! Thanks pontiac for possibly causing the loss of life or injury to myself, my family, and any other misfortunes that might have happened because of your lack of a improper, unreliable and unsafe braking system!!! As this is not the only report of this failure, I hope and pray it does not come to someone losing a life before you admit your mistakes and failures!

Filed May 13, 2010 · Brakes · 173,000 miles · MO

We own a 2000 pontiac grand prix purchased new. In the last 6 months the brake lines in the rear of this car have broken twice resulting in complete brake failure and very near accidents. I am 62 years old and have owned dozens of cars. This is the first time I have ever had a failure like this. It is obviously cause by defective or substandard materials.

Filed Oct 22, 2008 · Engine · 132,000 miles · UT · fire

I was on my way home from work. I decided to stop and get gas before going home. I stopped got gas and when I started my car a little smoke came out the sides of the hood. I didn't think anything of it because it wasn t alot. And so I kept driving about 2 block away I had more smoke coming out. I was only 3 blocks from home so I decided to just get home. More and more smoke started coming out I lost a little power and then a flame shot into the car. I was headed up the hill to my house and still continued to lose power as I got right infront of my house I couldn't move forward and started rolling backwards down the hill and then my brakes gave out and the only thing that stopped me was the emergency brake. By this time flames were shooting out from under the hood. I grabbed everything that I thought was important, ran it into my house. Went back out, called the fire dept and ran into get my fire extinguisher but by that time the fire dept was there it took them about 10 min to put the fire out because we couldn't get the hood open and so just when we thought it was out it wasn't. Finally when it was out they opened the hood. Everything under the hood was destroyed.

Filed Apr 26, 2006 · Engine · 147,000 miles · NJ · fire

Driving home around 5 30 in the evening, exited off the garden state parkway at exit 91. Came up to the first light and the service engine soon light came on and flashed a couple of times. After that there was a puff of white smoke that came from the hood. Then the light went out. At this point I was about a 1/2 mile from home. As I continued to drive the car began to hesitate. Turning onto the street I live off the car died, no steering, no brakes, nothing. I had to forcibly turn the steering wheel, avoiding on coming traffic and luckily without incident steered the car into a vacant rite aid. Where I pulled the keys out of the ignition and exited the car. Popped the hood and saw a flame spark around the plastic supercharger cover. After seeing the flames I ran as far as possible and called 911. Police and fire department arrived shortly after. The car's engine was completely engulfed in flames. I am lucky that I was not injured, imagine if I was traveling on the parkway and the car died out. I might not be typing this letter right now! Something for gm to think about. Stop the problem now.

Filed Apr 5, 2001 · Brakes · CA

Intermittently when applying brakes in low speed, 20 or less MPH, it causes pedal to lock up, a grinding sound would come from wheels and loss of braking. Vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on four occasions, and problem still occurring.