1994 Pontiac Grand AM headlight problems

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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

NHTSA complaint #10535722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO COME ON.

NHTSA complaint #10065148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

WHILE DRIVING IN FAIRLY HEAVY RAIN, THE TURN SIGNALS STOP FUNCTIONING. AFTER 2-3 DAYS OF DRY WEATHER, THEY BEGIN FUNCTIONING AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. IT'S HORRIFYING. DURING MY OWNERSHIP, THIS HAS HAPPENED NO LESS THAN 14 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10018935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT

REAR TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8012164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

REAR TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8012164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

WHEN CLICKING ON BRIGHT LIGHTS ,LIGHTS GO COMPLETLY OUT UNTIL YOU CLICK SWITCH AGAIN .TURN SIGNAL FOR RIGHT SIDE DOES NOT WORK EITHER AFTER COMPLETE CHANGE OF BULBS AND FUSES ,CRUISE CONTROL DOESNT WORK EITHER

NHTSA complaint #761853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

TURNING SIGNAL INTERMITTENTLY WOULDN'T WORK. TURNING SIGNAL HAS A DELAYED RESPONSE, SOMETIMES COMING ON 2-3 MINUTES LATER OR A HOUR LATER. SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT MULT-I FUNCTION SWITCHES IN GRAND AMS ARE ALL A PROBLEM. REPAIR COST $200.

NHTSA complaint #895933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

WHEN YOU TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS THE INTERIOR AND HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AND THE HIGH BEAMS NEVER COME ON, WHEN YOU TURN THE HIGH BEAMS OFF, THE INTERIOR AND HEADLIGHTS COME BACK ON ONLY SOMETIMES. THE OTHER TIMES YOU HAVE TO TURN THE KIGHTS ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES TO GET ANY LIGHTS AT ALL BACK ON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ON A LONG TRIP WITH MY 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR! IT WAS NOT A FUN EPISODE AND THANK GOODNESS NOBODY WAS HURT. EVERYTIME SINCE THAT WE HAVE TRIED TO GET THE HIGH BEAMS TO WORK, THE SAME THING HAPPENS

NHTSA complaint #747270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

WHEN YOU TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS THE INTERIOR AND HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AND THE HIGH BEAMS NEVER COME ON, WHEN YOU TURN THE HIGH BEAMS OFF, THE INTERIOR AND HEADLIGHTS COME BACK ON ONLY SOMETIMES. THE OTHER TIMES YOU HAVE TO TURN THE KIGHTS ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES TO GET ANY LIGHTS AT ALL BACK ON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ON A LONG TRIP WITH MY 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR! IT WAS NOT A FUN EPISODE AND THANK GOODNESS NOBODY WAS HURT. EVERYTIME SINCE THAT WE HAVE TRIED TO GET THE HIGH BEAMS TO WORK, THE SAME THING HAPPENS

NHTSA complaint #747270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND USING , HIGH BEAMS, THEY WOULD GO OUT COMPLETELY. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. CURRENTLY, HAVING PROBLEMS WITH REGULAR HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT. WOULD SWITCH FROM HIGH BEAMS TO HEADLIGHTS TO HIGH BEAMS TO GET THEM TO WORK.

NHTSA complaint #889833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

SWITCHING FROM HIGH TO LOW BEAMS HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF & USE OF HAZARD LIGHTS SHUT OFF TURN SIGNALS UNTIL CAR SITS OVERNIGHT

NHTSA complaint #746185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT

SWITCHING FROM HIGH TO LOW BEAMS HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF & USE OF HAZARD LIGHTS SHUT OFF TURN SIGNALS UNTIL CAR SITS OVERNIGHT

NHTSA complaint #746185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

BRAKE FAILED. NLM. CONSUMER STATES PRIOR TO RECALL, A NEW STARTER WAS NEEDED AS WELL AS A NEW ENGINE AND ALSO A NEW LIGHTING SWITCH, CONSUMER HAS ALSO HAD TO GET NEW TIRES.

NHTSA complaint #559944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 00V287000/ ENGINE STARTER. ALSO, EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED EXTERIOR LIGHTS OF VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONING. EXTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD STOP OPERATING WHEN SWITCHING BETWEEN DIM AND BRIGHT. AT TIMES, THERE WAS SMELL OF BURNING WIRES. *AK PING OF TILT ON STEERING COLUMN BACKED OUT TWICE. THE REPLACEMENT NEW SWITCH FAILED. THE DASH LIGHTS WERE OUT. THE WINDOW BRACKETS WERE WEAK. THE FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS FAILED FREQUENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #880869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHTS GO OFF, DIMMING WILL BRING THEM BACK ON.

NHTSA complaint #740728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

SINCE PURCHASED NEW THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. NOW THERE IS A SWITCH RECALL IN 2001. WHY HASN'T SOMETHING BEEN DONE ABOUT ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS. LAST WEEK THE CRANKSENSOR WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING 55MPH. CAR STOPPED RUNNING

NHTSA complaint #740744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT CONSUMER HAD ON HIGH BEAMS, AND WHEN SWITCHING TO LOW BEAMS ALL LIGHTS WENT OUT, CONSUMER HAD TO SWITCH BACK AND FORTH, AND THEN LIGHTS CAME BACK ON.

NHTSA complaint #878825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING VARIOUS DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH LOW BEAMS NOT WORKING. ALSO, HAZARD LIGHTS STAY ON, AND HIGH BEAMS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER NOTED PROBLEM MAY BE LINKED TO PONTIAC'S MOST RECENT RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #877600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

WHILE DRIVING WITH LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD, HEADLIGHTS WOULD CONSTANTLY GO OUT, AND AT THIS TIME, WERE NOT WORKING. ALSO, TAIL LIGHTS WORKED ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT LIGHTS. IN ADDITION, STARTER AND BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #877009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

WHILE DRIVING WITH LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD, HEADLIGHTS WOULD CONSTANTLY GO OUT, AND AT THIS TIME, WERE NOT WORKING. ALSO, TAIL LIGHTS WORKED ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT LIGHTS. IN ADDITION, STARTER AND BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #877009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THE HEADLIGHT TROUBLE ALMOST CAUSED VEHICLE TO LEAVE ROAD AT HIGH SPEED. I FOUND THAT WHEN THEY CUT OUT, I NEED TO PUT HIGH BEAMS ON & THEN SWITCH BACK TO LOW BEAMS. SEATBACKS FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS WILL FLY FOWARD DURING HEAVY BRAKING. A MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THE SEAT BACKS WERE SUPPOSED TO MOVE FOWARD LIKE THIS, I WOULD LIKE THIS FIXED. AS FOR THE DRIVER WINDOW, MANY OTHER GRAND AM OWNERS TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE SAME PROBLEM - THIS ONE HAS COST ME OVER $100 IN DRYING OUT MY VEHICLE INTERIOR AND REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #720728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

WINDSHIELD WIPER'S ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND ALSSO WORK OCCASIONALLY WHEN CONSUMER USES THE TURN SIGNAL.

NHTSA complaint #849845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, INDICATING A FAILURE IN THE POWER STEERING WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. ALSO, PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER'S DOOR LATCH WHICH WON'T OPEN FROM THE INSIDE/HIGH BEAM IN THE HEADLIGHTS IS INOPERATIVE/STRUTS MALFUNCTIONED TOO EARLY, AND WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE HESITATES WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #838921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THERE IS A WIRING SHORT AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL GO OFF AND SOMETIMES THE HEADLIGHTS. USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN USING TURN SIGNAL. ALSO WHEN TURNING ON FLASHERS THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. THE RIGHT INTERIOR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON. ALSO THE STEERING COLUMN VINYL COVERING OVER THE AIRBAG HAS SPLIT DOWN THE PONTIAC SYMBOL EXPOSING THE AIRBAG.

NHTSA complaint #704331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

FRONT HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT DURING DRIVING OR WHEN LIGHTS ARE SWITCHED BETWEEN BRIGHTS AND LOW BEAMS. LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT COMPLETELY AND WILL NOT COME ON RENDERING THE CAR USELESS FOR NIGHT DRIVING.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )

NHTSA complaint #701349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH

WHEN ENGAGING HIGH BEAMS, FAILURE OCCURS.

NHTSA complaint #531453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH

WHENEVER THE DIMMER LIGHTS ARE USED, ALL THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. CAN PLAY WITH DIMMER & SWITCH AND ALL LIGHTS BACK ON AGAIN. TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. NEEDS TO USE EMERGENCY FLASHER TO GET THE TURN SIGNAL TO WORK LIKE IT SHOULD.

NHTSA complaint #821344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.