1999 Pontiac Grand AM engine problems

ENGINE

THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH WENT OUT CAUSING ME TO LOSE A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL.

NHTSA complaint #10874327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DRIPPING OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DRIPPING OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN, YEAR, AND MODEL WERE NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10822483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

IGNITION HAS SHUT DOWN NUMEROUS TIMES ALSO ACTIVATING GM PASSLOCK SYSTEM, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED NUMEROUS TIMES, RAW FUEL HAS DISINTEGRATED MUFFLER AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER, NOTIFIED GM NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT THIS, STONEWALLED, GIVEN LOCAL NUMBER TO CALL, THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF IT, CAR NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, PARKED IT, INCURRED INSURANCE/TAXES ETC TO KEEP CAR IN DRIVEWAY, MOSTLY INOPERABLE NOW WAITING ON GM TO ADDRESS, THEY REFUSE TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE PHONE CALLS/E-MAILS NOR WILL THEY TRY AND REACH AN ACCORD IN REGARDS TO A CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I AM DISABLED AND RELIED ON THIS CAR TO GO TO DOCTOR OFFICES, BEING LEFT STRANDED NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAITING TO BE TOWED BY AAA WAS DIFFICULT ENOUGH YET WHEN I ASKED ABOUT BEING AT LEAST DISABLED, THEY WANTED TO THEN CHARGE A "DIAGNOSIS" FEE ON TOP OF BEING TREATED LIKE DIRT. I SENT THEM A "LIEN" ( I KNOW IT HOLDS THE WEIGHT OF AIR!) TO TRY AND WORK THIS OUT...AND HAVE HEARD NOTHING. THE CAR IS NOW A BRICK IN THE DRIVEWAY. I HAVE THE REPAIR BILL, TOTALING 700.00 DOLLARS AND THE TAX BILL AND INSURANCE COST FOR HAVING A VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE THE BILLS AND NO RESOLUTION FOR AN ISSUE I DID NOT CAUSE, GM HID THIS AND THEN DID NOTHING TO MAKE IT RIGHT. CAN YOU HELP OR AT LEAST INVESTIGATE THE IGNITION AND PASSLOCK PROBLEMS?

NHTSA complaint #10783479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. UPDATED 6/30/15*CN UPDATED 07/02/15

NHTSA complaint #10705441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

HI I'VE BOUGHT A CAR FROM CAR HOP THE FIRST TIME IT BROKE N 3 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT AND CAR HOP HAD IT TOWED TO ONE OF THERE SHOPS AND I WAS TOLD THEY PUT A NEW ENGINE IN IT 6 MONTHS AGO CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN THEY WOULDN'T GET IT FIX SO I STOPPED MAKE N PAYMENT ON CAR FOR 3 MONTHS AND THEY CALL ME AND ASKED ME IF I'D LIKE TO START THERE FRESH START PROGRAM WERE I'D HAVE A WARRANTY N I'D JUST HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH MY PAYMENT BUT THEY WILL FIX THE CAR SO THEY PUT N ANOTHER ENGINE 4 MONTHS AFTER NEW ENGINE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME I HAVE NO WARRANTY AND THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY 700 DOLLARS ON TOP OF MY 340 PAYMENTS TO GET CARDIAC IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO I'M A SINGLE MOM OF TWO KIDS AND THIS IS STRESSFUL I'VE GIVE IN CAR HOP 5,000 N PAYMENTS AND THEY ARE NOT BEING FAR.

NHTSA complaint #10702238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I NOTICED THE IGNITION KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION REGARDLESS OF POSITION. SINCE HEARING OF GM INCLUDING THE 99 GRAND AM IN ITS RECALL I CALLED THE LOCAL GM DEALER. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTING THAT COULD BE DONE UNTIL I RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE FROM GM. I CONTACTED GM AND WAS TOLD I COULD GET IT REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE AND THEM FILE PAPERWORK TO GET REIMBURSED. I RELAISE THERE IS PROBABLY A HUGE BACK-UP RELATED TO PARTS. AS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND MY CAR IS EFFECTED BY THE RECALL, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I WOULD NOT EXPECT GM TO FIX THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY, BUT I DO THINK IT IS REASONABLE TO BE ABLE TO BE PUT ON A WAITING LIST. AS THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW, GM WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I AM A TOYOTA MASTER TECHNICIAN, ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN, AND WAS A NISSAN MASTER TECHNICIAN, SO I DO UNDERSTAND HOW RECALLS WORK ATE THE DEALER LEVEL.

NHTSA complaint #10607735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WELL I OWN A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE COUPE, AND I NOTICED ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO AT 50-60 MPH (OR 2000 RPMS), THE CARS SPEED AND RPMS WOULD DECREASE ABOUT 2 MPH AND THE RPMS WOULD DECREASE ABOUT 500 RPMS, THEN IT WOULD RETURN AND IT WOULD DO THIS EVERY TIME I WAS AT THAT SPEED, ALSO NOW WHEN I ACCELERATE TO 60 AND IF I LET THE CAR DECREASE SPEED THE TEMP GAUGE WOULD SKYROCKET AND AFTER ABOUT 1/8 A MILE IT WOULDN'T LET ME INCREASE SPEED ALONG WITH THAT MY ELECTRIC FANS IN THE CAR HAVE NEVER ENGAGED, I LOVE THIS CAR AND I DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF IT. ALSO I HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED AND ITS NOT THAT.

NHTSA complaint #10592120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

IN APPROXIMATELY 2000 TO 2002, OUR 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM STALLED WITH ENGINE SHUTDOWN, LOSS OF BRAKING POWER, AND LOSS OF STEERING ON THE NJ GARDEN STATE PARKWAY AT HIGH SPEED, WHEN MY KNEE HIT A FEW KEYS AND MY KEY RING ALONG WITH THE PONTIAC KEY IN THE IGNITION, I.E. SHUTTING OFF THE CAR. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. FORTUNATELY, WITH ALMOST NO STEERING, BRAKING, OR ENGINE POWER, I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE INTO THE BREAK DOWN LANE AND STOP THE CAR. I AM REPORTING THIS NOW BECAUSE IT NEVER DAWNED ON ME THEN THAT IT COULD BE A CAR DEFECT, AND I AM CONCERNED THAT OTHERS MIGHT BE INJURED OR KILLED BY THESE OLDER GM VEHICLES IF FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH IS AN ISSUE FOR THEM, GIVEN THAT GM IS RECALLING MILLIONS OF VEHICLES FOR FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES. I BELIEVE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE OTHER MODELS AND AGES OF GM VEHICLES, INCLUDING 1999 AND LATER YEAR PONTIAC GRAND AMS, AS THE DANGER WE EXPERIENCED FROM THAT VEHICLE SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT BE THE SAME AS WHAT IS NOW BEING REPORTED. WE NO LONGER OWN THE PONTIAC. YOU CAN SEE THIS INCIDENT MADE A BIG IMPACT ON ME, BECAUSE I REMEMBER IT 12+ YEARS LATER.

NHTSA complaint #10584356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HAZARD SWITCH AND THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 205,000.

NHTSA complaint #10503039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

CAR THE WORST. I'VE SUNK MORE $ IN2 IT THAN SHE COST TO BUY. $15,000 AT LST. HEAD GASKET X2. INTAKE MANIFOLD X2 WINDOW PARTS X2 BRAKES, PADS ROTORS ENGINE REPLACED IN 2009 BY QUACK MECHANIC ON ADVICE FROM A FRIEND CAR 3 MTHS ON LIFT! COST $1000 A YR 2 PASS NYS INSPECTION HAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER & GASKETS REPLACED AFTER I BEGGED DO IT! CAT WHOLE PROB FOR 31/2 YRS. ERG VALVE SELONOID CHANGED. COILS SPRINGS, STRUT MOUNT(SENSATRAC) STRUT WAS ONLY AFTER I HAD TIRES REPLACED FOR UPTEENTH TIME REALIZING IT WAS CUTTING INTO 1 TIRE DRIVING OUT OF THE SHOP. ANTIFREEZE STILL OOZES OUT REGARDLESS HOW MANY X'S WORK DONE ON COOLING SYSTEM. THERMASTAT TWICE FUEL INJECTOR OXYGEN SENSOR ANTIFREEZE RESERVOIR, HOSES MUFFLER REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF TWICE TIMING BELT. HEADLIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES REAR LIGHTS. 2 OR 3 BATTERIES. THIS CAR SHOULD RUN LIKE NEW- ALMOST EVERYTHING'S BEEN REPLACED NOPE! WAS TOWED TWICE LAST 2 WEEKS DUE TO COOLANT LOSS OVERHEATING ENGINE STOPPING. INFORMED TODAY AFTER CAR AGAIN OVERHEATED & LOST POWER IT'S PROBABLY INTAKE MANIFOLD & HEAD GASKET, OIL IS DRIPPING FROM SIDES OF ENGINE. COMPUTER AMUCK NOWODOMETER FLASHES 1/2 NUMBERS INSTEAD OF TRUE MILEAGE. ABS? LIGHT MECHANIC STATED ITS A WASTE OF YOUR $ TO REPAIR.... THREE HEAD GASKETS? ANOTHER INTAKE MANIFOLD? HELLO! I'VE MAINTAINED THIS CAR IT IS A LEMON A ROTTON LEMON AT THAT. GM KNOWS THESE ISSUES & DOES NOTHING. IN MICHIGAN CONSUMERS WON A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BECAUSE OF THIS. GM SHOULDA RECALLED THIS CAR PERIOD. I WASN'T INFORMED OR SAVVY ENOUGH TO KNOW THIS CARS ISSUES UPON PURCHASE. WHAT MAKES THIS WORSE, I NOW UNDERSTAND MY RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED AS A CONSUMER FOR YEARS! I'M POOR & CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR DUE TO THIS CAR CONTINUED PROBLEMS COST. I NEED A VEHICLE BUT AM LEFT WITH BUS RIDES TAKING ALMOST 3 HRS ONE WAY TO WORK OR A $35 CAB FARE ONE WAY. AS OF TODAY MY CAR IS TRASH.

NHTSA complaint #10473840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

MY HUSBAND AND I HAD JUST MADE IT INTO THE CITY AFTER A 1 AND A HALF HOUR DRIVE. AFTER DRIVING AROUND TOWN FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OUR CAR, 99 PONTIAC GRAND AM, SHUT OFF. WE SAT FOR A BIT AND TRIED IT AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. BUT IT KEPT DOING IT SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WE THOUGHT IT OVERHEATED BUT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE READ 200 DEGREES. HE CHANGED BOTH O2 SENSORS, CAM SHAFT, ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP, PUT ON A USED FUEL PUMP. WE WERE THINKING THAT IT MIGHT BE THE FUEL PUMP, BUT ARE UNSURE. THE POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WE HAVE CAME UP WITH ARE THE FUEL PUMP SINCE IT'S USED, THE CADILLAC CONVERTER BECAUSE IT SMELLS BAD AT TIMES, LIKE WHEN WE GO UP HILL, OR AS I WAS READING ALL THE PROBLEMS PEOPLE WERE HAVING WITH THERE 99 PONTIAC GRAND AM VEHICLES, WOULD BE THE INTAKE GASKET OR THE ABS LIGHT THAT GOES OFF AND COMES ON WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT. I HAVE SPENT ALOT OF MONEY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR AND I NEED HELP.

NHTSA complaint #10465860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I BOUGHT THIS 99 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE 3.4 LITER ENGINE AND OVERHEATING ALL THE TIME NOW I HAD IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS MY HEAD GASKET I WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS SOMETHING ABOUT A PLASTIC GASKET BEING THE CAUSE FOR IT AND THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE SUIT GOING ON ABOUT IT SO I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ACTION IF POSSIBLE.

NHTSA complaint #10460947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL. AFTER THE FAILURE, HE NOTICED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER THE CONTACT WAITED A WHILE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10382583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAVE A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM 3.4L. I'VE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE 2001 AND I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET (UNDER WARRANTY) IN 2002. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN! EXCEPT THIS TIME THERE WAS A FAULT IN THE GASKET IN THE ENGINE AS WELL, WHICH RESULTED IN SEIZED BEARINGS, SNAPPED CAMSHAFT, BROKEN AND BENT VALVE AS WELL AS THE CAPS TO THE OIL AND COOLANT BEING OVERHEATED AND NOT GOING ON PROPERLY. I AM TOLD THIS IS BECAUSE OF DEXCOOL AND THE GASKETS.

NHTSA complaint #10264438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

HAD ALL WINDOW MECHANISMS REPLACED AFTER ENDURING A WONDERFUL GARBAGE BAG COVER TREATMENT FOR WINDOW BEAUTY ENHANCEMENT LAST WINTER 2007-08. FOUND MY IGNITION REFUSES TO START W/ 1 KEY. I STARTED NOTICING THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC OF 22 YEARS. THOUGHT IT WAS A CRACK IN THE ACTUAL CONTAINER WHICH HOUSES ANTIFREEZE. THIS WAS REPLACED. NOPE. STILL LEAKING. CAR NEVER INDICATED ON PANEL THAT IT WAS ABOVE TEMP & OVERHEATED, STAYED WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE. THE CAR NEVER ONCE OVERHEATED. MECHANIC COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. SAID IT WAS A FAULTY COMPUTER... INDICATES, TIRES NEED CHECKING, FLASHING LIGHTS, ABS OFF/ON...WHICH BY THE WAY WAS CAUSING ME TO NOT HAVE MY CAR PASS INSPECTION TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY!! FOUND I WAS ALL OF A SUDDEN REPLACING ANTIFREEZE BY THE GALLONS. WAS STILL PAYING OFF MECHANIC FROM PREVIOUS ISSUES. DON'T ASK, WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE ANTIFREEZE PROBLEM! BROUGHT CAR IN TO HAVE RADIATOR CHECKED BY FRIENDS MECHANIC, FLUID WAS LITERALLY POURING OUT OF BOTTOM OF CAR. $1600. LATER!! HEAD GASKET SET,WATERPUMP,SERPENTINE BELT, RADIATOR HOSES, THERMOSTAT & GASKETS, CROSSOVERPIPES, AIRFILTER...NOW? 1 1/2 MONTHS LATER? WELL HEY.GUESS WHAT? RIDING MERRILY TO WORK LAST SAT. CAR STALLED ALL THE WAY...& YIPEE ANOTHER VISIT, ANOTHER MERE 900. BAG OF SHELLS CONSISTING OF CRANK SHAFT, BEARINGS. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? I DON'T HAVE IT!!.....I THOUGHT THIS GUY WAS PUTTING ME ON...I'VE LOST WORK SINCE I'M 45 MIN. AWAY. I'VE SPOKEN TO PONTIAC SEVERAL TIMES. THEY WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS. ACT DUMB- THE AMERICAN WAY...WEIRD, I'VE READ MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I'M SURPRISED YOU GUYS DON'T DEMAND SOME RESOLUTION FOR CONSUMERS. WHAT GIVES? IT'S SO INCREDIBLY OBVIOUS THIS IS A REAL SOLID COMPLAINT ABOUT ENGINE DEFECT WITH ALL THE EVIDENCE TO BACK IT UP!! I THINK IT WAS MINNISOTA OR MISSOURI THAT CONSUMERS ACTUALLY WON A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST PONTIAC FOR THESE SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS. NAMELY HEAD GASKET, ENGINE RELATED ISSUES..

NHTSA complaint #10256670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

COOLANT RSERVOIR INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 99 PONTIAC GRAND AM KEPT MESSING UP IVE SPENT OVER 1200 IN A MATTER OT 2 MONTHS.

NHTSA complaint #10224381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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

NHTSA complaint #10218666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

INTAKE GASKET ON 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM FAILED FOR THE THRID TIME. THE SECOND TIME I ALMOST HAD ENGINE DAMAGE. THE CAR OVERHEATED AND WARPED THE HEADS, BUT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10187640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT. THE VEHICLE'S CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000 MILES AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,900. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND INSPECTION. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE AND OIL, AND THE INTAKE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA WEBSITE FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM FOR THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLANT: EXHAUST SYSTEM: MANIFOLD/HEADER/TAIL PIPE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HER THAT THIS WILL COST HER $1,100. SHE WOULD BE CONTACTED BY THE GM MANUFACTURER. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF THIS PROBLEM, AND WAS SURPRISED WHEN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED HER OF THE OIL AND COOLANT LEAK.*AK UPDATED 05/21/07

NHTSA complaint #10187661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

I OWN A 1999 GRAND AM SE THAT I PURCHASED USED IN 2001. IN THE 5 YEARS THAT I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE THE HEATER FAN MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. IT STARTS OUT WITH ONLY A FEW OF THE FAN SPEEDS WORKING THEN A TERRIBLE SMELL WITH SMOKE COMING UP THROUGH THE DASHBOARD THEN THE FAN DOESN'T WORK ON ANY OF THE SPEEDS. IN EACH OF THESE EPISODES THE BLOWER RESISTER GOT MELTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED IN OCTOBER 2006 MY CAR HAD TO BE SENT TO AN ELECTRICAL MECHANIC DUE TO A SHORT IN THE WIRING WHICH RESULTED IN THE DASH HAVING TO BE REMOVED THEN THE FAN MOTOR AND FAN RESISTER COULD BE REPLACED. IN 2006 I ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVERS DOOR WINDOW WHEN IT FINALLY JUST FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR TO THE COST OF $250.00 AND A RENTAL CAR FOR 2 DAYS DUE TO THE WRONG PART BEING DELIVERED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I'VE ALSO HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT BRAKES AND THE PASSENGER DOOR HAS A LOUD POP EVERY TIME IT IS OPENED, I'M SCARED OF GETTING AN ESTIMATE ON THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE EVERY REPAIR FOR MY GRAND AM IS RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE, WHEN I QUESTION THE COST I ALWAYS HEAR "WELL IT'S BECAUSE IT'S A GRAND AM, THEY'RE A PIECE OF CRAP, ESPECIALLY THE 1999'S".

NHTSA complaint #10177149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

NEAR CRASH. OCCASIONALLY THE RPMS WHILE IN GEAR WILL RAISE TO 3300 RPM MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP QUICKLY ENOUGH TO AVOID AND ACCIDENT. I FOUND IF I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION THEN RESTART THE IDLE WILL RETURN BACK TO 650-700 RPMS. NOW THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ALMOST A YEAR. I WENT TO PONTIAC AND THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM... I HAD A FRIEND WHO ALSO HAD A 1999 GRAND AM WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN WITH HIM WHICH CAUSE HIM TO HAVE A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT ON A WET ROAD. HAS ANYONE ELSE WROTE INTO YOU ABOUT THIS PROBLEM?

NHTSA complaint #10173877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2005 WITH 68K ON IT. ONE MONTH LATER COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, FOUND OUT THE MANIFOLD GASKETS WERE IN NEED OF REPAIR, 800.0, TWO WEEKS LATER SAME PROBLEM THIS TIME THE LEAKING CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE HEADS 1700.00 REPAIR.....HAVE A CALL INTO GM NOW.

NHTSA complaint #10170550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON PONTIAC GRAND AM.

NHTSA complaint #10162498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAVE A '99 PONTIAC GRAND AM WITH 65,000 MILES WITH A DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT ISSUE IN CANADA AND IS A COMMON ISSUE IN THE USA ALSO. GM IS NOT ISSUING A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THERE IS EVIDENCE THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART (OR DEFECTIVE BECAUSE OF THE DEXCOOL COOLANT). I SPOKE WITH GM AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT A RECALL ITEM AND THE CAR WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. FORTUNATELY, THIS PROBLEM WAS RECOGNIZED AND REMEDIED PRIOR TO RUINING THE ENGINE. THE REPAIR BILL WAS $558.84.

NHTSA complaint #10157527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH FAILED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND CYLINDER, WHICH REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10152962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE ENGINE'S HIGH PERFORMANCE ADDITIVE CAUSED CORROSION TO THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEAD. THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS REPLACED WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 3/28/2006 - THE WATER PUMP FAILED. THE BATTERY AND BRAKES FAILED. THE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE ANTIFREEZE HAD CONGEALED AND NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED AND REPLACED. THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #10151846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON MY 1999 GRAND AM WAS TOTALLY DISSOLVED. I HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP WHICH THE MECHANIC STATED WITH THE DEX-COOL IN THIS YEAR VEHICLE GM HAVE HAD PROBLEMS, WITH THE DEX-COOL EATING THE GASKETS AND WATER PUMP. I HAVE GONE THROUGH 2 WATER PUMPS ALREADY, AND NOW MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A CHARGE OF $700.00.

NHTSA complaint #10150703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHERE TO START, .BOUGHT 1999 GRAND AM GT IN AUGUST OF 2002 AND ITHAS BEEN DOWNHILL EVER SINCE. REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR TWICE, HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEM, WHICH WAS REPLACED, BUT STILL LED TO THE DEMISE OF MY ENGINE, CAUSING CAMSHAFT TO SNAP IN HALF. THOUGHT THE TROUBLE WAS OVER WITH THE REBUILT ENGINE THAT WAS PUT IN, BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. THE WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SNOWSTORM ,CAUSING ME TO DRIVE WITH NO DRIVERSIDE WINDOW. WITH THE NEW REGULATOR I ASSUMED THAT THE WINDOW WOULD STOP SQUEAKING, WHICH DID NOT. I ASSUMED THE SCRATCHES ON WINDOWS WERE JUST FROM ME-SAND OR SOME OTHER ABRASIVE MATERIAL IN THE WINDOW TRACKS--AFTER REVIEWING OTHER COMPLAINTS I DISCOVERED I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. HAVE EXPERIENCED VARIOUS ISSUES WITH THE NO TRAC/ABS LIGHTS, REPLACED THE WATERPUMP, DONE BRAKES 4 TIMES IN 4 YEARS, FRONT HEADLIGHTS ARE MILKY AND MAKE IT HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER 4 TIMES IN JUST THE PAST 2 YEARS. NEEDLESS TO SAY AFTER READING ALL COMPLAINTS I FEEL MUCH BETTER KNOWING THAT IT IS NOT JUST ME, OR MY CAR, BUT ALL PONTIACS. BOUGHT THE CAR FOR $10000, HAVE PUT OVER $5000 WORTH OF WORK INTO IT. WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER PONTIAC.

NHTSA complaint #10148800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.