1999 Pontiac Grand AM wheel problems

WHEELS

THE WALMART DOUGLAS BRAND PASSENGER CAR TIRES HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOUND ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THE DOUGLAS TIRE I PURCHASED IN 10/13 HAS NOW DEVELOPED A NOTICEABLE BULGE ON THE SIDE WALL UNDERNEATH THE TIRE VALVE STEM AREA. HOWEVER, WALMART REFUSES TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVELY MANUFACTURED TIRE EVENTHOUGH I EXPLAINED THAT IF I HAD NOT NOTICED THE BULGE, THE TIRE COULD OF BLOWN ON THE FWY AND COST ME MY LIFE. BUT THE EMPLOYEE SAID, SORRY.. I ASKED THE EMPLOYEE HOW OLD WAS THE TIRE AT THE TIME I PURCHASED IT. BUT HE COULD SAY. AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION, THE WALMART MECHANIC / EXPERT WOULD OF NOTICED THE BULGE WHICH WAS MINOR AT THE TIME, AS I HAD NOTICED BUT THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT SINCE I AM NOT AN EXPERT. AS THIS WAS THE ONLY TIRE SIZE MY WALMART STORE HAD IN STOCK FOR MY CAR, I PURCHASED IT WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF BRAND. IN OTHER WORDS, I WOULD OF BOUGHT A DIFFERENT BRAND TIRE IF THE SHELVES HAD IN MY SIZE. FURTHER, I BELIEVE WALMART IS AWARE OF ITS DEFECTIVE TIRE'S WHICH I DISCOVERED TODAY THAT THEY ARE MADE IN CHINA. SUPPOSEDLY, DOUGLAS TIRE IS A SUBSIDIARY OF GOODYEAR. SO I HAVE EMAILED THEM WITH MY CONCERN AND REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE WALMART SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR KNOWINGLY SELLING A POORLY MANUFACTURED PRODUCT FOR AUTOMOBILES. EVIDENCE OF THE UNSAFE TIRES ARE POSTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET.

NHTSA complaint #10662547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

I WAS BACKING UP SLOWLY OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. AS I TURNED ME WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, I HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE. IT SOUNDED LIKE A POP OR A CRACK. IT WAS MIDNIGHT SO I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WHEN I INSPECTED MY VEHICLE. AS I WAS DRIVING HOME I HEARD A LOUD SCRAPING SOUND. AS I WOULD BREAK IT GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. IT WAS SCRAPING AND TEARING. I GOT HOME AND STILL COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. I CHECKED THE NEXT DAY AND I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED. BECAUSE OF THIS CRACKED COIL, THE PROTRUDING PIECE OF METAL FROM THE COIL WAS JAMMED AND RESTING ON THE TIRE WALL. BECAUSE OF HAVING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME, THE COIL HAS TORN AND RIPPED UP MY TIRE WALL AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE WITH A CRACKED COIL ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF MY VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS CRAZINESS AND COMPLETELY UNSAFE! I FEAR FOR MY LIFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AS IT CLEARLY HAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I AM BAFFLED AS TO WHY THERE IS NO POSTED RECALL FOR THIS HAZARDOUS PRODUCT. PONTIAC SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR LETTING THIS GO AND NOT ADMITTING THEIR FAILURE AS A CAR MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA complaint #10550850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A LOUD POP FROM THE GARAGE WAS HEARD WHILE IN THE HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN. THE FRONT COIL SPRING AND BOTH FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE REPLACED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. THE AIR MUST BE REFILLED IN THE TIRES EVERY 4-6 WEEKS. THE TIRE DEALERSHIP STATED IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 3/20/2006 -

NHTSA complaint #10150946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS:RIM

THE VEHICLE HAD LIMITED EDITION ALLOY RIMS THAT CRACKED ALL FOUR HUB CAPS AND CAUSED A TIRE TO SEPARATE WHILE DRIVING. *JB *SC

NHTSA complaint #10064771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS:HUB

1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM 2.4 L AUTO SEVERE BRAKE FAILURE---REPLACEMENT OF PADS 8 TIMES, ROTORS 3 TIMES AND CALIPERS 2 TIMES IN 80,000 MILES. BRAKES OCCASIONALLY LOCK UP AND MAKE LOUD GRINDING AND SQUEALING NOISES STEERING SHUDDERS AND VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT.. PARTICIPATING PONTIAC DEALER FAILED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASE AT 11,000 MILES. UNDER WARRANTY REPLACEMENT IT HAS HAD 6 DOOR PANELS DUE TO PEELING LEATHER ON TOP OF PANEL, 5 GEAR SHIFTERS DUE TO DEALERS IMPROPER INSTALLATION, 2 FACTORY CD/RADIO FAILURES, 1 RACK AND PINION UNIT, 2 FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLIES DUE TO KNOCKING NOISE FROM FRONT OF CAR (WENT BAD AFTER 10,000 MILES USE), PROBLEM WITH HESITATION AT IDLE-COLD START(UNSUCCESSFULLY DIAGNOSED BY DEALER) CARPET LOOSE IN TRUNK AROUND LATCH ASSEMBLY(TOO SHORT FOR TRUNK AND WAS HOT GLUED TO BACK WALL OF CAR BY DEALER INSTEAD OF REPLACEMENT). TURN SIGNALS STILL OCCASIONALLY FAIL TO WORK(DEALER SAID THEY WORKED JUST FINE) BATTERY CONNECTION IN FACTORY BATTERY BROKE LOOSE SPILLING CORROSIVE BATTERY ACID ALL OVER AROUND BATTERY TRAY AREA. ALL FOUR WHEEL COVERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE OF "PIE PAN" NOISE WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP (NEW ONES DID NOT FIX PROBLEM). AFTER WARRANTY WAS UP PONTIAC' CARE HOTLINE OR THE DEALER COULD "CARE " LESS THAT AFTER DOZENS OF TRIPS FOR REPAIRS THE DEALER STILL DIDN'T FIX THE CAR WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THEN,BESIDES THE UNREPAIRED ITEMS ON MY CAR, THE ALTERNATOR WENT BAD AT 60,000 MILES ($120), GLASS IN INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR BROKE WHILE ADJUSTING, BOTH OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS HAVE BROKE OFF IN TWO DIFFERENT AUTOMATIC CAR WASHES (HELD INTO DOOR BY A STUD MOUNTED INTO 1/4 INCH OF PLASTIC IN THE MIRROR). AND THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AT 75,000 MILES($300). FOG LIGHTS AND BACKUP LIGHTS HAVE WATER CONDENSATION IN THEM SHORTING OUT BULBS. SURPRISINGLY ,THIS CAR IS "BABIED" ,BUT BY IN MY DESCRIPTION YOU SURE COULDN'T TELL IT. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10023794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE COME FROM THE FRONT WHEELS WHILE DRIVING. MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8009987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

THE WHEELS MAKE A RUBBING SOUND WHEN THE CAR IS TURNING OR COMING TO A STOP. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE TIRE CASING WAS RUBBING THE EDGE OF THE WHEEL RIM. SIMILAR TO THE CONSUMER COMPLAINT #ODI ID 885314. THE WAY IT WAS PRESENTED TO ME WAS THAT THE TIRE CASING WAS PHYSICALLY RIDING ON THE WHEEL RIM. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY CONCERN. THE DEALER AND GM HAVE SAID THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THE TIRES ARE RUBBING ON THE WHEEL RIM IN CERTAIN EXTREME CONDITIONS THIS COULD CAUSE THE TIRE BEAD TO BREAK AND THE TIRE LOSE ALL IT'S AIR, AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE TRIED TO GET GM TO FIX THIS, BUT THEY HAVE STATED THERE IS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #754001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS:RIM

TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT VEHICLE MAKES NOISE. IT FEELS LIKE RIM IS OVER LAPPING OR TIRES IN FRONT SEEM TOO BIG. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER 6-7 TIMES. DEALER DIDN'T THINK IT WAS AN ISSUE. THEY HAVE SCRAPED AND PAINTED RIMS, THINKING IT WILL CORRECT IT. *AK THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBELM AND THE CONSUMER WAS SCARED DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #885314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS:HUB

THE HUB CAPS HAVE RATTLED SINCE THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS CAUSED BY TAKING THEM OFF TOO MUCH AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO FIX IT OUTSIDE OF BUYING NEW ONES.

NHTSA complaint #736599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

LUGS: NUTS ON LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #863459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

WHILE DRIVING THE BOLTS THAT HOLDS THE SUSPENSION IN PLACE ON THE WHEELS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND WILL REPAIR VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #853423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS:RIM

UPON DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE, THE RIM CRACKED AND CAME OFF THE WHEEL. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #842284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS:HUB

HUB CAPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE RATTLE WAS HEARD WHEN HITTING A BUMP. THE RATTLE STILL EXISTS AND THOUGHT IT COULD BE THE SUSPENSION? WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES DON'T HIT THE WINDSHIELD PROPERLY. MOST NOTABLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. PAINT ALSO SEEMS TO BE CHIPPING IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #707977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.