12 of the
249 complaints about the 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix are about the
steering — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
260,000 miles.
REAR SUBFRAME RETAINERS RUSTED OUT CAUSING ENGINE/TRANSAXLE TO DROP AND STEERING SHAFT TO SEPARATE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHERE THE VEHICLE ENDED UP IN THE ON COMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE RETAINERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE BEFORE. REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE THE SAME DEFECT AS THE ORIGINAL PARTS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS A SOLUTION. ONE GM DEALER (DON MILLER IN MADISON) DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF A RECALL. ANOTHER GM DEALER SAID GM WILL OFFER A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND TAKE THE CAR, BUT THERE IS NO REPAIR OPTION. YOUR PERSON I SPOKE WITH AT THE (888) PHONE NUMBER DIRECTED BE TO A GM (800) NUMBER WHO COULD NOT FIND ANY INFORMATION EVEN THOUGH I GAVE THEM THE RECALL NUMBER. IN ADDITION TO THE BOLTS AND RETAINERS THAT ARE "COVERED", THE RUBBER CUSHIONS AND TOP RETAINERS WERE UNABLE TO BE FOUND AND WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. I HAVE ORDERED THE PARTS AT A COST OF ABOUT $110 AND A $60 TOW BILL PLUS ANY LABOR CHARGE I INCUR. LOOKING OVER THE NUMBER OF THESE FAILURES ON YOUR SITE, IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT NO ACCIDENTS HAVE RESULTED THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED. I WONDER HOW MANY HAVE OCCURRED AND THE CAUSE WAS NOT DISCOVERED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE CONTINUED TO INSPECT VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN "REPAIRED" WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10206369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wauwatosa, WI
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
CONSUMER HAD RECALL (00V-189) REPAIR COMPLETED, HOWEVER ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM DUE TO RECALL RELATED FAILURE. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #556812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wauwatosa, WI
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
CONSUMER HAD RECALL (00V-189) REPAIR COMPLETED, HOWEVER ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM DUE TO RECALL RELATED FAILURE. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #556812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Templeton, MA
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
DRIVING TO WORK AT 9 PM WHEN POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKED - CONTINUED DRIVING TO WORK BELIEVING POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FINALLY FAILED DUE TO AGE. WHEN I ARRIVED AT WORK, I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID, IT WAS AT CORRECT LEVEL AND SO AGAIN ASSUMED PUMP FAILED DUE TO AGE. WHEN I PREPARED TO LEAVE WORK THE NEXT MORNING AT 11AM, I DISCOVERED THE CRADLE WAS HANGING DOWN BELOW THE THE FRONT FACIA OF THE CAR. I INVESTIGATED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND DISCOVERED THAT BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT BOLTS SUPPORTING THE CRADLE BASE HAD SLIPPED THROUGH SLOTS IN CRADLE BASE ALLOWING CRADLE TO FALL TO ITS CURRENT POSITION. WE SPOKE TO OUR LOCAL PONTIAC DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED US THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM THAT IS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF. UPON MY FURTHER CHECKING ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THAT A RECALL HAS JUST BEEN ISSUED THIS MONTH, BUT NOTIFICATION HAS NOT GONE OUT TO DEALERSHIPS AND OWNERS. PONTIAC , UPON RESEARCHING OUR PROBLEM. ADVISED THAT CAMPAIGN #00061 RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ISSUED. WE BROUGHT THIS INFORMATION BACK TO OUR LOCAL PONTIAC DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY WERE STILL UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AS THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE "OFFICIAL" NOTIFICATION.
NHTSA complaint #727742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Springfield, MA
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:PINION SHAFT
FRONT CRADLE THAT HOLDS ENGINE FELL OUT, POSSIBLY DUE TO CORROSION . *AK INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FOR RACK AND PINION STEERING ALSO SEPARATED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #868714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kasson, MN
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH REAR CRADLE BOLTS BROKE THROUGH, CAUSING ENGINE TO DROP AND THE STEERING SHAFT TO DICONNECT, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #866573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wyoming, MI
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
CONTACTED MANUFACTURER ON 06/02/00 (THEIR REQUEST # C005135) WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE IS TOO OLD FOR THEM TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT PLUS THEY ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE MILAGE (BECAUSE THE ODOMETER FAILED) EVEN THOUGH THEY RECALLED THE VEHICLE IN '98 (PONTIAC CAMPAIGN #97016, NHTSA CAMPAIGN #97V058000) FOR FAILURE OF THE REAR CRADLE MOUNTS. THERE IS NO STEERING DUE TO SEPARATION OF THE STEERING SHAFTS.
NHTSA complaint #723930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bloomington, MN
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
LEFT TIRE DRAGGED ON THE WALL AND THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP, DUE TO REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINERS, REAR CRADLE IS NO LONGER SUPPORTED AT THOSE MOUNTING LOCATION. STEERING GEAR BECOMES DISCONNECTED WHEN THE ENGINE DROPS DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #9001324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Machesref Park, IL
STEERING
GOING 20MPH WHEN FRONT CRADEL BOLTS JUST LET GO. THE ENGINE FELL. HAD VENICLE TOWED. WAS A RECALL ON REAR CRADLE BOLTS NOT FRONT. MECHANIC REPAIRED FRONT CRADLE BOLTS AS A GOOD WILL GESTURE.
NHTSA complaint #828490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Duluth, MN
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY LOOSE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE REAR CRADLE BOLTS THAT FELL OFF DUE TO CORROSION WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER STATES THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #826708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Toledo, OH
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
VEHICLE INCLUDED UNDER RECALL 97V-058, STEERING GEAR BOX. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE PARTS ARE NOT AVALIABLE. *AK PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #824591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Selinsgrove, PA
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START CAR THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BEGAN TO WOBBLE.CAR WAS TOWED AND STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. TT
NHTSA complaint #975513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.