1997 Pontiac Grand Prix transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING, THE OIL LIGHT AND ALTERNATOR LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON JUST THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT, ALSO THE TACHOMETER STAYED AT 2000 RPM. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TRIED, BUT COULDN'T GET THE ENGINE TO START. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRIED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE FINALLY STARTING. I HAD TO PUT TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION, AND THE KEY ALL THE WAY OFF, THEN START THE ENGINE. I HAD THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR REPLACED, BUT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. ITS HAPPENED 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 5 MONTHS AND 300 MILES. I QUIT DRIVING IT UNTIL I CAN GET ANOTHER CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10569192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

97 GRAND PRIX, 3.8L HIGH OUTPUT ENGINE,4T65E 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SE MODEL 4 DOOR. TRANSMISSION WAS AT FIRST HESITANT TO GO INTO REVERSE AT 100,000 MILES. AROUND 125,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS NO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL MOVEMENT WHILE PUSHING THE CAR IN REVERSE. IN OTHER WORDS YOU CANNOT MOVE THE CAR IN REVERSE AT ALL, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND IN NEUTRAL. SHOP TOLD ME I HAD A BROKEN REVERSE SHIFT FORK. TRANSMISSION SERVICE CENTER ADVISED THAT THE CAR'S USED VALUE DOES NOT WARRANT THE REPAIR COST OR PURCHASE OF NEW EQUIPMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10227391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I PULLED INTO A CAR WASH STALL AND SHUT MY CAR OFF TO WASH IT. AFTER WASHING IT I GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND TRIED TO PUT IT IN GEAR, BUT THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE. THANK GOD I HAD MY CELL PHONE, I HAD TO CALL MY HUSBAND OUT OF WORK TO COME CHECK OUT THE CAR. HE CONCLUDED THAT I HAVE TO STICK A INK PEN IN THE SHIFT RELEASE HOLE TO PUT IT IN GEAR. I HAD OUR THREE MONTH OLD WITH ME AND IT WAS COLD THAT DAY, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NICE IF I WOULD HAVE HAD TO WALK WITH THE BABY. ANYWAY I HAVE PUT IT IN THE SHOP TO GET IT CHECKED AND THEY DO NOT KNOW THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT MAY COST ME A LOT OF MONEY TO GET IT FIXED BY THE TIME THEY FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM TO ME. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ELSE WITH SMALL CHILDREN AND THEY DO HAVE TO WALK. I ALSO KNOW FROM CALLING AROUND TO PART STORES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AT LEAST 6 OTHERS JUST IN THE MUSKEGON AREA, THAT SHOULD CALL FOR A RECALL IN ITSELF.

NHTSA complaint #10130670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT

FIRST MY KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE OUT OF THE IGNITION. I HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING STUCK UP IN THE RELEASE BUTTON THINGY TO GET IT TO RELEASE THE KEY. NOW THE SHIFTER WILL NOT MOVE UNLESS YOU DEPRESS THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE BUTTON. THANK GOD I KNEW ABOUT THE BUTTON BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK OVER 100 MILES AWAY FROM HOME WITHOUT ANY HELP IN SITE. I HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR BUT FORTUNATELY FOR ME THAT WAS WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I'M SURE MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SE ISN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10121935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. MR THE TRANSMISSION WAS FIRST REPLACED AT 22,748 MILES. 8,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE THIRD TRANSMISSION IS NOW HAVING PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10015176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE FLOOR MODEL CONSOLE INTO GEAR. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE RELEASE ON THE FLOOR CONSOLE TO DISENGAGE THE GEAR SHIFT. CONSUMER WILL MAKE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10081949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION EXPLODED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND GM SAYS THEY CAN'T HELP ME. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10080574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I PUT A $1,000 ON A CAR THE TRANMISSON IS DEFECTED THEY CLAIM THE FIXED IT BUT DID NOT AND THE AIR DO NOT WORK/ TODAY THE CAR CUT OFF ON ME AND DID NOT START SO I LEFT IT BESIDE THE ROAD SO THE DEALERSHIP CAN PICK IT UP THIS IS A USED CAR

NHTSA complaint #10070474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THIS IS THE WORST AUTOMOBILE I HAVE EVER OWNED. IT IS NICKEL AND DIMING ME TO DEATH. BOTH BACK WINDOWS ARE BEING HELD UP IN PLACE BY STICKS THAT I HAVE PROPED UNDER THEM. THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW I PAID $300 TO HAVE REPAIRED. THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON ME AND I HAD TO DISH OUT $500 TO GET THAT REPAIRED, GM RECALLED IT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THAT, THANK GOD I GOT SOME OF MY MONEY BACK FOR THAT REPAIR. THE PASSENGERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT LENS COVER FELL OFF $75 TO REPLACE THAT. I AM PRESENTLY WORKING ON THE BRAKE TRANSMISSION SHIFT INDICATOR WHICH I JUST CALLED THE DEALER FOR A PRICE ON THE PART AND AM TOLD IT WILL BE $224.07 FOR THE PART AND PROBABLY $115 FOR THE LABOR. THE ENGINE LEAKS OIL I HAD MY WIFE TAKE IT TO THE SHOP FOR THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND THEY TOLD HER THAT NO LEAKS WERE EVIDENT. WELL THE OIL IN MY DRIVEWAY IS COMING FROM SOMEWHERE. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER GM PRODUCT IN MY LIFE AGAIN. NOT EVEN IF IT IS GIVEN TO ME AND 10,000 TO USE TOWARD THE REPAIRS OF IT.

NHTSA complaint #10070584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT

I HAVE OWNED TWO 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX'S. BOTH VEHICLES DEVELOPED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR SHIFT LOCKING UP IN THE PARK POSITION. I HAVE TO INSERT A KEY OR OTHER OBJECT INTO A SLOT BY THE GEAR SHIFT IN ORDER FOR MY SHIFT LEVER TO DISENGAGE AND THEN ENGAGE INTO THE DRIVE POSITION. THEN ONCE I ENGAGE THE GEARSHIFT INTO THE PARK POSITION, I HAVE TO INSERT THE KEY OR OTHER OBJECT INTO ANOTHER SLOT LOCATED BY THE IGNITION ON THE STEERING COLUMN IN ORDER TO REMOVE MY KEYS FROM THE IGNITION.

NHTSA complaint #10052826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING PUMP, ALTERNATOR, RACK AND PINION, POWER WINDOWS, AND HEAD GASKETS. *MR THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD SUDDENLY GONE OUT IN TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC(THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED), THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERATIVE UPON START DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE WIPER LINKAGE UNDER THE COWL, THE STEERING SKIPPED AS THE CONSUMER MADE RIGHT HAND TURNS(THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP), THE HEADLIGHT LENS HAD FALLEN OFF, THE CERAMIC HEADGASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE WAS A HESITATION AND ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A SECOND TIME, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON DUE TO A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS, THE TRANSMISSION GRABBED ALONG WITH HESITATION(A TUNE UP WAS PERFORMED AND WORK WAS DONE TO THE TRANSMISSION), THE VEHICLE COULDN'T BE TAKEN OUT OF THE PARK POSITION(THE SHIFTER WAS REPLACED), THE POWER WINDOW(S) FAILED, THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER PUMP LEAKED AND WOULD NOT HOLD FLUID. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10033806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT PUSHING THE BUTTON IN THE STEERING COLUMN, AND COULD NOT SHIFT FROM PARK WITHOUT PUSHING THE SHIFT RELEASE BUTTON. THE DEALER DID NOT FIND WHAT WAS EXACTLY WRONG BUT SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. (POOR CONNECTION AT SPLICER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH) *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10030170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT

RECALL 99V348000 REPAIRS ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE DONE IN JULY OF 2000, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY.*AK MAP LAMP ASSEMBLY, DOOR LIGHTS, REAR DOOR LENS, GASKET LAMP AND HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WERE ALL REPLACED, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER ADJUSTED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. BOTH OUTER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. WINDSHIELD COWL PANEL LEAKED AND WAS REPLACED. STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. SERPENTINE BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, VALVE COVER GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES, VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED 3 OIL LEAKS, OIL PAN AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED, A BELT SNAPPED AND HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE SUPERCHARGER GASKET WAS REPLACED. THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT MECHANISM WAS REPLACED. THE RADIO SKIPS AND THE RADIO MODULE TO THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE. 2 FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR JUMPER WIRING WAS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #8012533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT TRANSMISSION VEHICLE WON'T MOVE INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #8005938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE FIXED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8004316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS SUCH AS SMALL POTHOLES OR RAILROAD TRACKS, SOMETIMES THE ABS AND LOW TRACTION LIGHTS COME ON. USUALLY THEY GO OFF. SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. ONLY METHOD TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF ARE TO PULL OF THE ROAD OR HIGHWAY AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF. ADDITONALLY, SOMETIMES WHEN BRAKING OVER POTHOLES / RAILROAD TRACKS, THE ABS ENGAGE AND THE CLICKING STARTS. FORTUNATELY, DUE TO MY CAREFUL DRIVING, I GIVE MYSELF PLENTY OF ROOM AND DON'T NEED TO PRESS HARDER TO PREVENT A COLLISION. ALSO, SOMETIMES WITH THE LOW TRACTION LIGHT COMING ON, THE ENGINE / TRANSMISSION WILL REV UP AND ENGAGE THE OTHER FRONT TIRE, WHICH IS COMPLETELY USELESS WHEN CONDITIONS ARE DRY AND NORMAL.

NHTSA complaint #756771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION, BEARINGS.

NHTSA complaint #889544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #745250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

SUBMITTED TO WWW.PONTIAC.COM: MY '97 3.0L GRAND PRIX (80,000+ MILES) HAS RAN DRY ON THE (AUTO) TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT HE FOUND NO LEAKAGE AROUND THE TRANS. BUT THAT THIS MODEL HAS IN SOME WAY CONNECTED THE FUEL LINE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT SOMETHING FAILED WITH THE FUEL SOLENOID (OR VACUUM SOMETHING-OR-ANOTHER) AND THAT SOMEHOW THIS HAS CREATED A VACUUM IN THE TRANSMISSION SUCKING THE TRANS FLUID OUT AND INTO THE FUEL INJECTORS FOR "BYPASS COMBUSTION". I'M SORRY IF I'M NOT TRANSLATING/RELATING THIS PROPERLY, I AM FAIRLY LITERATE ABOUT CARS AND INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES, BUT FEEL TOTALLY LOST TRYING TO EXPLAIN OR UNDERSTAND THIS. DOES THIS SOUND LOGICAL TO YOU? THE MECH. SAID THAT THIS WAS FAIRLY COMMON WITH THIS MODEL. MY CONCERN IS THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW, ESPECIALLY IF PONTIAC KNOWS/KNEW THIS PROBLEM EXISTS AND SHOULDN'T THERE HAVE BEEN A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC AND COSTLY CONDITION OR AT LEAST COVERED UNDER WARRANTY WORK EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD?

NHTSA complaint #739590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THIS CAR HAS A SIGNIFICANT # OF SAFETY PROBLEMS THAT THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER HAVE REFUSED TO ADDRESS W/OUT SIGNIFICANT COST TO CONSUMER. UNTIL I SUSTAIN A SIGNIFICANT INJURY &/OR INJURE SOMEONE DUE TO THESE PRODUCT DEFECTS, I CAN NOT AFFORD A LEGAL CHALLENGE TO HAVE GM ADDRESS PROBLEMS, NOR CAN I BEAR COST. MY CAR IS AVAILABLE AS A SAMPLE OF THEIR JUNK! (SIGNED;CLAIMS ADJUSTER). NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY.

NHTSA complaint #736760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #720059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, ALMOST RESULTING IN REAR-END COLLISION. BLOWER IS ALSO NOT WORKING ON VENTILATION SYSTEM AMONG SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED OVER A 2 YEAR OWNERSHIP PERIOD.

NHTSA complaint #713564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CAR CAN BE SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND DRIVE WITHOUT PUTTING FOOT ON BRAKE. THIS IS WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING. PLEASE HELP, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!!!

NHTSA complaint #706284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DRIVING AT APPROXMATELY 65 MPH ,WAS CHANGING LANES, EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER/COMPLETE SHUT DOWN WHICH CAUSED LOSS BRAKES AND STEERING, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #828777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #540551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION (REAR ENDED).

NHTSA complaint #537294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #538968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION/CONTROL VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #538968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.