1998 Pontiac Grand Prix transmission problems

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE GAS TANK IS NOT SEALED IN THE MIDDLE ALLOWING GAS AND FUEL VAPOR TO LEAK FROM CAR! ALL THE SWAY BAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS SEPARATED DUE TO THE RACK AND PINION, CAR HAS NO SOUND WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT BUT IF YOU TRY AND TURN THE CAR TO THE LEFT IT IS AS IF THE POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT AND MAKE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND IS GETTING VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT, ALSO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DO NOT WORK PROPER AND CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE RAIN, THE KEY GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION ALL THE TIME,FEEL AS IF MOTOR IS TWISTING OR MOVING FORWARD, WILL BE CONTACTING PONTIAC DUE TO RECALLS AND PROBLEMS ARISING.

NHTSA complaint #10401196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I PURCHASED A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP FROM A FRIEND OF MINE WITH ABOUT 97,000 MILES ON IT. HE SAID IT WAS IN GOOD SHAPE AND RUNNING GOOD. ABOUT 4 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT, IT HAD AROUND 102,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GO. IT SUDDENLY WOULDN'T SHIFT FROM PARK INTO GEAR SOMETIMES. I HAD VERY LITTLE POWER IN REVERSE, I HAD TO REV THE ENGINE TO 3500 RPMS TO GET THE CAR TO BUDGE IN REVERSE. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACE. HE REFERRED ME TO A SHOP THAT ONLY WORKS ON TRANSMISSIONS AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT HAD TO BE REBUILT. IT COST AROUND 2,000$ DOLLARS AND I HAVE SINCE READ THAT THIS MODEL CAR HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE AROUND 100,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10252915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING A WHINING NOISE AND AT TIMES WOULD SHIFT HARD AND SUDDEN. TOOK TO TRANS. SHOP, WAS TOLD PONTIAC HAD PUT OUT A BULLETIN STATING A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANS. AND WHAT WAS WRONG IF A CERTAIN CODE CAME UP.IT TURNS OUT THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE PRESSURE SENSORS ON THE TRANS.,AND NEED TO BE REPLACED.THIS ENDED UP COSTING 500.00. I CALLED THE PONTIAC DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS SOMETHING THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10067557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION THAT I HAVE HAD TO PUT INTO MY WIFE'S 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE FIRST ONE DIED AT 3600 MILES AND GM INSTALLED THAT ONE UNDER WARRANTY. NOW WITH JUST 57,700 MILES ON THE CAR I AM HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND THE CAR IS TECHNICALLY OUT OF ITS 5 YEAR/50,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE CAR IS IN NO WAY ABUSED AND I RELIGIOUSLY CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERY 20,000 TO 25,000 MILES. I AM AN ENGINEER AND I KNOW WHAT QUALITY IS. FROM MY SEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND IT APPEARS THAT GM IS COPING OUT ON ITS RESPONSIBILITIES TO ITS CUSTOMERS. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1969 PONTIAC LEMANS AND WITH 220,000 MILES ON IT I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION (THAT'S QUALITY). IT'S TIME THAT GM OWNS UP TO THIS APPARENT DESIGN DEFICIENCY AND REIMBURSE GRAND PRIX OWNERS FOR THIS PROBLEM. I CAN ASSURE GM THAT THIS IS THE LAST AMERICAN CAR THAT I EVER BUY AND THE SAME GOES FOR MY CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10060093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

IGNITION KEY OCCASIONALLY (SOMETIMES FOR FEW MINUTES,SOMETIMES FOR DAYS) GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION LOCK IN A SLIGHTLY TURNED POSITION. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2002. ONE REPAIR SHOP SUGGESTED THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH SHIFTER - BRAKE PEDAL - IGNITION LOCK, BUT DECIDED NOT TO TOUCH IT.

NHTSA complaint #10045679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES WILL START TO MAKE A LOUD WHINING NOISE AND START TO SHIFT HARD AND SUDDEN. DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME,USUALLY AFTER I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A WHILE. ALSO SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE IT IS SURGING. I HEARD THE 3800 TRANSMISSIONS WERE A GOOD TRANSMISSION, I DON'T KNOW. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10020977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY COULD CHANGE THE GEARS WHEN FOOT IS OFF BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

NHTSA complaint #8022895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #766741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AT 38,000 MILES MY DEALER CLAIMS THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A RESULT OF THE UAW STRIKE IN 1998.

NHTSA complaint #761339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

A CHECK FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK, BOLTS LOOSE ON PAN TIGHTEN AND TOP OFF, PAN AND/OR GASKET TRANSAXLE OIL REPLACED. POPPING NOICE WHEN BRAKING NOW CRUNCHING NOISE. BRAKE PEDAL BUSHING NOISEY, BLOWER MOTOR NOISEY. R&R OR REPLACE PEDAL AND/OR BUSHING, BRAKE, MOTOR AND/OR FAN. VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND BATTERY IS LEAKING, DUE TO CRACKING, REPLACE. PASS HEADLAMP FILLS WITH WATER, IMPROPERLY SEALED.

NHTSA complaint #9002803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANS. UPSHIFTED WHILE ACCELERATING, ENGINE STALLED ON ONRAMP. OCCURRED 5X. ORIGINAL COMPLAINT DOCUMENTED @ DEALER, HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THEN AND NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. $3000 TO FIX AN OBVIOUS (AND COMMONLY REPORTED) TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ON THIS CAR. NARROWLY AVOIDED 2 ACCIDENTS AFTER ENGINE DIED. DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS ATTENTION BY NHTSA AND PONTIAC.

NHTSA complaint #734130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY FROM AN ON-RAMP. THIS RESULTED IN MY INABILITY TO SAFELY ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC, FORCING THE TRAFFIC BEHIND TO TAKE EVASIVE MANEUVERS.

NHTSA complaint #728711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER AND GMC HEADQUARTER, IN ODER FOR ME TO GET ANY KIND OF HELP FROM THEM OR ASSISTANCE, I WOULD NEED TO PAY 300.00 FIRST TO FIND OUT IF THE TRASNSMISSION IS DEFECT. AND THEN THEY WILL WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR ME. A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. TOLD MY HUSBAND BOSS THAT THE COMPANY WILL GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND BECAUSE I AM A WOMEN. SGT LEWIS IS IN SAUDI FOR 3 MOS. AND I BRIDGET LEWIS HIS WIFE HAVE BEEN DEALING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE DEALER AND THEGMC MOTORS HEAD OFFICE. I HAVE SENT LETTER TO THE BBB AUTO LINE THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP ME, BECAUSE OF THE MILES I HAVE ON OUR CAR. BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLF THAT IT IS VERY UNUSALLY FOR A TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT IN A 98 . ESPECALLY IF YOU HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL THE CAR TUNE UPS. FROM MAY 12 TO MAY 17 MY CAR WAS SEEN THREE TIME BY A PONTIAC DEALER. I HAVE NOT BEE ABLE TO GET A GOOD ANSWER ON WHY I AM HAVING THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. BUT THE DEALER IN CRESTVEIW FLA. WANTS TO CHARGE ME 2400.00 FOR A REBUILD TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #725249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #723710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION AND BRAKING PROBLEMS COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT & SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA complaint #719810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM TO BE LOOKED INTO BY DEALER ON 03-13-00

NHTSA complaint #719811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION IS MAKING NOISE AND SURGING. YH

NHTSA complaint #608941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

PERFORMANCE SHIFT SWITCH / HANDLE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #607498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.