1999 Pontiac Grand Prix suspension problems

SUSPENSION

ON APRIL 30, 2012, I TOOK MY CAR TO BE INSPECTED AND I WAS TOLD THE SWAY BAR WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACED. AFTER CALLING MANY JUNK YARDS TO LOOK FOR A USED ONE, I AM FINDING OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE CALLED JUST ABOUT EVERY JUNK YARD WITHIN 30 MILES OF ME AND CONSTANTLY AM TOLD "WE HAVE QUITE A FEW BUT THEY ARE ALL CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE" WHICH IS WHERE MINE IS CRACKED. SEEING THAT THIS IS PART IS USED NOT ONLY ON THE GRAND PRIXS BUT OTHER GM PASSENGER CARS AND MINI VANS, I FEEL THAT SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, IT NEEDS RECALLED.

NHTSA complaint #10459576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL; HOWEVER, IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY WHEN THE CONTACT MADE A RIGHT TURN. THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND RACK AND PINION FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT HAS REVIEWED, RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000, STEERING, RACK AND PINION. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURES LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO HIS VIN. THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA complaint #10311421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

RIGHT REAR SPRING BROKE. NO LOAD IN VEHICLE AND NO RUST ON SPRING. STARTED RATTLING, FIRST WEEK IN JUNE, THOUGHT IT WAS THE STABILIZER LINKS WHICH HAD BEEN REPLACED ON THE FRONT ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO. THE RATTLE WAS THE BOTTOM COIL OF THE SPRING. IT COULD HAVE THE TIRE, SO I INSTALLED THE COMPACT SPARE TO ALLOW MORE CLEARANCE. TOOK THE CAR TO PEPBOYS WHERE THE FRONT LINKS AND ALIGNMENT WAS DONE LAST FALL. THEY ESTIMATED THE REPAIR AT OVER $600.00 TO INCLUDE BOTH REAR SPRINGS. MAYBE ALL THE SPRINGS ARE BAD, BUT YOUR DATA BASE DOES NOT SHOW AND INFORMATION REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. SO, I REPLACED THE ONE SPRING AND STABILIZER LINK AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO STEER CORRECTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10274622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHILE MAKING A TURN, HEARD LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC, DISCOVERED OUTER END OF SWAY BAR ON PASSENGER SIDE BROKE CLEAN THROUGH, JUST BEFORE BOLT. CAR ONLY HAD 45,500 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10200512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE THAT CAME FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO GARAGE AND INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE DISCOVERED THE SWAY BAR BROKE. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE IN THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE SERVICE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE SWAY BAR BROKE BECAUSE IT WAS HOLLOW, THE PREVIOUS DESIGN ON EARLIER MODELS WAS SOLID. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE COST. *AK UPDATED 01/05/06.

NHTSA complaint #10144462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR

FRONT DRIVER SIDE NOISE COMING FROM SUSPENSION. TOOK CAR TO MIDAS, PROBLEM FOUND LEFT FRONT SWAY BAR MOUNT HAD BROKEN AND WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE FRAME. REPLACED FRONT SWAY BAR, COST $400 PARTS AND LABOR.

NHTSA complaint #10126102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

DT: WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, A METAL SOUND WAS HEARD. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, WHEN THE CAR BROKE DOWN IT WAS TOWED TO MEINKE MUFFLER SHOP AND THEY SAW THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY. THEY SAVED THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. WHEN POINTED OUT TO DEALER THEY SAW THE PROBLEM. 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS SAID THIS NEVER HAPPENS AND THEY FELT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. MANUFACTURER SAID FOR THE DEALER TO CALL BUT THE DEALER WILL NOT CALL MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA complaint #10120878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE, AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SWAY BAR BROKE IN HALF.

NHTSA complaint #10081653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

TRAILING ARM BROKE IN HALF FOR NO REASON. LOOKS LIKE METAL JUST RIPPED IN HALF. I HAVE THE PART THAT WAS TAKEN OFF THE CAR AND REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. I WAS FORCED TO PAY FOR AN ALIGNMENT EVEN THOUGH THE ONLY REASON THE CAR NEEDED ONE WAS BECAUSE THE TRAILING ARM FAILED. I HAVE NO CONFINDENCE IN THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND POSSIBLY WRECKED SERIOUSLY INJURING MYSELF AND POSSIBLY ANY OTHER MOTORIST AROUND ME.. DEALER COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THIS HAPPENED. THE GM HOTLINE WAS NO HELP, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE SORRY I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE CAR AND SUGGESTED THAT I GET IT CHECKED PERIODICALLY AT THE DEALER. I ASKED TO HAVE A GM REP INSPECT MY CAR AND THEY REFUSED. IF THE RIGHT SIDE TRAILING ARM BROKE FOR NO REASON IT IS ONLY NORMAL TO SUSPECT THAT THE LEFT SIDE TRAILING MAY DO THE SAME THING.

NHTSA complaint #755082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER

LEFT REAR STRUT SHOCK LEAKING BAD.

NHTSA complaint #723830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.