10 of the
500 complaints about the 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix are about the
wheels — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
110,500 miles.
C
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
440.0%
RIM
330.0%
Wheels
220.0%
HUB
110.0%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 240,000 milesPolson, MTFire
WHEELS
CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AFTER DRIVING TO TOWN AND BACK. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER MY BOYFRIEND HEARD A POP SOUND FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE. WHEN HE LOOKED OUTSIDE THE CAR WAS ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO HELP PUT OUT THE FIRE. CAR WAS COMPLETELY BURNED UNDER THE HOOD, TIRES/FRONT PART OF CAR WERE ALSO BURNED. DAMAGE WAS A TOTAL LOSS, ENGINE WAS BURNING SO HOT IT WAS WHITE. NEARLY CAUSED A HOUSE FIRE AND LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. CAR HAD SOME OIL LEAKAGE IN ENGINE/MANIFOLD AREA BUT RECALL WAS FIXED ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO FOR THIS ISSUE. CAR WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND NO SERIOUS PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS FIRE OCCURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10669833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 126,000 milesWichita, KSFire
WHEELS
THE NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON OUR DOOR AND TOLD MY HUSBAND THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE APPEARED TO START UNDER THE HOOD. THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR, INCLUDING THE WINSHIELD WAS BURNED.
NHTSA complaint #10503516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,000 milesLakeville, MA
WHEELS:RIM
A/C LEAKS ON PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. ALSO A/C BLOWER MOTOR DOES NOT WORK. WHEEL RIMS ARE CORRODED AND PITTED. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON.
NHTSA complaint #10207862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waterford, MI
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
1999 GRAND PRIX RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAME TO REST ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND SUSPENSION. *TS 5 LUG STUDS SNAPPED OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10159479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 95,000 milesDurham, NC
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX DEVELOPED A LOW HUM IN THE FRONT END WHICH FAIRLY QUICKLY - WITHIN 30 MILES - ESCALATED TO A SUBSTANTIAL RUMBLE/ROAR. I THEN EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN AND PRONOUNCED WOBBLE. I PULLED INTO THE BREAKDOWN AND EVENTUALLY FOUND THAT 4 OF THE 5 STUDS HOLDING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ON WERE GONE. THE STUDS WERE SHEARED OFF DOWN TO THE ROTOR. THERE WAS LITTLE IN THE WAY OF WARNING. NO CHANGE IN DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS IN DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, I DID NOTE A ROTATIONAL 'TICKING' SOUND, WHICH I THOUGHT MIGHT BE A STONE CAUGHT IN MY TREADS. AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES, I STOPPED FOR GAS AND CHECKED: NO STONE. LEAVING THE STATION, I NOTED A FAINT THUMP, BOTH HEARD AND FELT IN THE PEDAL, WHEN BRAKING BUT IT DID NOT SEEM LIKE AN ACUTE SITUATION. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES LATER THAT THE FAILURE MANIFESTED. I SUSPECT THIS 'THUMPING' WAS BECAUSE ONE OR MORE STUDS HAD ALREADY FAILED AND THE WHEEL WAS NOW NOT SECURED PROPERLY. A REPAIR SHOP SAID IF THE LUGS HAD BEEN LOOSE, THERE WOULD BE A CHARACTERISTIC WEAR ON THE WHEEL. THIS WAS NOT PRESENT. THIS SHOP REPLACED THE 4 SHEARED STUDS. CARTALK RADIO SHOW HOSTS SUGGESTED OVER-TORQUE AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE, AND SUGGESTED I GET OTHER LUGS INSPECTED IMMEDIATELY. I TOOK THE CAR TO A TIRE SHOP. THEY INSPECTED THE REMNANTS OF THE STUDS I HAD THE OTHER SHOP SAVE. THEY INDICATED THAT IN THEIR EXPERIENCE, FAILURE DUE TO OVER TORQUE LEAVES A CHARACTERISTIC PATTERN ON THE METAL, WHICH WAS NOT PRESENT. INSPECTION CONFIRMED NO PATTERN CHARACTERISTIC OF LOOSE LUGS WAS PRESENT. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE TORQUE ON THE OTHER LUGS ON THE OTHER TIRES BUT DOUBTED OVER TORQUE AS THE CAUSE. I HAVE THE REMAINDERS OF THE SHEARED STUDS AVAIL FOR INSPECTION AND/OR ANALYSIS. I AM CONTEMPLATING REPLACING ALL 15 REMAINING STUDS JUST FOR PIECE OF MIND. I WILL RETAIN THOSE PARTS SHOULD I HAVE THEM REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10148014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DES Moines, IA
WHEELS:RIM
THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE FRONT LEFT RIM CRACKED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10019351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Valparaiso, IN
WHEELS:RIM
THE RIMS CRACKED, PEELED, WARPED AND CORRODED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10019399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Navarre, FL
WHEELS:HUB
CONSUMER NOTICED EVERY DAY A LOW PRESSURE ON THE LEFT TIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO GOOD TIRE SHOP AND TECHNICIAN FOUND A HAIR LINE CRACK ON THE WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED NOTHING THEY CAN DO WARRANTY IS OVER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #10004607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cobb, CA
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
PROBLEM WITH RIGHT WHEEL STUDS BREAKING OFF. PROBLEM OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS, REPAIR MADE AT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #874371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lake Forest Park, WA
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
LUGS:NUTS AND BOLTS SHEARED OFF THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE, CAUSING FRONT RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE CAR TO FALL DOWN ON PAVEMENT. THE WHEEL ROLLE DFORWARD AND STRUCK ANOTHER CAR.
NHTSA complaint #836739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.