930 of the
7,303 complaints filed about the Pontiac Grand Prix
are about the braking system —
13% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1990.
got cutoff on a busy highway going 70mph and they slammed their brakes. i had 6 car lengths between us and immediately started braking but we were just skidding. I had the choice of hitting the vehicle or swerving left towards the median. I chose the latter. The steering locked up, the abs did NOT kick in and the airbags did NOT deploy. we hit a median at 70mph and no airbags?! I was point of impact. It hit the front drivers side, destroying the light and entire front. the car spun around and it hit again but this time it was the back passenger side/light. Again, NO airbags deployed. So my abs, steering, and airbags all had issues. We are so lucky no one is hurt in severeity but I am beyond fuming, scared, and confused why all of those locked up/failed to serve their purpose! Most severe injuries were me with contusions, strains, and a herniated disc in my neck (likely to cause chronic pain, per doctor.) cop already found me not at fault so no ticket/points, to give an idea. person kept driving. one person stopped and happened to be 4 cars behind us and verified what happened to us. The vehicle is totaled. We are sol on a car now as insurance said it wasn't worth having collision considering how old it was... never had an accident or ticket in 10+ years of driving. the car failed me.
NHTSA complaint #11424356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ENGINE OIL WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AS DESIGNED, CAUSING THE BRAKING DISTANCE TO BE EXTENDED. THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE HUBS, REAR BRAKES, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND FUEL GAUGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 229,000.
NHTSA complaint #11415812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED. SOMETIMES WHILE BRAKING, A WEIRD HYDRAULIC SOUND IS HEARD AND THE BRAKES DONT WANT TO STOP THE CAR. THE PEDAL WONT GO DOWN FURTHER UNLESS SOMETIMES YOU FORCE IT AND LOCK UP THE TIRES AND BRAKES. NO CODES ARE SHOWING FOR THE ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL. BEEN HAPPENING SPORADICALLY FOR A YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #11341471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR HAS MINIMAL ACCELERATION NOT ALLOWING TO GO OVER 40 MPH. ANTILOCK BREAK AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS BOTH ON. BREAKING ISSUE WHEN THIS HAPPENS CAUSING BREAKS TO HESITATE. ALL ISSUES LISTED HAPPEN WHILE IN MOTION ON CITY STREET & HIGHWAY, WHILE GOING STRAIGHT & TURNING AND WHEN BREAKING.
NHTSA complaint #11326033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON FEBRUARY 8, 2019, MY MOTHER WAS PULLING INTO A MAINTENANCE GARAGE TO GET AN OIL CHANGE. UPON PULLING INTO THE GARAGE, SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND HER VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. AS A RESULT, HE VEHICLE HIT AN EMPLOYEE, WENT THROUGH THE MAINTENANCE GARAGE DOOR, THROUGH THE PARKING LOT, ACROSS A FOUR LANE STREET, AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED IN A FIELD ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE OIL CHANGE VENUE. THIS IS AN APPROXIMATE DISTANCE OF 300 FEET. UPON FURTHER REVIEW BY MY MECHANIC, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE ABS SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DROP IN THE CAR, AND THE CAR NOT TO STOP. THE WIRING HARNESS ALSO WAS CRACKED RESULTING IN A CUT TO THE ABS WIRE, CAUSING THE ABS MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN THE CAR TO NOT STOP, AND THE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SPEED FORWARD. GENERAL MOTORS WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS CLAIM.
NHTSA complaint #11298730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITH THE HELP OF A BYSTANDER. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THE KEY FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WENT OUT, PLACE THE GEAR INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000. *BF
NHTSA complaint #11281558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER INSTALLING A AFTERMARKET INDIGLO REVERSE GAUGE OVERLAY ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND NEVER WENT OFF. CAR WAS STATIONARY. CHECKED FUSES, TRIED TO RESET BY TURNING IGNITION TO THE ON POSITION AND PUMPING THE BRAKES THREE TIMES WORKED ONCE THEN CAME BACK ON. THEN TRY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY FOR 20 MINUTES BUT IT DID NOT WORK. O'REILLY'S AUTO DID HE SCAN COACH WITH POINTING TOWARDS THE ASB SENSOR BRAKES FEEL GOOD AND NORMALLY. I INCLUDED TWO IMAGES ONE WITH THE OLD OVERLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THE OTHER PICTURE IS WHEN I TOOK THE OLD ONE OFF TO PUT THE NEW ONE ON WHICH IS WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON
NHTSA complaint #11228399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAD BARELY HIT A CURB PULLING INTO THE BANK PARKING WHEN MY BRAKE PAD WOULDN'T STOP. AT LESS THAN 7MPH. MY AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED LEAVING ME JARRED, AND IN A SHOCK I COULD NOT MOVE. I SAT LOCKED IN TO MY SAFETYBELT UNTIL THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER DOWN ROADPULLED ME OUT TO SAFETY. SUCH A MILS HIT. BLEW MY AIRBAGS.. IN RETURN, DAMAGED MY WINDSHIELD, DASH, AND, STEERING COLUMN. I WAS TURNING INTO A BANK PARKING LOT. CONSIDERED A PRIVATE LOT.
NHTSA complaint #11183308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING DOWN MY FAMILIAR ROAD OF DUTCH HILLS OFF OF DR. 50. I TURNED MY WHEEL AT 27MPH. SLID OFF TOWARD THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. FISHTAILED, MAINTAINED COMPOSURE. THEN , BEGAN A FISHTAIL TO A 180-360 INTO A CONCRETED STEEL BEAMED MAILBOX. KNOCKING OUT MY DRIVERS LIGHT ASSEMBLY, FRONT FENDER, BUMPER, DISABLING THEHOODOF MY CAR, TILTING MY RADIATOR. NOTHING OFTHENIGHT SHOULD OF SKINNY TIRES,NOR MADEMEFAIL TO MAINTAIN MY VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11183312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL, I DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE AND I AM HAVING SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AND ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING AND THE WHEELS ARE ABOUT TO FALL APART.
NHTSA complaint #11119748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OUT OF THE BLUE,MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND MY ABS,BRAKE LIGHT AND SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM SOON MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASH AND DISPLAY SCREEN. I DO NOT HAVE A WARNING AND I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS EITHER GOING TO GO TO THE FLOOR OR THE BRAKES TOTALLY LOCK UP AND ALL I CAN DO IS TRY TO KEEP FROM HITTING SOMEONE . IT IS WORSE WHEN IT IS RAINING. I TRY NOT TO DRIVE IN WET CONDITIONS. I CAN BE AT ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND THERE I GO TRYING TO KEEP FROM HITTING SOMEONE OR BEING HIT BECAUSE I AM THROWN THROUGH AN INTERSECTION.I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. I REPLACED BOTH WHEEL HUBS,PADS AND ROTORS, AND RELAYS. NOTHING HAS HELPED. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS.. HAS THERE EVER BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS AND IF NOT, WHY?
NHTSA complaint #11113465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I GOT THE CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP THE KRANKS WHICH MAKES ME CRANK UP THREE TO FOUR TIMES SOMETIME FIVE EVERY TIME GETTING INTO THE CAR AFTER PUTTING IN DRIVE AND GOING ON THE SHIP 10 FEET THE BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY GET THAT HARD BREAKING EVERY TIME NEW BRAKES AND PUT ON NEW PADS YET IT STILL DOES THE SAME COOLANT WANT SAY IN THE RESAVAL DON'T KNOW WHY AND MAKES IT RUN VERY VERY HOT AND SMOKING
NHTSA complaint #11113207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAME UP ON A CAR STOPPED AT STOP SIGN. I APPLIED MY BRAKE AND FELT THE BRAKE PEDAL GIVE. I DID NOT HAVE BRAKES. NO WARNING LIGHT APPEARED. I HAD TO VEER TO LEFT OF STOPPED CAR, GO AROUND STOP SIGN ONTO A HIGHWAY. VERY FEW CARS ON HIGHWAY. HAD TO LET CAR SLOW ON IT'S OWN AND WAS ABLE TO GO TWO MILES TO STOP. BRAKE FLUID POURING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH CAR. POSSIBLY A RUSTED BRAKE LINE. HOWEVER THERE WAS NO WARNING. NARROWLY ESCAPED BAD WRECK AND POSSIBLE DEADLY CRASH. WILL HAVE IT TOWED TO MECHANIC TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF NO BRAKES OR WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #11098679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
"TAKATA RECALL" MY VEHICLE WILL NOT GO IN DRIVE AS I WAS MOMMY WAY HOME IT WAS STUCK ON A CITY STREET FOR 2 MONTHS DUE TO TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. ALSO MY MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS GIVING OUT MY CAR WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED FULLY IT JERKS AND SHAKES AS WELL IF I LAY MY FOOT ON THE GAS. MY BRAKES TOUCHES THE FLOOR BECAUSE MY BRAKE FLUIDS ARE LEAKING OUT.
NHTSA complaint #11075698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS HARD TO CRANK HAD TO WIGGLE IT A FEW TIMES BUT THEY FIX THE RECALL AND MY BRAKES SYSTEM IS NOT RIGHT EVERY TIME I SWITCH BRAKE PADS OUT IT STILL DOESNT DO ANY GOOD AND DO TO THE BRAKES I HAD A FENDER BENDER BUT I FIX IT OUT OF POCKET BRAKES STILL GO TO FLOOR AND MY LIGHTS WENT OUT LIKE IT A SHORTAGE SO I GOT THEM RIG SO THAT THEY WILL WORK
NHTSA complaint #11035976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL ABS MODULE MAKES A SOUND LIKE IT HAS A SHORT IN IT WHEN THE BRAKES FAIL ITS HARD TO STOP THIS HAPPENS EVERYDAY THE ABS AND TRACTION LIGHTS STAY ON ALL THE TIME WHEN USING THE CAR
NHTSA complaint #11033155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11023675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE LINE FAILURE, BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND WERE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE TOWED TO FREEHOLD BUICK GMC (FREEHOLD, NJ) WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THE ISSUE AND PROVIDED ME AN ESTIMATE TO REPLACE 2 BRAKE LINES AT A COST OF OVER $2,000.00. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V201000 WAS PERFORMED ON VEHICLE AT THIS DEALERSHIP ON OR ABOUT 9/2017. EVEN AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE, SMOKE AND OIL STILL APPEAR ON THE FRONT EXHAUST MANIFOLD. IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THIS RECALL REPAIRED THE ISSUE AS DESCRIBED. IN ADDITION, THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO FOLLOW THE RECALL INSTRUCTIONS AND NEVER DISCARDED THE OIL FILLER NECK AND PLASTIC ENGINE COVER AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10966243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STRUCK THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,600.
NHTSA complaint #10959448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.