37 of the
786 complaints filed about the Pontiac GTO
are about the electrical system —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS FLUNG OPEN SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE WINDOW TRACK COMING UNGLUED FROM THE GLASS. IT HAS HAPPENED AT DRIVE UP WINDOWS, DRIVING DOWN THE STREET/HIGHWAY AND EVEN HAS FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR IN A TURN BEFORE. IN THE 2004-2006 PONTIAC GTOS BOTH FRONT SIDE WINDOWS COME DETACHED FROM THEIR FORWARD MOST BRACKET THAT KEEPS THE WINDOWS IN THEIR TRACKS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT ALLOWS THE WINDOW TO MOVE AND APPLY PRESSURE ONTO THE DOOR RELEASE MECHANISM OR LINKAGE. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE WHILE ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW IT HITS THE LINKAGE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THE DOOR OPENS. IF GOING THROUGH A TURN AND ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW THE DOOR CAN FLY OPEN AND YOU CAN POSSIBLY FALL OUT. ALSO IF THE DOOR OPENS INTO TRAFFIC OF SOME SORT LIKE IN CLOSE QUARTERS ON A 2 LANE ROAD THE VEHICLES DOOR COULD BE STRUCK AND INJURE THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER DEPENDING ON WHICH DOOR IS CURRENTLY AFFECTED.
NHTSA complaint #11123343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAN USED FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING AND THE HEATER THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE REMAINED ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OFF OR ON. THERE WAS ALSO CONDENSATION ON THE FLOOR THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE ABNORMAL CONDENSATION ORIGINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.
NHTSA complaint #10897277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GTO. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
NHTSA complaint #10622201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER FRACTURED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE DRILLED TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR WEEKS FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
NHTSA complaint #10620941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER FRACTURED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE DRILLED TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR WEEKS FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
NHTSA complaint #10620941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE HAVE OWNED 2 2004 GTO'S AND THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH VEHICLES AND THE VIN NUMBER LISTED ABOVE IT HAS NOW HAPPENED TWICE. THE KEY WILL NOT WORK AND UNLOCK THE STEERING COLUMN THEREFORE THE CAR WILL NOT CRANK... THERE IS NO WARNING THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AND HAS LEFT US STRANDED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. WHEN I CONTACTED PONTIAC (GM) ABOUT THIS ISSUE THEY INITIALLY SEEMED CONCERNED BUT NOW AFTER COUNTLESS CALLS AND EMAILS THEY ARE NOT RESPONDING. THEY HAVE EVEN ISSUED A SERVICE REQUEST: 71-1312795897 NUMBER WHICH APPARENTLY DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING NOTHING TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE TO VERIFY THAT THIS ISSUE ISN'T A DEFAULT IN THE CAR. AS I AM AWARE THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THEM MULTIPLE TIMES ON THESE CARS SPECIFICALLY AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECALL THE ISSUE. MY REQUEST IS FOR THEM TO INVESTIGATE AND WE ARE CURRENTLY HAVING THE ISSUE SO WE HAVE A PERFECT CASE FOR THEM TO HAVE A GM DEALER LOOK AT AND SAY IF THIS A FLAW IN THE STEERING AND IGNITION COLUMN... [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10598473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAD THE CAR FOR LESS THAN A YEAR. PARKED IT AND WENT TO REMOVE MY KEY AND THE KEY FROZE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. WAS TOLD BY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. SIX WEEKS LATER I FINALLY GOT MY CAR BACK. SINCE THEN, REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH REQUIRES THE STEERING WHEEL BE PERFECTLY STRAIGHT AND JIGGLING THE KEY AS YOU ARE REMOVING IT. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE IN THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF PLAY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE KEY AND IGNITION SWITCH ARE NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. I'M CONCERNED THAT AT SOME POINT SOON THE SWITCH WILL LOCK UP AGAIN WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #10593198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GTO. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. ..UPDATED 05-09-14
NHTSA complaint #10575796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I PUT MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION, IT FROZE. I COULDN'T TURN THE KEY. I COULDN'T MOVE THE CAR. THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED UP. I TRIED JUST REPLACING THE IGNITION CYLINDER, BUT THAT DID NOT WORK. I HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. IT COST $1371.67 TO GET THIS CAR FIXED DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND IT SEEMS THAT ON THE WEEK MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP, 3 OTHER PONTIACS WERE IN THE SAME SHOP, FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. UPON DOING MORE RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS EXACT ISSUE. DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN AND DUE TO INSUFFICIENT FAULTY PARTS IN THE IGNITION, I HAD TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT MOVE THIS CAR OR PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE OTHERWISE. FUNNY HOW IT FAILED 2 MONTHS AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED! HOW IS THIS FAIR THAT THEIR PART FAILED AND YET THEY ARE TAKING TO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS? THIS WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX! PLEASE RECALL THE PONTIAC IGNITIONS! SO I AM OUT ALMOST $1500. BAD CALL GM!
NHTSA complaint #10535943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IS BEING LOWERED, WINDOW CONTACTS DOOR LATCH MECHANISM CAUSING DOOR TO BECOME AJAR AND WINDOW GETS STUCK IN PLACE OFF CENTER. AFTER RETURNING WINDOW TO UP POSITION AND ATTEMPTING TO LOWER WINDOW AGAIN, DOOR NOW BECOMES COMPLETELY UNLATCHED AND SWINGS FREELY AFTER WINDOW HITS MECHANISM. ISSUE WAS NOTICED PRIOR TO DOOR BECOMING COMPLETELY UNLATCHED. MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD IF WINDOW IS LOWERED AND DOOR BECOMES UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING (TO OTHER OWNERS).
NHTSA complaint #10515230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FEB 16TH 2013 CASE # [XXX] MY CAR WAS IN FOR THIS SERVICE FOR A AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT I WAS TOLD THAT "FOUND LOW VOLTAGE TO VARIOUS SRS COMPONENTS" AND THAT ACCORDING TO A GM SERVICES BULLETIN INSPECTION OF THE SRS WIRING SYSTEM BEHIND THE DASH IS NEEDED. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THERE IS A GM SERVICE BULLETIN ON FAULTY WIRING HARNESS BEING THE CAUSE. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM COULD BE NOT WORKING. MY CONCERN IS WITH SAID SERVICES BULLETIN I COULD NOT FIND ANYONE IN THE NETWORK OF GTO OWNERS CLUBS THAT WERE GIVIN ANY NOTICE OF THIS. BUT I DID FIND ON THESE FORUMS THAT ONE PARTICULAR WIRING HARNESS COMES IN CONTACT WITH A METAL BRACE WHEN THE CARS WAS CONVERTED TO LEFT HAND DRIVE FOR SALE HERE THAT HAS CAUSED FIRES. WOULD NOT THIS BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR WHICH EITHER GM OR NHTSA WOULD BE INVOLVED IN? GM ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM TO ME IN MY MANY EMAILS AND CONVERSATIONS WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS ON THE PHONE BUT HAS NOT NOTIFIED OWNERS NOR WANTS TO FIX THE ISSUES. THE ISSUE OF THE AIRBAG FAILURE IS ANOTHER SAFETY CONCERN. GIVEN THE NATURE OF THESE FAILURES WHY WOULD NOT THIS BE HANDLED AS PART OF A SAFETY RECALL? HERE IS JUST ONE LINK TO THE BOARD WHERE THIS IS SHOWN HTTP://WWW.LS1GTO.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=377773&HIGHLIGHT=WIRE+HARNESS+GLOVE+BOX&PAGE=9 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10503999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A 2006 PONTIAC GTO AND ITS BEEN IN THE SHOP EVER SINCE. I NOW HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES TWICE AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 38K MILES, IM A LADY DRIVER NEVER ABUSING THE CAR. THE INSIDE TIRES IN THE FRONT ARE CHEWED DOWN TO THE WIRE AFTER A 600 MILE TRIP NOTICED A SOUND, THANK GOD THEY BOTH DIDN'T GO OUT ,MY FAMILY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IN SUCH A WRECK! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE,THIS CAR HAS BEEN FAULTY FROM DAY ONE, AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS TO BE THREATENED WITH A LAWSUIT EVERY TIME I TAKE IT IN AND THEY STILL WONT FIX THE SIMPLEST PROBLEMS. I THINK THEY DON'T WANT TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10278040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DASHBOARD STARTED FLASHING "CHECK ALTERNATOR". SHORTLY AFTER, DASHBOARD STARTED FLASHING "ABS BRAKE SYSTEM OFF TRAK". AFTER TURNING OFF CAR, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A WEEK, AND ANOTHER 10 DAYS IS ESTIMATED BECAUSE OF BACKORDERED ALTERNATOR. ALTERNATOR APPARENTLY WENT BAD AFTER ONLY 2 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10262224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I LOVE MY GTO, BUT I HAVE MANY PROBLEMS THAT THE DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE. HERE GOES...MY TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN WHEN I HIT THE BUTTON, I HAVE TO BE STANDING AT THE TRUNK AND PULL UP AS I HIT THE BUTTON...MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS HORRIBLE, MY RADIO WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN BLAST MUSIC AND THEN GO BACK DOWN TO A NORMAL VOLUME, MY TRUNK LIGHT WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO, ALONG WITH MY BACK DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHTS. MY CARS FAN WOULD RUN AFTER I TURN OFF THE CAR LONG ENOUGH TO RUN THE BATTERY DOWN, BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WAS "NORMAL". THE LEATHER HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE, AND NOW THAT THE YEAR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED ITS COMING APART AGAIN...THIS WILL BE THE LAST GM I BUY, AND I HAVE OWNED 3 PONTIACS, 1 SATURN, 1 CHEVY TRUCK SINCE 97 (ALL NEW EXCEPT MY GTO) I CAN NOT BELIEVE HOW I CAN NOT GET ANY HELP ON MY CAR. THE DEALERSHIP LOVES TO EAT ME UP WITH FEES FOR LOOKING AT THE CAR, AND CAN NEVER DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10248645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A 2005 PONTIAC GTO IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, IT HAD A FACTORY WARRANTY STILL WITH IT. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THEN I HAVE DRIVEN IT. THE ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON 4 TIMES SO FAR. THE ECU MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE SO FAR. THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM. THE CAR IS GOING BACK INTO THE SHOP AS SOON AS A PART COMES IN. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE THAT IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM. I THINK THIS CAR IS A LEMON, AND I AM NOT SURE WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT IT. THE FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRES NEXT WEEK. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF SOMEONE CAN PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE HUB IN THE CAR ONCE AND I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK AND TOLD THEM IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING I BROUGHT IT IN FOR BEFORE. I AM GETTING TIRED OF NOT BEING ABOUT TO ENJOY MY CAR WITHOUT SOMETHING GOING WRONG WITH IT. THE BACK SEATS ARE ALSO COMING UNDONE WHICH I WAS TOLD IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY WHICH IT IS NOT.
NHTSA complaint #10245038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND WILL NOT RESTART DO TO ANTI THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. OCCURS RARELY AT FIRST AND INCREASES IN FREQUENCY - LEAVING MOTORIST POTENTIALLY STRANDED SO FAR THE ECM HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE CHIP IN THE KEY FOB HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND THE BCM IS BEING REPLACED - STILL UNSURE IF FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10228830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER IS BAD. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE PONTIAC GTO'S. GM NEEDS TO STAND UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO THIS PROBLEM. I'M BEING TOLD MY PART WONT BE IN INTO DECEMBER THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL. THANKS.
NHTSA complaint #10203660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.