SUSPENSION
INNER TIRE WEAR
NHTSA complaint #10984612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pontiac GTO suspension problems
488 of the 786 complaints filed about the Pontiac GTO are about the suspension — 62% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2006.
488
Complaints
62%
Share of all complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
Suspension complaints by model year
What owners said
SUSPENSION
IRREGULAR FRONT TIRE WEAR ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES DOWN TO THE STEEL BELTS CAUSING BLOW OUT AND FLATS. NUMEROUS WHEEL ALIGNMENTS HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. WHY HAS GM NOT PUT OUT A RECALL ON THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE? LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHEN THIS OCCURS. SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET HURT OR LOSE THEIR LIFE. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED BUT MANAGED TO STAY ON THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10811584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
I HAVE A 2006 GTO THAT WAS MAKING A LOUD HUMMING NOISE BETWEEN 20 AND 50 MPH AFTER A 5,600 MILE ROAD TRIP WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE PREMATURE TREAD WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGE (APPROX. 2" WIDTH) OF EACH TIRE, WITH THE REMAINING TREAD ON EACH TIRE EXHIBITING NORMAL WEAR. THESE WERE STOCK-SIZE, 2 YEAR-OLD DUNLOP DIREZZA DZ101 TIRES ON THE STOCK 17" WHEELS WITH 18,276 MILES ON THEM. AFTER SEEING THIS I CHECKED THE TIRES THAT CAME WITH THE CAR THAT I KEPT FOR ORIGINALITY AND THEY EXHIBITED WEAR ON THE INSIDE TREAD AS WELL; IT WAS JUST NOT AS NOTICEABLE. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES, HAD THE DEALER PERFORM A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECK AND EVERYTHING WAS IN SPECIFICATION. SINCE THE DEALER COULD NOT OFFER A SOLUTION I STARTED CHECKING ONLINE AND NOTICED THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. I THEN EMAILED GM PRIORITY CARE AND THEY RESPONDED BY SAYING THE TIRES WERE AT FAULT SINCE THEY WERE NOT ORIGINAL TO THE CAR AND THAT GM WOULD TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH I GAVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FROM OTHER PEOPLE, ALONG WITH EVIDENCE OF THE SAME WEAR ON THE ORIGINAL TIRES. I THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE SUSPENSION ON THESE CARS HAVE QUITE A BIT OF NEGATIVE CAMBER BUILT-IN AND THAT THE CAMBER IS NOT FIELD ADJUSTABLE, SO THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE SUSPENSION WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS AT GREAT EXPENSE THAT ALLOW CAMBER ADJUSTMENT. FINALLY, I EMAILED GM PRIORITY CARE AGAIN, EXPLAINED THE NEGATIVE CAMBER ISSUE TO THEM AND ASKED THEM WHICH TIRES I SHOULD PUT ON THE CAR TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN (THE STOCK TIRES ARE NO LONGER MADE), BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND. SO NOW I MUST DISMOUNT THE TIRES AT EVERY ROTATION TO EVEN-OUT THE WEAR AND HOPEFULLY PREVENT PREMATURE FAILURE. AS A SIDE NOTE, GM REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION WITH MY CAR IN ANY CAPACITY EVEN THOUGH IT IS STILL UNDER THE EXTENDED GMPP MAJOR GUARD WARRANTY UNTIL JULY 2016!
NHTSA complaint #10660176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
I WAS DRIVING MY CLUTCH AND GAS WENT TO THE FLOOR AND MY STEERING WHEEL BROKE AND I RAN THROUGH THE WOODS.
NHTSA complaint #10552300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
I GOT NEW TIRES PUT ON YESTERDAY. THEY ARE THE STOCK SIZED TIRES. SHORTLY AFTER I HEARD A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE BACK RIGHT SIDE. I NOTICED THE TIRE WAS RUBBING ON THE FENDER. THE CAR SAGS MORE AND MORE EACH DAY. THEN YESTERDAY, I WAS JUST DRIVING NORMALLY FROM STOP LIGHT TO STOP LIGHT, AND MY CAR WOULD WOULDN'T GO INTO 3RD OR 4TH GEAR. SO I CHECKED FLUIDS AND IT WAS OK ON THAT. I HAD TO DRIVE 30MPH BACK HOME.
NHTSA complaint #10505238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2005 Pontiac GTO
Allison Park, PA
SUSPENSION
MY 2005 PONTIAC GTO WAS PURCHASED WITH 53000 MILES AND MANUFACTURED WITH 245MM TIRES THAT ARE TOO WIDE AND RUB ON THE FRONT STRUT. THIS HAS CAUSED EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. OTHER 04-05 GTOS HAVE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS HAS CAUSED TIRE FAILURE AND ACCIDENTS IN OTHER GTOS.
NHTSA complaint #10457085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2005 Pontiac GTO
Naples, FL
SUSPENSION
I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN 2005, I HAVE 38,000 MILES ON IT TODAY AND I AM ON MY THIRD SET OF TIRES AND FIFTH ALIGNMENT. MY TIRES ON THE REAR, WEAR SEVERELY ON THE INSIDE EACH TIME, SO I MORE CAREFULLY WATCHED AND HAD RECHECKING THE ALIGNMENT ON A REGULAR BASIS ALONG WITH TIRE ROTATION. THIS TIME I TOOK IT TO A DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN NOT ALIGN THE REAR END AND ALL COMPONENTS LOOK GOOD, GO TO DEALER. I WENT TO DEALER AND SHOWED THEM THE SPECKS WHAT THE CAR WAS OUT AND THEY SAID THEY COULD DO THE ALIGNMENT. THEY DID A ALIGNMENT FOR A FEE AND TOLD ME IT NEED PARTS, FRONT CAMBER KIT, REAR NEEDS TWO BUSHINGS AND GM PART 1 ON THE EXPLODED VIEW KNOWN AS DIFFERENTIAL BRACKET WHICH HOLDS THE REAR END TOGETHER FOR A PRICE OF PARTS $1,249.00 AND LABOR $664.00 TOTAL $1913 AND ANOTHER FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT FOR JUST A LITTLE OVER $2,000.00. I SAID WHY ARE YOU CHARGING ME FOR AN ALIGNMENT IF YOU CAN NOT DO IT PROPERLY AND I HAD ALREADY GIVEN YOU THE ALIGNMENT SPECS FROM DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY. THEY SAID ALL MACHINES ARE DIFFERENT AND WE HAVE TO DO OUR OWN. SO YOUR TELLING ME THAT THIS PROBLEM THAT I HAVE HAD SINCE NEW IS A STRUCTURAL PART FLAW THAT YOU HAVE NOT RECOGNIZED BEFORE BUT HAVE BEEN CHARGING ME FOR ALIGNMENTS AND TIRES MULTIPLE TIMES. NO, WE FEEL YOUR CAR GOT HIT ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND IT CAUSED THE DAMAGE. I SAID THE CAR HAS NEVER HIT ANYTHING AND IT IS A PREIGSITING PROBLEM FROM NEW THAT HAS BEEN OVER LOOKED AT MY EXPENSE. TOOK CAR TO A THIRD PARTY AND THEY SAID THERE ARE NO PARTS THAT ARE STRUCTURAL DAMAGED, THEY GOT ON LINE AND SAW ALL THE BLOGS FOR THIS IDENTICAL CONDITION AND THAT IS WHY I AM REPORTING THE PROBLEM. THE FIX IS CAMBER KIT FOR REAR FROM MANUFACTURE IN AUSTRALIA WHERE CAR IS MADE AND THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE OF FOR YEAR, PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL FROM GM.
NHTSA complaint #10425170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
MY TIRES ON MY 2006 GTO ARE WEARING ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE AND BLOWING OUT MY TIRE IT APPEARS TO BE RUBBING ON THE STRUTS I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES AND HAD ALIGNMENTS DONE AND THE NEW TIRES ARE DOING THE SAME THING IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH A CAR BLOWING OUT A FRONT TIRE LIKE THIS I ALMOST CAUSED A SEVER ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10425143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GTO. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE STRUTS AND ARE WORN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE WAY HE DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AGGRESSIVE WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO WEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,740. RVK
NHTSA complaint #10420149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I OWN 2004 PONTIAC GTO THAT HAS HAD 2 FRONT END ALIGNMENTS AND HAS BEEN THROUGH 3 SETS OF FRONT TIRES IN 55K MILES. GM STATED TO ME THAT IT HAS TO BE MY DRIVING HABITS AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A DEFECT ON THEIR PART. AFTER CLOSER INSPECTION DURING MY LAST TIRE SWAP OUT. I NOTICED TIRE DAMAGE TO INSIDE OF TIRE ON SIDEWALL,DUE TO TIRE RUBBING STRUT ASSEMBLY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TIRE HAD I NOT BEEN LOOKING. WHO WILL DIE BEFORE GM FIXES THIS ISSUE? THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY ALIGNED NO MATTER WHAT I DO,CONSTANTLY LOOSING POSITIVE CAMBER TO THE POINT OF STRUT-TIRE CONTACT.
NHTSA complaint #10413435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
I OWN 2004 PONTIAC GTO THAT HAS HAD 2 FRONT END ALIGNMENTS AND HAS BEEN THROUGH 3 SETS OF FRONT TIRES IN 55K MILES. GM STATED TO ME THAT IT HAS TO BE MY DRIVING HABITS AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A DEFECT ON THEIR PART. AFTER CLOSER INSPECTION DURING MY LAST TIRE SWAP OUT. I NOTICED TIRE DAMAGE TO INSIDE OF TIRE ON SIDEWALL,DUE TO TIRE RUBBING STRUT ASSEMBLY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TIRE HAD I NOT BEEN LOOKING. WHO WILL DIE BEFORE GM FIXES THIS ISSUE? THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY ALIGNED NO MATTER WHAT I DO,CONSTANTLY LOOSING POSITIVE CAMBER TO THE POINT OF STRUT-TIRE CONTACT.
NHTSA complaint #10413435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
I WISH TO KNOW WHY NHTSA DID NOT HAVE A RECALL OF PONTIAC GTO'S FOR THE YEARS 2004, 2005, AND 2006..WHEN 200+ COMPLAINTS WERE FILED ABOUT FRONT SUSPENSION AND EXTREME TIRE WEAR..
NHTSA complaint #10375298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 62 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SWERVED TOWARDS THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE SUFFERED PERSONAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE STEERING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 01/12/11*LJ UPDATED 01/14/11 *BF PICTURES RECEIVED 01/27/11 PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED INTERNALLY, AND THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 04/15/11
NHTSA complaint #10362221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
HELLO, I WOULD LIKE TO SEND YOU A COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE. I OWN A 2006 PONTIAC GTO. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS UNDER 25K MILES ON IT AND I HAVE ALREADY HAD TWO SETS OF TIRES BLOW OUT ON ME DUE TO INNER TIRE WEAR. I HAVE OWNED MY CAR FOR LESS THEN 1.5 YEARS AND I HAVE PUT UNDER 19K MILES ON IT. AS FAR AS I KNOW, I AM NOT THE GTO OWNER WITH THESE PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ISSUE WHICH IS CAUSING THESE TIRE PROBLEMS HAS TO DO WITH BAD SUSPENSION. I BEG YOU TO HELP BY HAVING GM CONTACT GTO OWNERS AND PUT A RECALL ON THESE CARS. HOW CAN GM GET AWAY THIS? THE FIRST TIME MY TIRE BLOW OUT I FIGURED THE TIRE WAS BAD B/C THE CAR WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS OLD EVEN THOUGH IT ONLY HAD 5XXX MILES ON IT. THE SECOND TIME I HAD A BLOW OUT, I WAS WITH A LOVED AND NEARLY HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AFTER I AVOIDED HITTING AN ON COMING CAR. MY TIRES ARE ROTATED REGULARLY AND MY ALIGNMENT IS SET JUST AS OFTEN. THIS ISSUE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I BEG FOR YOUR SUPPORT, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PLEASE PLEASE HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10350662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TIRES WEAR EXCESSIVELY ON MY 2005 GTO. TIRE FAILURE WAS DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGE. IT WAS NOT DETECTED BECAUSE IT ONLY OCCURS AT THE VERY INSIDE EDGE. TIRE FAILURE ON THE HIGHWAY OCCURRED AND WHEN TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE TO THE DEALER THEY NOTICED THE OTHER WAS SHOWING STEEL THROUGH AS WELL. THEY SAID IT WAS AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE. AFTER ALIGNMENT AND NEW TIRES THE CAR CONTINUES TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. DEALER SAYS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY. GM MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE A FATALITY OCCURS.
NHTSA complaint #10342363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
2004 PONTIAC GTO TIRE BLOW OUT WE PURCHASED OUR 2004 PONTIAC GTO NEW, AND HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH RUBBING SOUNDS AND VIBRATIONS SINCE IT WAS NEW. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 45,000 MILES AND WE HAD A BLOW OUT. APPARENTLY THE TIRES ON 2004 GTO'S RUB THE SPRING POCKET OF THE STRUT CAUSING THE INNER SIDE WALL OF THE TIRES TO FAIL PREMATURELY. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE WEAR UNLESS THE TIRE IS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. PONTIAC HAS REPLACED THE TIRES ONCE UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THIS ISSUE, BUT WHEN I RETURNED TO GM TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE PREVIOUS "FIX" DID NOT WORK - THEY DISMISSED ME STATING THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS OUR THIRD SET OF TIRES WITHIN 45,000 MILES AND MY WIFE FEELS THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF HER BLOWOUT EXPERIENCE. I NEED GM TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND SPOKEN TO MANY GTO OWNERS ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, AND SOME DEALERS HAVE RETROFITTED GTO'S WITH THE APPROPRIATE 18" WHEEL AND TIRE COMBINATION, BUT CARL BLACK IN ROSWELL GA AND THE DISTRICT MANAGER "ROD" WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP US. PLEASE - CAN YOU HELP?
NHTSA complaint #10336689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE FACTORY INSTALLED TIRES ON MY 2005 PONTIAC GTO RUB AGAINST THE STRUT MOUNTS CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE INSIDE LIP OF THE TIRE. I HAVE REPLACED TWO SETS OF TIRES WITH ONLY 15,000 MILES ON EACH SET. MY FATHER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE MOST RECENT SET OF TIRES CAUSED ERRATIC STEERING CONDITIONS. HE WAS NOT INJURED, BUT THE RUBBER ON THE TIRES WAS SO SEVERELY DAMAGED FROM RUBBING ON THE STRUT MOUNTS THAT THE RUBBER WAS SEPARATED FROM THE STEEL BELT. THIS RUBBING COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A BLOWOUT WHICH WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AT THE HIGH SPEEDS THE GTO IS CAPABLE OF. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN CALIFORNIA CURRENTLY ON THIS ISSUE. I JUST WANT GM TO NOTIFY GTO OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM, EVEN IF THEY ARE UNWILLING TO PONY UP THE CASH TO FIX THEIR OWN ENGINEERING BLUNDER.
NHTSA complaint #10336638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
THE FACTORY INSTALLED TIRES ON MY 2005 PONTIAC GTO RUB AGAINST THE STRUT MOUNTS CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE INSIDE LIP OF THE TIRE. I HAVE REPLACED TWO SETS OF TIRES WITH ONLY 15,000 MILES ON EACH SET. MY FATHER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE MOST RECENT SET OF TIRES CAUSED ERRATIC STEERING CONDITIONS. HE WAS NOT INJURED, BUT THE RUBBER ON THE TIRES WAS SO SEVERELY DAMAGED FROM RUBBING ON THE STRUT MOUNTS THAT THE RUBBER WAS SEPARATED FROM THE STEEL BELT. THIS RUBBING COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A BLOWOUT WHICH WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AT THE HIGH SPEEDS THE GTO IS CAPABLE OF. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN CALIFORNIA CURRENTLY ON THIS ISSUE. I JUST WANT GM TO NOTIFY GTO OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM, EVEN IF THEY ARE UNWILLING TO PONY UP THE CASH TO FIX THEIR OWN ENGINEERING BLUNDER.
NHTSA complaint #10336638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION STRUT FAILED. OIL LEAKED OUT ON SMOOTH ROAD SURFACE. THERE WAS NO ACTIVITY PRIOR TO FAILURE THAT WOULD LEAD TO UNIT BEING UNDER ABNORMAL STRESS. THERE ARE ONLY 19000 MILES ON VEHICLE. BOTH FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED WITH MONROE UNITS AS I WOULD HAVE NO FAITH IN STANDARD UNITS.
NHTSA complaint #10336034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
STRUTS LEAKING OIL- STRUTS BUSHING COLLAPSED- NO RECALLS FROM GMC SEEMS ALOT PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH 06 PONTIAC GTO.
NHTSA complaint #10334077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.