29 of the 786 complaints filed about the Pontiac GTO are about the transmission — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2004.
29
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
POWER TRAIN
Vehicle loss of power 3rd & 4th clutch fail during driving Unsafe on the highway Automatic transmission 4L65E Know issue with most rear wheel drive cars
NHTSA complaint #11504835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
MY 2006 PONTIAC CABLE SHIFTER WAS INSPECTED SOME TIME ON NOVEMBER 2014! PROBLEM IS THE CABLE SHIFTER ON MAY 1 2016! THE CABLE SHIFTER WAS OUT OF POSITION AND MY CAR WOUDN'T START! IF THE TABS WERE TO FRACTURE AND SEPARATE, THE SHIFT LEVER AND THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT MATCH. THE DRIVER WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE THE SHIFTER TO 'PARK' AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, BUT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT BE IN 'PARK.' THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY AFTER THE DRIVER HAS EXITED THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR! I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHO SUPPOSEDLY INSPECTED THAT PART OR EVEN FIXED SAID THAT THEY ARE LIABLE SINCE IT WAS ALREADY DONE IN NOVEMBER OF 2014! I WOULD TO SEND A COMPLAINT REGARDING ROBERT BROGDEN BUICK GMC AT 913-782-1500 THEY DID NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE THIS PART!! IF THEY DID IT WAS A DEFECT PART! THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX THE PROBLEM
NHTSA complaint #10863248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GTO. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. MA 10/19/2015
NHTSA complaint #10733609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME LOOSE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
NHTSA complaint #10670426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME LOOSE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
NHTSA complaint #10670426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
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.
POWER TRAIN
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.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
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.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MY PROBLEM WAS WITH THE 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHICH WOULD CAUSE A GRINDING SOUND WHILE SHIFTING AND "POPPING" OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE CLUTCH. THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH BUT THE PROBLEM NOT ONLY STILL EXISTED BUT IT GOT WORSE. IT BECAME SO BAD THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR AT ANY SPEED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER ABOUT A WEEK LATER. NOW THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. OK. SO I TOLD THEM TO REPLACE IT BUT IT TOOK 4 WEEKS UNTIL GM COULD SUPPLY ONE. IT CAME WITH A 3 YEAR, 100K WARRANTY AT A COST OF $4000. THIS PLUS THE $1200 FOR A NEW CLUTCH MADE FOR A VERY EXPENSIVE OUT-OF-WARRANTY REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10320434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN AUSTRALIA, AND THAT THEY SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO SHIP THE 2004 DEFECTIVE MODELS TO THE UNITED STATED. HE IS EXPERIENCING SUSPENSION FAILURE, IN WHICH THE VEHICLE DOES NOT DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE VEHICLE VEERS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE CONTACT MUST USE BOTH HANDS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION AND MOTOR WERE CHANGED. THE MOTOR WAS CHANGED BECAUSE IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT AND IT WOULD SLIP AND MAKE NOISE. THERE WAS ALSO TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING OVER A MINOR BUMP AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD BREAK DOWN. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD PISTON SLAP. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, HE COULD HEAR A TICKING NOISE. THE NOISE WAS CAUSED BY THE PISTON STRIKING THE TOP OF THE MOTOR HEAD. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WITH THESE CONCERNS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MILEAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN WAS 3,600. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF UPDATED 07/29/08.
NHTSA complaint #10230460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
PURCHASED 2004 GTO WITH 37,500 MILES HAD THE CAR A WEEK,SON WAS DRIVING AND HEARD AND FELT A LOUD CLANGING NOISE. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THEY FIXED UNDER GM CERTIFICATION. IT WAS MISSING LEFT SIDE AXLE BOLTS AND ALL THE RIGHT SIDE WERE VERY LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #10211138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
DRIVESHAFT CAME LOOSE 6-28-2007 FOR THE 4TH TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10195064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
I HAVE 14000 MILES, AND HAD A VIBRATION FROM 55 TO 70 FOR MONTHS. I TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER A COUPLE TIMES , AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THE DRIVESHAFT BOLTS CAME LOOSE OR SHEARED OFF AT THE DIFFERENTIAL 3 SEPARATE TIMES. THE FIRST 2 TIMES THE DEALER TIGHTENED OR REPLACED THE BOLTS, AND IT STILL HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. ALSO, IT CAUSED THE PINION SEAL TO LEAK, WHICH THE DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I AM A MECHANIC, AND PUT THE CAR IN THE RACK TO INSPECT IT. THE DRIVESHAFT WAS NOT RUNNING, CAUSING THE BOLTS TO VIBRATE LOOSE AND SHEAR OFF. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF THE DRIVESHAFT COMES OFF. I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR, AND AM CONTACTING PONTIAC ABOUT REPLACING THE DRIVESHAFT. I KNEW OF SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10190980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO REVERSE. TRANSMISSION WILL ALSO OCCASIONALLY POP OUT OF A GEAR WHILE DRIVING. IN ORDER TO PUT TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE I HAVE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO ANOTHER GEAR FIRST, THIS WORKS OVER HALF OF THE TIME, SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PUT IT IN 3RD, 4TH, THEN GO UP TO REVERSE. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I FIRST PICKED UP THE CAR. HAD DEALER LOOK AT IT, THEY CLAIMED THERE WERE NO TSB'S OR RECALLS FOR THE 2004 GTO SO THEY FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SENT ME ON MY WAY SAYING "AT LEAST YOU HAVE REPORTED IT, THAT MAY COVER YOU IN THE FUTURE IF IT FAILS." ALSO, DEALER DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GM TELLS THEM TO USE THE SAME FLUID THAT GOES INTO FRONT DRIVE AUTOMATICS, THIS COULD CAUSE GTO MANUAL TRANSMISSION TO BURN OUT FASTER.
NHTSA complaint #10184872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT TIRES TWICE DUE TO INSIDE TIRE WEAR/PREMATURE WEAR/STRUT RUB (ALL INSIDE WEAR NEAR STRUT). THE INTERMITTENT WIPERS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY (ALL THE TIME). GIVE A FALSE ERROR OF OVERHEATING WITHIN MINUTES OF START-UP (HAPPENED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES). ANALOG SPEEDOMETER WAS VERY ERRATIC, MOVED ALL AROUND FROM 0 TO 200 MPH WHILE CRUISING AT 65 MPH (2 TIMES) AND READ 140 MPH WHILE STOPPED. PAINT ON THE DOOR HANDLES STARTED PEELING OFF WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP (BOUGHT BRAND NEW). DAMPNESS BEHIND THE DRIVES SEAT ON THE FLOOR (OFTEN AFTER DRIVING IN RAIN). RADIO CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, A BUTTON HAS THE FUNCTION OF THE ONE ABOVE IT (OFF & ON ALL THE TIME). GAS CAP REPLACED DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR, CAUSED ENGINE LIGHT TO TURN ON (OFTEN, STILL HAPPENS ONCE IN A WHILE WITH THE NEW CAP). HARD TO SHIFT IN REVERSE AT TIMES, HELPS TO SHIFT IN ANOTHER GEAR FIRST. SHIFTER RATTLES OFTEN DURING ACCELERATION. POPS OUT OF 2ND GEAR (MOSTLY DURING COLD MORNINGS, ALSO HARD TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR ON COLD MORNINGS. LIGHTS STAY ON AFTER CAR IS SHUT OFF WHILE IN AUTO-MODE; WORKED CORRECTLY AT FIRST, BUT NOW THEY ALWAYS STAY ON (ALWAYS OPERATE THEM MANUALLY NOW TO KEEP FROM DRAINING BATTERY).
NHTSA complaint #10182719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HAD TROUBLE WITH CLUTCH. POPPING OUT OF GEAR, HARD GOING INTO GEAR, LOSS OF CLUTCH PEDDLE, LOUD ROARING SOUND THAT WOULD GO AWAY WHEN TO PRESSED IN THE CLUTCH BUT WOULD RETURN WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDDLE WAS RELEASED. DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH, VEHICLE STILL POPS OUT OF GEAR ON 4 AND 5 GEAR. VEHICLE SHAKES SOME AND STILL HAS A LOUD ROARING SOUND THAT WILL GO AWAY WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED IN BUT STILL COMES BACK WHEN THE CLUTCH IS RELEASED. DEALER STATED THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS OUT OF ROUND. THEY REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT, BUT IT DID NOT CHANGE ANYTHING. STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH CLUTCH, ROARING SOUND.
NHTSA complaint #10179474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
I HAVE 29,222 MILES ON MY 04 PONTIAC GTO WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME. OVER TIME ALL 6 BOLTS THAT HOLD MY HALF SHAFT TO THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HAD BACKED OUT IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN A BUSY INTERSECTION RIGHT WHEN I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY. I5 AND 17TH ST. WITH NO BOLTS HOLDING THE HALF-SHAFT IN IT WAS FREE TO SPIN FREELY AND HIT OTHER PARTS UNDERNEATH MY CAR, DAMAGING THE AXLE, AND RIPPING THE BOOT. I RESEARCHED, AND FOUND OUT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE EARLY PRODUCTION 04 MODELS. I TOLD THE DEALER THIS AND THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE PARTS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY TRIED BLAMING ME BECAUSE I HAD INSTALLED DIFFERENT REAR SPRINGS, AND SAID I HAD REMOVED AND RE-INSTALLED THESE BOLTS FOR THE SPRING INSTALL. THESE BOLTS DID NOT NEED TO BE TOUCHED DURING THE SPRING INSTALL, I'VE TRIED EXPLAINING THE INSTALL TO THEM, BUT THEY WONT LISTEN... HORRIBLE SERVICE...
NHTSA complaint #10155773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 1 CAR ACCIDENT. FOR NO KNOWN REASON THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. UPON REMOVAL OF THE DAMAGED FRONT FENDER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE WERE BALD ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. THIS DAMAGE TO THE TIRES IT WAS ULTIMATELY CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THIS DEFECT IS WHAT IS KNOW AS STRUT RUB AND IS CAUSED BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW IN THE PARTICULAR VEHICLE. PONTIAC 2004, GTO IN ADDITION TO THIS ISSUE MY VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMBER ISSUES WITH THE SHIFTER. IT HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER 6 TO 7 TIMES AND SHIFTER WAS REPLACED ONCE. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE SHIFTER STARTS RATTLING AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE IS DEFINITELY A LEMON AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. GM REFUSES TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, EVEN THOUGH THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE DEFECT IN THE SUSPENSION ON THIS VEHICLE. ALSO, EVEN THOUGH THIS VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THE MANUFACTURER STATES THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND HAS INSTRUCTED US TO DRIVE IT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OCCURRENCES DOCUMENTED ON VARIOUS WEB SITES, SUCH AS GTO FORUM. I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PRINT OUT THIS INFORMATION FOR YOUR REVIEW!!!
NHTSA complaint #10155138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
6 SPEED TRANSMISSION MANUAL WILL NOT GO INTO ANY GEARS. 770 MILES ON CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10154630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE (LEFT SIDE) KICK PANEL AND "DEAD" PEDAL AREA IS TOO SMALL. A PERSON WITH A WIDE FOOT OR IN SHOES THAT ARE LARGE, SUCH AS WORK OR SNOW BOOTS WILL GET CAUGHT IN BETWEEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND ATTEMPTING TO USE THE "DEAD" PEDAL. PONTIAC CUSTOMER SUPPORT DOESN'T OFFER ANY SUGGESTIONS OR ADJUSTMENT FOR THIS. IF SOMEONE WITH A 10.5 OR LARGER WORK OR SNOW SHOE/BOOT SIZE WITH A WIDTH OF "EEE" SHOULD BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS EASILY. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND TAKES AWAY FROM THE DRIVER'S EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY DURING A PANIC SITUATION AND A QUICK REACTION IS NEEDED. A GOOD FIX WOULD BE TO MOVE THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL OVER TO THE RIGHT APPROXIMATELY 1/2 INCH. THIS SHOULD PROVIDE PLENTY OF CLEARANCE. THE LACK OF A CONSOLE OR FORWARD DOOR MOUNTED DOOR LOCK SWITCH MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOORS ON MANUAL SHIFT CARS. IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND NEED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE QUICKLY WOULD BE DIFFICULT. A RETROFIT SHOULD BE PROVIDED (SUCH AS IN THE 2006 MODEL YEAR) FOR A CONSOLE MOUNTED SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #10153710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.