1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM Power Train Problems

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE EXITING A VEHICLE PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE ROLLED ONTO THE FOOT OF THE CONTACT, WHICH LEFT THE CONTACT TRAPPED FOR 18 HOURS. MINOR BRUISING INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A PASSERBY ASSISTED, AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ROLLING, AND COLLIDED WITH A NEARBY TREE. MODERATE DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WAS IN PARK. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO AWAIT FURTHER INSPECTION BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO ALERTED.*AK UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB

Mileage: 20,000

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER 20,000 MILES. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 5 YR BATTERIES 3 TIMES NOW AT MY OWN EXPENSE. LAST TIME RESULTED IN CAR NEEDING TO BE TOWED AND KEY NOT BEING ABLE TO BE TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION. TRIED JUMP STARTING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OVER HEATED. MY COMPLAINT IS THIS I JUST RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL STATING THAT IF THE CAR IS HARD TO START IT COULD START ON FIRE IF JUMP STARTED MORE THEN 3 TIMES AND IF THE KEY IS ON THE ON POTION TO LONG. THEY WANT TO INSTALL A RELAY DEVICE TO PREVENT FIRES BUT WHY IS THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION PROBLEM NOT BEING FIXED. WHY DO WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE BATTERY EVERY YEAR. THE RELAY DEVICE WILL NOT FIX THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM IT WILL ONLY FIX THE FIRE THREAT. ALSO SIDE MIRROR ADJUSTMENT KNOB HAS FALLEN INSIDE CAR DOOR AND WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL DOWN OR UP. CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE AT TIMES. FRONT TIRES WORE ON THE INSIDE OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SECOND TIME. REQUEST INFORMATION WHETHER THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE PROBLEM. GARAGE STATES THAT IT IS. IS MANUFACTURER EXTENDING WARANTY FOR THIS FAILURE PAST WARANTY PERIOD. *AK

DRIVETRAIN FAILED AND VEHICLE WAS MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE.*AK

TRANSAXLE CASE WHEEL BEARING FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER STATES THAT IT STILL ISN'T CORRECT. *SLC

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE IDLES VERY HIGH WHICH WHEN LETTING GO OF BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. *AK THE VEHICLE'S RPM WAS HIGH, ESPECIALLY WHEN STARTING. THE DEALER WORKED ON IT BUT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMING ON DUE TO EVAP PURGE VALVE AND SOLENOID FAILURE. PCM FAILED. *YH

THIS ALMOST KILLED MY WIFE THE CARS SPEDOMITOR IS STILL STUCK ON 70, AND PONTIAC AND THE DEALER ARE NOT INTERESTED AT ALL, I WILL NEVER BUY AMERICAN AGAIN! MEAN WHILE WE ARE PAYING FOR A CAR WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT DRIVE AGAIN.

I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY 1998 WITH 6000 MILES ON IT. REPLACED TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES IN LAST YEAR (9-99, 2-00, 8-00). FIRST TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT NOT ON CAR HISTORY, NOT SURE WHY.

I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY 1998 WITH 6000 MILES ON IT. REPLACED TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES IN LAST YEAR (9-99, 2-00, 8-00). FIRST TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT NOT ON CAR HISTORY, NOT SURE WHY.

BODY VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION STICKS INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REVE AND NOT PULL THE VEHICLE. YH

VEHCLE MADE A THUMPING NOISE, AND IT FELT LIKE TRANSMISSION FELL OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS TRANSAXLE/DIFFERENTRAL AND TRANSFER CASE. CONSUMER FELT IT WAS UNSAFE, COULD HAVE BEEN THROWN INTO A DITCH. *AK

VEHCLE MADE A THUMPING NOISE, AND IT FELT LIKE TRANSMISSION FELL OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS TRANSAXLE/DIFFERENTRAL AND TRANSFER CASE. CONSUMER FELT IT WAS UNSAFE, COULD HAVE BEEN THROWN INTO A DITCH. *AK

VEHCLE MADE A THUMPING NOISE, AND IT FELT LIKE TRANSMISSION FELL OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS TRANSAXLE/DIFFERENTRAL AND TRANSFER CASE. CONSUMER FELT IT WAS UNSAFE, COULD HAVE BEEN THROWN INTO A DITCH. *AK

WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR VEHICLE WOULD JERK A LOT. DEALER REPAIRED. VEHICLE IS STILL HAVING GEAR SHIFT PROBLEMS. DEALER SAYS CONSUMER NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK

TRANSMISSION- R&R TRANS TO REPLACETHIRD GEAR INPUT AND REPLACED BUSHING RECONDITIONED TRANS ASSSEMBLY AND REPLACED AXLE SEAL / STEERING WHEEL REPLACED STREERING WHEEL SENSOR BUSHING , DEALER CLAIMS THEY COULD NEVER FIND PROBLEM / BRAKES DEALER SAID THIS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY WENT TO MIDAS REPLACED PADS, LEFT CALIPER , RIGHT CALIPER BOTH HAD DAMAGED BOOTS UNEVEN PAD WEAR DRUMS WERE HARDSPOTTED AND OUT OF ROUND HOSES -STEELINED WERE RUST SPOTTED ./ REPLACED FRONT BUSHING.DEALER SAID THEY COULD NEVER FIND PROBLEM WITH BRAKES WHEN FIRST REPORTED TO THEM

THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION OPERATION VERY ERRATIC, HESITATION AND POOR ACCELERATION ALMOST RESULTING IN NEAR ACCIDENTS.