2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM Steering Problems

MY STEERING COLUMN MAKES A VIBRATING NOISE... THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE RED SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON THE LEFT PART OF THE DASH.... ALSO SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN JULY THERE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE KEY NOT STARTING IT RIGHT AWAY USUALLY HAVE TO WAIT TEN SECONDS OR EVEN UP TO 30 SECONDS BEFORE YOU CAN START MY VEHICLE. I'M LOOKING TO PREVENT ANY ACCIDENT BEFORE IT OCCURS. I DO NOT WANT MY CAR LOCKING UP ON ME. I PREFER SAFETY OVER SPEED.

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT AS A PASSENGER ON 10/25/2001 IN WHICH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP ON OUR 2001 GRAND AM AS WE WERE DRIVING CAUSING US TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND FLIP DOWN HILL. MY FATHER AND MY BROTHER WERE FRONT PASSENGERS AND I WAS THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER OF THE CAR AND WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. AFTER BEING EJECTED FROM THE REAR WINDOW OF THE CAR I SUFFERED A BROKEN PELVIC BONE, A BLEEDING BRAIN WITH PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE, INTERNAL BRUISES ON MY LUNGS, MY LIVER, AND MY KIDNEYS, AND THE TOP 3 DISCS AND BOTTOM 3 DISCS IN MY BACK POPPED OUT OF PLACE. I HAD TO BE AIR LIFTED TO SHANDS HOSPITAL IN GAINESVILLE FLORIDA WHERE I REMAINED UNTIL 11/20/2001. DURING THE THE TIME BETWEEN 10/25/2001 AND 11/20/2001 I WAS IN A COMA, HAD TO BE FED INTRAVEINOUSLY, AND WAS PLACED ON LIFE SUPPORT. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO SHANDS REHAB HOSPITAL IN GAINESVILLE FL, ON 11/20/2001 AND WAS RELEASED FROM SHANDS REHAB HOSPITAL 11/30/2015 IN WHEELCHAIR AND BODY BRACE. I HAD TO HAVE OUTPATIENT VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION THERPAY DUE TO MY BRAIN INJURIES AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL. I RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THE VEHICLE THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT HAS BEEN RECALLED BY GENERAL MOTORS DUE TO A FAULTY IGINITION SWITCH THAT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER WHICH CAUSES DRIVERS TO NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE AND AM SUBMITTING THIS CLAIM BECAUSE OF THIS FINDING. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER CLAIMS AGAINS GENERAL MOTOR REGARDING THE SAME VEHICLE MODEL. I HAVE UPLOADED THE FHP REPORT AS WELL AS PICTURES POST ACCIDENT OF THE VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN BRAKING DISTANCE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE EMITTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS A VIBRATION ON THE PEDALS AND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

WHERE THE STEERING PINION ATTACHES TO THE FRAME RUSTED OUT AND BROKE MAKING RIGHT TURNS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE PINION MOVING AND THE INNER TIE ROD HITTING THE FRAME. PRETTY MUCH MAKING THE CAR WORTHLESS. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT WOULD SHUT DOWN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK, AND ALL THAT COULD BE DONE IS BRAKE TO A STOP. *TR

Mileage: 125,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE IGNITION FAILING TO START THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

ON MY WAY TO WORK (2ND SHIFT) IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AS I WAS PREPARING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SIMPLY SHUT-OFF BLOCKING TRAFFIC. (I WAS EVENTUALLY - 20 MINUTES - ABLE TO GET HELP TO PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD.) EVERYTHING SHUT OFF AND CAR WOULD NOT RESTART....EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE POWER-STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONE OTHER TIME AND THE VEHICLE IS NOW NOTHING MORE THEN A TWO-TON PAPERWEIGHT IN MY GARAGE - AND ABOUT AS USEFUL. ON A SECOND OCCASION IT CUT-OFF AS I PULLED INTO TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CAUSED A COLLISION...FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO COAST FAR ENOUGH TO GET INTO THE TURN LANE AND THEN WHEN TRAFFIC CLEARED TO PUSH IT BACK OFF THE ROAD. AN ONLINE SEARCH TOLD ME THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE SECURITY SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE BUT THERE SEEMS NO AGREEMENT ON A SOLUTION/FIX. EVIDENTLY THE SECURITY SYSTEM SIMPLY DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY (EVEN WHEN IT IS THE CORRECT ONE) AND THINKS THE CAR IS BEING STOLEN AND THUS SHUTS ITSELF OFF. WHAT WOULD/COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS AT SPEED IN TRAFFIC? IF PONTIAC KNOWS ABOUT THIS WHY IS THERE NO RECALL....DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FIRST? *TR

Mileage: 118,947

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR THE BRAKES WILL LOCK UP MAKING A GRINDING NOISE LIKE SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO BRAKE SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WHEELS IT MAKES THIS LOUD GRINDING LIKE METAL ON METAL NOT SURE BECAUSE I HAVE TO REPLACE BRAKES ABOUT EVERY 2 - 3 MONTHS AND ROTORS AND CALIPERS. *TR

Mileage: 108,000

WHEN I TRY TO USE MY SIGNALS IT WONT WORK, THEY WONT COME ON, IT ALSO LILE TO HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, WHEN I CRANK THE CAR UP OT MAKES A LOUD NOISE FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES, OR SOMETIMES IT WONT START, I HAVE TO WAIT THIRTY MINUTES, BEFORE IT COULD CRANK ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, IT HAS DONE THAT, I ALSO HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING BRAKES FOR THIS CAR, MY COOLANT JUG I HAVE REPLACED THAT MANY OF TIMES AND ITS STILL HAS A LEAK IN IT I HAVE TO PUT COOLANT IN THERE FOUR TIMES A WEEK, AND ALSO IF IM MAKING A LEFT MY STEERING WHEEL IT GETS STUCK SOMETIMES. *TT

POWER STEERING RACK SEPARATED FROM SUB FRAME DUE TO CORROSION

Mileage: 113,520

I PURCHASED MY 2001 GRAND AM GT IN 2002. SO FAR SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR, I SEEM TO REPLACE THE BREAKS EVERY 10,000 MILES OR EVERY YEAR, I HAVE HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED TWICE WITHIN THE LAST 5 YEARS, REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND FUEL PUMP. NOW, MY ABS LIGHTS CONTINUE TO GO ON AND MOST RECENTLY, MY CAR WILL NOT START IT SEEM EVERY TWO WEEKS (I HOPE I AM NOT AWAY FROM HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENS) - THE SECURITY LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND HAVE TO KEEP THE KEY IN THE "ON" POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN TRY TO START THE CAR - MY GARAGE TOLD ME IT WAS A SECURITY CODE PROBLEM THAT ONLY THE DEALER CAN FIX. I HAVE ONLY 90,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND NOW, I NEED A RACK AND PINION WHICH WILL COST ME ANOTHER $900.00 (I SPENT APPROX $500 DOLLARS ON THE CAR IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS). MY BREAK PAD WEAR OUT AT LEAST YEARLY (I AM RETIRED AND DON'T EVEN DRIVE THE CAR LONG DISTANCE). NOW MY ABS LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY COMING ON, EVEN THOUGH THE GARAGE SAID HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND I NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THE CAR IS PRETTY - BUT WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER PONTIAC AGAIN - I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP IT IN THE GARAGE EVERY THREE MONTHS (SO IT SEEMS) AND NEED A RELIABLE CAR - NOT ONE THAT DOESN'T START ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS BECAUSE NOW MY SECURITY SYSTEMS IS MESSED UP. ALSO, HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH 1 AND 2 ON THE AC SETTINGS (WOULDN'T WORK AT ALL) - AND OF COURSE, PAID TO HAVE THAT FIXED. PLEASE HELP ME.

Mileage: 70,000

THE A/C- HEATER SPEED CONTROL SELECTION 1 AND 2 STOPPED WORKING IN 2002 SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE. ON APRIL 10,2006, THE SELECTIONS 3 AND 4 ARE ALSO NOT WORKING. THIS IS NOW THE 9TH PROBOLEM I'VE HAD WITH MY VEHICLE. TO INCLUDE BOTH POWER WINDOW BRACKETS BREAKING, MY HAZARD FLASHER, TRANSMISSION, STEERING, AND A/C. I'VE UNKNOWINGLY HAD JACKSON AUTO GROUP OF HAWAII DO REPAIRS WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A WORD ABOUT THE RECALLS. WHAT PROACTIVE STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO NOTIFY THE DEALERS ABOUT THE RECALLS AND DEFECTS? *NM

Mileage: 5,000

CAR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER AND MAKES A LOT OF NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS SUCH MOSTLY PARKING. REPAIR SHOP ADVISED RACK AND PINION PROBLEM THE THIS MODEL CAR IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *JB

DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSED GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT. CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS. *BF *NM

CONSUMER PLACED KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND VEHICLE FAILED TO START. A THEFT DEVICE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED KEY CYLINDER LOCK DUE TO A SECURITY CODE. *AK

THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. IT FELT LIKE IT DID NOT HAVE ANY POWER STEERING FLUID. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS FULL AND THERE WAS NO CUTS OR BREAKS IN THE FLUID LINE. ALSO AT 82,000 MILES THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTION IN THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Mileage: 80,000

THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES SQEAKY NOISES.*AK

LEAKING STEERING RACK, LEAKING WATER PUMP & BROKEN BLOWER MOTOR.

Mileage: 45,500

I OWN A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM,4-CYL. 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, WHICH I PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2001. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ENGAGING 2ND GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND MAKES A RATTLING NOISE, ALSO WHEN I AM DRIVING, THE TIRES GET CAUGHT IN A GROOVE ON THE FREEWAY, THE FRONT WHEELS WILL FOLLOW THE GROOVE WHILE I AM HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE RACK AND PINION, OR A DEFECT IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY/LINKAGE. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO 3 LOCAL DEALERSHIPS HERE IN LAS VEGAS AND ALL OF THEM CLAIM THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, AFTER LOOKING AT IT, I NOTICED ON YOUR WEBSITE -THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS/SUSPENSIONS OF THESE SPECIFIC CARS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CAR IS STILL UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. IS THERE SOMETHING YOU COULD DO TO HELP US GET THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED? *JB

Mileage: 12,000

CONSUMER STATE THE POWER STEERING HOSE ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP SEPARATED CAUSING THE FLUID TO LEAK RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

WHILE DRIVING THE SPINDLE THAT HOLDS TIRE AXLE BROKE, TIRE FELL OFF. ALSO HAD NO BRAKES, AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK CONSUMERS SON WAS DRIVING. GM IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILED PART. CONSUMER SPOKE WITH MANY MECHANICS WHO INFORMED THAT METAL WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BREAK THE WAY IT DID. CONSUEMR HAD PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED OF A NOISE EMMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN THE STEERING WAS TURNED.*JG.

WHILE DRIVING THE SPINDLE THAT HOLDS TIRE AXLE BROKE, TIRE FELL OFF. ALSO HAD NO BRAKES, AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK CONSUMERS SON WAS DRIVING. GM IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILED PART. CONSUMER SPOKE WITH MANY MECHANICS WHO INFORMED THAT METAL WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BREAK THE WAY IT DID. CONSUEMR HAD PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED OF A NOISE EMMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN THE STEERING WAS TURNED.*JG.

WHILE IN MOTION DOWNHILL, CONSUMER STARTED HEARING A GRINDING NOISE AND A METAL TO METAL SOUND EMITTING FROM THE FIRE WALL IN FRONT OF THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS. ONCE ON LEVEL GROUND, THE VEHICLE SEEMED ALRIGHT. CONSUMER CALLED THE PONTIAC DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE STEERING PROBLEM AND WAS INFORMED IT SOUNDED LIKE A RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS ASKED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. THE DAY BEFORE VEHICLE WAS TO GO FOR INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOOSE CONTROL,AND CRASH INTO A BARRIER WALL, THERE WAS 1 INJURY AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*JG

AT 50MPH CAN HEAR A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. THEN, CONSUMER LOSES CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IN THE MORNING AND BACKING OUT WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AS SOON AS CONSUMER STARTS TO TURN. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IN THE MORNING AND BACKING OUT WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AS SOON AS CONSUMER STARTS TO TURN. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK