1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE Steering Problems

44 complaints about Steering

44
Complaints
8
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Steering Complaints (44)

Jul 1, 2014 Fire

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSING THE WIRES TO MELT TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING COLUMN AND WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

Feb 25, 2012

HEARD AND FELT A LOUD THUD SOUND FROM STEERING AREA DRIVING HOME. POWER STEERING FEELS LIKE IT IS GONE WHEN TURNING LEFT, BUT TURNS EASIER WHEN TURNING RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS. STEERING WHEEL BECOMES OFF CENTERED AT TIMES. ALMOST FEELS AS IF I MIGHT LOOSE CONTROL OF FRONT TIRES DURING TURNS OR AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR

Mileage: 91,000

Sep 11, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE COUPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN LEFT AT ALL. THERE WAS NO DIFFICULTY MAKING RIGHT TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE RACK AND PINION. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

Mileage: 130,000

Apr 1, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION) AND REPAIRED AT 135,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, HE COULD NO LONGER MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN RIGHT AUTOMATICALLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOWER BEARING WAS DESTROYED AND THE COVER FOR THE BEARING WAS MISSING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS THE EXACT SAME FAILURE AS STATED IN THE RECALL. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED NO STEERING FAILURE UNTIL THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. GM STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 176,193 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

Mileage: 165,000

Dec 17, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN TO THE RIGHT, BUT NOT TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000 (STEERING: RACK AND PINION) DOES NOT APPLY TO HER VIN. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 160,406 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,402. UPDATED 03/05/08. *LJ

Mileage: 160,402

Apr 5, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT CALLED ABOUT SAFETY RECALL # 02V286000 REGARDING RACK AND PINION STEERING. THIS VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE STEERING WHEEL WASA DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN TURNING LEFT AT ANY SPEED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SINCE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,337, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,250.*AK

Mileage: 121,250

Mar 23, 2007

RECEIVED 02V286000) FOR DEFECTIVE STEERING. I COULD NOT SAFELY DRIVE CAR. PONTIAC TOLD ME IF THE PART THEY REPLACEDWAS ALSO DEFECTIVE THEY WERE NOT OBLIGATED TO FIX IT PAST 3 MONTHS OR 3,000 MILES. THAT DID NOT SEEM RIGHT. IF THEY REPLACED THE ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE PART WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE TO FIX IT? *AK

Mileage: 121,010

Dec 27, 2006

TILT STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK INTO PLACE ALLOWING STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE FREELY UP AND TO THE LEFT. DANGEROUS FOR STEERING DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND IN PARTICULAR IF EVASIVE SAFETY MANEUVERS ARE NEEDED. FIXED AT REPAIR SHOP BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE PIVOT UNIT MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A VERY HIGH COST. *NM

Mileage: 70,000

Jun 15, 2006

MY NAME IS [XXX], MY DAUGHTER, [XXX] BOUGHT A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE ABOUT A YEAR AGO. IN ABOUT 2/06 SHE STARTED HAVING TROUBLE STEERING THE CAR. THE STEERING WAS MUCH HARDER IN ONE DIRECTION, AS IF THERE WERE NO POWER ASSIST. FINALLY IN MAY 06, SHE BROUGHT IT TO ME AND I LOOKED AT YOUR WEBSITE AND FOUND A RECALL DESCRIBING THE EXACT PROBLEMS SHE IS HAVING WITH THE CAR. I TOLD HER TO TAKE IT TO A GM DEALER AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT FOR FREE. SHE TOOK THE CAR TO 'GRAND PONTIAC' IN THORTON CO., AND AFTER 3 DAYS, THEY CALLED HER AND TOLD HER THE CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND GAVE HER A VERBAL ESTIMATE OF 2100.00, OR GAVE HER AN OPTION TO TRADE IT IN ON ANOTHER CAR. I THEN GOT INVOLVED, AND WAS TOLD THE SAME, I REQUESTED AN ESTIMATE AND WAS FAXED A HAND WRITTEN UNREADABLE PIECE OF NOTHING. 2 DAYS LATER, THE SERVICE MGR.([XXX]) AT GRAND PONTIAC CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, BUT THE GM AREA VEHICLE MANAGER ([XXX]) WOULD NOT APPROVE THE REPAIR. [XXX] THEN TOLD ME TO CALL PONTIAC CONSUMER AFFAIRS. I DID THAT ON 6/14/06, AND GAVE THEM THE STORY. ON 6/15, A GM REP NAMED [XXX] CALLED ME AND SAID THE CAR WAS NOT COVERED GOING BY THE VIN. I TOLD HER THAT RICK DUNCAN SAID IT WAS, AND THAT NHTSA SHOWED IT TO BE. SHE CALLED [XXX], AND CALLED ME BACK AND SAID SHE WOULD HAVE TO DO FURTHER RESEARCH AND CALL BACK. NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 02V286000, BULLITIN# 02049 THE CAR IS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, 4 DR, 2.2, AUTO. 99634.99K MILES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND HELP US IF POSSIBLE. MY KID NEEDS HER CAR BADLY, AND IT LOOKS LIKE GM JUST DOESN'T WANT TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 99,000

Oct 18, 2004 Crash

RECALL ON PINION BEARING IN 1997 SUNFIRE. *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB RECALL# 02V286000

Mar 16, 2004

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED. AS A RESULT, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. *AK

Mileage: 87,000

Mar 3, 2004

VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING. DEALER DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. INITIALLY THE DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE RACK AND PINION. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURE WANTED THE DEALER TO RECHECK THE VEHICLE AT WHICH TIME THE DEALER CHANGED THEIR MIND AND SAID THAT THE TIE ROD WAS THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THEY CHANGED THEIR MINDS TO GET OUT OF PERFORMING THE RECALL FOR FREE. *NM

Mileage: 34,579

Jan 8, 2004

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER A YEAR AGO FOR RECALL REPAIRS ON THE LOWER PINION BEARING. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STICKING WHEN TURNING LEFT. CONSUMER FELT LUCKY NO OTHER VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE OTHER LANE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *AK

Oct 27, 2003 Crash

WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED AND THE CONSUMER HIT A POLE. DRIVER FEELS VERY LUCKY THAT THE STEERING WHEEL DIDN'T LOCK WHILE AT A HIGH SPEED. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 54,446

Sep 22, 2003

WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE STEERING WHEEL KEPT SPINNING. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL KEPT SPINNING. MECHANIC HAS REPLACED STEERING RACK AND STEERING COLUMN.*MR

Jun 17, 2003

PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, THE CONSUMER HAD THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT AND THE DEALER REFUSED. *MR PH *JB

Apr 28, 2003

THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT TURN LEFT, AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION. THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS BINDED AND LEAKED AT THE STEERING SHAFT, ALSO THE PRESSURE HOSE LEAKED. LATER, RECALL#02V286000 WAS ISSUED, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO THE TECHNICIAN NOT SPECIFYING (LOWER PINION BEARING SEPARATION), WHICH WAS NOT THE ACTUAL CAUSE. MR SCC *JB

Apr 21, 2003 Crash

WHILE THE DRIVER MADE A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FALL INTO A DITCH. *NLM

Apr 2, 2003 Crash

THE CONSUMER DIDN'T RECEIVE RECALL REPAIR ON THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE DEALER NOT HAVING THE TOOL. (RECALL #02V286000/STEERING RACK AND PINION) THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE TURNING LEFT. THE CONSUMER HAS DEMANDED REIMBURSEMENT OF THE VEHICLE AT BLUE BOOK VALUE AND THE TOWING FEE. MR SCC

Mar 19, 2003

CONSUMER DISSATISFIED WITH RECALL REPAIRS OF POWER STEERING SYSTEM. HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR A WEEK BECAUSE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PART FOR THE RECALL. *SC

Mar 17, 2003

POWER STEERING GEAR DEFECT RECALL TO REPLACE THE LOWER PINION BEARING. DEALER NEEDED TO HAVE VEHICLE FOR UP TO 2 WEEKS IN ORDER TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS. RECALL STATED REPAIRS WOULD TAKE FROM 30 MINUTES TO 2-1/2 HOURS. CONSUMER FOUND DEALER'S REPAIR TIME FRAME UNACCEPTABLE. *TT *NLM

Mar 4, 2003

I AM FURIOUS ABOUT THE WAY THE RECALL SERVICE HAS BEEN HANDLED ON MY 97 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER PONTIAC. I SCHEDULED FOR THE RECALL SERVICE (RACK & PINION/BEARINGS) TO BE REPLACED ON MY VEHICLE. AFTER MY CAR HAD BEEN AT THE DEALER ALL DAY, I WAS TOLD LATE THAT AFTERNOON THAT THE RECALL PART NEEDED TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE IN FOR 1 TO 2 WEEKS (CLOSER TO 2 WEEKS). I WAS ALSO TOLD AT THAT TIME THAT IT WAS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, DUE TO DANGER REASONS THAT I DID NOT OPERATE THIS VEHICLE, BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED IN THE RECALL AREA. THEY EVEN SAID, THAT MOST OF THE BEARING BALLS WERE GONE OR DAMAGED. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT EVEN KNOW IF THEY COULD RELEASE MY VEHICLE BACK TO ME IN THIS CONDITION. AND ALTHOUGH THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, THE PONTIAC DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOT OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE A LOANER OR RENTAL VEHICLE TO ME. THIS IS INSANE. THIS SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW. THEY SENT OUT RECALL NOTICES THAT STATED THAT WE HAVE CARS SERVICED BY THE DEALER ASAP, BUT THEY WON'T FULLY STAND BY THERE PRODUCT ENOUGH TO MAKE THE CUSTOMER SAFE AND SATISFIED. I WILL NOT ALLOW MY CHILDREN NOR MYSELF TO BE ENDANGERED DUE TO THE FAULT THEY THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE. *NLM

Mileage: 72,000

Feb 27, 2003

THE RACK AND PINION FAILED, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO TURN.*JB

Mileage: 113,527

Feb 19, 2003

AFTER RECALL 02V286000 REGARDING THE RACK AND PINION WAS PERFORMED, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB

Feb 14, 2003

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE REGARDING THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING RACK AND PINION.*JB

Feb 6, 2003

THE PARTS FOR THE POWER STEERING RECALL 02 V 286 000 IS NOT AVIALABLE. THE DEALERSHIP RAMSEY PONTIAC GMC;MAHWAH NJ;201-512-0002. PH

Feb 3, 2003 Crash

LOST CONTROL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO A FAULTY RACK AND PINION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON 02/01/03. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH *TR

Jan 8, 2003 Crash

1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE ALL OF A SUDDEN, WOULD NOT TURN LEFT AND I HIT A POLE, COME TO FIND OUT THE RACK AND PINION SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I HAD TO HAVE RACK AND PINION REPLACED, THIS IS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS, DEALER SAID THEY HAVE HEARD OF NO PROBLEMS WITH RACK AND PINION, AND WERE OF NO HELP AT ALL. *JB

Mileage: 99,000

Oct 2, 2002 Fire

CONSUMER STATES WHEN STARTED THE CAR SMOKE START COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, STATES THAT THE RELAY KIT CAUGHT FIRE. NLM

Aug 29, 2002

AT LOW SPEEDS 5-25 MPH STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKS UP WHEN TURNING LEFT #EA02-003. *AK

Jul 13, 2002

MY POSER STEERING HAS SUDDENLY BECOME DIFFICULT AT SLOW SPEEDS. UNABLE TO TURN LEFT/RIGHT AT CORNERS UNTIL SPEED IS INCREASED. TURNING WHILE SLOWING IS VERY DIFFICULT. BRAKE FLUID CHECKED FINE. MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH PUMP OR RACK/PINION.*AK

Jun 3, 2002

POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AT ALL SPEEDS WHEN TRYING TO TURN LEFT. TOOK TO REPAIR, WAS TOLD THAT RACK & PINION GEAR WAS COMING APART QUICKLY & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPON DOING MORE RESEARCH, I SEE THAT THIS IS ALREADY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER NHTSA # EA02-003. IT APPEARS I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. COST TO REPLACE WILL APPROACH $900, NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED IN A RECALL BY GMC. *AK

Jun 3, 2002

POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AT ALL SPEEDS WHEN TRYING TO TURN LEFT. TOOK TO REPAIR, WAS TOLD THAT RACK & PINION GEAR WAS COMING APART QUICKLY & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPON DOING MORE RESEARCH, I SEE THAT THIS IS ALREADY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER NHTSA # EA02-003. IT APPEARS I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. COST TO REPLACE WILL APPROACH $900, NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED IN A RECALL BY GMC. *AK

Sep 25, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY SHAFT BROKE IN HALF, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK

May 11, 2001 Crash

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WENT OFF OF FREEWAY AND IMPACTED A CEMENT BARRIER. INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT INNER TIE ROD SHEARED OFF WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *THE MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP REFERRED TO 4 PREVIOUS INCIDENTS WHICH RESULTED IN DEATHS BECAUSE OF THIS.*AK *JB

Nov 20, 2000

STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO STEERING COLUMN BREAKING. ALSO, SEATBELT LOCKED UP WHEN MAKING A HARD RIGHT TURN. DEALER REPLACED SEATBELT, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Sep 9, 2000

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH ANY PUDDLE MORE THAN 2-3 INCHES DEEP, POWER STEERING GOES OUT, BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, AND IF LIGHTS ARE ON THEY DIM DOWN ALMOST TO OFF. I LIVE IN A PLACE WHERE IT RAINS A LOT EVERYDAY AND THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A TURN. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER IN MY AREA HAS STATED THAT THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST 3 OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL TO HIS DEALERSHIP (ATKINS KROLL, GUAM). THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.

Sep 9, 2000

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH ANY PUDDLE MORE THAN 2-3 INCHES DEEP, POWER STEERING GOES OUT, BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, AND IF LIGHTS ARE ON THEY DIM DOWN ALMOST TO OFF. I LIVE IN A PLACE WHERE IT RAINS A LOT EVERYDAY AND THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A TURN. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER IN MY AREA HAS STATED THAT THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST 3 OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL TO HIS DEALERSHIP (ATKINS KROLL, GUAM). THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.

May 19, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

Feb 7, 2000 Crash

WHILE DAUGTHER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH SHE HIT A GUARDRAIL AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

Oct 5, 1999

STEERING TO THE LEFT STARTED TO GET BAD AT 38,000 MILES. NOW THE CAR LOCKS UP AT ALL MOST EVERY LEFT HANDED TURN WAS ALMOST HIT 2 TIMES. NOT GOOD!

Sep 15, 1999

GM DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ITS CONSUMERS. WHEN DRIVING MY 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE THROUGH ANY WATER, EVEN A SMALL 3-5 FOOT WIDE PUDDLE OF ONLY 1-2 INCHES DEEP WATER, THE POWER STEERING BELT BECOMES WET AND STARTS SQUEALING LOUDLY. THE POWER STEERING THEN BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND VERY UNRESPONSIVE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES FOR OVER A YEAR. DON BOHN AUTOPLEX SAYS THEY HAVE CONTACTED PONTIAC AND ALSO A GM MANUFACTURERS REPRESENTATIVE. DON BOHN REPORTS TO ME THAT PONTIAC AND GM DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME AND SAID NOTHING IS TO BE DONE. IT HAS BEEN SAID TO ME BY DON BOHN MANAGEMENT AND ALSO A PONTIAC REPRESENTATIVE ON THEIR 1-800 SERVICE NUMBER THAT THIS CONDITION OF THE POWER STEERING IS A 'CHARACTERISTIC' OF THE 1997 'J' BODY TYPE CARS OF GM AND THERE IS NO PRESENT FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. MY CAR IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE NOT ONLY WHEN IT RAINS BUT EVEN WHEN THERE IS A 'SMALL' PUDDLE ON THE HIGHWAY. EVEN THOUGH I STILL HAVE ONE YEAR LEFT ON MY MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY, PONTIAC AND GM REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT MY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. WHEN I MENTIONED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT DON BOHN AUTOPLEX, EDDIE SATTLER (OR SADDLER) THAT I DID NOT FEEL I SHOULD TAKE THE CAR HOME BECAUSE THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, HE GOT ANGRY AND THREATENED TO TOW MY CAR TO MY HOME IF I REFUSED TO TAKE DELIVERY. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND AM EXTREMELY DESPONDENT AND FRUSTRATED. PLEASE ADVISE OR HELP ME. THANK YOU. CARROLL ALBARADO

Feb 3, 1999

CONSUMER HAS ABS BRAKES. WHILE SLOWING DOWN, BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. ALSO CAUSING STIFFNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

Sep 10, 1998

POWER STEERING RETURN LINE FAILED CAUSING NOISE.