1994 Pontiac Grand Am Engine Problems

I HAVE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE. WAS BOUGHT AS A USED VEHICLE, PAST OWNER CLAIMS HIS DAUGHTER DROVE IT TO AND FROM COLLEGE. IT IS AN ABS CAR WITH THE 2.3 4 CYLINDER, AUTO TRANS, FWD SE. THE ABS SYSTEM IS MESSED UP AND WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP THE TIRES LOCK-UP ON YOU, THE CAR WILL SLIDE ESPECIALLY IF THE ROADS ARE WET AND THIS IS AT A SPEED OF NOT MORE THAN 15 MPH. LUCKILY WE HAVE AVOIDED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, BUT THERE IS GOING TO COME A TIME WE AREN'T THAT LUCKY. ALSO THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS WORK WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT. THE CAR WON'T STAY COOL NO MATTER WHAT I DO TO IT, THE THERMOSTAT AND HEATER CORE WERE ALREADY REMOVED FROM THE CAR WHEN WE BOUGHT IT. THE ELECTRIC FAN DOES NOT WORK AND I HAVE REPLACED COUNTLESS RELAYS ATTEMPTING TO GET THIS CAR TO BE DEPENDABLE AGAIN. THE TILT STEERING COLUMN NEEDS WORK, BECAUSE IT MOVES WHEN IT SHOULDN'T. WE CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE WE ARE WASTING MONEY ATTEMPTING TO KEEP THIS ONE ON THE ROAD. YES IT WAS A USED CAR AND WE GOT WHAT WE PAID FOR IN REALITY. BUT THE DESIGN OF THE CAR JUST PLAIN OUT WAS A FAILURE. SERIOUSLY THE DESIGNERS NEED TO TEST THEIR IDEAS MORE BEFORE PUTTING THEM OUT ON THE MARKET. WE LOOKED AT A BRAND NEW KIA YESTERDAY AND WALKED AWAY FROM IT, BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER TESTED FOR SAFETY. THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THEY JUST DIDN'T BOTHER PUTTING THE SAFETY RATINGS ON THE WINDOW STICKER. I IN FACT RESEARCHED THE CAR AND FOUND IT HAD NEVER BEEN TESTED FOR SAFETY. YES IT IS A BRAND NEW 2014 KIA CADENZA, DON'T BUY ONE THEY AREN'T WORTH THE ALMOST $40,000 PRICE TAG. TO TOP IT OFF ALMOST 90% OF THE CAR IS BUILT AND MANUFACTURED IN KOREA. SORRY JUST MY OPINION, IF I'M GOING TO SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY I WILL BUY BUILT AMERICAN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10535722

Incident

Jan 16, 2013

Mileage

180,000 mi

MY CAR, WHICH IS A 94 GRAND AM, IS A GOOD RUNNING CAR BUT I BEEN WORKING ON IT HARD TIME FOR 5 WEEKS TRYING TO GET IT TO RUN. IT HAS SOME PROBLEM WHERE THE FUEL PUMP FUSE KEEPS ON BLOWING ON IT. I REPLACE SPARK PLUG COIL, FUEL INJECTORS, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, UNDER THE HOOD WIRING HARNESS, CONTROL MODULE, IGNITION SWITCH, VACUUM LINES, AND THE LITTLE BOX THAT SOUNDS OFF YOUR ALARM WHEN YOU LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON AND/OR KEYS IN THE IGNITION WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR DOOR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO I AM TIRED OF BUSTING MY BUTT ON IT. IT TAKES A LOT FOR ME TO SAY THAT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10157054

Incident

Mar 20, 2006

Mileage

208,000 mi

94' PONTIAC GRAND AM QUAD 4 2.3L BLOWN HEAD GASKET OR MAYBE EVEN HEAD. CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED. REPAIRS ESTIMATED AT $2300. THE CAR IS NOT EVEN WORTH THAT MUCH. GM KNOWS THIS ENGINE HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM. THEY NEED TO RECALL IT!*JB

NHTSA ID

10151259

Incident

Sep 23, 2005

Mileage

123,000 mi

94' PONTIAC GRAND AM QUAD 4 2.3L BLOWN HEAD GASKET OR MAYBE EVEN HEAD. CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED. REPAIRS ESTIMATED AT $2300. THE CAR IS NOT EVEN WORTH THAT MUCH. GM KNOWS THIS ENGINE HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM. THEY NEED TO RECALL IT!*JB

NHTSA ID

10151258

Incident

Sep 23, 2005

Mileage

123,000 mi

DT: CONTACT STATED SHE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A USED CAR THAT SHE PURCHASED ON 5-31-05. ON JUNE 3, 2005 THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. WHEN SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED THEY TOLD HER THAT OIL AND ANTIFREEZE WERE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THEY INSISTED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ENGINE REPAIRS. *AL

NHTSA ID

10133734

Incident

Jul 28, 2005

Mileage

150,000 mi

I REPLACED THE HEATER CORE IN MY CAR AND AN UPPER RADIATOR HOSE AND NOW I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ANTIFREEZE LEAKIN OUT FROM BETWEEN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH INDICATES THAT I NEED A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AS WEEL AS VALVE COVER GASKETS DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS LEAKIN OUT THERE AS WELL. I SPENT $250 ON REPALCING THE HEATER CORE AND $45 ON THE UPPER RADIATOR HOSE TO BE REPAIRED FROM THE DEALER THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. I WAS TOLD BY A FRIEND THAT HER GRAND AM WAS RECALLED DUE TO A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. PLEASE INFORM ME OF A POSSIBLE SOLOUTION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10110141

Incident

Nov 10, 2004

Mileage

74,258 mi

WHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLEW AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10096644

Incident

Oct 12, 2004

WAS JUST DRIVING AND IT OVERHEATED, REPLACED WATER PUMP, SENSORS, WIRES, HEATER COIL, THEMORSTAT TWICE, ALL TO NO AVAIL, TOOK IT TO 2 MECHANICS AND THEY COULDNT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. CLEANED OUT THE RADITOR WITH A COMPLETE FLUSH AND RUN FINE FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS, WE ALSO PUT 2 NEW COMPUTERS INTO IT.

NHTSA ID

10090960

Incident

Jul 1, 2003

Mileage

145,200 mi

PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES, EXHAUST, TIRES, SHOCKS, AND SUSPENSION ON 1994 PONTIAC GRAND AM. *MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE ALSO NEEDED A COMPRESSOR. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10075859

Incident

Jun 4, 2004

PURCHASED VEHICLE, HEATING DID NOT WORK - AIR WOULD BLOW OUT COLD. DEALER BLEW OUT HEAT CORE AND REPLACED THERMOSTAT. MINIMAL AMOUNT OF HEAT. ENGINE STARTED TO STUTTER AND STALL. FUEL INJECTOR IN 5TH CYLINDER BAD. MECHANIC FLUSHED INJECTED AND GAVE TUNE UP. RAN OK FOR A WEEK AND THEN CONSTANT STUTTER AND SHAKE AT 50 MPH. MECHANIC REPLACED 1 INJECTOR. STUTTER GONE. NO OVERHEATING, BUT ANTIFREEZE LEAK X 1. REPLACED WATER PUMP. 1 WEEK LATER CONSTANT OVERHEATING AND PUDDLE OF ANTIFREEZE AROUND ENGINE BLOCK. THEN THE ENGINE STALLED AND I CHECKED THE OIL TO FIND THE DIPSTICK SHOWED TWICE THE AMOUNT OF OIL AFTER SITTING FOR 8 HOURS. JUST HAD OIL CHANGED 1 WEEK AFTER REPAIRS, I HAD THE OIL CHANGED, THAT IS WHEN THE OIL APPEARED OVERFULL AND THE CAR STAULED.

NHTSA ID

10069976

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

108,970 mi

1994 PONTIAC WITH QUAD 4 ENGINE HAS A CRACKED HEAD. IT SEEMS THERE ARE SEVERAL OCCURRENCES OF THIS DEFECT, AND PONTIAC SHOULD RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10049158

Incident

Nov 1, 2003

Mileage

86,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE'S HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. TS

NHTSA ID

8023879

Incident

Dec 4, 2002

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BLOCK ( 1ST TIME ONLY HAD 28145 MILES ON THE CAR AND NOW I HAVE 58294 AND IT CRACKED AGAIN) HOW MANY TIMES SEEMS LIKE EVERY 30000 MILES IT CRACKS. GM SAID NOT THEIR PROBLEM, BUT FROM WHAT I CAN SEE FROM THE CONSUMERS AND ALSO IN TALKING TO THE DEALERS AND THE MECHINICS THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ALL THE 1994 GRAND AM'S ENGINES HAVING THE BLOCK CRACKED. SOMEONE NEEDS TO GET WITH GM AND SAY FIX THE PROBLEMS AND HAVE A GOOD REPLACEMENT SO THAT YOU CAN GET MORE THAN 30,000 MILES ON A ENGINE. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER PONTIAC, AS IT HAS COST ME MORE MONEY THAN ANY OTHER CAR THAT I HAVE EVER HAD. BEFORE THIS CAR I HAD A FORD MUSTANG AND IT LASTED ME 12 YEARS. THIS CAR HAS LASTED ME 3 YEARS AND I STARTED PUTTING MONEY INTO IT. I COULD HAVE BOUGHT ANOTHER CAR WITH ALL THE MONEY I HAVE PUT INTO IT OVER THE YEARS. DT

NHTSA ID

768886

Incident

Oct 24, 2002

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VERY HARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE ENGINE MOUNTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8017785

Incident

Aug 25, 2002

AT APROX 65,000 MILES TOLD BY INDEPENDENT SHOP THAT ANTIFREEZE WAS PRESENT IN OIL, POSSIBLE CRACKED HEAD, DEALER SAID NO CRACKS - POSSIBLY BAD OIL, ABOUT 80,000 MILES TOLD AGAIN BY SAME SHOP AND DEALER THIS TIME THAT ANTIFREEZE PRESENT IN OIL, DEFINITELY CRACKED HEAD, REPLACED CYNLINDER HEAD AND ALL UPPER ENGINE PARTS, ABOUT 3000 MILES LATER ENGINE THREW A ROD. *AK

NHTSA ID

759413

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WOULD BE SLUGGISH AS IF IT WAS ABOUT TO STALL OUT. VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. PARKED VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC. INFORMED POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET OR CRACKED HEAD. ENGINE HAD NOT BEEN PULLED TO BE CHECKED.*AK MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT A GOOD ONE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

8004114

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A WINDING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DRIVER WOULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE KEPT GOING TOWARDS HOT. DRIVER DROVE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT ENGINE HEAD WAS CRACKED, CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO MIX WITH OIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003812

Incident

Feb 8, 2002

WHILE DRIVING COULD HEAR NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. HAD CONTACTED DEALER, BUT PROBLEM STILL THERE. IT COULD NOT BE FIXED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8002263

Incident

Jan 14, 2002

MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED TWICE, A BANGING NOISE OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT INTO GEAR, REPLACE FRONT ENGINE MOUNT AND STRUT

NHTSA ID

9004764

Incident

Feb 18, 1997

THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE NOISES, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT ENGINE HAD GONE OUT DUE TO AN OIL PUMP FAILURE.*YH

NHTSA ID

563737

Incident

May 29, 2001

ENGINE HEAD CRACKED DUE TO INTERNAL CORROSION.DEALER INDICATED PROBLEM WITH COMPONENT AND NEW PART"IS DIFFERENT SO IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN" RESEARCH INDICATES THIS A PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND MFG SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.CAR WAS IN FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RECALL AND OIL CHANGE .DEALER DISCOVERED PROBLEM DURING OIL CHANGE.*AK

NHTSA ID

748876

Incident

Jun 22, 2001

QUAD 4 ENGINES HAVE A HIGH RATE OF HEAD CRACKING, PONTIAC ADMITS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH 1992 &1993 MODELS BUT NOT 1994 ONES WITH THE SAME ENGINE. WHAT IS BEING DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEMS?*AK

NHTSA ID

745475

Incident

Feb 20, 2001

BRAKE FAILED. NLM. CONSUMER STATES PRIOR TO RECALL, A NEW STARTER WAS NEEDED AS WELL AS A NEW ENGINE AND ALSO A NEW LIGHTING SWITCH, CONSUMER HAS ALSO HAD TO GET NEW TIRES. *JB

NHTSA ID

559944

THE HEAD CRACKED ON THE ENGINE AT THE MOLDING OR CASTING PULL OFF. THEIR WERE 3 OTHER VEHICALS THE SAME YEAR AND TYPE (QUAD 4) AT THE SHOP WHERE MY CAR WAS FIXED. THEY ALL HAD A CRACK AT THE SAME EXACT SPOT AS MY CAR DID ON THE HEAD. NO HELP FROM GM. SHOULD BE RECALLED BUT THEY WILL NOT DO IT. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE CRACK.*AK

NHTSA ID

741794

Incident

Feb 15, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK ALL NECESSARY PARTS WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER AND VEHICLE HAS NO PROBLEM AS OF NOW. *YH

NHTSA ID

880570