1997 Pontiac Grand Am Engine Problems

COOLANT LEVELS IN RESERVE TANK ALWAYS WOULD DROP BELOW MINIMUM LEVELS, AND WE WOULD CONTINUE TO ADD COOLANT. LAST OIL CHANGE IN JUNE 2009 REVIEW NO PROBLEM. NOVEMBER 2009, WHILE SON WAS DRIVING HOME FROM COLLEGE (APPROXIMATELY 80 MILES) CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT WITH TEMP GAUGE READING IN THE RED. HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL SHOP AND REPORTED THAT COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO CORE, ENGINE DESTROYED (ESTIMATED REPAIR - NEED NEW/REMANUFACTURED ENGINE $2500-3000). SEEMS WHILE REVIEWING THIS SUBJECT ONLINE AND W/NHTSA WEB SITE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH 1997 PONTIACS 4 AND 6 CYLINDER ENGINES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10292067

Incident

Nov 5, 2009

Mileage

92,000 mi

COOLING SYSTEM IS FAILING ALL THE TIME ON ALL PONTIACS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM INTAKE MANIFOLD BLOW 5 TIMES AT 50.00 MILES OIL MIXES WITH THE COOLANT AND ALL THE SMOKE FROM THAT GOES IN THE AIR IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND THAN THE CARS ARE JUNK SO THAN EVERYBODY WHO BUYS PONTIAC THEY ARE BUYING A LEMON CARS EVEN IF IT BRAND NEW FROM THE SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246500

Incident

May 23, 2007

Mileage

50 mi

IGNITION WON'T TURN TO THE OFF POSITION. I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY SO I DON'T DRAIN IT. I HAVE TO LEAVE MY KIDS IN THE HOT CAR WHILE I DO THIS. OR PAY $200 THAT I DON'T HAVE TO GET IT FIXED. I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE THE SENSOR ON THE TRANSMISSION THAT TELLS THE CAR ITS IN PARK. WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS IT HAPPENS TO A LOT OF VEHICLES. I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE TO MAINTAIN MY CAR BUT I DON'T SEE WHY SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232006

Incident

Jun 19, 2008

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY SMELLS ANTIFREEZE AND IT HAS LEAKED ONTO THE FRONT AND BACK FLOORS OF THE VEHICLE. SHE NOTICED THAT THE FLOORS WERE WET, BUT NEVER PAID ATTENTION TO IT UNTIL SHE REMOVED THE FLOORMATS AND SAW THE GREEN ANTIFREEZE. AS OF APRIL 16, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR A MECHANIC. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

NHTSA ID

10224719

Incident

Apr 16, 2008

Mileage

97,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AT A STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS OF OCTOBER 15, 2007, THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V070000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH). THE CONTACT FELT THAT HER VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ THE DEALER STATED ENGINE REPLACED IN JUNE. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10205727

Incident

Jul 15, 2007

Mileage

150,000 mi

PURCHASED CAR NEW AT END OF 97 MODEL YEAR. WITHIN FIRST SIX MONTHS RETURNED CAR SIX TIMES DUE TO DEFECTIVE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS. PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN CORRECTED. CAR CLUNKS AS IT IS EITHER TURNED TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT OR TRAVELS (SLOWLY) OVER SPEED BUMPS. ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED PAINT PEELING FROM OUTSIDE MIRRORS, RADIO VOLUME CONTROL PROBLEMS, RADIO/CLOCK DISPLAY WORKS ONLY PART OF THE TIME, RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MOUNTING BROKE AND SLID PASSENGER INTO DASHBOARD, 2 DOOR SPORT COUPE-BOTH POWER WINDOWS MOTORS HAVE BROKEN AND BEEN REPLACED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW JUST BROKE FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS. PASSENGER WINDOW HAS ALSO STARTED TO ACT SLUGGISH. DISCOVERED LEAKY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. ANOTHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR. RAIN LEAKS INTO CAR AROUND WINDOW GASKETS WHICH ALSO MAKE A HISSING SOUND AT SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH. CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN WITH CARE FOR NINE YEARS(ODOMETER=80,000 MILES) AND HAS HAD OIL CHANGES, TIRE ROTATIONS, ETC. COMPLETED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. OWNER CANNOT AFFORD ADDITIONAL COSTLY REPAIRS ESPECIALLY SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE GOING DOWNHILL FROM HERE. DISGUSTED WITH PROBLEMS AS WELL AS WITH LACK OF SERVICE FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT PONTIAC DEALERS. OWNER CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY A [DECENT] NEW CAR AND WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE SOMETHING USED. MAKE NO MISTAKE- IT WON'T BE A GM PRODUCT! *NM

NHTSA ID

10169247

Incident

Sep 25, 2006

Mileage

2,000 mi

TOOK VEHICLE TO MURPHY MOTORS, DEALERSHIP HERE IN MY HOME TOWN. TOOK TO THEM DUE TO FACT MY HEAT GAUGE KEPT RISING AND I DIDN'T WANT TO RUN CAR HOT ;WENT TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. TECHNICIAN STATED THAT HE PUT THE CAR ON THE CODE MACHINE AND RAN IT. SAID CODE POPPED UP TRANSMISSION. I DIDN'T TAKE CAR IN FOR TRANSMISSION. THEY REFUSED TO FIX OVERHEAT PROBLEM. SAID WOULD HAVE TO PAY $2,500.00 TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. PICKED UP CAR TOOK TO CLIFFORD VINE GARAGE. HE LOOKED AT CAR AND IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME THE RADIATOR WAS POURING WATER OUT OF IT. HE REPLACED RADIATOR AND COOLING FAN. HE PUT CAR ON CODE MACHINE AFTER REPAIRING THOSE TWO ITEMS AND DID NOT SEE A CODE FOR TRANSMISSION. AFTER THAT ALTERNATOR WENT OUT, AND TWO DAYS LATER, MY COMPUTER AND FUEL INJECTORS WENT OUT. MURPHY MOTORS RAN CAR CHECKING TRANSMISSION NO TELLING HOW LONG AND PROBABLY RAN WITHOUT WATER SINCE RADIATOR WAS POURING IT OUT. THEY DIDN'T MENTION PROBLEM WITH RADIATOR AT ALL, JUST TRANSMISSION CODES. I FEEL THEY DAMAGED CAR WHILE RUNNING IT IN THEIR SHOP LOOKING FOR MORE MONEY TO GET OFF ME, LIKE $2,500.00 FOR A TRANSMISSION THAT HAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS CAR WAS A LEMON FROM THE FIRST DAY I GOT IT. I'VE HAD COIL HOUSING REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES BY MURPHY MOTORS AND BY JOHN HAYS PONTIAC-HOPE AR 71801 WHEN I BROKE DOWN. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED IN MORE TIMES FOR COIL HOUSING. GM NEEDS THIS CAR DROVE RIGHT UP THEIR BACKSIDE FOR THE PROBLEMS IT HAS CAUSED AND CONTINUES TO CAUSE ME. I CURRENTLY HAVE A $750.00 OUTSTANDING SHOP BILL TO CLIFFORD VINES GARAGE IN EL DORADO, AR 71730 FOR THE LAST 3 TIMES IT WAS TOWED TO HIS SHOP FOR THE RADIATOR, COOLING FAN, ALTERNATOR, FUEL INJECTORS, AND COMPUTER. I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER PONTIAC AGAIN, THAT'S FOR SURE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10167121

Incident

Aug 15, 2006

Mileage

170,498 mi

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WARPED AND COOLANT LEAKED. THIS IS THE SECOND GM 3.1 L ENGINE WHICH HAS HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP AT THE SAME TIME. ADDITIONALLY THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED (AGAIN IN BOTH GM 3.1 L'S I'VE HAD). THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH PONTIAC'S AND MALIBU'S (AND OTHER GM MADE CARS). IT'S EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AT A SHOP AND TIME CONSUMING AND FRUSTRATING TO DO ON YOUR OWN. IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT SUCH A CHEAP PART AND CHEAPLY MADE PART HASN'T BEEN RECALLED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10148161

Incident

Dec 17, 2005

Mileage

154,000 mi

THIS IS THE WORST CAR (LEMON) I HAVE EVER HAD. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A USED CAR DEALER SHIP CALLED NEW CAR ALTERNATIVE IN LIVONIA MI. I AM NOW ON MY THIRD ENGINE IN THE CAR. THE FIRST 2 FAILED DUE TO THE HEAD GASKETS BLOWING AND ANTI-FREEZE WAS MIXING WITH OIL IN THE ENGINE CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. ALL CAR WINDOW MOTORS HAVE BE REPLACED 4 OR 5 TIMES EACH AND STILL DON'T WORK. BACK TWO DOORS ARE BROKE ONE WONT OPEN THE OTHER WONT CLOSE. THE SUNROOF WONT CLOSE THE DEALER TOLD ME 1500 TO REPLACE MOTOR AND PUT BACK ON TRACKS. LOL I HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 5 YEARS. I BOUGHT THE CAR DEC OF 99 AND HAVE HAD ALL THESE PROBLEMS SINCE. I DON'T RECOMMEND ANYONE TO BUY A GRAND AM OR A CAR FROM THIS DEALERSHIP THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL. THE FIRST ENGINE WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY SECOND ONE WAS AT MY COST OF 3500. THEN ANOTHER 1500 FOR NEW RADIATOR AND HEATER CORE. THEN ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION HOSE. THIS IS SUCH BULL CRAP. WHAT A LEMON! PLUS I WAS PULLING OUT OF A GAS STATION ONE DAY AND MY AIR BAG DECIDED TO COME OUT ON IT OWN NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED AND HIT ME IN THE FACE RESULTING IN INJURIES AND I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10131095

Incident

Jul 1, 2001

Mileage

74,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE DAY AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A FUNNY NOISE, AND WHEN I SHUT IT OFF. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC , THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE CONNECTING ROD. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE IT IS CHEAPER TO PUT AN ENGINE IN RATHER THEN REBUILD THE ONE I HAVE. THE ENGINE IS STILL IN THE CAR BECAUSE I HAVEN'T GOT ENOUGH MONEY TO REPLACE IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10113919

Incident

Sep 29, 2004

Mileage

96,997 mi

RECALL CAMPAIGN; RECALL INSTALL PINION BEARING KIT, PERFORM RECALL 99091 REPLACED WIPER ARM, DEFLECTOR, BARRIER KIT. REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. *BF WHEN GOING THE SPEED LIMIT AND WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD CUT OUT. *SC

NHTSA ID

10108905

Incident

Dec 1, 2004

ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO THE CORE. BRAKES WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES LAST YEAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10092822

Incident

Jul 2, 2004

Mileage

133,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. CONSUMER HEARD SOUNDS AS IF SOME ONE HAD DROPPED MARBLES IN THE ENGINE. SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED. A MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION, AND ABS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10075893

Incident

Jun 8, 1999

Mileage

45,000 mi

1ST. MY RECALL (NHTSA#02V070/GM #02008) STARTED MARCH 2002 AND WE JUST NOW RECEIVED THE LETTER IN MARCH 2004. AND MY VEHICLE DID EVERYTHING THE LETTER SAID IT WOULD DO EXCEPT, THEY'RE WAS NOT A FIRE BUT TRYING TO START IT CAUSED IT TO JUMP TIME --CAUSUNG A HOLE IN THE PISTON AND BROKE VALVE!!MUCH BIGGER AND COSTLIER OUTCOME//IN OTHER WORDS I NEED A NEW ENGINE SINCE HAVING THE PISTON AND VALVE FIXED IS COSTING AROUND $2500.00!!!!!!!!!!!!*AK

NHTSA ID

10064011

Incident

Mar 6, 2004

97 GRAND AM 4CYL PUR NEW 5/97 SERIES OF PROBLEMS.GT VERSION BUT DRIVEN CAUTIOUSLY BY 40 YEAR OLDS.AT 2 YEARS AND 39,000 MILES WATER PUMP FAILS.IS UNDER CAR AND IS 600.00 DOL TO REPLACE!NOBODY SHOULD BUY THE 4 CYLINDER WHEN AN ITEM PRONE TO FAILURE LIKE A WATER PUMP CANT BE ACCESSED WITHOUT REMOVING THE MANIFOLDS ON THE CAR.AT 50,000 KEY COMES OUT OF IGNITION WHILE CAR RUNNING.IGNITION SWITCH FAILS,HAS TO BE RE KEYED AND COST IS 500.00 BY LOCAL MECHANIC SERV STAT.AT 55,000 MILES AT INTERLOCKS UP,CAR STUCK TOWED AT THIS TIME A ALTERNATOR CHECK SHOWS THAT IS NOT CHARGING.REPLACE BOTH COST 800.00 PLUS BATTERY.DEC 2000 FRONT LEFT TIRE ON ALUM WHEEL IS FLAT-TAKE TO SEV STAT,THEY REFILL DRIVE CAR AFTER X-MAS IT DEFLATES CAUSES CAR TO SPIN HIT LIGHT POLE MOSTLY ON TIRE AREA AT 40 MPH ,NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT BUT A HIGH SNOWBANK DECELERATES CAR.ALUM WHEEL LEAK AGAIN?EVER SINCE W.PUMP REPLACED A TAPPING COMES FROM CAM AREA.AT 75,000 MILES AUTO DR LOCK IN DRIV SIDE FAILS AND IS REPLACED.CAM NOISE CONT. AS SERV. PEOPLE SAY IT IS A LIFTER,FINALLY IN 2002 DEC. CAR RUNS ROUGH ,IS PUT ON COMP. AND FOUND TO HAVE BAD CAM TIMING.CHAIN IS INSPECTED AS IT IS STEEL AND FOR LIFE OF CAR.A TINY CHEAP BRACKET KEEPS THE CHAIN IN PLACE AND IT HAD CRACKED AND SLOWLY BROKEN AT 80,000 MILES.ENGINE GOT BY WITH NEW CHAIN AND LABOR FOR 800.00 DOL.85,000 NEW BATTERY,95,000 NEW BATTERY.108,000 4 SPEED AUTOTRANS STARTS SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL.CAR STOPS ON HIGHWAY WONT MOVE.HW PATROL TOWS ,CHARGED 129.00 TO REPAIR SHOP.SAY TRANNY IS BAD.AND WATER PUMP IS LEAKING AGAIN.BILL WOULD BE THOUSANDS DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THESE PARTS AND CAR WILL BE SOLD AS PARTS CAR.TOO BAD,LOOKS GOOD.-MARCH 06,2004.*AK

NHTSA ID

10062085

Incident

Mar 5, 2004

Mileage

39,000 mi

LEFT SIDE STEERING COLUM PIN FELL OUT STEERING WHEEL ALMOST FELL OFF DASH

NHTSA ID

10071275

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

Mileage

95,000 mi

WHEN YOU RUN THE AIR, THE CAR STALLS AND WON'T START ANYWHERE FROM ONE HOUR TO THREE OR FOUR POSSIBLY THE NEXT DAY. THE HORN WORKS SOMETIMES, THE RAIDIO WORKS SOMETIMES AS DOES THE DISPAY, THE VOLUME GOES UP AND DOWN. THE FUEL SYSTEMS SHUTS DOWN ALONG WITH THE CAR WHEN THE AIR IS RUNNING. THE POWER WINDOW QUIT WORKING IN APRIL, I REPLACED THE ONE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE ONLY TO HAVE THE ONE ON THE DRIVER SIDE TO STOP WORKING. THE BRAKES WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. ANYTIME THE CAR HAS ANY PROBLEMS NO LIGHTS COME ON TO WARN YOU IT WILL JUST STOP WORKING. THE SHOP THAT PUT THE USED ENGINE IN STILL CAN'T TELL ME WHY IT STARED KNOCKING. THE ETS SYSTEM COMES ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME WITHOUT PRESSING THE BUTTON, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE 1997 PONITAC GRAND AM GT.

NHTSA ID

10070666

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

Mileage

85,000 mi

THE MOTORS ON THE WINDOWS GO OUT AROUND 97K MILES. MY DRIVERS WINDOW WENT OUT A MONTH AGO. MY RIGHT, FRONT WINDOW IS ABOUT TO GO OUT, AND MY BACK RIGHT WINDOW WENT OUT TODAY. OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH FAULTY WINDOW MOTORS WITH THIS MODEL. THE TOTAL COST OUT OF MY POCKET FOR THIS INCIDENT IS ABOUT $1000 INCLUDED WITH A LOT OF FRUSTRATION!

NHTSA ID

10069089

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

Mileage

97,000 mi

ENGINE FAILED.HIS CAR HAS 58250 MILES. MY DAUGHTER CALLED ME AT WORK TO INFORM ME THAT SOMETHING IS MAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR, BUT IT GOES AWAY ONCE YOU EXCEED 20MPH. AFTER DINNER I PUP THE HOOD OPEN AND TRY TO START THE CAR. I DISCOVER THAT NOISE DURING STARTUP WAS NOT NORMAL, AND CAR HAS GREAT DIFFICULTIES TO START. WHEN IT FINALLY STARS, I HEAR KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE NOISE WAS CONCENTRATED ON THE CYLINDER NEXT TO TIMING CHAIN. I STOPPED THE ENGINE AND CHECK THE OIL LEVEL, IT WAS OK. I CONTACTED LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO BRING THE CAR TO THE SHOP, BUT TO DRIVE SLOWLY AND TRY NOT TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. WHEN I GOT THERE AND PARKED THE CAR I ALSO NOTED THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL LEVEL LIGHT CAME ON DURING IDLE. MY MECHANIC DETERMINES IMMEDIATELY THAT MY ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED. HE ALSO MAKE SAYS THAT HE IS NOT SURPRISED AT ALL ONCE HE SAW THAT THIS IS 4 CYLINDER 2.4L ENGINE. HE ESTIMATED THAT THE REPAIR COST WILL BE OVER $3000.00. THIS IS ONLY SLIGHTLY LESS THEN THE BLUE BOOK VALUE. IM DRIVING MY FRIENDS SPARE CAR 1988 MAZDA MX6 AND MY DAUGHTER DRIVES MY OTHER PONTIAC 1996 BONNEVILLE SSE, (WHICH BY THE WAY JUST HAVE WATER PUMP FAILURE AFTER 48000MI) I SEARCH MANY BULLETIN BOARDS ON THE NET AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS NOT ISOLATED INCIDENT. MANY OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCED EXACTLY THE SOME PROBLEM BETWEEN 50000 AND 80000 MI. HAVING ENGINE FAILURE @ LESS THEN 60000MI SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER. BASED ON MY RESEARCH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY CPA FOR RECALL. BY THE WAY I PURCHASED MY FIRST CAR IN 1974 IT WAS THE BUICK ELECTRA, SINCE THEN MY FAMILY OWNED 9 DIFFERENT CARS (ALL GM) BUT IM 100% POSITIVE THAT THIS GRAND AM WAS MY LAST GM CAR. MY NEXT CAR WILL BE JAPANESE. MY FRIEND JUST CLOCK 250000MI ON HIS HONDA ACCORD, THE ONLY MAJOR COMPONENT THAT FAILED WAS THE ALTERNATOR @ 165000MI. SORRY GM, BUT THERE IS NO MORE GAS IN YOUR THANK FOR ME.*AK

NHTSA ID

10051525

Incident

Dec 15, 2003

Mileage

58,250 mi

SERPENTINE BELT WAS OFF PULLEYS CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING.*MR THE VEHICLE STEAMED OVER AND DEX COOL BOILED OUT. *PH

NHTSA ID

10044527

CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10044112

Incident

Oct 14, 2003

I AM NEVER NOTIFIED REGARDING ANY RECALLS THAT HAVE OCCURRED AS IT RELATES TO MY VEHICLE. I HAPPEN TO BE HAVING MY CAR SERVICED AND THEN FIND OUT THAT SEVERAL MONTHS TO YEARS HAVE PASTED AND THERE WAS A RECALL. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY? I AM TOLD MY GM THAT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE NOTIFICATIONS TO CONSUMERS. MY VEHICLE IS A 97, PONTIAC GRAND AM. PLEASE ADVISE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10037031

Incident

Sep 2, 2003

WHEN A TURN WAS MADE, THE STEERING WHEEL PRODUCED A LOUD RUBBING NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THERE WERE HIGH IDLE PROBLEMS. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE POWER LOCKS WERE REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE VEHICLE HAD STARTED TO RUN ROUGH, THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT AND WAS REPLACED, THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED, THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS REPLACED, THE COMPRESSOR WAS REPLACED, WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE COLD, THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND ON THE RIGHT SIDE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS WARM ,THEN THE NOISE WOULD GO AWAY, SURGING WOULD ALSO OCCUR AND WOULD WORSEN WHEN THE ENGINE WAS WARMED, THE VOLUME ON THE RADIO WAS ERRATIC(HAD GONE UP WHEN TRYING TO TURN DOWN), THE SENSOR THROTTLE POSITION SHORTED AND WAS INTERMITTENT, THE VALVE AIR CONTROL WAS REPLACED, AND THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10031249

Incident

Jul 2, 2003

Mileage

113,000 mi

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR A "CLICKING" SOUND OCCURRED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, AND ALL WAS WELL FOR A WEEK. THEN, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE GAUGES FLASHED BACK AND FORTH ,AND THE CAR STOPPED. WOULD NOT RESTART UNLESS WAS SET FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. WHEN IT STARTED THE SAME INCIDENTS REPEATED. WARNING LIGHTS WOULD OFTEN COME ON AND OFF WITHOUT THERE BEING ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM THAT THE LIGHTS WERE INDICATING. ONCE THE CAR WAS PULLED TO A STOPPING LOCATION IT WOULD NOT TURN COMPLETELY OFF , AND THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THESE PROBLEMS PERSISTED FOR 2 DAYS UNTIL IT COMPLETELY STOPPED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10028605

Incident

Jul 18, 2003

Mileage

87,000 mi

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKED DAMAGING THE ENGINE. *TT

NHTSA ID

10021265

Incident

May 28, 2003

Mileage

62,283 mi