1997 Pontiac Grand Am Suspension Problems

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

NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM FOR REPAIRS/ REPLACEMENTS OF PARTS. DOOR WINDOWS DO NOT FUNCTION, MOTOR HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY FORMER OWNER, WE HAVE REPAIRED MOTORS ON DOOR WINDOWS SEVERAL TIMES ON OUR OWN, WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO UP AND DOWN AT ALL, COST TO REPAIR AT MECHANICS WAS OVER 400 AND WAS DONE BY FIRST OWNER AT LEAST ONCE. CAR SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND NOW SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN, CAR IDLES HORRIBLY, SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL BE BLOWING UP, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. PRIOR TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPUTER CAR FREQUENTLY STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING IN MID TURN OR WHILE GOING FORWARD, AND CAR FREQUENTLY WAS DIFFICULT TO START, EVENTUALLY NEEDING TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHO HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE COMPUTER. CAR HAS WHEEL BEARINGS THAT MAKE A LOT OF NOISE, SOUNDS LIKE WHEEL IS GOING TO FALL OFF. CAR HAS ACCELERATED ALL ON ITS OWN WITHOUT THE DRIVER STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL OR DOING ANYTHING AT ALL WITH ACCELERATOR, CAR RANDOMLY DECIDES BY ITSELF TO LUNGE FORWARD AND TRY TO DRIVE ITSELF. THIS STOPPED BRIEFLY AFTER THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED AND IS NOW HAPPENING AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166688

Incident

Aug 27, 2006

WHILE DRIVING 7 MPH FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUPPORT BRACKET SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10071813

Incident

Feb 19, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

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

THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.*JB

NHTSA ID

10011688

Incident

Mar 13, 2003

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL AREA. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, MADE A THUMPING NOISE. REPLACED DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROLL ARM, WAS TOLD IT WAS BAD. 3 OR 4 DAYS AFTER I PICKED UP MY CAR, I NOW HAVE A SINGLE THUMP WHEN I BRAKE AND RELEASE THE BRAKE. THIS NOISE IS SO LOUD AND SCARY SOUNDING THAT I AM ABSOLUTELY AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT SOUNDS LIKE MY WHEEL IS READY TO FALL OFF. TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE SHOP AGAIN TOMORROW. I READ SEVERAL REPORTS ON YOUR WEBSITE REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ID

766911

Incident

Sep 1, 2002

STEERING WHEEL IS WHINING AND PULLING VEHICLE TO THE LEFT.AK

NHTSA ID

8009400

Incident

Feb 15, 2002

CUSTOMER STATES FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM RUBBER BURSHING WENT OUT, CAUSING A LOT OF NOISE. MECHANIC REPLACED. NLM

NHTSA ID

8006575

Incident

Mar 20, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICE A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. ALSO, STEERING VEHICLE WAS NOT NORMAL. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN REPLACED FRONT END SUSPENSION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

8005319

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS BOTTOM OF FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED, CAUSING RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO BREAK OFF, AND OTHER DAMAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID

885787

CONSUMER HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END, MECHANIC FOUND LOWER CONTROL ARM ON BOTH SIDES NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

883625

Incident

Mar 1, 2000

VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A SCREETCHING NOISE WHEN TURNING CORNERS. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT BOTH CONTROL ARMS WERE MADE INCORRECTLY.*AK

NHTSA ID

883229

Incident

Mar 12, 2001

WHILE UNDER WARRANTY SWAYBAR BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED 4 TIMES. THE REAR WINDSHIELD LEAKED WATER INTO THE TRUNK WHICH CAUSED MOLDY CARPET THAT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL RATTLES AS WELL AS THE PLASTIC COVER WHERE THE RADIO AND CLIMATE CONTROL KNOBS ARE LOCATED. DEALER HAS SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THE SIDEWALLS ON THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A PATCH IN IT BEFORE I EVEN RECEIVED THE CAR. THE FUSE FOR THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL KEEPS BLOWING AND WHEN THE DEALERSHIP WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT THIS THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOTHING. IT HAS NOW BLOWN 15 TIMES. THE WATER PUMP "SHREDDED" AT 37,000 MILES. THE CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN AFTER BEING TAKEN OUT OF PARK AND PUT IN DRIVE. THE BRAKES "PULSE" AT 10 MILES AN HOUR. THE RADIO CONTROLS WORK OPPOSITE OF WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO (IE TURN UP AND IT DOES NOTHING, TURN DOWN AND IT GETS LOUDER). BATTERY WENT DEAD AT 40,000 MILES. REARVIEW MIRROR LEVER "FELL OFF" INSIDE DOOR FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SEVERE PAINT CHIPPING ON FRONT OF CAR.

NHTSA ID

739251

Incident

Nov 20, 1998

BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WORE OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO LEFT AND RIGHT DURING ACCELERATION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

867339

THIS 1997 GRAND AM IS NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL FAILURES AND AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE AT ALL. PLEASE CONTACT AT THE PHONE NUMBERS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS FORM ! NO AFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID

723066

Incident

Aug 20, 1998

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS FROM THIS CAR AND, GM DOES NOT WANT TO HELP. I WAS SENT OUT OF THE DEALER SHIP WITH NO HORN FOR THREE DAYS. DEALERS ARE NOW SMART ENOUGH TO WORK AROUND THE LEMON LAW IN WORDING REPAIR ORDERS. I THINK WITH ALL THE MOTOR PROBLEMS AND, SAFETY ISSUES MAYBE AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE A CAR STALLS AND SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *AK

NHTSA ID

720331

Incident

Oct 22, 1997

UPON DELIVERY OF MY CAR I HEARD A LOUD SPORADIC CRUNCHING NOICE FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR. AFTER MANY VISITS MY ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE REASON I CONTACTED ANOTHER DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE NOISE AS THE EVAP SYSTEM AND THAT IT WAS A NORMAL NOISE. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL NOISE TO ME AND I AM VERY UNSATISFIED WITH THE NOISE MY CAR MAKES IT IS TEMPERATURE RELATED AND SPORATIC FOR THIS REASON I FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT THIS NOISE AT THE TIME OF SALE SO I HAD THE CHOICE OF BUYING THIS MODEL WITH THE DISTURBING CRUNCHING NOISE.I WAS NOT INFORMED THAT THE CAR I WAS PURCHASI8NG WOULD MAKE THIS NOISE AND WAS TOLD AT A WORKSHOP IN JAN 1997 THAT IT WAS NOT A NORMAL NOISE AND THAT I SHOULD BRING IT IN TO THE SERVICE CENTER WHICH IS WHEN MY MANY VISITS STARTED. I HAVE MADE MANY PHONE CALLS WROTE A LETTER AND HAVE HAD TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. MY CAR STILL HAS THIS NOISE. THANDK YOU PAT PASCO. *AK

NHTSA ID

717971

Incident

Nov 1, 1996

WEATHER CONDITIONS - SNOWING, HARD PACKED SNOW. WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE PULLED OFF TO THE RIGHT. I TURNED TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO GAIN CONTROL, AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT SOME ICE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AND LOSE CONTROL. IT ROLLED OVER ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAME BACK ONTO ITS WHEELS INTO THE DITCH. THE VEHICLE THEN COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE STEERING WHEEL HIT ME IN THE CHEST WITH THE SUDDEN STOP. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED DURING THE CRASH AND WAS I BELIEVE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. NO MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE CONTACTED ME AT ANY TIME SINCE THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

702775

Incident

Dec 27, 1998

DEFECTS CONSIST OF THE BRAKES FAILURE. WE TOK THE CAR BACK DUE TO THE BRAKES SCRUBBING, PEDAL WANTS TO SPRING BACK, FRONT ROTORS BLUE,REPAIRED BRAKES. WON'T STOP BEEN IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. REAR POPPING SOUND, CHANGED THE SHOCKS , CHECK BRAKES, HAS THUMPING NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT SPEED AT 45 MILES IT WILL NOT STOP, EVEN WHEN YOU PUMP THE BRAKES. I THOUGHT THE ANTI BRAKES ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO BE PUMPED. PLEASE HELP, I AM AT THE LAST RESORT OF THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU MRS VICKY L. MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

702530

Incident

Feb 13, 1998

I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER PONTIAC-I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE FROM THIS CAR AND ABSOLUTELY ZERO HELP REPAIRING IT. I OWNED TWO BUICKS PRIOR TO THIS CAR AND WILL BUY ANOTHER AS SOON AS I CAN GET RID OF THIS LEMON!

NHTSA ID

701418

Incident

Aug 1, 1998

TRAVELING 35MPH WHEN REAR OF VEHICLE HIT SIDE OF ROAD AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL. HIT A DITCH & CAME UP ON OTHER SIDE. TOOK TO MECHANIC & INFORMED LEFT REAR SUSPENSION OUT OF ALIGNMENT. HAD TO HAVE BEARINGS REPACKED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

831353

Incident

Sep 30, 1998

DRIVING AT 20 MPH THE RADIUS ARM DISCONNECTED FROM THE AXEL,AND TIRES FELL TO THE RIGHT. THE FRONT DROPPED, PUSHING THE FENDER BACK. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AJAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

829544

Incident

Oct 24, 1998

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS 30-35 MPH OR PULLING IN OR OUT OF DRIVEWAY, A SQEAKING POPPING NOISE CAME FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE DRYNESS OF THE FRONT SWAY BAR. THE SWAY BAR WAS LUBRICATED. ON 4/20/98 AND 6/29/98 VEHICLE BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

825297

Incident

Jun 9, 1997

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY PULLS AND VIBRATES, REPAIRS TO TIRES HOWEVER CONTINUES TO HAVE DIRECTIONAL PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

534734

Incident

Aug 11, 1997

STABILZER BUSHING FAILED CAUSING NOISE.

NHTSA ID

530855

Incident

Aug 20, 1997