1998 Pontiac Grand Am Brakes Problems

THE CONSUMER REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S DOOR'S, BRAKES AND OTHER COMPONENTS. *NM *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10111193

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND FRONT ROTOR NEEDED REPLACE DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10087826

Incident

Aug 12, 2004

I THINK GRANDAM HAS THE WORST BRAKING SYSTEM ON THEIR CARS. I SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ALONE ON BRAKES. I'VE ASKED SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO ALSO OWN A GRANDAM AND THEY SAY THE SAME THING I CHANGE MY BRAKES AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES A YEAR. I OWN A 98 PONTIAC GRANDAM AND AS SOON AS I FINISH PAYING ON IT I AM GETTING RID OF IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10067547

Incident

Sep 11, 2002

WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP AT THE DESIRED STOPPING POINT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INDICATED THAT ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND THERE WAS NO REMEDY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. MECHANIC RECOMMENDS DISCONNECTING THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10061419

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER 20,000 MILES. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 5 YR BATTERIES 3 TIMES NOW AT MY OWN EXPENSE. LAST TIME RESULTED IN CAR NEEDING TO BE TOWED AND KEY NOT BEING ABLE TO BE TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION. TRIED JUMP STARTING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OVER HEATED. MY COMPLAINT IS THIS I JUST RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL STATING THAT IF THE CAR IS HARD TO START IT COULD START ON FIRE IF JUMP STARTED MORE THEN 3 TIMES AND IF THE KEY IS ON THE ON POTION TO LONG. THEY WANT TO INSTALL A RELAY DEVICE TO PREVENT FIRES BUT WHY IS THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION PROBLEM NOT BEING FIXED. WHY DO WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE BATTERY EVERY YEAR. THE RELAY DEVICE WILL NOT FIX THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM IT WILL ONLY FIX THE FIRE THREAT. ALSO SIDE MIRROR ADJUSTMENT KNOB HAS FALLEN INSIDE CAR DOOR AND WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL DOWN OR UP. CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE AT TIMES. FRONT TIRES WORE ON THE INSIDE OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10060533

Incident

Jul 20, 2003

THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE FUNCTION PREVENTS ME FROM BEING ABLE TO BRAKE MY CAR ON WET, SNOWY OR SLUSHY DAYS, BOTH MY DAUGHTER AND I HAVE HAD TO SHIFT DOWN AND PULL ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO PULL OVER, WE LIVE ON A LONG STEEP HILL. THIS RESETS THEABS BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY. ALSO, THE AUTO LOCKS MALFUNCTION AND THE FRONT WINDOWS DON'T ROLL UP AND DOWN, I AM AFRAID WE'LL BE TRAPPED IN AN OUT OF CONTROL CAR. ALSO THE ADJUSTMENT KNOB FOR THE EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRRORS FELL INTO THE DOOR SO I CAN'T ADJUST THEM WITHOUT STOPPING AS THE WINDOWS DON'T OPEN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10050916

Incident

Dec 1, 2003

Mileage

16,000 mi

BREAKS HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK ALONE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER INTERMITTENTLY. WE PURCHASED THIS CAR 2 YEARS AGO AND IT HAS BEEN IN PONTIAC SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES. THEY HAVE PUT ON NEW BRAKES, PADS ETC. ADJUSTED THE BRAKES AND STILL THE PROBLEM IS UNRESOLVED. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE IMMEDIATELY THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND WILL CAUSE AN INJURY OR DEATH!*AK

NHTSA ID

10025403

Incident

Jun 28, 2003

Mileage

40,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING AT NORMAL SPEED, CONSUMER STATES' PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP BRAKE TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA ID

8022551

Incident

Nov 1, 2002

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN BUT COULD BE RELATED TO A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER. *TS *NLM

NHTSA ID

8022447

Incident

Oct 15, 2002

Mileage

45,000 mi

AFTER TURNING MY VEHICLE ON, I NOTICED THAT MY VEHICLE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. IT WAS DETERMINED AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC THAT THE MOTOR PACK WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT I FILE A REPORT SINCE THIS IS A RARE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

765192

Incident

Jul 29, 2002

WHILE DRIVING ABS LIGHT WILL POP UP. CONSUMER HAS TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, AND LIGHT WILL GO OFF. THEN, WILL POP UP AGAIN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

8004153

Incident

Feb 14, 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, VEHICLE STARTS TO PULSATE AND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 FEET TO STOP, WHILE VEHICLE IS BUCKING AS IF THE ABS ARE ENGAGING, RPM NEEDLE GOES CRAZY. *SLC

NHTSA ID

561530

Incident

Mar 4, 2000

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DISC BRAKE SEPARATED AND FELL OFF WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID

745290

Incident

May 14, 2001

BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. REPLACED TWICE AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED ONCE. SPOUSE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT OR REAR BRAKES DID NOT SHOW ANY WEAR.-WE ALSO HAVE HAD A PROBELM WITH THE BATTERY THAT I THINK WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

741807

I FEEL AS THOUGH THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MY 1998 PONTIAC GRANDAM. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (BOOMERSHINE PONTIAC) TWICE IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. ON NOVE 28, 2000 ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS IN MY VEHICLE CAME ON AND THEN MY CAR LOCKED UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE BYPASS AT ABOUT 50 MPH. I COULD NOT STEER OR BRAKE MY CAR. IT WAS LOCKED UP, SO THREW ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND SLID UNTIL THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. I REPORTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT MY ABS, ETS, CHECK ENGINE, AND AIRBAG LIGHTS KEPT FLASHING ON AND OFF. ON FEB 20, 2001 I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO BOOMERSHINE PONTIAC AND REPORTED THAT MY CHECK ENGINE, ABS, AND AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ONCE AGAIN COMING ON. MY CAR WAS SUPPOSELY REPAIRED WHEN I PICKED IT UP ON FEB 22, 2001. ON MARCH 1. 2001 AT 9:05AM I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND MY ABS, ETS, AND AIRBAG LIGHTS WERE ONCE AGAIN FLASHING . I WENT TO PONTIAC BOOMERSHINE TO REPORT THIS. AND I TOOK THE SALES CONSULTANT JASON BRESNOCK FOR A RIDE IN THE CAR. MY AIRBAG LIGHT DID FLASH WHILE JASON BRESNOCK WAS RIDING WITH ME. I HAVE MADE AND APPOINTMENT FOR TUESDAY MARCH 6, 2001 AND 7:45AM TO HAVE THEM WORK ON MY CAR ONCE AGAIN. I FEEL THAT THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS CAR AND THE TECHNICIANS CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE. I FEEL THAT I AM DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AT THIS POINT.*AK

NHTSA ID

741782

Incident

Nov 28, 2000

FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS HAD TO REPLACED AT 24,000 MILES WITHIN 1 YEARR OF OWNERSHIP. THEN 1 1/2 YEARS ,ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AT SAME TIME. DEALER HAD TO HAVE MOTOR PACT KIT PUT WHICH RUNS REAR HYDRAULIC FOR BRAKES AT 50,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

880243

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

739693

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

737763

Incident

Dec 10, 2000

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD START TO SHAKE WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED THAT BRAKES WERE WARPED & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER HAVING ROTORS REPLACED, PROBLEM HAS REAPPEARED AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID

875630

VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKES. BRAKES WERE RUINED. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 DIFFERENT TIMES, BUT PROBLEM WOULD REAPPEAR AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE.*AK

NHTSA ID

871360

Incident

Apr 2, 1998

THE ABS MOTOR KIT (91172172) FAILED AND SHORTED OUT WHICH CAUSED THE HYDRAULIC MODULATOR VALVE SHORTED OUT AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AS WELL. *MJS

NHTSA ID

784794

Incident

Aug 8, 1998

I HAVE HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION, CALIPERS, GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM,2 LIGHTERS, ALTERNATOR,2 SETS OF WINDOW MOTORS, 1 BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT,STRUT TORQUE WASNT BOLTED TO THE CAR WHEN LEASED, A RADIAL PULL IN 1 TIRE IN WHICH I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE REPLACED, TIRE SCRAPING ON FENDER RIGHT AFTER LEASING, 2 NEW HEADLAMPS,FUEL CAP, BATTERY, AND HAVE HAD A SHORT SOMEWHERE AND DEALER REFUSED TO LOCATE. DEALER AND PONTIAC CUSTOMER DIVISION REFUSE A BUY BACK OR TRADE IN. SENT PACKAGE TO GENERAL MOTORS TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND THEY REFUSED THE PACKAGE ALL TOGETHER. PONTIAC TELLS ME THEIR FIELD REP WENT TO TALK TO JOHN MOORE AND HE REFUSED A BUY BACK SO IN TURN, SO DID PONTIAC. I JUST WOULD LIKE A CAR THAT RUNS. THIS IS MY SECOND PONTIAC THAT HAS BEEN A LEMON. I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTAION TO PROVE IT. HOW DOES A SINGLE MOM WORKING TWO JOBS GET HELP? ITS COSTED ME A FORTUNE IN MISSED WORK.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/65R15 )

NHTSA ID

725050

HAD PROBLEMS WITH CAR SINCE BEGINNING. ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN AND LUNGES FORWARD WHEN STOPPING. ALSO THE BRAKES FAILED,CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. ROTORS HAVE WARPED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. DEALER CONTACTED 10-15 TIMES WITH NO PROBLEM FOUND. CAR IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

NHTSA ID

719676

Incident

Feb 3, 2000

I HAVE REPLACED MY BRAKES 2ND TIME NOW - THIS TIME WILL BE THE 3RD TIME AND I ONLY HAVE 66,000 MILES ON MY CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

718858

Incident

Feb 16, 2000

PURCHASED VEHICLE 6/98. THREE DAYS AFTER PURCHASE CAR IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. VEHICLE TOWED 3 TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM. FOUND WIRES IN HARNESS BAD CAUSING PROBLEM. BRAKE PROBLEMS SINCE OWNING WHEEL CYLINDERS LEAKING BRAKE SHOES SOAKED WITH OIL. ROTORS MACHINED @ 10,462. EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST. BRAKE PADS WORN AT 10,465 MILES. REAR SHOES OUT OF ADJUSTMENT @ 10,465. 13,985 MILES ABS LIGHT FAILED. WHILE LIGHTS AND AC OR HEAT ON WHEN APPLYING BRAKES INTERIOR AND HEADLIGHTS DIM. CAN'T FIND PROBLEM! WHEN HEATER IS ON SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE. CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. FRONT SUSPENSION NOISE. STABILIZER BUSHINGS BAD CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. NO BRAKE PEDAL AT TIMES. WHEN ROAD SURFACE IS WET AND BRAKES APPLIED CAR WILL NOT STOP.

NHTSA ID

716931

Incident

Dec 15, 1998