1998 Pontiac Grand Am Electrical Problems

WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 287 IN NEW JERSEY WHEN ENGINE CUT OFF CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES, POWER STEERING. CAUSED ACCIDENT WHEN RAN OFF ROAD DUE TO LACK OF POWER STEERING AND INABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY BRAKE. TOOK TO DEALER WHO REPLACED CRANKSHAFT SENSOR THAT DID NOT REPAIR PROBLEM. AFTER CAR WAS REPAIRED INCIDENT CONTINUED TO OCCUR WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE CODES. NOW THAT ISSUE HAS DEVELOPED WITH IGNITION SWITCHES, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS MAY BE A LONGER TERM PROBLEM THAN CURRENTLY THOUGHT. FINALLY SOLD THE VEHICLE DUE TO CONTINUING PROBLEM THAT NO ONE COULD SOLVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10604439

Incident

May 15, 1998

Mileage

24,000 mi

1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE, WHEN SHE STARTED IT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, THINKING THE NOISE WOULD STOP, BUT IT DID NOT. SHE TOOK THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION AND IT CONTINUED TO MAKE THE SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THEY MADE A TEMPORARY FIX. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN ON THE VEHICLE. EITHER THE DEALER DID NOT FIX THE RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH OR IT WAS NOT FIXED PROPERLY. THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THE CONSUMER, TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. ONCE AT THE DEALER, THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IT WAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10585934

Incident

Mar 28, 2014

I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 GT PONTIAC GRAND AM FROM PEORIA ILLINOIS ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. SHE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN NO POWER NO NOTHING...PULLED OVER WAITED APPROXIMATELY 5MINUTES AND SHE STARTED RIGHT UP...PLEASE HELP!!! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10565453

Incident

Feb 3, 2014

Mileage

161,470 mi

MY 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM THEFT SYSTEM WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS THE DASH CLUSTER AND KEY SWITCH REPLACED BOTH VEHICLE STILL WILL NOT START. *TR

NHTSA ID

10415047

Incident

Jun 16, 2011

Mileage

115,786 mi

I HAVE A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM THAT WILL NOT START DUE TO ANTI THEFT KEEP FROM STARTING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282476

Incident

Jun 13, 2009

Mileage

143,723 mi

MY PASSLOCK SYSTEM KEEPS ON ACTING UP. I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE DESIGN OF IT, BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION IS ABSOLUTELY HORRID AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10212743

Incident

Nov 27, 2007

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE ANTI THEFT SENSOR TWICE. THE VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10156552

Incident

Apr 30, 2006

Mileage

69,700 mi

GENERAL MOTORS NEED TO RECALL THEIR VEHICLES TO DIAGNOSIS THIS MAJOR ISSUE. MY CASE NUMBER WITH GM 1382341310 HOWEVER, THEY WONT ASSIST ME AND SAID THEY ARE CLOSING MY CASE. I INFORMED THEM NOT TO I AM NOT DONE WITH THIS ISSUE WITH THEM... THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM OR DEFECT WITH MY GENERAL MOTORS PONTIAC GRAND AM SE 3.1L V6 ENGINE IN THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD, 3 INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURES IN LESS THAN 40,000 MILES, THE FIRST OCCURRING AT APPROX 24,000 MILES THE SECOND AT APPROX 27,000 MILES AND NOW AGAIN AT 40,000 MILES BUT I HAVE SUSPECTED THE ANTI-FREEZE I HAVE BEEN SMELLING IN THE CAB WHEN I TURN THE HEATER BLOWER ON, IS SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO THIS LEAK. WHICH MEANS ITS BEEN LEAKING FOR SOME TIME JUST NOT BAD ENOUGH TO DRIP ONTO THE GROUND BRINGING MY ATTENTION TO IT. I AM ONLY ONE OF THOUSANDS OF VICTIMS THAT GENERAL MOTORS HAS RAPED FINANCIAL OVER THE YEARS. THE REPEATED FAILURES OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET STARTED LONG AGO AND DUE TO THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO THE BBB AND GM YOU WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO ALARM GENERAL MOTORS THAT THEY ARE HAVING A MAJOR ISSUE, AND THEY SHOULD OF BEGAN A RECALL OF THEIR VEHICLES LONG AGO. IN THE YEAR 2002 THEY COULDN'T SUPPLY ENOUGH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS TO KEEP UP WITH THE GM VEHICLES THAT NEEDED REPAIR EITHER UNDER WARRANTY OR OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD OTHER MAJOR NON-RELATED REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE AS WELL, 19,693 MILES THE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED, HEATER CORE REPLACED, THE RACK AND PINION STEERING ROD REPLACED. NOW MY CAR AND MANY THOUSANDS OF OTHER GM OWNERS VEHICLES ARE OUT OF WARRANTY AND GM WON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR OWN VEHICLES, EVEN THOUGH WORK WAS DONE REPEATEDLY UNDER WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE. I AM CURRENTLY 3 YEARS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT ONLY 12,900 APPROX MILES SINCE THEY DID THE LAST REPAIR ON MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. I BELIEVE A CLASS ACTION SUIT IS THE ONLY THING GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION WILL RESPOND TO. *JB

NHTSA ID

10146314

Incident

Dec 22, 2005

Mileage

40,300 mi

IN AUG. 2004 MY 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND FRIED EVERYTHING IN THE COLUMN , ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY.THE LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER REFUSED TO WORK ON THE CAR SO I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL GARAGE.THEY FIXED WHAT THEY COULD CLEARLY SEE WAS DAMAGED AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ALTERNATOR REBUILT FOUR TIMES AND BATTERY REPLACED THREE TIMES .THE CAR HAS TO BE JUMPED SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. THE ALTERNATOR KICKS IN AT 800 RPM. AND THE CAR IDLES AT 500 RPM.( COMPUTER CONTROLLED) MEANING THAT THE BATTERY IS CONSTANTLY DISCHARGING BELOW 35 MPH, OR WITH THE AIR AND EVERYTHING ON .WHEN IT GOES ABOVE 800RPM THE ALTERNATOR KICKS IN AND BOILS THE BATTERY TRYING TO PLAY CATCH UP. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE MAY 2005 (#04002) AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE GM DEALER IN BATESVILLE,AR.I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE FIRE AND DAMAGE .THEY CHANGED THE RELAY AND WIRE UNDER THE RECALL AND ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE DAMAGE DONE BY THE FIRE,OR EVEN CHECK AND DIAGNOIS THE DAMAGE STILL EXISTING,WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM G.M. . ICONTACTED G.M. (MIKE DEMEYER) AND WAS IINFORMED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE DAMAGE THAT WAS FIXED BY THE LOCAL GARAGE ,BUT WOULD NOT PAY TO FINISH FIXING THE REST OF THE DAMAGE THAT WAS NOT FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10124376

Incident

Aug 13, 2004

UPON RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER AND TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION UNTIL SHE TOOK IT TO DEALER. HOWEVER, THE DEALER CLAIMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN IGNITION SWITCH AND CHIP. ALSO, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE SECURITY SYSTEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10113479

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

WHILE DRIVING. THE DASH ILLUMINATED AND THEN SHUT DOWN. THE BATTERY CABLE CAME UNDONE. SHUTTING THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPLETELY DOWN. THE CONSUMER HIS WIFE, AND DOG WERE TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT COME DOWN THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN, THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE. THEY COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE AUTOMATIC KEY BUTTON WOULD NOT WORK. ALSO THE BRAKES WENT OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. DOOR HANDLES WOULD NOT OPEN DOOR. BREATHING BECAME DIFFICULT WHILE THE CONSUMER AND FAMILY HAD NO WAY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. *TC

NHTSA ID

10096941

Incident

Oct 11, 2004

Mileage

74,899 mi

1998 PONTIAC GM RECALL IGNITION SWITCH HIGH CURRENT FLOW, THE DEALER RED MCCOMBS SUPIRIOR PONTIAC ADDED A RELAY SWITCH, AND NEVER REPLACED THE ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH THAT HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO THE HIGH CURRENCY FLOW, NOW THE VEHICALE IS BACK IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NEEDING THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED IF THE ORIGINAL DEFECT RECALL WOULD HAVE BEEN SOUGHT OUT CORRECTLY BY THE DEALER THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFE. THE DEALER BILLED THE MANUFACURE FOR A INSTALLATION WIRE HARVEST, AND ON MY WORK ORDER FROM THE DEALER I SHOW ONLY THE RELAY KIT TO BE REPAIRED, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD THE OPTION OF REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE CHOSE NOT TO THIS WAS AN INCOMPLETE RECALL WORK . *AK

NHTSA ID

10089036

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

Mileage

95,000 mi

PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION SWITCH ON 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM. *MR CONSUMER STILL HAVING PROBLEMS AFTER RECALL REPAIR ON IGNITION SWITCH. *LA

NHTSA ID

10073933

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL 04V036000. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10073662

WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION VEHICLE WOULD NOT START RIGHT AWAY. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK AFTER REPAIR ON IGNITION, RECALL FROM MANUFACTURER WAS RELEASED. CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR. *LA

NHTSA ID

10067314

Incident

Jun 3, 2003

Mileage

93,462 mi

I OWN A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM ,AND THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. I WANT TO TAKE IT IN TO GET FIXED -BUT PONTIAC/GMAC WILL NOT PROVIDE A LOANER CAR FOR ME TO USE WHILE THEY FIX MY CAR-THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE 5-6 HOURS TO FIX-THEIR LETTER TO ME SAID IT WOULD ONLY TAKE AN HOUR TO AN HOUR AND A HALF. I CANNOT BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR OVER 6 HOURS! I NEED TO GET TO WORK!! I AM STUCK WITHOUT ANY OPTIONS, OTHER THAN HAVING TO INCONVENIENCE MYSELF AND HAVE TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR. THIS IS THEIR MISTAKE NOT MINE AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY?!!! THIS IS NOT GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE , GMAC SHOULD PROVIDE A LOANER FOR THESE TYPES OF INSTANCES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10063790

Incident

Mar 24, 2004

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

SEEMS A FEW WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE I STARTED NOTICING MALFUNCTIONS WRONG WITH MY PONTIAC GRAND AM. I BROUGHT IN MY CAR FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION IN SEVERAL TIMES, KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND HARD TO RELEASE. IGNITION LOCKS AND CAN'T TURN KEY TO START ENGINE. MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND NEVER WAS I TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FROM THE DEALER. I WAS CHARGED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST AFTER SEVERAL SERVICES TO MY CAR. NOW MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND PROBLEM STILL EXIST. I THINK I MAY HAVE PURCHASED A LEMON. *AK

NHTSA ID

10049700

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER STARTED TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, PULLED OVER, POPPED HOOD, AND DRIVER NOTICED THE ALTERNATER WIRE WAS BURNING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10042577

Mileage

46,000 mi

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF MY VEHICLE THE KEY WOULD NOT GO TO THE OFF POSITION TO RELEASE MY KEY. ALL ELECTRICAL DEVICES (HEAD LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS,ETC...) WOULD STAY ON. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THEN BROUGHT IT TO A DEALER THE NEXT MORNING. THEY STATED THERE WAS A FAILURE IN THE SHIFT INTERLOCK SOLENOIV AND THE INGNITION LOCK CYLINDER ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR HAS 33,000 MILES AND HAS MAINTANANCE REGULARLY(OIL CHANGE,ETC...). THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $520 TO FIX A FAILED PART. THEY ALSO STATED IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. ANY INFORMATION ON THIS WOULD BE WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID

10021405

Incident

Jun 9, 2003

Mileage

33,000 mi

THE BATTERY FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10012074

Incident

Sep 1, 2000

Mileage

18,324 mi

PROBLEMS STARTING UP VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR

NHTSA ID

8020177

Incident

Aug 17, 2002

IGNITION STARTED SMOKING WHILE TRYING TO TURN KEY IN IGNITION. MR

NHTSA ID

767762

Incident

Sep 23, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AKI

NHTSA ID

764813

Incident

Jul 23, 2002

AFTER TAKING KEY OUT OF IGNITION SWITCH STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK IN PLACE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTCTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013622