1999 Pontiac Grand Am Other / unspecified Problems

THE WALMART DOUGLAS BRAND PASSENGER CAR TIRES HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOUND ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THE DOUGLAS TIRE I PURCHASED IN 10/13 HAS NOW DEVELOPED A NOTICEABLE BULGE ON THE SIDE WALL UNDERNEATH THE TIRE VALVE STEM AREA. HOWEVER, WALMART REFUSES TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVELY MANUFACTURED TIRE EVENTHOUGH I EXPLAINED THAT IF I HAD NOT NOTICED THE BULGE, THE TIRE COULD OF BLOWN ON THE FWY AND COST ME MY LIFE. BUT THE EMPLOYEE SAID, SORRY.. I ASKED THE EMPLOYEE HOW OLD WAS THE TIRE AT THE TIME I PURCHASED IT. BUT HE COULD SAY. AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION, THE WALMART MECHANIC / EXPERT WOULD OF NOTICED THE BULGE WHICH WAS MINOR AT THE TIME, AS I HAD NOTICED BUT THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT SINCE I AM NOT AN EXPERT. AS THIS WAS THE ONLY TIRE SIZE MY WALMART STORE HAD IN STOCK FOR MY CAR, I PURCHASED IT WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF BRAND. IN OTHER WORDS, I WOULD OF BOUGHT A DIFFERENT BRAND TIRE IF THE SHELVES HAD IN MY SIZE. FURTHER, I BELIEVE WALMART IS AWARE OF ITS DEFECTIVE TIRE'S WHICH I DISCOVERED TODAY THAT THEY ARE MADE IN CHINA. SUPPOSEDLY, DOUGLAS TIRE IS A SUBSIDIARY OF GOODYEAR. SO I HAVE EMAILED THEM WITH MY CONCERN AND REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE WALMART SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR KNOWINGLY SELLING A POORLY MANUFACTURED PRODUCT FOR AUTOMOBILES. EVIDENCE OF THE UNSAFE TIRES ARE POSTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662547

Incident

Dec 6, 2014

Mileage

78,000 mi

I WAS BACKING UP SLOWLY OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. AS I TURNED ME WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, I HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE. IT SOUNDED LIKE A POP OR A CRACK. IT WAS MIDNIGHT SO I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WHEN I INSPECTED MY VEHICLE. AS I WAS DRIVING HOME I HEARD A LOUD SCRAPING SOUND. AS I WOULD BREAK IT GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. IT WAS SCRAPING AND TEARING. I GOT HOME AND STILL COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. I CHECKED THE NEXT DAY AND I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED. BECAUSE OF THIS CRACKED COIL, THE PROTRUDING PIECE OF METAL FROM THE COIL WAS JAMMED AND RESTING ON THE TIRE WALL. BECAUSE OF HAVING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME, THE COIL HAS TORN AND RIPPED UP MY TIRE WALL AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE WITH A CRACKED COIL ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF MY VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS CRAZINESS AND COMPLETELY UNSAFE! I FEAR FOR MY LIFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AS IT CLEARLY HAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I AM BAFFLED AS TO WHY THERE IS NO POSTED RECALL FOR THIS HAZARDOUS PRODUCT. PONTIAC SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR LETTING THIS GO AND NOT ADMITTING THEIR FAILURE AS A CAR MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10550850

Incident

Nov 2, 2013

Mileage

125,000 mi

IN NOVEMBER 2004 MY "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE "TRAC OFF" LIGHT. AFTER FLIPPING THROUGH MY CARS MANUAL I DECIDED TO HAVE IT SERVICED WITH THE DEALER I ORIGINALLY BOUGHT IT FROM. AT ONLY 60,000 MILES THEY DETERMINED ALL OF MY FUEL INJECTORS WENT BAD. I HAD TO REPLACE THESE AND WITH LABOR CHARGES IT COST ME NEARLY $1,000. APPROXIMATELY 11 MONTHS LATER, THE SAME LIGHTS STARTED TO COME ON AGAIN. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE THE CAR TO DEALER WHERE THEY PROCEEDED TO EXPLAIN THAT MY FUEL INJECTORS WENT BAD A SECOND TIME. THEY FIRST REPLACEMENTS WERE UNDER WARRANTY, I WAS REQUIRED TO PAY LABOR. UNFORTUNATELY THIS PAST WEEK THE LIGHTS FOR THE FUEL INJECTORS CAME ON AGAIN, AND IS CURRENTLY GETTING DIAGNOSED. THIS WILL BE MY THIRD SET OF FUEL INJECTORS IN 36 MONTHS. THE ONLY THING THE DEALER WILL DO IS REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTORS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY CAN'T PROMISE THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I FEEL THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS THAT WERE INITIALLY REPLACED, AND THE REPLACEMENTS AFTER THEM HAVE BEEN FAULTY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171787

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A LOUD POP FROM THE GARAGE WAS HEARD WHILE IN THE HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN. THE FRONT COIL SPRING AND BOTH FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE REPLACED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. THE AIR MUST BE REFILLED IN THE TIRES EVERY 4-6 WEEKS. THE TIRE DEALERSHIP STATED IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 3/20/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10150946

Incident

Feb 22, 2006

Mileage

58,000 mi

I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING RACK IN MY 99 GRAND AM REPLACED TWICE. THE LAST TIME WAS IN APRIL 2004. IT IS LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10104845

Incident

Dec 16, 2004

Mileage

12,000 mi

SECOND NOTICE POSTED: INCE 2002: REPLACED ROTORS, TOO THIN WHEN CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. (NO RECALL EVER DONE). COOLING SYSTEM: ALTHOUGH THE MANIFOLD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE WATER RESERVOIR CAP HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE RADIATOR FLUSHED REPEATEDLY, ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM BLEED (TO REMOVE ANY EXCESS AIR FROM RADIATOR), SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED, ALL FUSES, INCLUDING THE AC RELAY FUSE/SWITCH, ALL SENSORS REPLACED, AND VARIOUS MECHANICS HAVE CHECKED THE ENTIRE CAR BUMPER-TO-BUMPER, IT CONTINUES TO LEAK ANTIFREEZE COOLANT BY FORCING THE WATER OUT OF THE RADIATOR INTO THE RESERVOIR AND OUT THROUGH THE OVERFLOW TUB (SMALL TUBE LOCATED ON RESERVOIR TANK). EXCESS PRESSURE BUILDING UP IN THE SYSTEM. LEAKING ANTIFREEZE ONCE CAR IS STOPPED. I HAVE TO REFILL THE TANK AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. THIS PROBLEM (THE PONTIAC GRAND AM LEAKING COOLANT) IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL PONTIAC GRAND AM. RECALL TO SOME COMPONENT OF COOLING SYSTEM IS DIRE OVERDUE! THIS CAR IS AN OIL CHANGE EVERY THREE MONTHS, REGARDLESS OF 3000 MILES OR NOT, STILL OUT OF THE BLUE, THE LIFTERS ARE KNOCKING AND THE BELT IS MAKING A VERY HIGH PITCHED SCREECHING SOUND. BELIEVED TENSION PULLEY NEEDS REPLACING, WITH A POSSIBILITY THAT ALL OTHER PULLEYS NEED REPLACING. ITS NOT THE BELT; THE BELT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED BY THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS HAS BEEN "BASICALLY NEW". ALSO, ALTHOUGH IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE ENGINE HAS STALLED. WHEN THIS ORIGINALLY HAPPENED I CHANGED THE GRADE OF GASOLINE I PUT IN THE CAR FROM 87 GRADE TO 89 GRADE. DIDN'T HELP. (NUMBER OF FAILURES: FOR COOLANT LEAKS: INFINITE). *AK

NHTSA ID

10078909

Incident

Apr 12, 2004

Mileage

55,000 mi

THE VEHICLE HAD LIMITED EDITION ALLOY RIMS THAT CRACKED ALL FOUR HUB CAPS AND CAUSED A TIRE TO SEPARATE WHILE DRIVING. *JB *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10064771

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

MY MAJOR COMPLAINT IS THE BLACK GLOSSY PAINT THAT IS PEELING FROM THE SIDE DOOR/REAR QUARTER WINDOW PILARS. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL QUOTES TO HAVE IT FIXED WHICH ARE IN THE RANGE OF $250 TO $500. THE SIDE MIRROR FELL OFF IN A CAR WASH TWO MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE DEALER DID FIX IT ONCE AT NO CHARGE. THE RADIO DISPLAY DOES NOT WORK RIGHT AWAY, AND USUALLY HAS TO WARM UP BEFORE I AM ABLE TO READ THE DIGITAL DISPLAY. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH A SENSOR, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT START, AND THE DEALER PAID FOR THAT SERVICE AS WELL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON ALMOST SINCE THE FIRST DAY I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS COMPLETED AT MY COSTS, HOWEVER THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF FOR A WHILE, AND THEN COME BACK ON.

NHTSA ID

10071196

Incident

Nov 15, 1999

Mileage

1,500 mi

1)SECOND TIME THEY CLEANED INJECTORS ADVISOR SAID IT WAS BECAUSE I USED 89 OCTANE INSTEAD OF 87 (2 DIGITAL READOUT ON RADIO BECOMES ILLEGIBLE COVERED BY FID. I DECLINED REPAIRS (3 AIR BAG THEY FOUND SIR COIL BAD I DECLINED TO PAY $400.00 FOR REPAIRS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY FID OR GM HAS NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ID

10069442

Incident

Nov 15, 2002

PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW CLIP BROKE,CAUSED RATTLING HAD REPAIRED FOR $120.00 THEN OCT. 2003 MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR.AFTER ANOTHER $45.00 I FOUND OUT THAT YET ANOTHER CLIP HAD BROKE,AND NOW THE CABLE WAS BROKE TOO.TOTAL REPAIR WOULD NOW BE $290.00 PLEASE RECALL THIS--I BELIEVE MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW IS ABOUT TO GO, I AM AFRAID TO USE MY WINDOWS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10045930

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

HAVE REPLACED THE ENTIRE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THIS CAR THREE TIMES. 1999 GRAND AM, PURCHASED NEW, HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT. IN ADDITION, HAVE REPLACED POWER STEERING TWICE AND BRAKES NUMEROUS TIMES. REPLACED ALTERNATOR, SERPENTINE BELT, BATTERY, STARTER ON IGNITION, MOLDING DUE TO LEAKS, WIRING ON DASH, AIR CONDITIONING RESISTORS/CIRCUITS, AND HEADLIGHTS/TAILLIGHTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10025413

Incident

Jul 1, 2003

I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR JUST UNDER 4 YEARS AND HAVE SPENT THE LAST 2.5 IN AND OUT OF THE SERVICE DEPT. WITH IT. I'VE HAD THE BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED 3 TIMES, EVERY YEAR, ALMOST TO THE DAY. I HAVE ALSO JUST HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED 2 TIMES AND DISCOVERED A LEAK IN MY INTAKE MANIFOLD WITH ONLY 41K MILES ON THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN A SAFETY HAZARD AT TIMES AND LEFT ME STRANDED ONCE.

NHTSA ID

10007722

Incident

Feb 17, 2003

Mileage

41,000 mi

I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING REPAIRED: THE FAN REPLACED 2 TIMES, THE BRAKES REPAIRED 4 TIMES, THE RADIO REPLACED ONCE, THE WATER PUMP REPLACED ONCE AND THE BATTERY REPLACED TWICE. I AM ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION IT HAS BEEN SLIPPING. THE INTAKE GASKET NEEDS TO REPLACED BECAUSE ANTIFREEZE IS LEAKING OUT AND ONE OF THE LIFTERS IS KNOCKING. MOST OF THESE PROBLEMS STARTED AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES AND GRADUALLY THERE WAS JUST ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE TRANMISSION AT ABOUT 32,000 MILES AND SINCE THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T GET IT TO SLIP THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE BRAKES STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AT 40,000 MILES. I CALLED GM TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CAR AND GM TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. IF IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THEY WOULD REPLACED THE ROTORS BECAUSE THE ROTORS WERE TO THIN WHEN THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. I WONDER WHY NO RECALL WAS SENT OUT ON THIS. THE BRAKES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF A CAR. THE BATTERY, RADIO AND FAN WERE REPLACED AT ABOUT 30,000 ALSO. THEN THE FAN WAS REPLACED AGAIN AT ABOUT 70,000. THE INTAKE STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS THAT ABOUT 90,000. THE SECOND BATTERY WAS INSTALLED AT ABOUT 95,000. THE LIFTER STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AT ABOUT 110,000. THE TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED EVER SINCE I GOT THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10000556

Incident

Mar 7, 2000

Mileage

30,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE COME FROM THE FRONT WHEELS WHILE DRIVING. MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

NHTSA ID

8009987

Incident

Jul 28, 2001

THE WHEELS MAKE A RUBBING SOUND WHEN THE CAR IS TURNING OR COMING TO A STOP. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE TIRE CASING WAS RUBBING THE EDGE OF THE WHEEL RIM. SIMILAR TO THE CONSUMER COMPLAINT #ODI ID 885314. THE WAY IT WAS PRESENTED TO ME WAS THAT THE TIRE CASING WAS PHYSICALLY RIDING ON THE WHEEL RIM. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY CONCERN. THE DEALER AND GM HAVE SAID THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THE TIRES ARE RUBBING ON THE WHEEL RIM IN CERTAIN EXTREME CONDITIONS THIS COULD CAUSE THE TIRE BEAD TO BREAK AND THE TIRE LOSE ALL IT'S AIR, AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE TRIED TO GET GM TO FIX THIS, BUT THEY HAVE STATED THERE IS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

754001

Incident

May 1, 2001

TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT VEHICLE MAKES NOISE. IT FEELS LIKE RIM IS OVER LAPPING OR TIRES IN FRONT SEEM TOO BIG. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER 6-7 TIMES. DEALER DIDN'T THINK IT WAS AN ISSUE. THEY HAVE SCRAPED AND PAINTED RIMS, THINKING IT WILL CORRECT IT. *AK THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBELM AND THE CONSUMER WAS SCARED DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *YH

NHTSA ID

885314

Incident

Apr 2, 2001

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STEERS TO THE RIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING A CRASH. *AK REAR LATERAL LINK BOLT SEPARATED CAUSEING LEFT OUT WARD MOVEMENT OF LEFT REAR WHEEL. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE AND FLIPPED OVER. *YH

NHTSA ID

865050

Incident

May 22, 2000

LUGS: NUTS ON LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

863459

Incident

May 25, 2000

WHILE DRIVING THE BOLTS THAT HOLDS THE SUSPENSION IN PLACE ON THE WHEELS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND WILL REPAIR VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

853423

Incident

Nov 26, 1999

I AM NOW SENDING MY CAR FOR WARRANTY WORK TO RAINBOW PONTIAC BECAUSE PARETTI REFUSED TO FIX PREVIOUS PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD AND WOULD NOT ADHERE TOO WARRANTY AGREEMENTS.

NHTSA ID

710410

Incident

Aug 12, 1999

UPON DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE, THE RIM CRACKED AND CAME OFF THE WHEEL. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *ML

NHTSA ID

842284

Incident

Jul 13, 1999