1999 Pontiac Grand Am Tires & wheels 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

1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM, UNIT 1 WAS WESTBOUND ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE IN THE CENTER LANE. UNIT 1 BEGAN TO SWERVE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. UNIT 1 WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK THE CEMENT MEDIAN WALL WHERE IT BECAME DISABLE. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE TIRES WERE SEVERELY WORN. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0179-90)*JB UPDATED 04/22/11 *BF

NHTSA ID

10394936

Incident

Feb 28, 2011

1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. *KB THE OFFICER OBSERVED THE TREAD CAP FROM THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD COME OFF AND WENT INTO THE WHEEL WELL, IT KNOCKED THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER LOOSE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0754-90. *JB

NHTSA ID

10285368

Incident

Aug 23, 2009

WITHOUT WARNING OR PHYSICAL IMPACT/IMPAIRMENT RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED WITH A LOUD BANG, AND THE JAGGED END PIERCED MY TIRE SIDEWALL, DESTROYING TIRE. THIS OCCURRED AT APPROX 25 MPH, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT, HAD TO BE TOWED, NEW COIL INSTALLED, NEW TIRE PURCHASED, LABOR DAY PLANS RUINED. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, CAR WAS PARKED FOR 12 HRS IN 70 DEGREE WEATHER, ANOTHER HUGE BANG, DRIVERS SIDE FRONT COIL FRACTURED, C-SHAPED PIECE UNDER THE VEHICLE, AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, COIL REPLACED, MISSED A DAY OF WORK AS THIS HAPPENED IN CONNECTICUT, AND I WORK IN MASSACHUSETTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10254924

Incident

Jun 17, 2007

Mileage

175,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 25-30 MPH FRONT RIGHT TIRE SPRING SNAPPED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE TO INSPECT THE PROBLEM, AND FOUND THE TIRE SHREDDED. ALSO, CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF BRAKE PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES PADS TWICE AND ROTORS ONCE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067109

Incident

Apr 13, 2004

1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM 2.4 L AUTO SEVERE BRAKE FAILURE---REPLACEMENT OF PADS 8 TIMES, ROTORS 3 TIMES AND CALIPERS 2 TIMES IN 80,000 MILES. BRAKES OCCASIONALLY LOCK UP AND MAKE LOUD GRINDING AND SQUEALING NOISES STEERING SHUDDERS AND VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT.. PARTICIPATING PONTIAC DEALER FAILED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASE AT 11,000 MILES. UNDER WARRANTY REPLACEMENT IT HAS HAD 6 DOOR PANELS DUE TO PEELING LEATHER ON TOP OF PANEL, 5 GEAR SHIFTERS DUE TO DEALERS IMPROPER INSTALLATION, 2 FACTORY CD/RADIO FAILURES, 1 RACK AND PINION UNIT, 2 FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLIES DUE TO KNOCKING NOISE FROM FRONT OF CAR (WENT BAD AFTER 10,000 MILES USE), PROBLEM WITH HESITATION AT IDLE-COLD START(UNSUCCESSFULLY DIAGNOSED BY DEALER) CARPET LOOSE IN TRUNK AROUND LATCH ASSEMBLY(TOO SHORT FOR TRUNK AND WAS HOT GLUED TO BACK WALL OF CAR BY DEALER INSTEAD OF REPLACEMENT). TURN SIGNALS STILL OCCASIONALLY FAIL TO WORK(DEALER SAID THEY WORKED JUST FINE) BATTERY CONNECTION IN FACTORY BATTERY BROKE LOOSE SPILLING CORROSIVE BATTERY ACID ALL OVER AROUND BATTERY TRAY AREA. ALL FOUR WHEEL COVERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE OF "PIE PAN" NOISE WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP (NEW ONES DID NOT FIX PROBLEM). AFTER WARRANTY WAS UP PONTIAC' CARE HOTLINE OR THE DEALER COULD "CARE " LESS THAT AFTER DOZENS OF TRIPS FOR REPAIRS THE DEALER STILL DIDN'T FIX THE CAR WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THEN,BESIDES THE UNREPAIRED ITEMS ON MY CAR, THE ALTERNATOR WENT BAD AT 60,000 MILES ($120), GLASS IN INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR BROKE WHILE ADJUSTING, BOTH OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS HAVE BROKE OFF IN TWO DIFFERENT AUTOMATIC CAR WASHES (HELD INTO DOOR BY A STUD MOUNTED INTO 1/4 INCH OF PLASTIC IN THE MIRROR). AND THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AT 75,000 MILES($300). FOG LIGHTS AND BACKUP LIGHTS HAVE WATER CONDENSATION IN THEM SHORTING OUT BULBS. SURPRISINGLY ,THIS CAR IS "BABIED" ,BUT BY IN MY DESCRIPTION YOU SURE COULDN'T TELL IT. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023794

Incident

Jun 24, 2003

Mileage

11,000 mi

TIRE WILL NOT STAY SEATED ON RIM, DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8002387

Incident

Sep 15, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P225/50R16)

NHTSA ID

748317

TIRE DEFECT,GLASS SCRATCHED, CAR VIBRTING, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BRAKES GRINDING.

NHTSA ID

747450

Incident

Apr 1, 2001

RUBBING HEARD ON ALL 4 TIRES BETWEEN TIRE AND RIM. PLEASE HELP ME GET NEW TIRES TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. I NOTIFIED THE SERVICE MANAGERS OF ROSLYN AND PORT JEFFERSON STATION DEALERS. PROBLEM WAS AFFIRMED. THEY STATED NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. COATING RIMS DOES NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. NOTHING DONE AS YET FROM PONTIAC. *AK (DOT NUMBER: ALL 4 TIRE TIRESIZE: 225-50-16)

NHTSA ID

745697

Incident

Jan 18, 1999

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

WE HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DOOR PANELS PEELED OFF THE TWO REAR DOORS AND WERE REPLACED, THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CONTINUALLY COMES ON, THE HINGES ON THE DRIVER DOOR KEEP GETTING STUCK AND SOMETIMES THE DOOR WON'T EVEN SHUT, IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR, AND NOW THE ROTORS/BRAKES ARE OUT. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AGAIN. WE TAKE IT MONTHLY IF NOT MORE OFTEN. THIS IS CERTAINLY A BURDEN. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT INFORMATIVE. THEY DON'T EXPLAIN WHY THESE THINGS HAPPEN NOR DO THEY TELL US IF THEY HAVE ORDERED PARTS FOR THE VEHICLE. WE GET CARDS IN THE MAIL WHEN THE PARTS ARE IN AND WE MUST SCHEDULE YET ANOTHER TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY UNRELIABLE. THE BRAKE ISSUE IS EXTREMELY SCARY WHEN WE ONLY HAVE 16,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. NEVER BEFORE HAVE I OWNED SUCH A LEMON. THIS IS OUR SECOND BRAND NEW CAR AND THE OTHER HAS HAD ZERO PROBLEMS AND IT IS A 1998 MALIBU WITH ALMOST 60,000 MILES. THIS MAKES NO SENSE AND PONTIAC IS DOING LITTLE TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES. *AK

NHTSA ID

737992

THE HUB CAPS HAVE RATTLED SINCE THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS CAUSED BY TAKING THEM OFF TOO MUCH AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO FIX IT OUTSIDE OF BUYING NEW ONES.*AK

NHTSA ID

736599

HUB CAPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE RATTLE WAS HEARD WHEN HITTING A BUMP. THE RATTLE STILL EXISTS AND THOUGHT IT COULD BE THE SUSPENSION? WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES DON'T HIT THE WINDSHIELD PROPERLY. MOST NOTABLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. PAINT ALSO SEEMS TO BE CHIPPING IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

707977

Incident

May 27, 1999