2001 Pontiac Grand Am Tires & wheels Problems

WE HAD A FLAT IN OUR DRIVEWAY ON ONE OF A SET OF GOODYEAR GT HR TIRES WHICH WERE PURCHASED IN JUNE 2007. UPON CHANGING THE TIRE AND INSPECTING IT, THE TIRE HAD LARGE CRACKS ALL AROUND THE PERIMETER ON THE INTERIOR SIDE. WE CHECKED THE OTHER TIRES AND SAW SIMILAR CRACKS. WE TOOK IT TO THE GOODYEAR DEALER WHERE THEY WERE PURCHASED AND THE OWNER FOUND IT LEAKING AT ONE OF THESE CRACKS. I COMMENTED THAT I WAS DISMAYED THAT THESE TIRES DRY ROTTED AT ONLY THREE YEARS, TO WHICH HE STATED THAT, "THEY AREN'T DRY ROTTED; THESE ARE STRESS FRACTURES". I ASKED WHY THEY WOULD HAVE THESE FRACTURES AFTER ONLY THREE YEARS AND WHAT CAUSED THEM,AND HE GAVE ME NO ANSWER. THE DEALER SEEMED TO HAVE NO CONCERN THAT THESE TIRES ARE FAILING IN THIS WAY IN ONLY THREE YEARS AND ONLY WANTED ME TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENTS, OFFERING A VERY SMALL DISCOUNT, TO WHICH WE DECLINED. WE WILL BE REPLACING THESE TIRES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND ARE AWARE OF THE TREAD WEAR AND MILES THEY HAVE ON THEM, BUT WE ARE CONCERNED THAT OTHERS ARE DRIVING ON TIRES THAT THEY THINK ARE FINE BECAUSE THEY AREN'T VERY OLD. THEY SHOULDN'T BE CRACKING LIKE THIS AS WE'VE HAD MANY SETS OF TIRES AND HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. HAD THAT TIRE GONE OUT ANY OTHER PLACE THAN IN MY DRIVE, I AM AFRAID TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. WE STILL HAVE TO DRIVE IT TO HAVE NEW TIRES PUT ON, WHICH I GREATLY FEAR. THIS TIRE WAS DATED 0907. *TR

NHTSA ID

10368249

Incident

Nov 28, 2010

Mileage

154,866 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2001 GRAND AM GT IN 2002. SO FAR SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR, I SEEM TO REPLACE THE BREAKS EVERY 10,000 MILES OR EVERY YEAR, I HAVE HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED TWICE WITHIN THE LAST 5 YEARS, REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND FUEL PUMP. NOW, MY ABS LIGHTS CONTINUE TO GO ON AND MOST RECENTLY, MY CAR WILL NOT START IT SEEM EVERY TWO WEEKS (I HOPE I AM NOT AWAY FROM HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENS) - THE SECURITY LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND HAVE TO KEEP THE KEY IN THE "ON" POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN TRY TO START THE CAR - MY GARAGE TOLD ME IT WAS A SECURITY CODE PROBLEM THAT ONLY THE DEALER CAN FIX. I HAVE ONLY 90,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND NOW, I NEED A RACK AND PINION WHICH WILL COST ME ANOTHER $900.00 (I SPENT APPROX $500 DOLLARS ON THE CAR IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS). MY BREAK PAD WEAR OUT AT LEAST YEARLY (I AM RETIRED AND DON'T EVEN DRIVE THE CAR LONG DISTANCE). NOW MY ABS LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY COMING ON, EVEN THOUGH THE GARAGE SAID HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND I NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THE CAR IS PRETTY - BUT WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER PONTIAC AGAIN - I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP IT IN THE GARAGE EVERY THREE MONTHS (SO IT SEEMS) AND NEED A RELIABLE CAR - NOT ONE THAT DOESN'T START ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS BECAUSE NOW MY SECURITY SYSTEMS IS MESSED UP. ALSO, HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH 1 AND 2 ON THE AC SETTINGS (WOULDN'T WORK AT ALL) - AND OF COURSE, PAID TO HAVE THAT FIXED. PLEASE HELP ME.

NHTSA ID

10201192

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

70,000 mi

NOT A SAFETY PRECAUTION. I DRIVE A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM. EVERY CAR THAT MAKE AND YEAR MODEL HAVE BROKEN HUB CAPS, MINE INCLUDED. THEY RATTLE FOR A WHILE THEN THEY BREAK IN HALF. THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOME SORT OF DEFECT IF IT'S JUST THAT MAKE AND MODEL. THE NOISE IS EMBARRASSING AND ANNOYING. I FEEL THAT THE PONTIAC COMPANY SHOULD LOOK IN TO THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT. ALSO, REAR MIDDLE SEATBELT NEVER STAYED TIGHT. LOOSENS VERY EASILY WHILE MY CHILD IS WEARING IT AND WHEN MY CHILD WAS IN A CAR SEAT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10173093

Incident

Jan 31, 2004

HUB CAPS ARE BREAKING APART WITHOUT APPARENT CAUSE. I'VE SEEN SEVERAL PONTIAC GRAND AMS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10169933

Incident

Sep 15, 2006

Mileage

60,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD SCRAP NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE NOISE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, BUT THE BRAKES AND ROTORS NEEDED REPLACING. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB THE NOISE ONLY HAPPENED AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THE TIRES WERE THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

10074294

Incident

May 26, 2004

Mileage

18,000 mi

FRONT END NOISE.BOUGHT CAR USED. 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT WITH 28990 MI. AT TIME OF PURCHASE. HAVE 36450 MI. NOW. HAVE BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER 4 TIMES SINCE BUYING FOR SAME NOISE. FINALLY TOLD ON LAST VISIT THAT IT IS THE TIRES.FIRST INCIDENT IN 5/2003.NOW TOLD I HAVE TO BUY NEW TIRES TO GET RID OF NOISE.RIDICULOUS SINCE THEY KNEW OF PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING TO MAKE ME AWARE OF THIS AT TIME OF PURCHASE.HAVE SERVICE BULLETIN AND HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ALONG SAME LINE FOR THIS CAR.DON'T PLAN ON SPENDING A DIME ON TIRES AS IT IS THEIR DEFECT IN MATCHING TIRES TO RIMS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10058147

Incident

Feb 12, 2004

Mileage

29,300 mi

I OWN A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT. I BOUGHT IT 1 YEAR USED FROM SOMEONE WHO TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT AND HAD ALL THE SERVICE WORK RECEIPTS. THERE WAS A VERY NOTICEABLE CONSTANT GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT TIRES, ESPECIALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS AROUND 35 MPH AND UNDER. I TOOK IT TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS WITH NO HELP. THE FIRST ONE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS, AND THE SECOND SAID IT WAS THE TIRES (GOODYEAR EAGLE). THE TIRE DIDN'T FIT THE RIM PERFECTLY AND WAS RUBBING ON THE RIM. THEY ONLY HAD 22,000 MILES ON THEM AND IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID PONTIAC PUT 2 DIFFERENT STYLE TIRES ON THE GRAND AM AND WOULD ONLY REPLACE ONE TYPE, EVEN THOUGH BOTH STYLES MADE THIS NOISE. I BIT THE BULLET AND BOUGHT 4 NEW TIRES - COOPER, NOT GOODYEAR. IT TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT I AM STILL VERY UPSET THAT THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRES EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. *LA

NHTSA ID

10051084

Incident

Feb 4, 2003

RUBBING NOISE WHEN AT LOW SPEEDS AND STOPPING APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM FRONT END. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TIRES AND COULD ONLY REPLACE 2 OF THE TIRES. PROBLEM WILL RETURN WHEN TIRES ROTATED PER MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS. REQUESTING ALL TIRES BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10043643

Incident

Oct 24, 2003

FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE NOISE. HAPPENED SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2001. VIBRATION HAPPENS WHEN GOING 65MPH OR MORE. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY, I HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES SINCE WEEK 1 AND HAD TO HAVE MY DAD TAKE IT IN BEFORE DEALER WOULD SAY ANYTHING WAS WRONG. THEY ROTATED TIRES AND CHANGED BRAKES, BUT TIRE NOISE MOVED TO REAR OF VEHICLE, NOT AS LOUD, BUT STILL THERE. DEALER SAID A BULLETIN JUST CAME OUT AND THE TIRES HAD A RUBBER BUILD UP THAT THEY HAD TO BUFF OUT. I THINK THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO HAVE TIRES RECALLED AND REPLACED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BUFFING DOESN'T WORK COMPLETELY. *LA

NHTSA ID

10041497

Incident

Oct 7, 2003

ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE IN 2001 - STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING(800 MILES ON VEHICLE) ROTORS NEEDED TO BE FILE IN 2002 - WHEELS NOISES WHEN DRIVING 9/2003 NEEDED NEW ROTORS AND BRAKES. 2003 -STRANGE TIRE NOISE FOR ABOUT A WEEK TOOK TO DEALER TODAY 10/7/03 NOW BEING TOLD THE WHEEL NOISE IS CAUSE I NEED TO BUY NEW TIRES AFTER I OVERHEARD THE MECHANIC TELL THE SERVICE REP IT'S THE ISSUE WITH THE WHEELS AND TIRE NOT BEING A PERFECT MATCH AND IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE GRAND AM. SO HOW DID IT BECOME MY PROBLEM. WHY DO I NEED TO PAY FOR FOUR NEW TIRES WHEN THE TIRES WERE PURCHSED WITH THE CAR AND ONLY HAVE 28000 MILES ON THEM! THIS IS A GM PROBLEM. ACTUALLY I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A BIG BIG SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10041410

Incident

Oct 7, 2003

Mileage

28,000 mi

PURCHASED 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT NEW NOVEMBER 2000. SIX MONTHS LATER METAL TO METAL GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION IN FRONT - DEALER STATED ROTORS WARPED AND REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. SIX MONTHS LATER FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED TO SAME CONDITION - ROTOR TURNED. SIX MONTHS LATER ANOTHER SET OF FRONT BRAKE PADS. STILL HAVE GRINDING NOISE ESPECIALLY AT SPEED UNDER 30 MPH-ESPECIALLY BAD WHEN TURNING. FRONT TIRES CONSTANTLY LOSING AIR. GOODYEAR EAGLE RS P225/50R16 ORIGINAL TIRES 42,000. PLAN TO CONTACT LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER, GENERAL MOTORS & GOODYEAR NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AFTER READING COMPLAINTS EXACTLY LIKE MINE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10039017

Incident

Aug 31, 2003

TIRE REPLACEMENT. * MR THE FACTORY AGREED THAT THEY PLACED THE WRONG TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE FRONT TWO TIRES. THERE WAS A CONSTANT GRINDING SOUND THAT HAD COME FROM THE FRONT END. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THE DEALER TO COVER ALL FOUR TIRES. SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10012219

THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH WIDE TIRES. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THESE TIRE WOULD PERFORM THE SAME AS NORMAL TIRES. THE CONSUMER LATER FOUND OUT THAT THESE TIRE WERE NOT SAFE FOR SNOWY OR WET WEATHER. THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE THE TIRES WITH A SOFTER RUBBER TIRE (GOODYEAR EAGLE 225- 50 R16). *NLM

NHTSA ID

568466

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A VIBRATION/PULSATION, AND THERE IS AN EXTREME GRINDING NOISE WHEN RAINING OR WET, VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCASSIONS DUE TO THE ROTORS BEING WARPED.*JB

NHTSA ID

785917

Incident

Jan 25, 2001