Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Pontiac Grand Am submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 40 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 40, in the owner's own words
THE LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT I HAVE REPLACED ALL BULBS AND NOTHING THE HEADLIGHTS AUTO DOSENT WORK MOST OF THE TIME THE TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING THRDAY AFTERBI BOUGHT THE CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000. UPDATED 1/7/15*CN UPDATED 10/5/2015*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED BUT RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTION WHEN THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WORE PREMATURELY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH FAILED TO ACTIVATE WHEN ENGAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT WATER PENETRATED THROUGH THE SUNROOF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
I WAS DRIVING MY MOTHERS CAR WHEN I WENT TO SLOW DOWN COMING UP ON A HILL GOING DOWN FELT LIKE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. COMING DOWN THE HILL IS WHEN I NOTICED MY EBRAKE DIDN'T EVEN WORK. MY BRAKE LIGHT, OIL LIGHT, TRAC OFF LIGHT AND MY SECURITY LIGHT WERE ON. THEN COULDN'T CONTROL THE CAR WENT IN WRONG LANE AND HIT HEAD ON WITH ANOTHER CAR. *TR
I WAS PARKED AT A SHOPPING CENTER. I STARTED THE CAR, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I CHECKED UNDER THE CAR AND IT APPEARED TO HAVE LEAKED BRAKE FLUID FROM THE BRAKE LINE. SINCE I STILL HAD THE PARKING BRAKE AND A LITTLE OF THE REAR BRAKES, I LIMPED THE CAR TO A GARAGE. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE PEDAL TO STOP, I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. UPON CHECKING, THE OTHER BRAKE LINE HAD BURST ALSO. I HAD IT CHECKED AND CONFIRMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT BOTH BRAKE LINES HAD BURST. I CALLED THE GM DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALLS AND THAT ANY REPAIR WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE. I CALLED GM, EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS WRONG AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE NO ASSISTANCE. I EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE CAR SUDDENLY HAD NO BRAKES BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINES HAD BURST. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE ACCIDENT AND INJURY OR DEATH IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY OR HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP. I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR NEW, HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED AND THERE WAS NEVER ANY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD ANY OTHER PRIOR DAMAGE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO BRAKING ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,890. UPDATED 01/23/14*LJ THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO CANCEL THE COMPLAINT, BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO EDIT IT. HE STATED HE WOULD FILE A COMPLAINT ONLINE. UPDATED 01/23/14.. UPDATED 01-29-14 *BF
STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE TURNING AND BRAKES FAILED. *TR
A SURPRISE STORM HIT ON I-4 WESTBOUND IN ORLANDO, FL. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR. THE ROADS GOT WET VERY QUICKLY AND TRAFFIC BACKED UP FAST. AS I HIT THE BRAKES WITH FORCE TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AS DID THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND THE SERVICE VEHICLE SOON LIGHT, THE CAR SEEMED TO HAVE A POWER DRAINAGE/LOSS FOR A SPLIT SECOND. AT THIS MOMENT, WITH HOW HARD I HIT THE BRAKES, THE CAR SLID, THE ABS SYSTEM DID NOT ENGAGE AND I HAD TO RELEASE THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO GET SOME TRACTION AND WITHOUT WARNING SWERVE INTO THE DRIVING LANE TO THE IMMEDIATE RIGHT OF THE LANE I WAS IN SO NOT TO HIT THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT BUT THAT STILL DOES NOT FIX NOR DOES IS CHANGE THE FACT THAT SOMETHING WENT WRONG AND A VITAL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT SEIZED TO FUNCTION. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE FOR AN ANSWER FOR THIS AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE DEALING WITH THIS. THIS IS UNSAFE AND THE EXPERIENCE WAS VERY SCARY. NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT KIND OF ISSUE NOR SHOULD FEEL THAT SCARED IN THEIR LIVES. *TR
AFTER HAVING THE 2ND CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN 2 YRS PUT ON THE ELECTRICAL WENT HAYWIRE. THE ABS,TRAC OFF & SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS COME & STAY ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I'VE HAD IT SERVICED AND NOBODY KNOWS WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. I HAD THE BRAKES INSPECTED AND GIVEN A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH SO TO SPEAK & YET AT RANDOM TIMES I HAVE NO BRAKES EVEN AFTER HAVING THEM INSPECTED BY PROFESSIONALS. THE CAR NOW OVERHEATS DUE TO THE DEX COOL I WAS TOLD TO USE BECAUSE IT ATE THRU THE CHEAP GASKETS PUT ON BY THE DEALERSHIP WHICH THEY WILL NOT COVER. THE BLINKERS HAVE A MIND OF THEIR OWN AND ONLY WORK DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS, I'VE HAD THOSE CHECKED & NEW ONES INSTALLED AS WELL AND THEY STILL ONLY WORK IN THE DAYTIME AND FINALLY THE PLASTIC WINDOW CLIPS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE(BOTH) BREAK CONSTANTLY. I'VE HAD EVERYTHING REPLACED EVEN HE ENGINE! THIS CAR HAS COST ME OVER 20,000. *TR
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE ON 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM,LITTLE PLASTIC PIECE BROKE INSIDE BRAKE LEVER CAUSING RELEASE OF BRAKE! VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY ONTO STREET. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION! NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT! *TR
LEAVING WORK ON DECEMBER 19, 2007 I APPLIED BRAKES FOR APPROACHING TRAFFIC SIGNAL. BRAKES SEEMED TO LOCK WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPING MY VEHICLE. I TRIED THREE TIMES APPLYING INCREASING PRESSURE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. FINALLY, AFTER 4TH ATTEMPT, BRAKE SEEMED TO GIVE AND SLOW/STOP MY VEHICLE. I WAS WITHIN INCHES OF REAR-ENDING VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT LOCATE ANYTHING WRONG. BRAKES CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION PARTICULARLY IF MY CAR IS COLD OR NOT USED FOR A PERIOD OF HOURS. NOW I HAVE RESORTED TO TESTING THE BRAKES PRIOR TO DRIVING. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO HAS RECENTLY STARTED DRIVING THE CAR. MY 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM WAS PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL 2002 AND ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES. BRAKE PADS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONE AND MECHANIC TELL ME THAT THEY ARE ONLY SLIGHTLY WORN SO DO NOT NEED REPLACEMENT CURRENTLY. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT FRONT WHEEL MADE A RUBBING NOISE. UPDATED 10/4/2006 - THE DEALER HAS ROTATED, BALANCED AND MOUNTED NEW TIRES ON THE VEHICLE BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. THE CALIPERS HAD TO BE RESURFACED AND LUBED. GOODYEAR EAGLE R4A. *NM
FRONT END ROTOR PROBLEMS. REPLACED ROTORS THREE TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW 02/2004. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN 04/2004. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT WINDOW MOTORS DUE TO FAILURE. HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES AND ONLY HAS 39000 MILES ON IT. *NM
BOUGHT THE CAR IN 03 HAD 30000 MILES ON IT. RAN GREAT, LOVED THE POWER... THEN ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER(36,000) IT STARTED.. FIRST WAS THE BRAKE PADS, REPLACED THOSE, FOUND OUT THAT THE PADS HAD BEEN INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, THUS WORE THE ROTORS. REPLACED THE ROTORS. HEARD THE CLICKING SOUND FROM UNDER THE DASH, TOOK CAR TO ELECTRICIAN, REPLACED THE RELAY.... 1 YEAR LATER, HEARD GRINDING FROM FRONT WHEELS, AGAIN.... FOUND OUT THE CALIPERS WERE STUCK AT FULL BRAKE, SO THE PADS, ROTORS AND CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAD THE CAR STALL AS IF IT WERE OUT OF GAS.... COULD NOT RESTART, HAD TO LEAVE UNTIL MORNING(IT WAS 3:00 AM AT THE TIME), CAR RESTARTED JUST FINE IN MORNING, STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WAS ALL ABOUT. NOW RADIO ANTENNA WENT OUT, CD PLAYER SKIPS LIKE I AM RUNNING OVER SPEED BUMPS ALL THE TIME. ALSO BACK SPEAKERS WENT OUT.. INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THAT THE METAL ON THE SPEAKERS WAS INSTALLED TOUCHING THE FRAME IN THE BACK WINDOW, CAUSING THEM TO SHORT OUT... NOW CAR IS SURGING AT NORMAL SPEEDS, SUSPECT BAD FUEL PUMP.. AND ONCE AGAIN THE LICKING IS BACK AGAIN. GM HAS PAID $0 FOR REPAIRS. THEY SAY IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT... FUNNY, I DID NOT INSTALL THESE THINGS AND THEY ARE APPARENTLY PROBLEMS THAT GM HAS BEEN HAVING. I LOVE(RATHER LOVED) GM. I HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THEM TO BE RELIABLE AND STURDY. THIS CAR HAS TAUGHT ME OTHERWISE. I CAN NOW SEE THE DIRECTION THAT GM IS GOING AND I WILL NEVER BUY A GM VEHICLE AGAIN. IF ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CARS THEY CAN NOT FIGURE OUT, LET ME KNOW. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS CAR ABOUT A 100 TIMES AND KNOW WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR. HOPING GM WAKES UP AND MAKES QUALITY CARS AGAIN. *JB
WE PURCHASE A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE IN JULY OF 2005 FROM CHAMPION CHEVROLET IN BRIGHTON MICHIGAN, WE HAD IT IN TO DEALER WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF OWNING IT, WHICH THEY DIDN'T REPAIR THAT DAY BECAUSE WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE WOULD TAKE TO LONG SO IT WAS TAKEN IN THE FOLLOWING SAT. HAD THE ABS,TRAC CONTROL AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND THERE WAS A NOISE UNDER THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHICH WAS FIXED BUT CAME BACK A WEEK LATER THEY TOLD US THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS AS NONE OF OUR OTHER CARS MAKE THIS NOISE NOT EVEN OUR CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK. WE ALSO HAD IT BACK IN AGAIN FOR THE SENSORS FOR THE ABS, TRAC CONTROL AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT THAT KEEPS COMING ON. WE CONT'D TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND STILL DON'T HAVE IT FIXED. WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON I DON'T HAVE MY ABS BRAKES ANYMORE AND NO TRAC CONTROL. MY BLINKERS ALSO HAVE BEEN GIVING ME A PROBLEM AS SOMETIMES THEY WORK AND OTHER TIMES THEY DON'T. MOST OF THE TIME I CAN GET THEM TO WORK IF I PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON FOR A FEW MINS. BUT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO. I HAVE BEEN A GM PERSON ALL MY LIFE AS MY DAD HAS WORKED FOR GM FOR 35 SOMETHING YRS. BUT THEY NEED TO FIXS THESE PROBLEMS AS IT IS UNSAFE FOR ME, MY CHILDREN, MY HUSBAND OR WHOEVER ELSE MAYBE IN THE CAR AND THE OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD ESPECIALLY HERE IN MICHIGAN WITH SNOWY AND ICY ROADS. I ALSO HAVE READ SOME OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I WAS ALSO TOLD TODAY WHILE GETTING MY OIL CHANGE DONE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DEXCOOL IN THIS CAR TOO. I DID LOOK AROUND ON THE NET AND NOTICE THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM YET AS I ONLY HAVE 50,000 MILES ON MY CAR BUT SOME OF THE SIGNS THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT I HAVE NOTICE SO IT WILL GO INTO A DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND I WILL BE KEEPING MY INVOICES AS I HOPE GM DOES THE RIGHT THING AND TAKES CARE OF THIS PROBLEM TO. *NM
2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE EQUIPMENT. *MR THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CONSUMER BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN DRIVE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD HANG UP. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STAYED ON. THERE WAS AN OCCASION WHEN THE CONSUMER COULD NOT GET THE TRACTION CONTROL TO RE-ENGAGE. THE DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE FOUND NOTHING. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PADS WHICH WAS STATED TO BE BEYOND SPECIFICATIONS. THREE LOUD BANGS HAD COME FROM THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND OIL LEAKS. *SC
THE CAR WAS BOUGHT USED IN JULY OF 2003, IT HAD 36K. IN FEBUARY 2005 THE CAR HAD 53K, AND NEEDED THE FROMT BRAKE PADS CHANGED. THE PADS WERE CHANGED, AND IT'S NOW MAY 2005, AND THE PADS ARE ALMOST GONE. I'VE SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNETY AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THERE CAR..PLEASE HELP...
2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM DEVELOPED BRAKE PROBLEMS.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE FRONT BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE INSPECTED IN IT WAS FOUND THAT THE INSIDE PADS ON BOTH SIDE WERE RUBBING METAL TO METAL. *NM
WHEN BRAKING THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
HAD NEW FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS PUT ON CAR WITH UNDER 16,000 MILES ON IT. SOMETIMES BRAKES VIBRATE AND MAKE NOISE. CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD BRAKES WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT'S NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR UNLESS THERE WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. *AK
I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN NOVEMBER 2003, IN APRIL OF 2004 I STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE MAKING NOISES. THE CAR WENT INTO THE SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE CALIPER AND REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS. IN JUNE OF 2004 THE CAR WENT BACK IN FOR THE SAME BRAKE NOISE THE SHOP RESURFACED MY ROTORS AND REPLACED A MISSING BRAKE CLIP. IN JULY THE CAR WENT BACK INTO THE SHOP FOR THE SAME BRAKE NOISE AGAIN, THE SHOP REPLACES THE BRAKE PADS AGAIN AND RESURFACED THE ROTORS AGAIN. IT IS NOW OCTOBER AND THE NOISE IS STILL THERE! IN JULY 2004 THE CAR WENT BACK INTO THE SHOP FOR A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE STRUT MOUNTS WERE REPLACED. AGAIN IN JULY THE CAR WENT BACK IN FOR THE SAME FRONT END NOISE. THE SHOP REPLACED THE STEERING RACK WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM SO THEY PUT THE OLD ONE BACK IN. THEY THEN REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT AND LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE NOISE WAS NOT FIXED. IN OCTOBER THEY REPLACED THE STABILIZER SHAFT ISOLATORS AND ALSO REPLACED THE TWO FRONT TIRES DUE TO A BULLETIN. ALSO IN OCTOBER THEY LUBED ALL FRONT END PARTS. WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS I DECIDED TO CALL TO CALL GM THEMSELVES, SADLY NOT MUCH HAS BEEN DONE THOUGH! *NM
I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON MY CAR. I HAVE HAD ALMOST EVERYTHING FROM PUMPING, NOISE, GRINDING, FADING, AND ONE TIME THEY DIDN'T CATCH FOR A LONG TIME AND I ALMOST HIT SOMEONE. *AK
I HAVE A 2002 GRAND AM GT, AND THE ABS LIGHT STARTED COMING ON, TOOK TO TWO DIFF REPAIR SHOPS (ONE WAS A MIDAS) AND BOTH TOLD ME THE RIGHT FRONT BEARINGS AND ABS SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND PROB THE LEFT ON IN NEXT CPL MONTHS. ALSO TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER, ESTIMATE OF $475 FOR RIGHT BEARING AND SENSOR, AND PROB THE LEFT ONE IN NEXT FEW MONTHS. ALL 3 PLACES TOLD ME THAT ITS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE GRAND AM, ALEROS AND SOME BUICKS (SAME FRONT END I GUESS)....
WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE PULSATED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED ALL FOUR OF THE BRAKE ROTORS/BRAKE LINES/CALIPERS. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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