1990 Pontiac Grand Prix Body & structure Problems

REAR SUBFRAME RETAINERS RUSTED OUT CAUSING ENGINE/TRANSAXLE TO DROP AND STEERING SHAFT TO SEPARATE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHERE THE VEHICLE ENDED UP IN THE ON COMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE RETAINERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE BEFORE. REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE THE SAME DEFECT AS THE ORIGINAL PARTS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS A SOLUTION. ONE GM DEALER (DON MILLER IN MADISON) DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF A RECALL. ANOTHER GM DEALER SAID GM WILL OFFER A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND TAKE THE CAR, BUT THERE IS NO REPAIR OPTION. YOUR PERSON I SPOKE WITH AT THE (888) PHONE NUMBER DIRECTED BE TO A GM (800) NUMBER WHO COULD NOT FIND ANY INFORMATION EVEN THOUGH I GAVE THEM THE RECALL NUMBER. IN ADDITION TO THE BOLTS AND RETAINERS THAT ARE "COVERED", THE RUBBER CUSHIONS AND TOP RETAINERS WERE UNABLE TO BE FOUND AND WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. I HAVE ORDERED THE PARTS AT A COST OF ABOUT $110 AND A $60 TOW BILL PLUS ANY LABOR CHARGE I INCUR. LOOKING OVER THE NUMBER OF THESE FAILURES ON YOUR SITE, IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT NO ACCIDENTS HAVE RESULTED THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED. I WONDER HOW MANY HAVE OCCURRED AND THE CAUSE WAS NOT DISCOVERED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE CONTINUED TO INSPECT VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN "REPAIRED" WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10206369

Incident

Oct 17, 2007

Mileage

260,000 mi

RECALL CAMPAIGN, HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH RECALLS NEVER RECEIVED. *BF THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION. RECALL# 00V189000. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10109406

Incident

Aug 1, 2003

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE WAITING AT AN ATM ENGINE FELL OUT OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE MECHANIC, WHO SAID THAT THE CRADLE BOLTS RUSTED. CONSUMER INDICATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. BUT WHEN HE CALLED GMC HE WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10052280

Incident

Jan 2, 2004

Mileage

74,987 mi

REAR LEFT AND RIGHT CARRIAGE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH RETAINERS, CAUSING THE STEERING SHAFT TO SPLIT AND THE ENGINE CRADLE TO DROP TO THE GROUND. PONTIAC ADMITS RESPONSIBILITY AND ALSO AGREED TO PROVIDE WORK ACCORDING TO "WARRANTY" I.E. PONTIAC WILL ABSORB THE COST OF REPAIR. WORK DONE BY RUSS AT WOBURN, MASS. PONTIAC. THE GM REP SPOKE WITH MY HUSBAND SEVERAL TIMES, INDICATING PONTIAC'S RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT THE WORK WAS BEING DONE AS A RECALL. HOWEVER, WHEN THE WORK WAS COMPLETED AND THE CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP, GM'S FINAL WORD WAS HANDED DOWN AND THEY REFUSE TO ABSORB THE COST (800-762-2737 FILE #S19313957). THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS $620.00 (WHICH INCLUDES AN INFLATED TOW CHARGE OF $115.00 -- THE ACTUAL COST OF THE TOW ACCORDING TO THE DRIVER IS $65.00). MY NORMAL DRIVING HABITS TAKE ME 15 MILES TO AND FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY, IF THIS HAD HAPPED ON A WEEKDAY AND I WAS TRAVELLING AT MY USUAL AVERAGE RATE OF SPEED OF 70 MPH I WOULD BE HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR DEAD. I EXPECT TO BE FULLY COMPENSATED FOR THIS FAILURE AS A GOOD FAITH GESTURE THAT PONTIAC STANDS BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES EVEN AFTER 10 YEARS. IT APPEARS THAT THE BOLTS LOOSENED THEMSELVES FROM THE CARRIAGE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT, WHICH PONTIAC IS RESPONSIBLE TO CORRECT BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY. PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FALLING ONTO THE GROUND, THIS WAS A DEPENDABLE, EXCELLENT RUNNING VEHICLE. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WHEN THE BOLTS FAILED. YOUR INTERVENTION IS APPRECIATED.*AK

NHTSA ID

763513

Incident

Jun 16, 2002

ENGINE CRADLE HAD ROTTED OUT UNDERNEATH FRAME. THERE IS RECALL 10946 00 V 189 000. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8007236

RETAINER AND INSULATER THAT HOLD ENGINE CRADLE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK THREE OF THE FOUR RETAINER RUSTED OUT COMPELETELY. EVENTHOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE LIST. *YH

NHTSA ID

880967

Incident

Feb 7, 2001

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V189, HOWEVER IN 1999 THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN GM, CONSUMER SUBMITTED BILL FOR REFUND AND WAS DENIED DUE TO THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE NOT GM PARTS.

NHTSA ID

559216

WHILE DRIVING 30MPH HIT A TREE AND FRONT WAS IN A V SHAPE AFTER ACCIDENT. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. RADIATOR AND HOOD WERE NO GOOD. *AK THE BUMPER WAS SPLIT IN HALF AND THE HOOD BUCKLED IN A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. *YH

NHTSA ID

876956

Incident

Nov 8, 2000

CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIRS FOR THE FRAME MOUNTS FOR RECALL 00V189, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

NHTSA ID

558246

Incident

Apr 14, 2000

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL #00V189000/ FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS WHICH WAS POSTMARKED 9-27-00. CONSUMER CONTACTED TULLEY BUICK /PONTIAC AND MADE 2 APPOINTMENTS WHICH DEALER CANCELLED . DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND WOULD HAVE TO WAIT ABOUT 3 WEEKS OR LONGER. IN MEANTIME CONSUMER SHOULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE . CONSUMER FELT THIS RECALL WAS NOT BEING DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.*AK

NHTSA ID

875405

THE CRADLE FRAME PULLED THROUGH THE BOLT AND RETAINER CAUSING THE FRAME TO DROP, LEAVING THE ENGINE INTO THE LEFT WHEEL WELL, THE ALTERNATOR INTO THE RADIATOR HOSE, THE HOSE LOST COOLANT AND WENT INTO THE ELECTRIC WIRE HARNESS, AND BLEW FUSES. *SLC

NHTSA ID

557546

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY HEARD A BIG THUMP NOISE AND STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT, CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE AND NOTICED BOLTS HAD FALLEN OUT. CONSUMER SAID ITWAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL 00V189000 FOR CRADLE BOLTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

874350

Incident

Oct 30, 2000

CONSUMER HAD RECALL (00V-189) REPAIR COMPLETED, HOWEVER ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM DUE TO RECALL RELATED FAILURE. *MJS

NHTSA ID

556812

Incident

Jul 1, 1997

FRONT CRADLE THAT HOLDS ENGINE FELL OUT, POSSIBLY DUE TO CORROSION . *AK INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FOR RACK AND PINION STEERING ALSO SEPARATED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *YH

NHTSA ID

868714

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH REAR CRADLE BOLTS BROKE THROUGH, CAUSING ENGINE TO DROP AND THE STEERING SHAFT TO DICONNECT, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

866573

CONSUMER WENT TO CHANGE OIL AND NOTICED FRONT CRADLE BOLTS WERE CORRODED, CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD. WHEN TOOK TO DEALER FOR RECALL, ONLY REAR CRADLE BOLTS WERE REPLACED. OWNER PAID TO HAVE THE FRONT BOLTS REPLACED AS WELL BECAUSE THEY ALSO POSED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

864365

THIS CAR HAS A RECALL ON THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE. THE FRONT FEEL OUT ON MY WIFE ON HER WAY TO WORK. THE CAR LOST CONTROL AND CROSSED OVER ON COMMING TRAFFIC. IF THE REAR OF THIS COMPONENT IS ON RECALL THE FRONT SHOULD BE TOO.IT IS THE SAME PART.I STILL HAVE THE CAR AS IT WAS THAT DAY. I HOPE SOMEONE WILL LOOK INTO THIS. IT IS A MAJOIR STEERING AND BRAKEING PROBLEM.I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THIS DEPARTMENT AND ASKED FOR THE FORM, THAT WAS12/3/99 NO FORM WAS SENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

717867

Incident

Dec 3, 1999

THE RIGHT FRONT RETAINER THAT HOLDS THE CRADLE UP TO THE FRAME RUSTED THROUGH AND FELL OFF. THE CRADLE/ RETAINER/INSULATORS, ETC, HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY BODYSHOP AT THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

847828

Incident

Sep 5, 1999

CARRIAGE/CRADLE BOLT FAILED CAUSING MOTOR TO DROP DOWN AND STEERING LINKAGE TO DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

542661

Incident

Sep 12, 1998

RECALL REPAIR WORK COMPLETED ON THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS, HOWEVER AFTER REPAIR THE FRONT CRADLE BOLTS FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

539414

Incident

Jul 23, 1998

ENTIRE SUB-FRAME HAS ROTTED OUT, CAUSING FRONT CRADDLE BOLTS TO BREAK WHICH THEN CAUSED ENGINE TO FALL OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

826255

RECALL ON REAR CRADLE BOLTS CAN NOT BE PERFORMED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.

NHTSA ID

538611

REAR FRAME MOUNTS RUSTED AWAY CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

537409

PAINT BEGAN TO COME OFF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

534756

WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, FRAME BROKE AND BATTERY FELL OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

807748

Incident

Dec 29, 1996