1992 Pontiac Grand Prix Engine Problems

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE AND COOLANT LEAKING INSIDE THE ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10057444

Incident

Feb 3, 2004

I WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH ALL THE DATES NEEDED FOR ABOVE INFO. MY 1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SE IS A HAZARD TO MY HEALTH AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. I HAVE SMOKE FROM STEERING WHEEL AND LOSS OF POWER AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, AND MUCH MUCH MORE.

NHTSA ID

10069205

Incident

Mar 15, 2003

HEARD LARGE BANG UNDER HOOD WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. TOOK CAR TO DEALER SINCE IT SOUNDED LIKE ENGINE TROUBLE. DEALER IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AS SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF ENGINE. PLUG AND CABLES APPEARED TO BE ORIGINAL (APPROX 150000 MILES). DEALER THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE RELATED TO CURRENTS IN ALUMINUM ENGINE WEARING DOWN SPARK PLUG THREADS DUE TO ELECROLYSIS. HE EXPLAINED THAT ALL SPARK PLUGS ARE IN A STATE WHERE THEY COULD BLOW OUT AND SO ADVISED THAT HEAD NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT $1800. SINCE PARTS APPEARED TO BE ORIGINAL AND PROBLEM APPEARED TO BE DESIGN FLAW I CALLED PONTIAC AND ASKED THAT THEY FOOT THE BILL. PONTIAC SAID THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO CHANGE PLUGS EVERY 30000 AND REFUSED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10039233

Incident

Mar 18, 2003

Mileage

138,950 mi

HEAD GASKET FAILED - WAS ADVISED NOT TO ATTEMPT REPAIR (ESTIMATES STARTED AT $1000 ASSUMING NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE WAS FOUND AFTER THE JOB WAS STARTED) IF NHTSA WANTS THE CORPSE FOR AN AUTOPSY, WILL BE HAPPY TO DONATE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10032645

Incident

Jan 13, 2003

I'VE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL (3.4 DUAL OVERHEAD CAM ENGINE). MOST RECENTLY WAS A SERIOUS OIL LEAK WHICH RESULTED IN AN ENGINE REBUILD. THE LEAKS STARTED AGAIN AND WAS REPAIRED BY A GM DEALER. THE ENGINE LOCKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $3,500. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. A DEALER TRIED TO REPAIR THE HOOD ALIGNMENT PROBLEM ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BUT NEVER SUCCEDED. I'VE REPLACED THE STARTER 3 TIMES, THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR TWICE (2); WATER PUMP TWICE (2) TURN SIGNAL SWITCH FOUR TIMES (4) AND STILL GET SMOKE FROM STEERING WHEEL; ETC. ETC

NHTSA ID

721204

Incident

Jan 15, 2000

TIMING BELT BROKE ON TWO OCCASIONS CAUSING DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS ON SECOND INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

544346

Incident

Feb 8, 1999

I PURCHASED MY 92' GRAND PRIX FROM THE ORIGANAL OWNER. SINCE THIS TIME ( 4/97 ) I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE FISRT THAT WENT WRONG A MONTH AFTER IT WAS BOUGHT A GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED UNDER THE AIR PLENUM MANIFOLD ( COST $475 ) THE CAR WAS RUNNING ON ONLY 5 OF 6 CYLINDERS. THE NEXT PROBLEM I HAD WAS THE ENGINE. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AT NORMAL SPEED WHEN THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. THERE WAS NO POWER. THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN. WHAT HAPPEND HERE WAS THE IDLER PULLEY THAT KEEPS TENSION ON THE SURPENTINE BELT BROKE OFF. ACTUALLY THE BOLT HOLDING THE PULLEY IN PLACE SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED THE PISTON VALVES TO COME OUT OF TIME AND SMACK TOGETHER. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. BEING THE DEALERS WERE CHARGING IN EXCESS OF $5000 TO REPLACE IT I HAD TO FIND OTHERS MEANS. A USED ENGINE WAS TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL. ( COST $1720 ). TWO MONTHS LATER THE ALTERNATOR BURNED UP WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED AND RUNNING AT AN IDLE ,COST $550. IN NOVEMBER OF 1998, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. I HAD THE FLUID AND FILTER CHANGED TWICE TO MAKE SURE IT WAS CLEAN. REVERSE IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS WIPED OUT AND HAD SOMEHOW RUPTURED 2ND GEAR AS WELL. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, BUT FAILED AGAIN BEFORE I EVEN GOT THE CAR BACK. THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER ANSD WAS REBUILT. I UDERSTAND THAT VEHICLES WITH HIGHER MILEAGE ARE SUBJECT TO MALFUCTION, BUT I FEEL THIS WAS A BIT MUCH.BETWEEN THE COST OF THE INITIAL REPAIR AND THE INTREST FORM THE LOANS TAKEN TO GET THE REPAIRS DONE, I HAVE SPENT OVER $6000 IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS JUST TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. AND NOW I HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. I AM NOT SURE WHAT IT IS YET BECAUSE IT JUST STARTED RUNNING TERRIBLY ON 1-23-99. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE. I FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY GENERAL MOTOR CORPORATION DUE TO LACK OF WORKMANSHIP STATED BY THE RECALL SET IN 91. PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP IF I CAN GET HELP MY SITUATION.THANKYOU. *AK

NHTSA ID

702536

Incident

Jul 1, 1997

ONE OF ENGINE HEAD BOLTS BROKE, CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID

806499

Incident

Nov 25, 1996

ENGINE LOCKED UP DUE TO VALVE SEATING BEING OFF.

NHTSA ID

511579

Incident

Oct 5, 1996

TURNED CAR ON VALVE SEAT RING BLEW APART, TORE UP PISTON AND CYLINDER, CAUSING ENGINE TO FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ID

803645

Incident

Oct 17, 1996

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY STALLS WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

505406

Incident

Aug 1, 1995

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

505558

Incident

Apr 1, 1996

HEAD GASKET FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

505464

Incident

Apr 1, 1996

LIGHTS COMES ON INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWING TEMPERATURE IS UP AND LOW IN FUEL; HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY; CAUSES INSECURE FEELING. TT

NHTSA ID

963864

Incident

Feb 5, 1995