1997 Pontiac Grand Prix Transmission Problems

97 GRAND PRIX, 3.8L HIGH OUTPUT ENGINE,4T65E 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SE MODEL 4 DOOR. TRANSMISSION WAS AT FIRST HESITANT TO GO INTO REVERSE AT 100,000 MILES. AROUND 125,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS NO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL MOVEMENT WHILE PUSHING THE CAR IN REVERSE. IN OTHER WORDS YOU CANNOT MOVE THE CAR IN REVERSE AT ALL, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND IN NEUTRAL. SHOP TOLD ME I HAD A BROKEN REVERSE SHIFT FORK. TRANSMISSION SERVICE CENTER ADVISED THAT THE CAR'S USED VALUE DOES NOT WARRANT THE REPAIR COST OR PURCHASE OF NEW EQUIPMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227391

Incident

Mar 22, 2008

Mileage

125,000 mi

I PULLED INTO A CAR WASH STALL AND SHUT MY CAR OFF TO WASH IT. AFTER WASHING IT I GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND TRIED TO PUT IT IN GEAR, BUT THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE. THANK GOD I HAD MY CELL PHONE, I HAD TO CALL MY HUSBAND OUT OF WORK TO COME CHECK OUT THE CAR. HE CONCLUDED THAT I HAVE TO STICK A INK PEN IN THE SHIFT RELEASE HOLE TO PUT IT IN GEAR. I HAD OUR THREE MONTH OLD WITH ME AND IT WAS COLD THAT DAY, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NICE IF I WOULD HAVE HAD TO WALK WITH THE BABY. ANYWAY I HAVE PUT IT IN THE SHOP TO GET IT CHECKED AND THEY DO NOT KNOW THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT MAY COST ME A LOT OF MONEY TO GET IT FIXED BY THE TIME THEY FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM TO ME. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ELSE WITH SMALL CHILDREN AND THEY DO HAVE TO WALK. I ALSO KNOW FROM CALLING AROUND TO PART STORES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AT LEAST 6 OTHERS JUST IN THE MUSKEGON AREA, THAT SHOULD CALL FOR A RECALL IN ITSELF. *JB

NHTSA ID

10130670

Incident

Oct 27, 2002

Mileage

87,000 mi

FIRST MY KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE OUT OF THE IGNITION. I HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING STUCK UP IN THE RELEASE BUTTON THINGY TO GET IT TO RELEASE THE KEY. NOW THE SHIFTER WILL NOT MOVE UNLESS YOU DEPRESS THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE BUTTON. THANK GOD I KNEW ABOUT THE BUTTON BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK OVER 100 MILES AWAY FROM HOME WITHOUT ANY HELP IN SITE. I HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR BUT FORTUNATELY FOR ME THAT WAS WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I'M SURE MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SE ISN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10121935

Incident

May 21, 2005

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE FLOOR MODEL CONSOLE INTO GEAR. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE RELEASE ON THE FLOOR CONSOLE TO DISENGAGE THE GEAR SHIFT. CONSUMER WILL MAKE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10081949

Incident

Jun 12, 2004

TRANSMISSION EXPLODED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND GM SAYS THEY CAN'T HELP ME. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10080574

Incident

Jul 3, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

I HAVE OWNED TWO 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX'S. BOTH VEHICLES DEVELOPED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR SHIFT LOCKING UP IN THE PARK POSITION. I HAVE TO INSERT A KEY OR OTHER OBJECT INTO A SLOT BY THE GEAR SHIFT IN ORDER FOR MY SHIFT LEVER TO DISENGAGE AND THEN ENGAGE INTO THE DRIVE POSITION. THEN ONCE I ENGAGE THE GEARSHIFT INTO THE PARK POSITION, I HAVE TO INSERT THE KEY OR OTHER OBJECT INTO ANOTHER SLOT LOCATED BY THE IGNITION ON THE STEERING COLUMN IN ORDER TO REMOVE MY KEYS FROM THE IGNITION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10052826

Incident

Oct 20, 2003

AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT PUSHING THE BUTTON IN THE STEERING COLUMN, AND COULD NOT SHIFT FROM PARK WITHOUT PUSHING THE SHIFT RELEASE BUTTON. THE DEALER DID NOT FIND WHAT WAS EXACTLY WRONG BUT SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. (POOR CONNECTION AT SPLICER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH) *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10030170

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. MR THE TRANSMISSION WAS FIRST REPLACED AT 22,748 MILES. 8,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE THIRD TRANSMISSION IS NOW HAVING PROBLEMS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10015176

Incident

Apr 29, 1999

RECALL 99V348000 REPAIRS ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE DONE IN JULY OF 2000, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY.*AK MAP LAMP ASSEMBLY, DOOR LIGHTS, REAR DOOR LENS, GASKET LAMP AND HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WERE ALL REPLACED, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER ADJUSTED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. BOTH OUTER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. WINDSHIELD COWL PANEL LEAKED AND WAS REPLACED. STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. SERPENTINE BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, VALVE COVER GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES, VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED 3 OIL LEAKS, OIL PAN AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED, A BELT SNAPPED AND HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE SUPERCHARGER GASKET WAS REPLACED. THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT MECHANISM WAS REPLACED. THE RADIO SKIPS AND THE RADIO MODULE TO THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE. 2 FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR JUMPER WIRING WAS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

8012533

Incident

May 9, 1997

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT TRANSMISSION VEHICLE WON'T MOVE INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8005938

Incident

Mar 1, 2002

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE FIXED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8004316

Incident

Feb 20, 2002

WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS SUCH AS SMALL POTHOLES OR RAILROAD TRACKS, SOMETIMES THE ABS AND LOW TRACTION LIGHTS COME ON. USUALLY THEY GO OFF. SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. ONLY METHOD TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF ARE TO PULL OF THE ROAD OR HIGHWAY AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF. ADDITONALLY, SOMETIMES WHEN BRAKING OVER POTHOLES / RAILROAD TRACKS, THE ABS ENGAGE AND THE CLICKING STARTS. FORTUNATELY, DUE TO MY CAREFUL DRIVING, I GIVE MYSELF PLENTY OF ROOM AND DON'T NEED TO PRESS HARDER TO PREVENT A COLLISION. ALSO, SOMETIMES WITH THE LOW TRACTION LIGHT COMING ON, THE ENGINE / TRANSMISSION WILL REV UP AND ENGAGE THE OTHER FRONT TIRE, WHICH IS COMPLETELY USELESS WHEN CONDITIONS ARE DRY AND NORMAL.*AK

NHTSA ID

756771

Incident

Sep 1, 2000

TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION, BEARINGS. *AK

NHTSA ID

889544

Incident

Apr 20, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

745250

Incident

Aug 28, 2000

WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, SLOWED DOWN VEHICLE TO 10 MPH. AT THAT TIME VEHICLE SPED UP, WHEELS SCREECHING. WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, AND VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND LANDED IN DITCH. CONSUMER TRIED TO GET OUT OF DITCH, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AGAIN OPPOSITE WAY. CONSUMER REALIZED HE HAD A FLAT TIRE, DROVE 100-150 FEET TO FIND A FLAT SPOT TO CHANGE TIRE. VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, AND LANDED IN DITCH, HAD TO BE TOWED. REPORTED THIS TO PONTIAC, NO RESPONSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

880479

Incident

Nov 15, 2000

SUBMITTED TO WWW.PONTIAC.COM: MY '97 3.0L GRAND PRIX (80,000+ MILES) HAS RAN DRY ON THE (AUTO) TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT HE FOUND NO LEAKAGE AROUND THE TRANS. BUT THAT THIS MODEL HAS IN SOME WAY CONNECTED THE FUEL LINE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT SOMETHING FAILED WITH THE FUEL SOLENOID (OR VACUUM SOMETHING-OR-ANOTHER) AND THAT SOMEHOW THIS HAS CREATED A VACUUM IN THE TRANSMISSION SUCKING THE TRANS FLUID OUT AND INTO THE FUEL INJECTORS FOR "BYPASS COMBUSTION". I'M SORRY IF I'M NOT TRANSLATING/RELATING THIS PROPERLY, I AM FAIRLY LITERATE ABOUT CARS AND INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES, BUT FEEL TOTALLY LOST TRYING TO EXPLAIN OR UNDERSTAND THIS. DOES THIS SOUND LOGICAL TO YOU? THE MECH. SAID THAT THIS WAS FAIRLY COMMON WITH THIS MODEL. MY CONCERN IS THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW, ESPECIALLY IF PONTIAC KNOWS/KNEW THIS PROBLEM EXISTS AND SHOULDN'T THERE HAVE BEEN A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC AND COSTLY CONDITION OR AT LEAST COVERED UNDER WARRANTY WORK EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD?*AK

NHTSA ID

739590

Incident

Jan 18, 2001

THIS CAR HAS A SIGNIFICANT # OF SAFETY PROBLEMS THAT THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER HAVE REFUSED TO ADDRESS W/OUT SIGNIFICANT COST TO CONSUMER. UNTIL I SUSTAIN A SIGNIFICANT INJURY &/OR INJURE SOMEONE DUE TO THESE PRODUCT DEFECTS, I CAN NOT AFFORD A LEGAL CHALLENGE TO HAVE GM ADDRESS PROBLEMS, NOR CAN I BEAR COST. MY CAR IS AVAILABLE AS A SAMPLE OF THEIR JUNK! (SIGNED;CLAIMS ADJUSTER). NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID

736760

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

720059

Incident

Sep 15, 1997

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, ALMOST RESULTING IN REAR-END COLLISION. BLOWER IS ALSO NOT WORKING ON VENTILATION SYSTEM AMONG SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED OVER A 2 YEAR OWNERSHIP PERIOD.

NHTSA ID

713564

Incident

Oct 12, 1999

CAR CAN BE SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND DRIVE WITHOUT PUTTING FOOT ON BRAKE. THIS IS WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING. PLEASE HELP, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!!!

NHTSA ID

706284

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

DRIVING AT APPROXMATELY 65 MPH ,WAS CHANGING LANES, EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER/COMPLETE SHUT DOWN WHICH CAUSED LOSS BRAKES AND STEERING, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

828777

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

540551

Incident

Mar 6, 1998

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

538968

Incident

Jun 12, 1998

VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER IN PARK WITH THE A/C ON. CONSUMER WENT TO SPEAK WITH ANOTHER DRIVER THAT WAS PULLED OVER IN FRONT OF HER. DRIVER WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF HER VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING FORWARD, IT SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN THE INCIDENT, HER LEG WAS PINNED BETWEEN TWO CARS. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED DEFECT IN DESIGN. *AK

NHTSA ID

824956

Incident

Jun 20, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILED RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION (REAR ENDED).

NHTSA ID

537294

Incident

Jun 19, 1998