A COMPONENT OF PONTIAC'S PASSENGER-SIDE, EASY-ENTRY MANUAL SEAT IS BROKEN. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT THE INERTIAL SEAT BACK, WHICH NORMALLY MOVES FORWARD ONLY A CERTAIN AMOUNT DURING BRAKING, NOW MOVES SO FAR FORWARD THAT IT RELEASES THE EASY-ENTRY MECHANISM, ALLOWING THE WHOLE SEAT TO SLIDE FORWARD UP TO THE IP. THE SEAT …
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A COMPONENT OF PONTIAC'S PASSENGER-SIDE, EASY-ENTRY MANUAL SEAT IS BROKEN. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT THE INERTIAL SEAT BACK, WHICH NORMALLY MOVES FORWARD ONLY A CERTAIN AMOUNT DURING BRAKING, NOW MOVES SO FAR FORWARD THAT IT RELEASES THE EASY-ENTRY MECHANISM, ALLOWING THE WHOLE SEAT TO SLIDE FORWARD UP TO THE IP. THE SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED AT THE TIME THIS FIRST OCCURED. AS BRAKING WAS IN PROGRESS, VEHICLE SPEED IS ESTIMATED.
NHTSA ODI #738719
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2000
Exterior LightingSeatsVisibility
THE HEADLIGHT TROUBLE ALMOST CAUSED VEHICLE TO LEAVE ROAD AT HIGH SPEED. I FOUND THAT WHEN THEY CUT OUT, I NEED TO PUT HIGH BEAMS ON & THEN SWITCH BACK TO LOW BEAMS. SEATBACKS FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS WILL FLY FOWARD DURING HEAVY BRAKING. A MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THE SEAT BACKS WERE SUPPOSED TO MOVE FOWARD LIKE THIS, I WOULD LIKE…
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THE HEADLIGHT TROUBLE ALMOST CAUSED VEHICLE TO LEAVE ROAD AT HIGH SPEED. I FOUND THAT WHEN THEY CUT OUT, I NEED TO PUT HIGH BEAMS ON & THEN SWITCH BACK TO LOW BEAMS. SEATBACKS FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS WILL FLY FOWARD DURING HEAVY BRAKING. A MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THE SEAT BACKS WERE SUPPOSED TO MOVE FOWARD LIKE THIS, I WOULD LIKE THIS FIXED. AS FOR THE DRIVER WINDOW, MANY OTHER GRAND AM OWNERS TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE SAME PROBLEM - THIS ONE HAS COST ME OVER $100 IN DRYING OUT MY VEHICLE INTERIOR AND REPAIRS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #720728
Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 1999
Seats
WHILE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND TURNING AROUND, THE SEATBACK BROKE, AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO FALL BACKWARD, WHICH IF DRIVING WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #835945
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 1999
Seats
NO LOCKS OR RESTRAINTS TO PREVENT BACK OF REAR FOLD DOWN SEAT FROM BEING PUSHED FORWARD AND DOWN BY HEAVY OBJECTS IN TRUNK AREA DURING EMERGENCY OR QUICK STOPS. OBJECTS IN TRUNK AREA FLY FORWARD DURING AN EMERGENCY STOP, PUSH REAR SEAT'S FOLD-DOWN BACK FORWARD AND DOWN, ENTER PASSENGER AREA TO STRIKE BACKSIDE OF DRIVER'S SEAT. …
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NO LOCKS OR RESTRAINTS TO PREVENT BACK OF REAR FOLD DOWN SEAT FROM BEING PUSHED FORWARD AND DOWN BY HEAVY OBJECTS IN TRUNK AREA DURING EMERGENCY OR QUICK STOPS. OBJECTS IN TRUNK AREA FLY FORWARD DURING AN EMERGENCY STOP, PUSH REAR SEAT'S FOLD-DOWN BACK FORWARD AND DOWN, ENTER PASSENGER AREA TO STRIKE BACKSIDE OF DRIVER'S SEAT. MANUFACTURER'S ORIGINAL INSTALLATION WITH NO ALTERATIONS. I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALLS OR AFTER MARKET REPAIRS. THIS POSES A SAFETY PROBLEM AND MAY BE INJURIOUS TO INFANTS AND/OR SMALL CHILDREN RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT.
NHTSA ODI #702755
Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 1999
SeatsCrashInjury
AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE I QUESTIONED DEALER ON THE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SEAT BACKS NOT LATCHING AND THE SEAT BASES SLIDING FREELY BACK AND FORTH. I WAS TOLD BY SALESMAN THAT THE SEATS FOR THAT YEAR WERE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. ON 11-08-98 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THE PASSENGER SEAT IN FRONT WENT FORWARD CAUSING PASSENGER T…
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AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE I QUESTIONED DEALER ON THE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SEAT BACKS NOT LATCHING AND THE SEAT BASES SLIDING FREELY BACK AND FORTH. I WAS TOLD BY SALESMAN THAT THE SEATS FOR THAT YEAR WERE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. ON 11-08-98 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THE PASSENGER SEAT IN FRONT WENT FORWARD CAUSING PASSENGER TO HIT HEAD ON THE DASH AND THEN THE SEAT PROCEEDED TO LAY COMPLETELY BACK AND HITTING A CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT AND BREAKING HIS FEMUR BONE. I WAS DRIVING AND WHEN MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND WHEN IT STRUCK ME IT CAUSED MY SEAT TO LAY COMPLETELY BACK STRIKING ANOTHER CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT CAUSING HIM TO HIT HIS HEAD ON THE SIDE WINDOW AND RESULTING IN HIM HAVING SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES.
NHTSA ODI #702401
Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 1998
Seat BeltsSeats
DURING COLLISION SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED.
NHTSA ODI #533607
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingSeatsService Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE FAILURE, ALSO REPLACED LOOSE MOTOR MOUNTS/POWER DOOR LOCKS/STEERING COLUMN/PASSENGER'S SEAT RECLINED BACKWARDS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #507603
Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 1996
Seats
SEAT LATCHES FAIL TO SECURE SEATS IN POSITION. *SD
NHTSA ODI #505742
Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 1996
SeatsCrashInjury
VEHICLE WAS IMPACT 6:00 POSITION, VEHICLE WAS AT COMPLETE STOP DRIVER SEAT TRACK ANCHOR WENT ON INCLINE AND BROKE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #980176
Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 1996
Seats
PASSENGER SEAT TRACK DOES NOT LOCK IN POSITION, RESULITNG IN SLIDING MOTION WHEN BRAKING. TT
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE STARTER FAILS TO ENGAGE AND THE DRIVER HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRODUCING HEAT THAT CAN MELT SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT AND VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION (ADEQUATE RESERVE CAPACITY, OR COLD CRANKING AMPS). THIS CAMPAIGN DOES NOT COVER BATTERY REPLACEMENT OR UNRELATED STARTING SYSTEM OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIRS.
THESE VEHICLES WERE CONSTRUCTED WITH WELDS IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT PAN ASSEMBLY THAT ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO FUEL TANK LEAKAGE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT COLLISION. THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLIES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF A VEHICLE FIRE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT COLLISION.
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL RIVETS ADJACENT TO THE LOCATIONS WHERE THE SUSPECT WELDS ARE LOCATED.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
EA00007 · Steering Column Fires
Opened Mar 3, 2000 · Closed Feb 7, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
PE99063 · Steering Column Fire
Opened Oct 7, 1999 · Closed Mar 3, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
ODI HAS EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF ITS INVESTIGATION OF STEERING COLUMN FIRES TO INCLUDE ALL MODELS BUILT ON THE N-PLATFORM.GM HAS INDICATED IN ITS RESPONSE THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A ROTARY IGNITION SWITCH THAT HAS BEEN IN USE IN A NUMBER OF VEHICLE MODELS SINCE 1991 ON BOTH THE N AND J-PLATFORMS.HOWEVER, THE 1994-1995 N-PLATFORM IS OVER REPRESENTED ACCOUNTING FOR 83 (81%) OF THE COMBINDED TOTAL OF 102 REPORTS DESPITE BEING ONLY 14.2% OF THE COMBINED POPULATION. OF THE 10 NEW REPORTS RECEIVED SINCE OPENING EA99-063, 7 INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF A NO START CONDITION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE STARTER.A FIRE IS CLAIMED TO HAVE ENSUED IN THE STEERING COLUMN IMMEDIATELY THERAFTER.GM ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) (NO. 433203) JULY 1994 WHIICH ADDRESSED OWNER COMPLAINTS THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY NOT RETURN TO THE RUN POSITION AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED.THE TSB ADVISES THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MOUNTING SCREWS MAY BE EXCESSIVELY TORQUED RESULTING IN DISTORTION OF THE SWITCH HOUSING.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS WARRANTED TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE(S) AND TO DETERMIN IF A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS.
1994 Pontiac Grand Am Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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